Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Jacket Long-Term Review

Hood or No Hood?

The Ghost Whisperer is available as both a jacket (hoodless) and hoodie. It’s nice to have the choice. Which one is right for you?

I prefer the jacket without a hood. My sleep system includes a standalone hood that I wear with my quilt at night, and I can also wear it with a jacket during the day. I also sometimes wear a merino sun hoody. Between these two options my head is already covered and I’d rather save weight and bulk by not having a hood on my puffy jacket.

If you do prefer the hoody version of the Ghost Whisperer, know that the hood is snug and probably won’t fit over a helmet.

Weight

This is where the Ghost Whisperer really shines, its raison d’être, so to speak. The Ghost Whisperer/2 weighs in at an unmatched 6.9 oz for the women’s jacket (no hood) and 7.8 oz for the hoody.

I’m not aware of any other down jacket this light. If you’re willing to step up to the 10-12 oz weight range you’ll find a few other premium options, and many down jackets weigh 15 oz or more. Nothing more to say about this, except the Ghost Whisperer is light.

Related: Lightweight Backpacking Tips

Packed Size

The Ghost Whisperer packs into its own rather small pocket, which is nifty. Most of the time I simply stuff it into whatever nook or cranny is available in my pack. It takes up an impressively small amount of space, which makes it perfect for ultralight backpacking or minimalist bikepacking.

Warmth

The Ghost Whisperer manages to be moderately warm while weighing very little, thus it has an impressively high warmth-to-weight ratio. But that’s a ratio, not an absolute warmth measure. If you’re concerned about being warm enough in near-freezing temps, the Ghost Whisperer may not be your best option.

I run very cold; it’s probably my biggest weakness in the outdoors. For me the Ghost Whisperer is my go-to summer mountain jacket when temps stay above the mid-40s, or when I need extra warmth while staying active in very cold weather (like skiing). For backpacking and bikepacking in chilly shoulder-season weather, where I need to keep warm while not active, I reach for my warmer Arc’teryx Cerium.

If you’re set on the Ghost Whisperer but occasionally need more warmth, a versatile option is to pair it with a synthetic fleece for cooler trips and use it alone when conditions allow.

Insulation and Fabric

The Ghost Whisperer/2 gets its warmth from 800-fill-power RDS-certified, fluorine-free goose down. RDS stands for Responsible Down Standard, a global standard for ethical down based on animal welfare requirements. The insulation is kept in place nicely with narrow horizontal baffles. Both the outer and inner fabrics are 10-denier nylon, the outer being ripstop, recycled, and DWR treated to repel light moisture.

Shape and Fit

The Ghost Whisperer fit is comfortable and unremarkable, in a good way. It runs wider compared to my Cerium, but still layers well over midlayers and under a shell. The women’s version uses a slightly different baffle pattern than the men’s, a nice touch that gives it a smidgen of an hourglass look.

I’m 5’5″ and 120 lbs with trim build and small chest. My Ghost Whisperer is a women’s small, my usual size, and it fits just right. My husband has a broad torso and more muscular build, and his usual size medium fits him well too.

My older Ghost Whisperer is cut a bit too short for my taste, which is especially noticeable under a pack hipbelt or harness. I recently got my hands on a newer version to compare, and sure enough, the modern hemline is about an inch lower. This follows clothing fit trends in general and should also make the new versions more functional.

In the picture above you can also see some minor design improvements in the newer women’s version. Overall the current design is a bit more feminine and stylish than my old one, though the basics are still the same.

Features: Pockets and Drawcord

Despite its crazy-light weight the Ghost Whisperer still manages to have a full set of features: hood (on the hoody versions), two zip hand pockets, and a minimalist hem drawcord to reduce drafts. The hand pockets are large, well-positioned, and fit my phone with room to spare. No complaints here.

Durability

Standard wisdom says lightweight gear is less durable and requires more careful handling. This does apply to the Ghost Whisperer and you’ll have to treat it somewhat gently. This is not a jacket you’ll want to rub against granite or snag on bushes, though honestly this is true for most down jackets.

That said, my Ghost Whisperer has held up fairly well. It’s retained most of its feathers and loft throughout the years (I do try to wash it as infrequently as possible). The main signs of wear are only cosmetic: the logo has disintegrated and there is some discoloration and loss of loft around the cuffs and collar.

Water Resistance

Down jackets should always be protected from moisture since they lose most of their warmth when wet. You’ll definitely want to cover up with a reliable rain jacket for wet weather, but the Ghost Whisperer 2 does its best to be robust to a little bit of moisture. The outer fabric is DWR treated to resist a light drizzle, and the first baffle at each cuff (an area that’s hard to keep dry) contains synthetic insulation.

Price and Value

The Ghost Whisperer is designed for ultralight gear enthusiasts who are usually willing to pay extra for a lighter and more streamlined setup. If you’ve already worked on reducing your base weight and have a relatively light “big three” (assuming you’re backpacking), shelling out for a jacket like the Ghost Whisperer is a reasonable next step.

If you’re not particularly concerned about every ounce, you can find more affordable jackets that weigh more and don’t pack down as small. If you sometimes adventure in colder weather and don’t want to buy two down jackets, a warmer and slightly heavier choice may suit you better.

A good way to bridge this gap and make the Ghost Whisperer a little more affordable: wait for sales. All the major retailers have them periodically, and I’ve seen some screaming deals on the Ghost Whisperer. Used gear is also a good option, though with a down jacket I’d make sure it was very lightly used before you buy.