Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody packs a lot of warmth into an ultralight coat with minimal features, making it a solid choice for backcountry travel.
Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody Specs
MSRP: $420
Weight: 6.7 ounces
Insulation: 1,000-fill goose down
Shell Fabric: 5D x7D ripstop nylon with a DWR finish
About the Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody
Mountain Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer down coat has built trail cred over the years for its light weight and warmth. And with the UL Hoody the Ghost Whisperer adds to its reputation by dropping 2 ounces of weight without sacrificing warmth and comfort. The result? A 6.7-ounce coat that packs small and light, and wears warm for outdoor adventures.
Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody Features
Insulation: The 1,000-fill goose down is at the high end for coat insulation, and provides warmth with less weight. The key to understanding fill is that a 1,000-fill down coat isn’t necessarily warmer than an 850-fill or 650-fill down coat. It just takes less down, and therefore less weight, to provide warmth. And it’s good to know that Mountain Hardwear uses high quality goose down that is collected using the Responsible Down Standard.
Ultralight: Everything about the UL Hoody screams ultralight, from its minimal features to the 1,000-fill down. It’s so light that it feels like a puff of wind could blow it away if I don’t hold tight when I’m putting it on.
Temperature Range: I was comfortable while hiking in the mid-20s with a light long-sleeve base layer on underneath the UL Hoody. The coat alone without a warm layer underneath is good at temperatures above the high 30s.
Pockets: Two large outer pockets with zippers that can hold a phone, lightweight gloves, or a snack. No inside or chest pockets in order to cut weight.
Zipper: Small-toothed zipper with a wind baffle on the coat’s inside. The zipper pull has a large enough cord attached so I can wear lightweight gloves while zipping the coat, but because the zipper is so small getting it started can be difficult.
Shell Fabric: 5D x7D 100% ripstop nylon. The shell fabric is thin and lightweight, making the coat best for non-contact activities, and has a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish. I don’t wear the UL Hoody—or any down coat—on wet days.
Good Wind Resistance: I was pleasantly surprised by how well the UL Hoody cut the wind on cold, blustery days.
Hood: The hood doesn’t have drawstrings, but still clings loosely to my head. Wearing a hat underneath helps tighten the hood’s grip on my head.
Wrist Cuffs: The cuffs have an elastic binding, but I find they hang loosely on my wrists. Lightweight gloves help close the gap. The first baffle at both cuffs is filled with synthetic insulation to prevent the cuffs from wetting out.
Hem: The hem has stretch fabric, instead of a drawstring, around about three-quarters of the coat. Like the wrist cuffs, the hem fits loosely around my waist.
Fit: I’m 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and weigh 160ish. A large is a good fit for me, with room for a layer or two underneath.
Packability: The UL Hoody doesn’t have an inside pocket that it can pack into, but it is possible to stuff it into one of the outer pockets. Or I stuff it into a dry sack with the rest of my trail clothes.
Manufactured: Imported.
UL Hoody Pros
Ultralight: The 1,000-fill down and minimal features combine for an ultralight coat.
Best Use: The UL Hoody is a good coat for backpackers who want an ultralight coat to fight the morning chill or stay warm in camp at night.
Warmth: Good as a single layer in the upper 30s to warmer, best with inner layers when the temperature drops below freezing.
UL Hoody Cons
Few Features: The UL Hoody provides warmth and light weight, but that’s about it. If you’re looking for a coat with more features this isn’t the one for you.
Limited Versatility: Because of its thin outer shell the UL Hoody isn’t good for bushwhacking, rock climbing, or any activity that might rip the shell. I would not use the UL Hoody as an outer layer in extreme cold.
Overall Value
The UL Hoody is expensive, but falls in line with other 1,000-fill down coats. The question is whether the weight savings is worth the extra price. The UL Hoody weighs 6.7 ounces and costs $420; the Ghost Whisperer/2 Hoody with 800-fill down costs $360 and weighs 8.8 ounces. If a few extra ounces aren’t important to you, the Ghost Whisperer/2 might be the coat for you. For ounce counters like me, I’ll go with the UL Hoody. Either way, the Ghost Whisperer is a trail-tested coat that should last years.
Similar 1,000-Fill Coats
Montbell Plasma 1,000 Alpine Down Park
MSRP: $479
Weight: 8.4 ounces
Shell Fabric: DWR-treated 7D ripstop nylon
MSRP: $525
Weight: 9.8 ounces
Shell Fabric: DWR-treated 7D ripstop nylon
Eddie Bauer Microtherm 1,000 Down Hoodie
MSRP: $399 (on sale for $229.25)
Weight: 10 ounces
Shell Fabric: 10D ripstop nylon
This product was donated for purpose of review.