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. It was chosen as one of our favorite subscription boxes for men but is suited to adventurers of all genders.
FYI - COVID-19 Update, from Cairn:
Due to the impacts of COVID-19 on distribution centers, Monthly Cairn Subscribers, as well as Monthly Cairn Gift recipients that are beyond their first month of the gift term, may experience delays of up to two weeks on their Monthly Cairn delivery. Cairn products that are not experiencing shipping delays:
- Initial Cairn Gift deliveries (the first month of the gift term)
- Cairn Apparel
- UnStacked orders
- Obsidian Subscriptions
If you have questions about your order, please email [email protected]
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.
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 U.S. for free, Canada for $5.00, and internationally for $10.00.
Cairn January 2021 "Out There" Review
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The Cairn Scout is back! I missed it last month! This newspaper-style info sheet gives details about what came in your box that month, shares info about upgrades, showcases a community member, and more. The theme for January is "Out There" and includes items that would be useful for hitting either the trail or the road.
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Speaqua Roamer Solar Power Bank
Did I just encounter my favorite item to ever have come in a Cairn box? I think I have. A charging bank is one of those items I keep telling myself I should buy while I'm out in nature and need it most, but then when I get back home I talk myself out of it. The point is to unplug anyway, right? To answer my own rhetorical question: sometimes yes and sometimes no. With age, I realize that there are some rules you should always follow out in the woods (Leave No Trace, for example), and some that you can decide for yourself (when to turn your phone off and be present vs. when to pull out a map app or take photos). This solar bank is the answer to my needs! It has two USB ports covered by a rubbery stopper, and comes with a short micro-USB charging cable. It has a simple green indicator light to show how much charge it's got stored up—nothing high-tech, just simple and straightforward. It also has a slim clip for safekeeping, and arrives with a removable carabiner-keychain attachment with a built-in compass.
This solar power bank is brand-new on the market, to the point that I can't find it anywhere online. It's from the speaker company Speaqua (one of their Cruiser portable speakers came in one of my 2019 boxes—it's small so the sound isn't incredible, but definitely beats a regular iPhone speaker for listening to music by the campfire or on the front porch). So, I'm not sure how much it costs, but similar products seem to retail for $25-$30. It's water-resistant and has a sturdy, grippy case. Here's what Cairn has to say about it. I look forward to using this for camping trips and beyond!
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SOL Survival Blanket — Retail Value $6.99
I file this blanket under something you might not think to keep on hand, but you'll be glad you have it if/when you need it. I'll probably tuck this one in my glove box, and might even buy a 2nd one to keep with our camping gear (or it would make a great stocking stuffer if I can remember it next Christmas). Since I haven't actually used it, I'll let SOL do the talking:
"The most advanced emergency blanket on the market - meticulously designed never to fail when you're counting on it with your life. It all starts with the material, vacuum-metalized polyethylene, that reflects 90% of your body heat while also offering a number of other important features that set it apart from traditional mylar blankets; it opens easily and will not shred if nicked or punctured, rips and tears can be repaired, it is quiet and won't crinkle in high winds, and its high-visibility orange exterior makes it easy for rescuers to find you. Plus, survival tips and techniques are printed directly on the blanket so you have them when you need them. Sized to fit two people."
Sounds to me like this is THE emergency blanket you want to have on hand. For only $7, its thoughtful attributes would go a really long way in a time of need.
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Noka Nut Butters, Chocolate Almond, 1.15 oz — Buy a 10-pack for $21.99 here, or a 10 oz jar for $10.99 here.
Anyone who knows my family knows that nut butter is kind of our purpose for living, and this chocolate nut butter blend is... perfection. It's got MCT oil in the mix, which is especially good if you're on a keto diet, but also a healthy option for non-keto-diets. With the high fat content in both nuts and oil, this is great fuel for a low-intensity workout or adventure. Non-keto followers need a higher sugar content to best fuel higher intensity movement, which this snack doesn't offer with its 2g net carbs and 1g total sugars. That said, it's pretty sweet thanks to the addition of stevia, and if I had any feedback for this snack I'd say I could stand for it to be less sweet. Regardless, I'll probably stock up on a bunch of these (they're available for pre-order now & will arrive in April) because they're basically like eating healthy icing, and I'm very much here for that experience.
Verdict: I'm super happy with my January Cairn delivery! The solar charger is something I've been wanting for a long time, and being sent this one saved me from having to do my own research to find one I like. I appreciate that it doesn't have bells and whistles. The emergency blanket is a great addition to our supply of just-in-case goods and is a quality version of what it is. The nut butter is insanely good and something I'd love to buy more of—yay to Cairn for introducing me to a new awesome snack. This box costs $29.95 (less if you subscribe for longer) + free shipping, and the contents add up to about $35 (using estimated values for the solar charger and single nut butter packet). That's about an average value for Cairn, though sometimes they range higher.
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.
Value Breakdown: This box costs $29.95 + free U.S. shipping, but I calculated that it contained $35.00 worth of goods. That comes down to a value of approximately $9.98 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 receive any of the same items as me?
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