Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket Review
The PERFECT choice for almost any lightweight adventure
November 21st, 2024
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OUR VERDICT
Packable and lightweight, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer down jacket is great for summer and shoulder season overnight trips, such as backpacking, bikepacking, and traveling. It also works well as an insulating mid-layer under a shell in cooler temps. This is why it won our Best Ultralight category in our Best Down Jackets article. We think it's an excellent choice for when you want one jacket that can handle almost any lightweight adventure you throw at it, while giving you the peace of mind of having just-in-case warmth.
We've been testing the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer for years through multiple changes in material, design, and fit. One of our testers has used the Ghost Whisperer from 2016 with over 7,000 miles of backpacking on it, plus plenty of use in the front country. For this story, we tested the most recent model, in men's and women's versions, as well as the jacket and hooded versions. Our tests took us from thru-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail to bikepacking in the Oregon desert, skiing in many states, to playing with a toddler at the local park. This Ghost Whisperer gear review is based on years of use outdoors.
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QUICK FACTS
Price: $330 (jacket); $360 (hoody)
Weight: 6.9 ounces (women’s jacket); 8.8 ounces (men’s jacket)
Shell fabric: Whisperer PFAS-free 10D Ripstop. Solid colors use recycled nylon; prints do not.
Insulation: 800 fill RDS-certified down
Hand warmer pockets: Two zippered
Internal pockets: None
Hood: Optional
Available sizes: XS-XL in women's; S-XXL in men's
Best for: Cool but not cold temps where weight and packed size are important. Backpacking, bikepacking, traveling.
Compare Prices of the Mountain Hardwear Ghost WhispereR
Women's
Men's
COMPARISON TABLES
Women’s DOWN JACKETS
| WOMEN'S DOWN JACKET | MSRP* | CATEGORY | ETHICALLY SOURCED DOWN | TOTAL WEIGHT (oz)* | FILL POWER | HYDRO PHOBIC DOWN? | NUMBER OF POCKETS | SIZES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer | $330/ 360 | Lightweight | RDS | 6.9/ 7.8 | 800 | Yes | 2 | XS-XL |
| Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody | $420 | Ultralight | RDS | 6.2 (hoody) | 1000 | Yes | 2 | XS-XL |
| Montbell Plasma 1000 Down Jacket | $349 | Ultralight | Not listed | 4.2 (jacket) | 1000 | No | 2 | S-XXL |
| Patagonia Down Sweater | $279/ 329 | Lightweight | Traceable Down + Bluesign | 10.3/ 12.1 | 800 | No | 3 | XXS-XXL |
| Cotopaxi Fuego Down Jacket | $270/ 295 | Lightweight to Midweight | RDS | 14.0/ 14.0 | 800 | Yes | 4 | XXS-4X |
| REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket | $129 | Lightweight | RDS | 10.2 (jacket) | 650 | No | 2 | XS-XXXL |
| Arc'teryx Cerium Down Jacket | $380/ 400 | Lightweight | RDS + Bluesign | 9.0/ 10.2 | 850 | Yes | 3 | XXS-XXL |
| Katabatic Tarn Down Jacket | $269 | Lightweight | RDS + Bluesign | 8.6 (hoody) | 850 | Yes | 2 | S-XXL |
* Prices and weights vary between hooded and non-hooded versions.
MEn’s down jackets
| MEN'S DOWN JACKET | MSRP* | CATEGORY | ETHICALLY SOURCED DOWN | TOTAL WEIGHT (oz)* | FILL POWER | HYDRO PHOBIC DOWN? | NUMBER OF POCKETS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer | $330/ 360 | Lightweight | RDS | 8.8/ 10.7 | 800 | Yes | 2 |
| Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody | $420 | Ultralight | RDS | 6.7 (hoody) | 1000 | Yes | 2 |
| Montbell Plasma 1000 Down Jacket | $355 | Ultralight | Not listed | 4.9 (jacket) | 1000 | No | 2 |
| Patagonia Down Sweater | $279/ 329 | Lightweight | Traceable Down + Bluesign | 13/ 14.8 | 800 | No | 3 |
| Cotopaxi Fuego Down Jacket | $270/ 295 | Lightweight to Midweight | RDS | 14.0/ 14.0 | 800 | Yes | 4 |
| REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket | $129/ 149 | Lightweight | RDS | 10.9/ 11.6 | 650 | No | 2 |
| Arc'teryx Cerium Down Jacket | $380/ 400 | Lightweight | RDS + Bluesign | 10.6/ 11.9 | 850 | Yes | 3 |
| Katabatic Tarn Down Jacket | $269 | Lightweight | RDS + Bluesign | 9.3 (hoody) | 850 | Yes | 2 |
* Prices and weights vary between hooded and non-hooded versions.
