Cairn is a monthly subscription box that sends members outdoors, adventure, and fitness gear. Cairn's goal is to enrich your outdoor adventures by connecting you with best-in-class products.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Cairn
The Subscription Box: Cairn
The Cost: $29.95 per month with discounts for 6- and 12-month subscriptions
Check out our review of the "Hammock Collection" welcome box to see what will be included.
The Products: Outdoor gear, including apparel, nutrition/energy products, skincare, and other essentials to keep you prepared and comfortable on your adventures.
Ships to: The US for free, Canada for $5, and internationally for $10
Cairn February 2020 "Expert Level" Review
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Ah, how this month's sunny Cairn Scout images have me dreaming of warmer weather. I generally embrace winter and all that it brings, but late February is around the time when I begin to feel done. This edition of the Scout gives a shout out to the Obsidian upgrade, charitable initiatives, a list of products in your subscription, a community feature, and more.
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Gear Aid Camp Line Kit - Retail Value $31.50
Well if this isn't a nifty little kit for hanging things at your campsite! This set provides the paracord, snazzy carabiners, and line tension doohickeys necessary to setup a sturdy line for hanging laundry, lanterns, packs, or whatever else you wish—all in a nice drawstring bag printed with reminder instructions (there are more detailed instructions on the inside of the packaging). It's pretty compact with everything in its bag, and I like that this system teaches you how to make use of certain knots. I would definitely hang some camp lights along the line to create a little campsite magic.
It's definitely fun to dream about using this kit, but I personally am not going to be doing any camping here in Pennsylvania for a couple more months, so this kit may have been something I'd be more excited to get out and use had it been sent along in a spring Cairn shipment.
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Gear Aid Seam Grip WP Waterproof Sealant and Adhesive - Retail Value $7.95
This little tube of sealant can be used to repair or waterproof up to 12 feet of tent! You truly never know when you'll need something like this, so it's a nice item to have on hand that doesn't take up much space. One funny quirk is that the Gear Aid website shows someone applying it wearing rubber gloves, which don't come included with the kit, and I personally don't carry rubber gloves along in my camping gear, so I guess I'd just have to be careful not to get it on my hands.
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Ignik Hand Warmers - Buy 10 pairs for $19.99
I'll say this: anyone fighting their way through winter without the help of hand warmers is suffering unnecessarily! That little tiny heat source goes a long way, even toward the end as it becomes less powerful. I've never used this brand of warmers, but I'm impressed by their promise of 10 hours of heat. I noticed this brand also carries 24-hour ones, which would be great for folks unlike me who are game to brave the bitter cold for camping or backpacking adventures. They carry device warmers, too, which is great if you're relying on an app to navigate the trails. While these warmers are air-activated, they didn't active in the minute-or-so that I had them out of their bag to take this picture before putting them back in their resealable bag. So you do have a little wiggle room.
Verdict: February's Cairn subscription sent me two items I'll store away for use in the spring, and one that I'm happy to welcome into my life to use sometime in these last weeks of winter. So, like I mentioned above, there will be a bit of a gratification delay with the big ticket item this month, which made this shipment a little less exciting for me than some of the past. They're interesting and useful items nonetheless.
This box costs $29.95, including free shipping, and the contents add up to $41.45 (using an estimated cost for 1 pair of hand warmers). That's not the most outstanding value I've ever experienced with this sub, but it's still good in my opinion!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Based on their subscription model, your items may vary based on your survey responses and boxes you have received in the past.
Check out our review of the Hammock Collection welcome box to see what will be included.
Value Breakdown: This box cost $29.95 + free US shipping, but I estimate it contained $41.45 worth of product. That comes down to a value of approximately $13.82 per item.
Check out all of our Cairn reviews, and learn more about our readers' favorite fitness boxes.
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What do you think of Cairn this month? Did you get any of the same items as me?
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