8000+ Miles Logged: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Hoody Review

Bottom Line

The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Hoody (men’s / women’s) is a legendary down jacket among the ultralight and thru-hiking communities and one of our longstanding winners on CleverHiker’s guide to the best down jackets.

This ultralight powerhouse is designed for those who prioritize weight and packability without sacrificing essential warmth. Weighing just 8.8 ounces, it’s one of the lightest down jackets on the market, making it an excellent choice for backpackers, climbers, and anyone looking to travel fast and light. 

The 800-fill-power down insulation delivers impressive warmth for its weight, and its ability to compress into its own pocket makes it convenient for packing. 

The Ghost Whisperer also features a durable water-repellent (DWR) finish and a hydrophobic down fill to help handle light moisture, though it’s not ideal for wet conditions or heavy precipitation.

While the jacket excels in weight and portability, it does sacrifice some durability and warmth. This jacket is not meant to keep you warm while stationary in temperatures below 35 degrees. 

It’s best suited for high-output activities in mild to cool conditions. For ultralight enthusiasts, the Ghost Whisperer is a reliable, minimalist option that performs exceptionally well for its weight class. Truth be told, we love this jacket.

How We Tested

We’ve been testing various versions of this jacket for years, and it remains a trusted piece in our gear lineup. We’ve logged thousands of miles in the Ghost Whisperer along the PCT, CDT, and a half dozen other long trails.

CleverHiker Founder Dave Collins has also relied on it for adventures in Yosemite and the Sawtooth Wilderness. More recently, we’ve used it primarily for sunny-day ski tours and as a backup layer during chilly mountain bike rides in the Colorado mountains.

Comfort

The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hoody delivers an impressive level of comfort for an ultralight jacket, making it a favorite among backpackers and climbers.

 Its lightweight design, weighing just 8.8 ounces, feels barely noticeable during wear, which is a huge plus for long days on the trail or at the crag. The 800-fill-power down insulation provides a soft, plush feel without adding bulk or restricting movement. 

The fabric is smooth and doesn’t feel overly crinkly, avoiding that “plastic” sensation some ultralight jackets have, and the slim fit contours well to the body without being overly tight, allowing for freedom of movement during high-output activities.

The adjustable hood, elastic cuffs, and drawcord hem add to the jacket’s overall comfort. They help seal in warmth while adapting to your body and conditions. These features work well together to keep cold drafts out without constricting the jacket. However, the slim fit may not suit all body types, particularly those who prefer a more relaxed cut or need extra room for layers.

Warmth

The Ghost Whisperer provides a commendable level of warmth for its ultralight design and materials. It is filled with 2.5 ounces of 800-fill-power down, which offers solid insulation while remaining lightweight and highly compressible. 

Notably, among brands that list fill weight, this jacket contains the least down of any we’ve tested. Despite this, the high-quality down efficiently traps heat, keeping you comfortable in cool to cold conditions, especially during high-output activity. The slim fit further enhances thermal performance by minimizing gaps and retaining warmth close to the body.

However, the Ghost Whisperer is best suited for summertime to shoulder season adventures rather than extreme cold. Its ultralight construction prioritizes weight savings over maximum insulation, making it less ideal for frigid temperatures or prolonged stationary use. 

That said, it layers effectively with a mid-layer or shell for added warmth in harsher conditions. When paired with a synthetic mid-layer, we stayed comfortable during low-heart-rate activities, like hanging around camp, even as temperatures dipped into the mid-30s. 

The jacket also features a drawcord hem and adjustable hood, which help seal in warmth and block drafts. One weakness is the loose cuffs, which allow some heat to escape and reduce overall warmth. Despite this, the Ghost Whisperer remains an excellent option for those seeking a lightweight jacket that balances warmth, portability, and versatility for three-season adventures. However, we wouldn’t recommend relying on it as your sole outer layer when temperatures drop below the mid-30s.

Weight & Packability

What can we say? The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hoody excels in weight and packability, making it an ideal choice for ultralight enthusiasts. 