The author wearing the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer down jacket while hiking with 3-year-old daughter.
WHAT WE LIKED
Color options
Warmth-to-weight ratio
Optional hood
Packable
Lightweight
HOW WE TESTED
We’ve spent years and literally thousands of miles testing the Ghost Whisperer in the hooded and non-hooded versions. Testers have used it thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and backpacking, bikepacking, and skiing in the Pacific Northwest, Montana, Colorado, and California.
A Pacific Crest Trail thru hiker wearing the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer standing in front of a footbridge. Photo courtesy Amanda Jameson
FEATURES
SHELL FABRIC
The Ghost Whisperer comes in a DWR (durable water repellent) treated 10D proprietary recycled ripstop nylon called (go figure) Whisperer. This makes for a very lightweight jacket; however, extra care must be taken to prevent snagging or tearing a fabric with this light of a denier. For context, most regular down jackets have anywhere from a 30 to 60 denier face fabric. Jackets considered ultralight will use 20 denier or lower face fabrics, with 5D currently being the lowest feasibly used. Some everyday users reported having issues with tearing the fabric. As one user said, “I expected more durability from something that cost so much.”
Personally, I have not had any issues with snagging. I attribute this to a general awareness of how to treat ultralight gear and realistic expectations of the limitations of a 10D fabric.
INSULATION
The 800 fill power down is RDS-certified, extremely packable, and lightweight. It has not been treated with a DWR and so is not hydrophobic. Keep that in mind if you plan on using it in wetter climates, like the Pacific Northwest, or for more aerobic activities. Read more about down fill power and down fill weight.
FRONT ZIPPER
The front zipper has a baffle behind it on the inside to prevent drafts. It has no storm flap, as one would wear a shell over it if needed. A couple of years ago, Mountain Hardwear made the strange decision to give the women's version of this jacket an offset, asymmetrical zipper. They touted this design as “better for layering” as well as more fashionable. We’re happy to report that the next season, the Ghost Whisperer was back to a normal centered zipper, likely due to consumer complaints.
POCKETS
Minimal features help keep this jacket lightweight, and the pockets are no different. Both the men’s and women’s versions have just two zippered hand pockets.
PACKABILITY
Packability is one area this jacket shines. Even in the hooded version, the women’s medium still packs down almost as small as a Nalgene water bottle. The Ghost Whisperer packs down into the right-hand pocket. Care must be taken when zipping closed after stuffing so as not to catch the face fabric in the zipper, which could result in a stuck zipper or torn fabric.
I like to start by stuffing the hood or arm opposite the pocket. This prevents the fabric of the pocket from bunching up and allows one to use all the space inside the pocket, making it easier to stuff the jacket. When not in use, make sure to store the Ghost Whisperer unstuffed to extend the life of your down.
CUFFS
A closeup of the wrist cuffs of the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 down jacket.
Another weight and space-saving feature is the use of elastic at the cuff to keep it snug, but not tight. A feature our testers thought was especially practical is the use of synthetic fill insulation in the first baffle at the cuff. This keeps the inevitable splashback from washing hands or filling water bottles from wetting out – or saturating – the down fill.
DRAWCORD HEM
The drawcord at the hem has one cinch spot at the right hip. This makes for a slightly awkward time reaching across the body to cinch and uncinch. While one of our testers prefers drawcord cinches to be located inside the hand pockets, this was by no means a dealbreaker.
HOOD
The Ghost Whisperer comes in hooded and non-hooded versions. We tested both versions to compare. A few factors come into play when deciding which to choose. If your primary use will be around town, as a mid-layer with a shell over it, for sports where you wear a helmet, or if you just run warm, you probably don’t need a hood.
