As a backpacking sleeping bag, the Big Agnes Husted 20 offers a great deal of value for money. The build quality is without question, and it provides the same level of insulation as bags three times its price; it’s also packed with valuable features. We’d almost confuse it for a true ultralight sleeping bag were it not for two factors: its weight and packed size. At roughly 3lb and 13.4L compressed volume, it’s clear how Big Agnes was able to keep the cost down on this bag; ultralight thru-hikers are unlikely to give this a second look and will spend the extra money for something smaller and lighter. However, for the rest of us seeking out less ambitious adventures, like a long weekend hiking trip or even just a night of camping, the Husted 20 makes an excellent addition to your outdoor arsenal.

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Amongst their sleeping bag line, you’ll find traditional, sidewinder, and expandable mummy bags as well as double wides. However, one thing you may have trouble finding in the Big Agnes product line is a low price tag. So naturally, our interest was piqued when we discovered their Husted 20, a three-season traditional mummy bag that costs only $119.95. We were hopeful that this backpacking sleeping bag would live up to the Big Agnes standard, and for the most part, we found this to be true.

Warmth

The Husted 20 has a temperature rating of 20°F, with a tested lower limit of 19°F and a comfort rating of 30°F. We found these numbers more than suitable as a three-season bag. This impressive achievement is made possible by the bag’s Fireline Pro synthetic filler (30.5oz in the regular and 33oz in the long), which is composed of multi-denier, short-staple fibers with high loft. This material is intended to trap heat as well as provide a soft feel and packability (but we’ll get to that shortly). Also assisting in the insulation category is a passive draft collar that holds in heat.

Comfort

Much like a walnut or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in every one of his movie roles, the Husted 20 is tough on the outside but soft on the inside. Its shell is made of durable nylon ripstop, while the liner is buttery soft polyester taffeta. As previously mentioned, the Husted 20 comes in both a regular and long version. The regular version fits up to 6’ in height with girths of 60” in the shoulders, 54” in the hips, and 36” in the footbox; the long bag accommodates hikers up to 6’6” with 62” shoulder girth, 56” hip girth, and 38” footbox girth. The Husted 20’s girth tapers off quite a bit more dramatically than the other mummy bags on our list, so if you’re looking for a roomy footbox, we’d recommend you look elsewhere.

Weight & Packed Size

Along with a mesh storage sack, the Husted comes with a stuff sack that packs up far too large and long (8″ x 17.5″) to fit well in a backpack; you’ll need to supply your own 15L compression sack. Packed into a third-party compression sack, the Husted had a surprisingly sizeable compressed volume of 13.4L, which is substantially bigger than many other bags in our review. Just to compare, the $140 Kelty Cosmic 20 packed down to less than 9L while even the long wide version of the $100 Marmot Trestles 30 packed down to 11L.

Features

This budget backpacking bag is far from no-frills, and in fact, the number of included features was one of the factors that impressed us the most. First on our list was the contoured hood, which has a handy drawstring to cinch it down, as well as a flap to keep the string from hitting your face, and a cord-lock that enables you to uncinch it one-handed. We also appreciated the interior anti-draft collar to trap heat and a two-way zipper with pull tabs and a zipper garage. Those who purchase the left- and right-zip bags should also note that these can be zipped together to form a double-wide. There are also external loops for hanging/storage as well as interior loops for a sleeping bag liner. Oh, and did we mention that the breathable shell has a DWR (durable water repellent) finish?

Despite this, there were still a few areas where we saw room for improvement. There was no stash pocket like you’ll find on some of the more budget-friendly bags on our list, and obviously, we would have preferred the bag’s mesh storage sack was accompanied by a compression sack rather than a stuff sack.

The Bottom Line

As a backpacking sleeping bag, the Big Agnes Husted 20 offers a great deal of value for money. The build quality is without question, and it provides the same level of insulation as bags three times its price. It’s also packed with useful features. We’d almost confuse it for a true ultralight sleeping bag were it not for two factors: its weight and packed size. At more than roughly 3lb and 13.4L compressed volume, it’s clear how Big Agnes was able to keep the cost down on this bag; ultralight thru-hikers are unlikely to give this a second look and will spend the extra money for something smaller and lighter. However, for the rest of us seeking out less ambitious adventures, like a long weekend hiking trip or even just a night of camping, the Husted 20 makes an excellent addition to your outdoor arsenal.

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