Best Puffer Jacket (2026): Patagonia, Arc’teryx, REI

The Ghost Whisperer UL Hoodie from Mountain Hardware has been a popular choice among ultralight backpackers since its introduction a few years ago. It remains the best down jacket for anyone trying to reduce every last gram of their weight. It weighs just 6.7 ounces for a men’s medium (7.3 ounces for the men’s large I tested), packs down into a tiny thing (fits 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 lightweight shell material is a blend of 5D and 7D ripstop nylon, which is a little flimsier than heavier jackets, but it has held up well so far in my testing. I can safely say that the Ghost Whisper UL is everything I ever wanted in an ultralight down jacket and more.

What sets it apart from other very nice down jackets are the little details. First there’s the 1.9 ounces of 1,000 fill power down, which is as high a fill power as you’ll find in a jacket of this class, meaning you get the most warmth and loft possible for the least weight possible. My only downside to this jacket would be that if you’re the type of person who gets cold easily, you might want something with a little 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 trade-off being that it’s also heavier (around 9 ounces for a men’s medium). Also check out the Katabatic Gear puffer below, which is considerably warmer. I don’t get cold easily and have found that the Ghost Whisperer UL works well for me as a warm layer to throw on at high altitude camp in the summer, as a mid layer for hiking in cold weather, and as a mid layer under the Rab Glaceon Pro in extremely cold weather.

Other details that make the Ghost Whisperer UL our top pick for ultralight backpacking include two very nice zippered hand pockets with plenty of room for storing small things like a three-season hat and gloves, plus an adjustable drawstring waist to keep drafts out. I also like how small this thing is, much smaller than the size of a 1 liter bottle (see photo). It packs into its own left pocket with a reversible zipper, although it packs down even smaller if you get a separate stuff sack.

My only complaint about this jacket is that there are no drawstrings. The hood, cuffs and waist hem are all elastic. 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 bring a heavier inhaler. The rest of the time, this is what you’ll find in my backpack. Note that I found the cut a little small. According to the fit guide on the Mountain Hardware website, I fall between medium and large. I tried both and found the loose fit much better.