On the other hand, if you plan on wearing this jacket as an outer layer in the backcountry, where you need more versatility in a single piece, or if you tend to run cold, get the hooded version. The hood has elastic instead of a drawcord to decrease weight. This also means it is not adjustable. It is not listed as helmet-compatible. Although our reviewers found it to be roomy enough, folks with thick curly hair, braids, or other voluminous hairstyles would do well to try it on before buying.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
RDS-CERTIFIED DOWN
Mountain Hardwear uses RDS (Responsible Down Standard) certified down. This certification means that geese and ducks are ethically treated along the supply chain, protecting them from force-feeding or live-plucking.
RECYCLED FABRIC
If you want that recycled nylon on your Ghost Whisperer, stick with a solid color; the prints come in a non-recycled version of 10D Whisperer.
PFAS-FREE Water repellent
For the 2024/2025 season, Mountain Hardwear is using a PFAS-free water repellent in an effort to support their sustainability commitment. PFAS have been shown to be extremely slow to biodegrade in the environment and have known negative health effects. For an in-depth discussion on these “forever chemicals”, check out the article we wrote on the subject.
WARMTH
The Ghost Whisperer is not the warmest jacket around, nor should it be. Our perpetually cold tester finds it to be plenty warm for summer backpacking or bikepacking at high elevations when it can get down to close to freezing. She even wears it under her ski jacket for really cold days on the mountain. Its low profile allows it to add warmth without too much bulk.
For most folks, this jacket works well for shoulder season overnighters in addition to those high-elevation summer trips. If you need a warmer jacket and are not concerned about weight, check out our winner for Best Down Jacket for Extreme Cold, the Rab Positron Pro.
WIND AND WATER PROTECTION
The Ghost Whisperer is reasonably windproof and treated with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating. The DWR will shed light rain for short periods. If you plan on being out for more extended periods or in a downpour, we recommend wearing a shell or rain jacket over it.
FIT AND SIZING
The fit is described as “slim” and “trim” on Mountain Hardwear’s website. This fits (ahem) with our experience. Both the men's and women's versions have just enough room for a thin fleece underneath for someone with an “athletic” build. For folks with curvier or more full-figured builds, we recommend sizing up. The arms tend to run a bit long, so be wary if you are a shorter person who needs to size up for girth.
In previous versions, many reviewers complained that the jacket was tight in the armpits on the women's version. They seem to have fixed that on the newest version. We have not noticed the Ghost Whisperer to be overly tight in the armpits or shoulders. In seeming conflict with this, on Mountain Hardwear’s website, the average user said the sizing runs a little big. We agree based on our testing.
Our 5’ 7” 165lb tester found a women's size medium to be perfect, with enough room for her wide hips. Our 6’ 4” 210lb tester fit well in a men's large. He appreciated having a little extra length in the arms since this jacket does not come in a tall version.
VALUE
The Ghost Whisperer is not a budget down jacket. That being said, if taken care of properly, this jacket will last a long time. We know many people who have owned and still use this jacket after a decade. Getting your jacket to last this long means taking care not to snag the fabric; this is not the jacket to bushwack in. If you do get a hole or tear, fix it immediately, preferably with a product like Tenacious Tape.
Care and maintenance
To get your Ghost Whisperer jacket to last you years, you also need to periodically wash your down jacket. If left for long periods of time, body oils, dirt, spilled food, and even air pollution can start to degrade the down. We know washing down products can be intimidating due to the fact that improper drying can lead to clumps and unevenly distributed down. Check out our article on How to Clean and Repair Down Jackets for all the tips and tricks to extend the life of your down.
Where to find a deal on the Ghost Whisperer
If you’re looking for a deal on the Ghost Whisperer, there are many options. You can often find last season's colors discounted online. Depending on where you live, you may have access to passes that get you into the Columbia Employee Store (Columbia owns Mountain Hardwear), where items are heavily discounted. Due to the popularity of this jacket, it can sometimes be found second-hand in specialty outdoor stores that carry used gear.
At the end of the season, you can often find the Ghost Whisperer on sale in last year's colors. If you're flexible on color and pattern, we've been tracking prices and have found the Ghost Whisperer up to 33% off.
If you're an REI Co-op member, you can use your member coupon (20% off one full price item) that they send a couple of times per year.
