Outwell: Camping Lighting and Shelter Kit for UK Households

If you have come here looking for an Outwell Air Shelter, the short answer is that it is discontinued and out of stock. There is no current listing to order from, and waiting for it to return is not a plan for a household that wants a shelter ready before winter. What Outwell does still list for UK buyers is a small range of camping lighting accessories, including a retrofit lighting kit for its OLS-ready tents and awnings, a bulb set and a lamp¹.

For an ordinary household, the useful question is not whether the Air Shelter comes back but what the brand's kit can do for you in a power cut, a storm or a cold snap, and how to check anything you already own before you depend on it. A shelter in the garden is a place to sit out a power cut or store a few things dry; a battery lamp is light when the mains fails. Neither replaces a torch, a smoke alarm or a carbon monoxide alarm, and neither should be used in a way the maker did not intend.

This page sets out what Outwell makes, what to do if you already own an Air Shelter, how to check a shelter before you rely on it, how support and warranty work for discontinued kit, and how to check for safety notices and recalls. It does not give prices, and it does not rank Outwell against any other maker.

Outwell Air Shelter: discontinued and out of stock

The Air Shelter is not a current product. It is discontinued and out of stock, and the brand's UK pages now lead with lighting accessories rather than shelters. If you arrived here from an old review or a forum thread recommending it, that recommendation is out of date: there is nothing to buy.

That matters for household planning because a shelter is often bought for a specific job, such as a dry place to sit outside in winter or somewhere to keep kit out of the rain during a power cut. If you need that job done this winter, plan around what is actually available rather than around a model that has gone. The emergency kit section sets out what a household should keep ready, and the storms and snow guide covers preparing for bad weather, both without depending on any one brand.

Discontinued does not mean unsafe. It means you cannot buy new stock, spare parts may be harder to find, and any warranty claim will depend on when you bought it and what the maker's terms say. If you own one, the next section is for you.

What Outwell makes for UK households

Outwell's current UK listings in this range are lighting accessories for tents and awnings, plus a lamp. They are camping kit, and they are useful at home mainly because they run on their own batteries rather than the mains.

Lighting for tents, awnings and the home

The OLS Retrofit kit is the item most likely to be restocked. It is a retrofit kit that adds integrated, dimmable interior lighting to OLS-ready tents and drive-away awnings, and it is compatible with OLS-ready tents and awnings¹. The kit contains one zip-in LED strip and one switch unit with mounting fittings for air and poled tents, made from ABS, silicone and polyester¹. The switch is a durable ABS control switch with softly backlit silicone buttons for use at night¹. It is marked NEW 2027 and is listed for pre-order with an expected in-stock date of 15/02/2027¹.

The Epsilon Bulb Set is listed as in stock, in Black & Grey, with product number 651338 and barcode 5709388157720². The Aurelia L lamp is also listed as in stock, with product number 651334 and barcode 5709388157744³.

For a household, the practical point is that these are supplementary lights. They are useful for a tent, a awning or a room where you want a soft light that does not need a socket, but they are not a substitute for a torch kept by the bed or a smoke alarm. The emergency lighting guide explains how to layer torches, lanterns and candles safely, and the power cuts guide covers what to do when the supply fails.

If you already own an Air Shelter

An Air Shelter you already own can still earn its place, but treat it as ageing outdoor kit rather than as guaranteed shelter. Check it before the weather you bought it for arrives, not during it.

Set it up once at home in good light. Look at the fabric for thinning or small holes, the seams for lifting tape, the poles or air beams for cracks, and the pegging points for wear. If any part looks doubtful, do not rely on the shelter in a storm. The storms and snow guide sets out how to prepare before a forecast storm, including checking on those in your community who might need extra help and offering practical support such as help obtaining food or medication⁶.

If you use the shelter as a dry space during a power cut, keep the safety rules that apply to any small enclosed space. Do not run a fuel-burning heater or a barbecue inside it. If you use a portable indoor heating appliance to dry out a damp space, ensure good ventilation⁷. If you change a gas cylinder, do it in the open air, and if that is not possible, open windows and doors to increase ventilation⁸. If clothing is splashed with fuel, change it immediately⁹.

