Big Agnes Horse Thief Sleeping Bag: 35 Degree Down

 Brand : Big Agnes
Item : BAG0026
The Big Agnes Horse Thief Sleeping Bag was designed for today's light and fast backcountry crowd. At 1lb 8oz, the 725 down fill Big Agnes Horse Thief is a crazy light 35F bag. Big Agnes makes sleeping bags without insulation on the bottom of the bag because down and synthetic insulation compressed by your weight loses virtually all of its insulating value. Instead, Big Agnes puts a sleeve in the bag floor into which you slide your sleeping pad, and the top 2/3 of the bag is insulated like a traditional sleeping bag. This system offers several major advantages: 1.An air or foam mattress provides more warmth than compressed insulation. 2.You're guaranteed never to roll off your sleeping pad in the middle of the night. 3.It reduces overall weight of the bag, and therefore your pack. 4.The bag and pad can be stuffed together for compact packing. Compatible with Big Agnes 20in wide Mummy sleep pads.
Price: $178.95
See All 55 to 30 Degree Down Bags


Product Reviews
Big Agnes Horse Thief Sleeping Bag: 35 Degree Down



BA Horse Thief and Air Core Pad
I recently replaced my 30F Polarguard Delta bag with the BA Horse Thief ("HT"). After about three years of intermittent use the synthetic bag lost much of its loft, notwithstanding being a quality bag. I decided to opt for a high loft down summer bag, thinking it would last much longer and compress smaller. I've now used the HT enough to get a feel for it. I couldn't be happier. It packs down to half the size or less of my synthetic (much easier too) and lofts right back up. (At 1 lb. 10 oz. it's also 8 oz. lighter than my synthetic.) The workmanship and materials seem to be first rate (shell, stiffening tape, fluffy collar, etc.). It's a different type bag though. It has no insulation on the bottom, so it needs to be used properly to be effective. Others have questioned the bag's temp rating; however, IMO the 35F rating is actually conservative - provided the bag is used properly. I also went for a BA Air Core 3/4 pad. At 16 oz. this pad has (IMO) the highest comfort/weight ratio available. However, I feel the pad is too thick to be used in the HT sleeve unless the temps are mild. When the pad is placed in the sleeve and inflated anywhere near its advertised 2.5" thickness it seems to compromise the temp rating by pulling some of the bag away from the body, esp. if you change positions as much as I do. The Air Core pad also doesn't insulate you much from cold ground. However, I still really like the pad and it may do double duty as a raft - LOL). I just use it under the bag, and if I think the temps may approach 40F or below I put a very thin mummy shaped "Pack-Lite" foam pad in the sleeve. This significantly improves the ground insulation but does not seem to interfere much with the "drape" of the bag. (Note that the HT sleeve is designed/shaped for a mummy pad.) BA does make an Air Core insulated with Primaloft. However, I opted for the non-insulated as it's made of 70D nylon - as opposed to the insulated version's 40D and I didn't want to worry about punctures. BTW, I purchased this bag for about half what other manufacturers charge for a comparable high loft (750 or greater) summer bag.


Big Anges horse thief sleeping back
The bag is really light weight and kept me warm on a 35 or 40 degree night. It realy holds the sleeping pad in place well. Also the pillow is well positioned. The one slight draw back is that there isn't much insulation under my arms which are slightly wider than the pad. The reqular size worked ok for me and I am 5-10.5 tall. Over all this is an excellent product.


Nice features. Good price.
I like the way the Big Agnes Air Core Mummy mattress slips into the bottom. I also like the sleeve to hold soft clothes for a pillow. I also like the extra girth - it makes it easier to wear extra clothing to bed to use the bag in colder temperatures. It isn't a very warm bag relative to the weight. I bought two bags and both weighed more than the manufacturer's stated weight. Overall, I think they are a good value.


Skeptical of ratings
I'm always skeptical of bag ratings, but this one is very accurate. My first trip with this bag was a car camping trip when the weather was supposed to be in the 20's, so I took an extra bag just in case. I went to bed wearing my long underwear and knit cap, knowing that I would probably need the other bag before morning. I awoke to a temperature reading of 17 degrees the next morning. I had stayed warm all night! The next couple of nights were in the low 30's and all I needed was dry socks and knit cap. I was also using the BA air core pad and on the coldest night I added a closed cell pad as well. As you can see, I am very pleased with this combination.


Innovative...and just enough
I am always sliding off my sleep pad, as my tent sites are rarely level! The pad inside the bag not only prevents this sliding, but also provides just enough insulation underneath to keep me warm even on cool fall nights. I am also glad to shed some pack pounds and gain some pack space. It’s a great item!




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