A thru hiker on the Pacific Crest Trail feeling pure mountain bliss while wearing the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer down jacket. Photo courtesy Amanda Jameson
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
More inclusive sizing
We’d like to see a larger range of sizes or for Mountain Hardwear to make a plus version of this jacket. The size range for the women’s version is XS-XL, and the men’s is S-XXL. More and more outdoor companies are making products that fit all bodies. Even parent company Columbia Sportswear offers extended sizing, and it’s about time Mountain Hardwear got on board.
Pockets
Some reviewers bemoaned the lack of a chest pocket. This didn't bother our testers because we accept when dealing with an ultralight jacket – some features must necessarily be lost to achieve a lighter weight. The same goes for the complaints of the jacket not being very durable; anything in a 10D fabric will need to be babied to a certain degree.
Warmth
We also found that some reviews stated the Ghost Whisperer 2 was not warm enough for the cost. If you’re looking for a more robust, warmer down jacket and are not concerned about weight, check out our winner for Best Down Jacket for Extreme Cold, the Rab Positron Pro.
Durability
Durability is another issue that came up for a lot of reviewers. Some folks were disappointed with what they saw as a lack of durability in the low-denier face fabric. We have found that, as with other ultralight gear, having realistic expectations about the intended use of a piece, as well as babying it, is key.
One of our reviewers has a Ghost Whisperer from 2016 with over 7,000 miles of backpacking on it, plus plenty of use in the front country. Although it is clearly worn, she says it “still works great. It has no holes, and the down has clumped up in the underarm area a tad, but if I was persistent, I could fluff it out, I just don’t care enough to do that. The main body, sleeves, and hood are all still full of lofty down.”
WARRANTY
Mountain Hardwear has a Limited Lifetime Warranty. This means they will repair or replace products with a manufacturer's defect. Lifetime in this context refers to the “practical lifetime” of the product, not your lifetime. So, if the stitching starts to come out a few years in, send the jacket back to Mountain Hardwear. If you tear a hole in the fabric, just refer back to our handy dandy guide and fix it yourself.
WHO ELSE LIKES IT
The Women’s and Men’s Ghost Whisperer Jackets have always gotten good ratings (4.3-4.8/5) on Amazon and REI. Most positive reviews mention how lightweight and packable the jacket is. Many people attest to owning two or more of these jackets, often so they can have the hooded and non-hooded versions for different use situations.
Other professional reviewers like the Ghost Whisperer as well. Switchback Travel called it “ridiculously lightweight” and “surprisingly warm” for the weight. The Big Outside extolled the recycled face fabric and RDS-certified down. Clever Hiker summed it up as “everything you need for fast and light adventures, and nothing you don’t.”
CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS MODELS
For the 2024/2025 season, Mountain Hardwear has removed PFAS in an effort to support their sustainability commitment. They also did away with printed fabric options, which weren’t made from recycled materials.
Pre-2020 models did not have the recycled face fabric currently in use, and as mentioned before, the women’s version has been returned to a centered zip. Other than that, the Ghost Whisperer remains a consistently featured and consistently performing jacket.
Feeling the mountain bliss on the Pacific Crest Trail. Photo courtesy Amanda Jameson
OTHER DOWN JACKETS TO CONSIDER
MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR GHOST WHISPERER UL HOODY
Price: $420
Weight: 6.2 ounces (women's); 6.7 ounces (men’s)
Shell fabric: Whisperer 5D x 7D ripstop (100% nylon)
Insulation: 1000-fill RDS®-certified down
Hand warmer pockets: 2 zippered
Internal pockets: No
Hood: Yes
Available sizes: XS-XL women's; S-XXL men's
Best for: when every ounce counts and money is no object
A review of the Ghost Whisperer would be incomplete without mentioning the Ghost Whisperer UL (ultralight), which we’ll hereafter refer them as “GW” and “GW UL”. Because the GW UL only comes in a hooded version, we will compare it with the GW Hoody. The UL version of the Ghost Whisperer hasn’t been around as long as the original, but it seems to have already gained a following of ultralight enthusiasts.
The main differences lie in the insulation and shell. The GW UL uses 1,000 fill power down as opposed to the 800 fill power down in the GW. This results in the need for less down to achieve a similar warmth. Additionally, the shell fabric on the GW UL is listed as 5D x 7D versus the GW’s 10D x 10D. This all adds up to a weight of 6.2 ounces versus the 7.8 ounces of the GW for a women's medium, for a weight savings of 1.6 oz.
