I'm an experienced hiker finally having the time to begin a quest to complete the trail in 8-10 years. I'm 62 years old, so reducing weight is a paramount objective. This June, I'll be completing most of Maine SB, God willing. My sleep/shelter plan is to use a cot under the cover of a Sea-to-Summit poncho-tarp setup, thus saving the trouble and reliability problems of a backpack cover, and providing the dual purpose of rain gear and shelter. I'm a small person, so the Poncho-tarp works, at least based on a test in a Floridan rainstorm. Did I overlook any pitfalls? -Dale (trail name to be discovered)