Best down jacket (2026): Patagonia, Arc’teryx, REI

Mountain Hardware’s Ghost Whisperer UL Sweatshirt has been a popular choice among ultralight backpackers since it was introduced a few years ago. It remains the ultimate down jacket for anyone trying to shave every last ounce off their pack weight. Weighing just 6.7 ounces for the Men’s Medium (7.3 ounces for the Men’s Large I tested), it packs down to a tiny thing (it slips into its own pocket), and the 1,000-fill power goose down offers one of the best warmth-to-weight ratios on the market. The very light shell material is a blend of 5D and 7D ripstop nylon, which is a bit flimsier than heavier jackets, but has held up well so far in my tests. I can safely say that the Ghost Whisper UL is everything I’ve ever wanted in an ultralight down pouf and then some.

What sets it apart from some other very nice poufs are the little details. Firstly there’s 1.9oz of 1000 fills, which is as high a fill power as you’ll find in a jacket in this class, meaning you get the most warmth and loft you can for the least amount of weight. My only caveat about this jacket would be if you’re the kind of person who gets cold easily, you might want something with a bit more padding. The classic Ghost Whisperer Down Hoody (not the ultralight) has 3 ounces of 800 fill power and is slightly warmer in most scenarios, with the tradeoff being that it’s also heavier (about 9 ounces for a men’s medium). Also check out the Katabatic Gear puffer below, which is significantly warmer. I don’t get cold easily and have found that the Ghost Whisperer UL works well for me as a warm layer to wear at high altitude camp in the summer, a mid layer for hiking in cold conditions, and a mid layer under the Rab Glaceon Pro in extreme cold.

Other details that make the Ghost Whisperer UL our top pick for ultralight hiking include two very nice zippered hand pockets with enough room to stash small items like a three-season hat and a couple of gloves, along with an adjustable drawstring waist to keep out drafts. I also love how small this thing is, well under the size of a 1L bottle (see photo). It packs into its own left pocket with a reversible zip, although it will be even smaller if you take a separate bag.

My only complaint about this jacket is that there are no drawstrings. The hood, cuffs and waist hem are elasticated. This works well for the cuffs and hood, but I wish there was a drawstring for the waist. For this reason, if I expect temperatures below 40, I wear a heavier puffer. The rest of the time you’ll find this in my backpack. Note that I found the fit to be a bit small. According to the fit guide on the Mountain Hardware website, I’m right between a medium and a large. I tried both and found the large fit much better.