So, is the GW UL an upgrade from the GW? It depends. Everyday users complained that the GW UL had even fewer features than the GW. The GW UL does not stuff into its own pocket, and on previous years' versions, it had an elastic waistband rather than one you could cinch. Reviews also mentioned the ultra-low denier of the fabric. While some folks had durability issues, others just did not like the “plastic bag” feel of the fabric.
We have not had a chance to test the GW UL, so we have not been able to decide for ourselves. That also means we haven’t been able to compare side-by-side to see which jacket is warmer.
What we do know is that the dollar-to-weight savings ratio between the two jackets is high. As of this writing, the GW UL retails for $80 more than the GW. At just over an ounce difference in weight, this is an $80/oz weight savings ratio. For most people, that money could be better spent elsewhere, like on gas to the trailhead.
MEN'S MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR GHOST WHISPERER UL
WOMEN'S MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR GHOST WHISPERER UL
MONTBELL PLASMA 1000
Price: $369
Weight: 4.2 ounces (women's); 4.9 ounces (men's)
Shell fabric: 7-denier Ballistic Airlight nylon ripstop (water repellent finish)
Insulation: 1000 Fill Power EX Down
Hand warmer pockets: Yes
Internal pockets: No
Hood: No
Available sizes: S-XL
Best for: when every gram counts on a thru hike
If the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL still isn’t light enough for you, try our pick for Best for Thru-hiking down jacket, the Montbell Plasma 1000. This 4.2-ounce jacket is stripped of features; there’s no hood, no drawstring at the hem, and no adjustment at the cuff. We’re almost surprised it has two hand pockets.
Several Treeline writers have used this jacket extensively on thru hikes and have found that thru hiking is the best use case for the Plasma 1000. If you rarely hike in your puffy but need something to wear while setting up camp, it provides an incredible amount of warmth for the weight.
While it was hard to find any consumer reviews for this specialty pick, many professional reviewers loved this jacket. Clever Hiker wrote, “When you toss it up in the air and let it float down...it literally mimics a feather. Despite its lean stature, the Plasma is toasty warm.”
KATABATIC TARN DOWN JACKET
Price: $269
Weight: 8.5 ounces (women's M); 9.3 ounces (men's M)
Shell fabric: Pertex Quantum Eco Ripstop 10 denier
Insulation: 850+ fill power HyperDRY™ down
Hand warmer pockets: 2 zippered
Internal pockets:
Hood: Yes
Available sizes: S-XL
Best for: A true 3-season down jacket with hydrophobic down
Like the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2, but want a jacket with hydrophobic down and a lot more warmth? We spent the last year testing the Tarn, an ultralight jacket that uses hydrophobic down, by Katabatic Gear, which makes ultralight quilts popular with thru-hikers and bikepackers.
At 8.6 ounces, it is slightly heavier than the Ghost Whisperer. However, 3.2 ounces of that weight is the down, making the Tarn a much warmer jacket. It’s also a better value. At the time of this writing, the hooded Katabatic Tarn was $60 less than the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 Hoody. For more information, check out our long term review of the Tarn.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR / WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST US
I’m a gear nerd who’s been gearing up myself and others my entire adult life. As a Wilderness Guide for a wilderness therapy organization serving teenagers, I spent four winter seasons living in the snow in Central Oregon. I became intimately acquainted with cold-weather gear, tips and tricks, and teaching teens how to be comfortable in the wilderness. I’ve also worked as a Sea Kayak Guide for Pangea Adventures in Alaska, leading glacier tours by kayak.
Additionally, I bring more than two decades of experience working in Outdoor Retail. Gear shakedowns are something I do for fun. I love talking about gear, but more than that, I love making sure people have the gear that is right for them. I've spent over 20 years outfitting people of all skill and experience levels outdoors on their quest to stay active in cooler weather. Over the years, I've learned what kind of features, materials, sizing, and colors customers want and what aspects of outdoor apparel they find unnecessary.
When it comes to down jackets, I have another reason for being an expert: I’m always cold. Seriously. I own multiple sleeping bags and backpacking quilts, a pair of down booties, puffy pants, and more puffy jackets than I care to count. I know all about keeping warm while adventuring outside.
*Disclaimer: Although I still work at a gear shop, I am not sponsored, an ambassador, or an employee of any of the companies mentioned in my reviews.
