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

Mountain Hardware’s Ghost Whisperer UL Vest has been a popular choice among lightweight backpackers since its introduction a few years ago. It remains the best puffy jacket for anyone trying to shave every last ounce of pack weight. Weighing just 6.7 ounces for the men’s medium size (7.3 ounces for the men’s large size I tested), it packs into something very small (it stuffs into its own pocket), and the 1,000-fill down power of goose down provides one of the best warmth-to-weight ratios on the market. The ultra-lightweight shell material is a mix of 5D and 7D ripstop nylon, which is a little more fragile 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 wanted in an ultralight puffer and then some.

What sets it apart from some other cute puffy products is the little details. First, there’s 1.9 ounces of 1000 fill power, which is as high a fill power as you’ll find in a jacket in this category, meaning you get the maximum amount of warmth and height you can get with the least amount of weight. My only caveat to this jacket is, if you’re the type that gets cold easily, you might want something with more padding. The classic (not lightweight) Ghost Whisperer Down Hoody has 3 ounces of 800 fill power and is a little warmer in most scenarios, the trade-off being that it’s also heavier (about 9 ounces for the average men’s). Also check out the Katabatic Gear puffy below, which is considerably warmer. I don’t get cold easily, and I’ve found that the Ghost Whisperer UL works well for me as a warm layer to layer on 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 good room to store small items like a three-season hat and some gloves, plus an adjustable drawstring at the waist to keep drafts out. I also love how small this thing is, which is much less than the size of a 1 liter bottle (see photo). It packs into its left pocket with a double-sided zipper, though it would fill smaller if you got a separate stuff sack.

My only issue with this jacket is that it doesn’t have drawstrings. The hood, cuffs, and waist hem are all elastic. This works well for the cuffs and hood, but I wish there was a waist tie. For this reason, if I’m expecting a temperature below 40, I pack a heavier puffer. The rest of the time, this is what you’ll find in my bag. Note that I found the fit to be a bit small. According to the fit guide on the Mountain Hardware website, I range from medium to large. I’ve tried both and found the large size much better.