Checking a shelter before you rely on it

A shelter that has sat in a shed for two years is not the same as one that has just come out of the box. Check it in the order that matters: structure first, then weatherproofing, then the ground it will stand on.

1. Set it up at home first. Erect it in good light, in calm weather, and look at every seam and joint. A fault found in the garden is an inconvenience; the same fault found in a storm is a problem.
2. Check the fabric and seams. Look for thinning, small holes and lifting seam tape. If the fabric has gone sticky or brittle, it has aged.
3. Check the poles, air beams and pegging points. Look for cracks and wear, and make sure every peg and guy line is present.
4. Check the ground and the forecast. A shelter on soft ground in a gale will move. The storms and snow guide covers what to do before a storm is forecast⁶.
5. Check on others. Before or when a storm is forecast, check on those in your community who might need extra help and offer practical support, such as help obtaining food or medication, if possible⁶.

If there is debris around after a storm, check the exterior of the property for cracks, and if any part of the building looks unstable, leave immediately¹¹. Wear protective clothing and footwear when clearing up¹¹. If you are checking a neighbour's shelter or home, check for injuries and help yourself before attempting to help others, follow the advice of the emergency services, and do not put yourself or others in danger¹¹.

Support and warranty for discontinued kit

For a discontinued item, support usually means the retailer you bought it from and the maker's own records. Start with the product page for your model, which lists what is in the pack and the materials. The OLS Retrofit kit page, for example, lists the contents and the ABS, silicone and polyester materials¹.

Keep your proof of purchase. The product number and barcode are what let a maker or retailer match your item to the right model. For the Aurelia L lamp these are 651334 and 5709388157744³; for the Epsilon Bulb Set they are 651338 and 5709388157720². If the label has worn off, a photograph of the item sent to the maker or retailer is usually enough for them to identify it.

If a part is not listed on the product page, contact Outwell directly with your model name, product number and proof of purchase. Do not improvise with parts that were not made for the shelter or lamp. For a repair beyond your ability, ask the maker or the retailer rather than attempting a fix that could make the item unsafe.

Safety notices and recalls: how to check

Any electrical item, including a camping lamp or a lighting kit, can be subject to a product recall or safety notice. The official route in the UK is the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) alerts and recalls page⁵. Check it for any appliance you rely on, and check it again when you buy something second-hand.

The fire and rescue services give the same advice across the country. Check your appliances are not subject to a product recall by checking the Office for Product Safety and Standards alerts and recalls page¹². Periodically check for any product recalls or safety notices related to your specific model¹⁴. For white goods, check for recalls or safety notices on the Electrical Safety First website¹⁵. You can also use Electrical Safety First's online product checker to see if any of your appliances have been recalled¹⁶.

If you are concerned about the safety of a product that does not appear on the recall list, stop using it and make your concern known to the retailer, the manufacturer or, if not known, your local Trading Standards office¹⁷.

For a household, the recall check belongs in the same routine as the smoke alarm test. You are more at risk from a fire when asleep, so check your home before you go to bed¹⁸. That check should include anything you have plugged in or charged, including camping lights.

Where to get help

If you need help during an emergency, the first call is the emergency services where there is a risk to life. For non-emergency health advice, use the NHS 111 service. For practical support at home, your local council and community groups are the route.

Check on neighbours, especially those who may have difficulty getting out or getting supplies in bad weather or in an emergency¹⁹. Check in on vulnerable neighbours and, if you can, offer to share blankets, clothing or other supplies such as food²⁰. Keep in touch with people who may be at risk and ask if they need practical help or are feeling unwell so that you can support them²¹.

If you are worried about keeping warm, check whether you are entitled to any extra support for winter fuel bills or additional insulation for your home before it gets too cold²². In cold weather, the Mayor of London's winter homelessness measures include opening shelters throughout winter when temperatures are forecast to be 0°C and doubling the number of street outreach workers, bringing support to rough sleepers where they need it²³.

For community schemes, your local council's resilience team can point you to what is running in your area. The community resilience guide explains how neighbours and local groups organise, and the extra help guide covers older, disabled and medically dependent households.