Since its first launch in 2013, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer jacket has been a favorite amongst ultralight hikers. Even now, its warmth-to-weight ratio is sort of unparalleled within the light-weight puffy class. Then in 2020, the model dropped a revamped model—the Ghost Whisperer/2.
On this evaluate, we cowl all of the options the brand new mannequin inherited from its predecessor, in addition to these options each new and improved. By the top of this text, you’ll be geared up with the whole lot you should know to determine whether or not the Ghost Whisperer/2 is value its steep value in your adventures.
A light-weight puffy is crucial for many hikers. And selecting one which’s each ultralight and packable makes selections simpler. With out including a lot in the best way of weight or quantity to your pack, a light-weight puffy ensures your consolation and security in case you get misplaced within the woods or the climate turns. On the very least, you’ve acquired a pleasant fluffy pillow at your disposal.
In truth, a puffy is so ubiquitous to climbing that it makes up one of many three pillars within the Path Wardrobe Trinity: an acceptable baselayer, a rain shell, and a light-weight puffy. This versatile mixture of tops will hold you snug in a variety of climates and temperatures.
Let’s go over a very powerful classes in relation to looking for an ultralight puffy. As you’ll see, the Ghost Whisperer/2 earns excessive marks throughout all these metrics, making it a flexible and reliable alternative for any out of doors endeavour.
Heat
The Ghost Whisperer/2 comprises roughly 3 ounces of 800 fill energy down, comprising 90% goose down and 10% goose feathers. The down is Allied RDS-certified, which means it’s ethically sourced and traceable. With the appropriate baselayer, you’ll be able to anticipate to remain heat right down to 0°C (32°F).
Climate Resistance
The 100% recycled, ripstop nylon shell is handled with a Sturdy Water Repellent (DWR) end. This implies the Ghost Whisperer/2 will stand as much as gentle showers and humid mornings.
What about in wetter circumstances, when water begins to penetrate by way of the face cloth? Fortunately, the goose down insulation can also be protected. Every feather is individually handled with a DWR coating. This is without doubt one of the up to date options when in comparison with its predecessor; the Hyper-Dry Down (HDD) permits wearers to remain dry in messier circumstances.
Like several down puffy, it’s nonetheless greatest observe to keep away from getting it too soaked, as it might take a very long time to dry and result in annoying clumps of feathers and decreased loft. In chilly, moist circumstances, think about layering your down puffy for heat beneath a water-proof rain shell.
Match
Total, the jacket suits slim. In truth, like most clothes produced by Mountain Hardwear, the match tends to be somewhat on the small aspect. Which means that in case you usually put on an L from different manufacturers, you would possibly wish to up-size to an XL. Likewise, in case you put on an XS, think about sizing as much as an S.
The Ghost Whisperer/2 additionally has barely longer arms than its rivals. This enables for unrestricted motion with out having to fret about stretching and tears. The one criticism is that the shoulder space feels a bit slim.
Options
As an ultralight puffy, the Ghost Whisperer/2 is spartan on options. However, the fundamentals are lined. To start with, you’ve acquired two massive, zippered hand pockets with ample storage. On the wrists, comfortable elastic cuffs hold out the chilly.
The hood can also be rimmed with a comfortable elastic to make it form-fitting. One other good function is the raised collar; when absolutely zipped, the collar protects your chin and prevents chilly drafts from getting into across the neck.
A drop hem additionally wards off again drafts, whereas a discrete pull-tab means that you can modify the jacket for a tighter match, so it gained’t journey up whereas scrambling a steep slope or climbing huge partitions.
It’s value mentioning that the Ghost Whisperer doesn’t have any adjustable tabs across the hood. This shouldn’t come as a shock because the jacket’s major operate is to be as light-weight as doable. One other lacking function that may be a deal-breaker for some is the absence of an inside pocket—not likely an a priori important, however some individuals prefer it.
Weight
The lads’s measurement medium weighs a mere 8.3 oz (236 g), whereas the ladies’s weighs even much less at 7.8 oz (220.5 g). That’s a mean weight of half-a-pound—peanuts contemplating its distinctive heat ranking and flexibility.
Packability
The appropriate zip pocket doubles as a stuff pocket for the jacket itself. The lads’s medium stows down into roughly the scale of a 1L Nalgene bottle, making it extraordinarily packable. A carabiner loop permits climbers to hold it from their harness when not in use.
Sturdiness
The 10D X 10D ripstop nylon face is notoriously sturdy. Even the unique Ghost Whisperer was thought-about sturdy with its barely much less strong 10D X 7D nylon development. Should you do encounter a gap or tear, the ripstop will stop it from working any additional.