At just 8.8 ounces (the size large we tested weighed in at 9.3 ounces), it’s the second-lightest jacket we’ve tested, coming in only slightly heavier than the MontBell Plasma 1000 Alpine Parka by a mere four-tenths of an ounce. Its impressively low weight makes it perfect for backpackers, climbers, and adventurers who need to save space and cut ounces without compromising essential warmth.

When it comes to packability, the Ghost Whisperer stands out as the most packable jacket we’ve tested. It compresses easily into its own pocket, taking up minimal space in your pack and making it an excellent backup layer for cool evenings or unexpected weather changes. Once packed into your pack, this jacket will compress down to about the size of a softball. Whether you’re tackling high-altitude trails or just need a compact layer for unpredictable conditions, the Ghost Whisperer is a top performer in both weight and packability.

Weather Resistance

Down is an excellent insulator, but it has one significant weakness: moisture. Traditional down loses its loft, clumps, and essentially stops insulating when wet. Thankfully, Mountain Hardwear has taken steps to help the Ghost Whisperer perform better in damp conditions. 

Like many jackets we tested, it features a durable water-repellent (DWR) finish to keep light precipitation at bay. While DWR coatings are effective initially, they only provide temporary protection, as moisture will eventually seep through the shell and into the insulation.

To address this, Mountain Hardwear uses Q.Shield, a specially treated, RDS-certified down coated with a secondary DWR. This allows the down to shed moisture and retain its loft and warmth even after water penetrates the shell. However, it’s not completely reliable—prolonged exposure to moisture will still compromise the insulation. For heavy rain, pairing it with a proper hardshell is essential.

The Ghost Whisperer performs well in light precipitation but leaves something to be desired in high winds. The ultralight, thin shell fabric is more breathable than most, which can be an advantage, but it also allows more wind to pass through compared to jackets with thicker materials. Additionally, the loose, non-adjustable cuffs let wind in, further reducing warmth in gusty conditions.

Breathability

The Ghost Whisperer is impressively breathable for a down jacket, making it a rare exception in this category. Typically, we avoid using down layers during high-output activities unless it’s very cold, as down jackets generally don’t breathe well. 

The exception to this rule is the  Ghost Whisperer, due to its ultralight construction. The thinner materials and minimal 2.5 ounces of down insulation make it less warm than most other down jackets, which is precisely why we love it.

This jacket’s lightweight nature allows it to breathe well enough for high-output activities like hiking, climbing, and ski touring, provided you layer appropriately. It strikes an excellent balance, offering just enough warmth without causing you to overheat during movement.

Should You Buy the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer?

The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hoody is an excellent choice for ultralight enthusiasts who prioritize weight savings and packability. It’s designed for backpackers, climbers, and adventurers looking for a jacket that provides warmth without adding bulk, making it ideal for mild to cool conditions and high-output activities. Its 800-fill-power down insulation delivers solid warmth for its weight, and the jacket’s ability to compress into its own pocket makes it a standout for saving space.

However, the Ghost Whisperer may not be the best fit for those seeking maximum durability or insulation for extreme cold. It sacrifices some ruggedness and warmth to achieve its ultralight design, so it’s better suited for fast-moving activities and milder weather.

While it’s not a budget option, the Ghost Whisperer offers good value for those prioritizing portability and performance.

What Other Down Jackets Should You Consider?

If you’re considering the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hoody but want to explore other options before making your decision, don’t miss our in-depth gear guide on the best down jackets. In the meantime, here are a few options you might want to consider. 

MontBell Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka Review: Lighter and warmer but less packable and a lot more expensive this jacket is for the Ultralight enthusiast who needs a crazy light but still very warm down jacket. 

Black Diamond Approach Down Hoody Review: Priced the same as the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer, the Approach Down Hoody offers nearly double the down fill, making it significantly warmer. However, that extra warmth comes at a cost—the Approach is about two ounces heavier.

Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody Review: Even warmer and slightly heavier than the jackets mentioned above, this down hoody provides significantly more insulation, making it ideal as a passive warmth layer. That said, at 11.9 ounces, it’s still impressively lightweight.