Insulation is an important part of any outdoorperson’s kit. The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket is an excellent lightweight addition to your pack.
When Mountain Hardwear sent me their Ghost Whisperer Hooded Down Jacket, I was pretty skeptical. How could something so small, thin and light keep me warm? At 7.2 oz this thing will probably blow off into the sunset if I’m not careful. I was wrong. The Whisperer 7D x 10D Ripstop fabric is water-resistant and windproof, keeping you and your down mostly safe from the elements. Other specs include 800 fill Q.Shield™ DOWN to resist moisture while keeping you warm, elastic cuffs and a toggle hem to adjust while you’re out and about. Oh, this also packs into its own pocket and is no bigger than a Chipotle burrito!
The weight is my favorite part of the Ghost Whisperer. It is so light. I can barely tell that I’m wearing it, except for when I start to get really hot and sweaty. You can throw it in your pack just in case you need it because it weighs next to nothing. The low profile and trim fit lets you layer underneath almost everything without looking like a giant marshmallow.
The fabric, though light, seems to be very delicate. I have to exercise great caution to not puncture or scrape up my jacket. After climbing and my nails are shredded, it was tough to keep myself from touching or adjusting my jacket. I also found that the Ghost Whisperer wasn’t terribly warm during minimal amounts activity. Belaying, waiting around for your turn to climb, stuff like that resulted in me shivering slightly and tossing on a different jacket.
Photo by Nelson Salvatera.
For days out on the trail, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket is amazing. You pack it and forget it until you need it. And when you need it most, it performs like a champ.
Buy through Mountain Hardwear for $350. A men’s version is also available here. And it is on sale now at Moosejaw for $262.46. Also for sale at Amazon for $350.
This was sent to me for review as a part of Mountain Hardwear’s #findingwinter program.
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