Model
Both you assume puffies are cool otherwise you don’t. I occur to assume puffies are very cool and the Ghost Whisperer is a positive instance. Definitely on the path it’s thought-about hiker-chic. However even in additional city settings, like at a bar or occasion, it’s an attention grabbing piece.
For one, the match is slim and flattering. Second, the myriad colors are considerate and distinctive. The Ghost Whisperer/2 additionally doesn’t endure from the crinklyness/ rubbish bag sheen of lower-end puffies. Main type factors.
We scoured the Altitude Sports activities product web page to see what our personal prospects have been saying in regards to the Ghost Whisperer/2 jacket. In all, it obtained a mixed whole of 268 evaluations throughout all variations, and earned a powerful common ranking of 4.5 / 5 stars.
Christopher W. says:
My new go-to jacket for travelling, primarily as a result of it’s so gentle and small when packed down I can shove it nearly wherever simply in case. Temperature-wise it holds as much as -5C with a shell.
Marie-Hélène G. writes:
I put on this jacket as a midlayer beneath a shell for alpine snowboarding.
I’ve tried totally different fashions (from totally different manufacturers), and that is my favorite. It’s like a second pores and skin: I don’t really feel it. It’s light-weight, lets me transfer freely, and doesn’t prohibit my neck or wrists.
As for its heat, I solely used it at temperatures between -5°C and 0°C. At these temperatures, I actually didn’t get chilly.
The Ghost Whisperer/2 is impressively heat for its weight. However, there are limits to its utility. The jacket actually is an ideal outer layer for many three-season climbing circumstances and can hold you snug proper right down to about freezing (when paired with an acceptable base layer). Past 0°C (32°F), nonetheless, you danger dropping valuable physique warmth.
For winter climbing and frosty city environments, the Ghost Whisperer makes a superb mid-layer beneath a extra heavy-duty parka.
How do you wash the Ghost Whisperer/2 jacket?
A mild hand-wash is greatest, however it may be messy and time-consuming. Should you’re going to make use of a washer, use a front-loader; the agitator in a top-loader can harm your jacket. Wash chilly and set the machine to delicate.
For many down merchandise, it’s a good suggestion to make use of a dryer. This enables the feathers to flow into as an alternative of clumping on the backside of the garment—an unlucky consequence when got down to air-dry. After all, don’t neglect to make use of the tumble dry setting. Throw in some tennis balls to assist reinvigorate your jacket’s loft and voilà—good as new.
The place are Mountain Hardwear merchandise made?
Mountain Hardwear was based in 1993 in California. At first, their clothes have been manufactured regionally. In 2003, nonetheless, Mountain Hardwear was acquired by sportswear retail large Columbia Sports activities. Presently, their manufacturing is predominantly outsourced throughout Asia, in international locations like China, Japan, Vietnam, and India.
The reality is that outsourced manufacturing makes good enterprise sense. It affords an economical approach for corporations to supply high-quality merchandise that stay reasonably priced in Western markets. Even Arc’teryx solely produces 30% of their merchandise regionally.
It must also be famous that the factories contracted by manufacturers like Mountain Hardwear, Arc’teryx, and the like are recognized to uphold American manufacturing requirements relating to working circumstances and wages.
The Ghost Whisperer/2 by Mountain {Hardware} is an exceptional down puffy. The jacket itself is sturdy and versatile, heat and ultralight. Although the worth level is excessive, it’s worth is effortlessly accounted for by its high quality. And, to take that worth a step additional, think about that the Ghost Whisperer/2 is constructed by way of moral and sustainable manufacturing practices. In truth, very like the Arc’teryx Alpha SV, the Ghost Whisperer/2 is BLUESIGN permitted.
So, who’s the Ghost Whisperer/2 not for? Effectively, for these of you who already personal the unique Ghost Whisperer, there’s not sufficient new floor right here to make the improve worthwhile or engaging. In actuality, the largest updates are the HDD insulation and the barely stronger ripstop nylon face.
And what about individuals who merely don’t wish to break the financial institution on a puffy? In that case, try The North Face’s ThermoBall Eco Hoodie (males’s; ladies’s) as an alternative. It’s not fairly as gentle or heat because the Ghost Whisperer/2, but it surely’s a decent entry within the ultralight puffy class.
For everybody else, just one query stays: Would you like your Ghost Whisperer/2 with a hood (males’s; ladies’s), or with out one (males’s; ladies’s)?