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Outwell Contour Lux Sleeping Bag Review

Discover how the Outwell Contour Lux sleeping bag, featuring dual temperature ratings, fares on review

Our rating

3

Published: October 12, 2023 at 2:00 pm

Pros:

Warm side and cold side temperature ratings Compression sack included Built-in pillow Opens into a quilt

Cons:

Bulky and heavy Possibly draughty

Our review: This is a generously sized sleeping bag, and if you're a fussy sleeper when it comes to finding your perfect temperature, the cool-side, warm-side design is sure to come in handy.

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Outwell is part of Danish company Oase Outdoors, who also own Robens and Easy Camp. Calling on their Scandinavian heritage, Outwell have been forerunners in the development of comfort-focused home-from-home camping equipment since 1995. The Contour Lux sleeping bag is a dual season sleeping bag that has been designed for campsite camping from the car. It’s two-way temperature ratings give it an element of seasonal flexibility, but it lacks some of the warmth-retaining details of more technical sleeping bags.

Outwell Contour Lux
Image: BBC Countryfile Magazine / Fi Darby

First impressions

The Contour Lux sleeping bag is generously sized but fits relatively easily into its compression sack, which helps reduce its larger pack size. The fabrics, particularly the inner fabric feel soft, and its cool-side, warm-side design is immediately noticeable from the differentiation in filling depth on each side. The dual temperature ratings are clearly indicated on the outside of the bag. The built-in pillow can be zipped off if you want to switch sides or use the bag as a quilt.

How warm is the bag?

Outwell's Contour Lux is a double-sided sleeping bag, which can be turned over to give two different warmth levels. With the thicker side up this bag has a comfort temperature down to -3°C. Turn it over for a warmer comfort rating of up to 15°C and you have a sleeping bag that should be suitable for summer and shoulder-season camping in the UK. Although this bag does have a hood, it doesn’t cinch around the head and there is no shoulder baffle meaning you will lose heat on a colder night.

How comfortable?

This sleeping bag’s inner fabric feels soft enough to remind you of your bedding at home. The outer fabric is crackle-free and reasonably soft. The width of this sleeping bag is super-generous, with plenty of space for leg movement but the regular version would be too short for a taller sleeper. The built-in pillow is a good idea and offers some but perhaps not enough head support. To switch to the warmer side in the night, you must unzip then re-zip the hood. The full-length zip is of reasonable quality and has protective piping on the inside to prevent snagging.

Is the down responsibly sourced?

This sleeping bag does not contain down.

Sustainability?

This sleeping bag is made in China. Both its filling and its fabric are PFC free. Oase Outdoors are working to reduce their emissions and they utilise a range of innovative carbon removal methods to balance the CO2 they do emit.

Are other versions available?

The Outwell Contour Lux sleeping bag comes in several colours with left or right zips. The XL adds an additional 15cm of length and 20cm of width. There is also a double version.

Is it good value?

Perhaps. It’s on the expensive side for a non-technical sleeping bag and too heavy for backpacking but if you tend to sleep cold, it would be a good option.

Best for:

Comfortable home-from-home campsite camping or glamping.

Similar to:

The Easy Camp Moon 200, which is much cheaper but has some advantages over the Outwell Contour Lux. The Moon 200 uses softer fabrics and has a cinching hood, but it doesn’t have as warm or wide a temperature rating as the Contour Lux.


Facts at a glance: Outwell Contour Lux

  • RRP: £71.99
  • Shape: Rectangular
  • Fill: Isofill polyester
  • Weight: 1,700g
  • Packed size: 42cm x 24cm
  • Comfort rating (European standard 13537): Comfort temperature 3°C or 15°C (lower temperature -3°C or 11°C)

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Looking for more options? Check out our roundup of the best sleeping bags for every camper in 2023, tried and tested by the experts at Countryfile.

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