Happy Spring! It's the perfect time to get outside... Cairn is a monthly subscription box that sends members outdoor, 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 identities. In mid-2021 Cairn was acquired by Outside Magazine.
In addition to the monthly subscription, Cairn also offers a premium quarterly box, Cairn Obsidian; UnStacked by Cairn, a unique gear auction site in which prices drop over time; and Kitted, a curated gear “styling” service.
Cairn also has a give-back program called Gear Up, Give Back, where outdoor enthusiasts can send in their retired gear and Gear Fix will repair it and sell it in their shop. The net proceeds are then matched by Cairn and Gear Fix and donated to Outdoors For All, an organization working to enrich the quality of life of children and adults with disabilities through the outdoors.
THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE $34.99 MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
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Spring has officially arrived in Maine and so has my April Cairn box. After a couple of months of larger boxes, we're back to the traditional Cairn box and I'm super stoked about what's inside.
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As always, the first item out of the box is the mailer (formerly the Cairn Scout). This newspaper-style mailer always includes the theme – this month is "Adventure Protection" – as well as a description of each item found inside, info on membership, and excerpts from articles found in Outside Magazine. This month's excerpt is about river safety.
Ready to get moving? Let's see what "Adventure Protection" has in store for us...
CAMP Eyewear Arrowcrest Sunglasses – Retail Value $79.00
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Heck. Yes. Upon opening this month's box I was thrilled to find a pair of CAMP sunglasses. For one thing, these really feel like a high-end item to receive and a nice departure from recent boxes. I could be in the minority here, but I'd rather receive one super useful and high-value item, than a bunch of little things, and this box really fit the bill for me. And for another, I've been on the search for a good pair of sunglasses for hiking, SUP, and running for what feels like forever, and this lightweight pair is perfection. The CAMP sunglasses are made from plant-based bio-plastic, real wood, and have polarized lenses. They look good, they feel good, and I feel good wearing them. I wore them on my first hike of the season and they performed really well. Plus, how awesome is the sleeping bag carry case? They also arrived with a $25 gift card to use on the site, something I'll absolutely be taking advantage of to get my husband a pair.
Karmik Outdoors Lost & Found Decals – Retail Value $39.92 for 4 decals
These gear decals from Karmik Outdoors are made for people who lose things – or are afraid they might lose things. To use them, you register the codes included on each one and then stick them on your gear. If you find yourself separated from your pack, beloved water bottle, or anything else, the person who finds them will be able to get in touch with you – and will earn a reward for their good deed.
Croakies Terra Spec Cord - Retail Value $8.99
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Glasses cords like this Spec Cord from Croakies never fail to make me think of my dad. He always wore them, and now I understand why. Last summer I lost my favorite sunglasses to the depths of a lake when I knocked them off my paddleboard. I've never watched something sink so quickly. This glasses cord is made to keep your sunnies in place. You attach the little rubberized ends to the arms of your glasses and then put them around your neck. Simple. Genius. Effective.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $34.99
If you can't tell, I'm really happy with this month's box from Cairn. The assortment felt thoughtfully curated, high value, and incredibly functional for my needs. I've been looking for a pair of active sunglasses for a while, and the pair from CAMP is exactly what I wanted. The Croakies complimented them well and will ensure I (hopefully) don't lose another pair of glasses to a body of water anytime soon. And the decals will be handy. Hopefully, I don't lose any of my gear, but if I do, I'll keep my fingers crossed that it gets returned and that the person who finds it gets their reward. All in all, this was the perfect box to kick off spring in Maine and I'd love to see more high-value boxes like this from Cairn.
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Other Things You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you will likely receive May as your first box.
Value Breakdown: The value of this box rang in at $127.91, which is much higher than typical boxes. Thank you, Cairn!
What do you think of Cairn this month?
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