Originally Posted by
imscotty
Wuff, I bring both. You won't need the fleece most days for the first 700 miles, but the fleece/ wind jacket allows you to start hiking early and keep hiking late. You will be surprised at how quickly things get cold once the sun sets down. And windy! The wind will cut right through thin fleece, you need the wind protection. I have a Houdini, gives pretty good protection in a light rain too.
My down puffy I use in camp only, never when hiking. It really does get cold in the desert at night, sometimes I wear it to bed. If I had to pick one, it would be the fleece wind jacket combo.