Big Agnes Horse Thief Sleeping Bag: 35 Degree Down - 2009 BCS

Everything about this bag is magnificent. The weight, the packability, the warmth it offers, the fact that you can slide your sleeping pad into the back of it and never roll off your pad again is amazing!! I used to wake up every time I'd roll over because I'd fall off my pad and be on the hard ground. With this bag was the first time I got a full nights sleep. It gives you enough room to roll around and even get into a semi fetus position. Big Agnes makes some sick gear and with this is just another tick on the tally of their accomplishments.

DO NOT count on the temp rating for a comfortable nights sleep. For the life of me I dont understand why these bag manufactures feel the need to put an absurdly low rating on their bags in order to sell their product. Sure you wont freeze to death, but isnt the point of picking bag to find one that will give you good nights sleep, NOT tending to the camp fire ALL night long in order to catch a few ZZzzz. Anyways, this rating system seems to be the norm of the sleeping bag industry... craziness! I wish someone would step up and be a straight shooter here! The only nice thing I can say here is that its very light and easy compressed, but so does a simple bag liner!

Love it! Actually like not having a hood as temps above 35 degrees provide nice cooling on la cabeza. I had some questions about the BA system but am sold.

Highest recommendation!

We just returned from hiking the 270 mile Pennine Way up the middle of England into Scotland. Trying to shave every ounce I spurged for a new Big Agness Horse Thief and insulated air mattress sleeping system. I hoped for (1) very light,weight, (2) warmth and, (3) unusual comfort. The Horse Thief delivered on all three. It was GREAT!.
During a bivouac on the shoulder of Windy Gayle we slept warm at about 30 degrees with constant 20-30 mph winds. . All I wore was my ultra light smart wool tights and top and a very light vest and hat...and I was Warm with a capital W.
. The bag was also just right (not too warm) for the nights we slept in hiker's bunkhouses. I own about 10 sleeping bags and this one is by far the most comfortable and versitle of the lot. Highest recommendation!

What can I say? I originally bought the BA mummy pad because it was less expensive and lighter than a thermarest -- i've since coveted one of these bags -- when one came up on SAC for more than 60% off I had to go for it. Not only is the pad in bag system super lux and more than all it is cracked up to be this 35 degree bag kept me more than warm and dry for two sub 30 degree nights in a row on Mt Washington (Hermit Lake) the second which included snow and rain blowing into the shelter onto the bag.

I needed a lightweight bag to use between 30 and 50 degrees. I read all the reviews and narrowed it down to the Horse Thief 35 and the Marmot 40. I had trouble deciding so I got them both so my wife could use one. My wife slept in the Horse Thief the first night out and stayed cold all night at 40 deg. This surprised me since she is a very warm sleeper. I later used the bag also at 40 deg and also was cold all night. With the Marmot Atom 40 I slept comfortable at nights of 33 and 30 degrees. I really liked the Horse Thief design and wish it would have worked but had to send it back because it was more like a 50 deg. bag. The reviews for this bag were misleading to me. I spoke with BA directly and they told me they had redesigned the bag and added another 6oz of fill to bring the bag weight up to 1lb 15oz. I have an REI bag at that same weight that is rated at 20 deg. Does not live up to the billing. Over priced, under performance.