Warm weather is here... the best time of year to get outside in Maine (in my opinion) or wherever you happen to live – and Outside Discovery Collection (formerly Cairn) is here to help. Outside Discovery Collection is a monthly subscription box that sends members outdoor, adventure, and fitness gear. Outside Discovery Collection’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 and there have been several changes to the box that have taken place since then – most notably the official switch to a new name: Outside Discovery Collection.
Outside Discovery Collection 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 Outside Discovery Collection 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 especially meaningful to me as a subscriber because I've seen the impact the outdoors have had on a family member with profound disabilities.
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
1 of 2
I'm going to be honest, I don't completely know what's going on with Outside Discovery Collection right now. The subscription hub is missing from the website and has been replaced with the Outside Shop, where you can purchase gear and subscribe to Outside. I did some digging on social media, on Google, on the Outside blog... and can't seem to find out where subscriptions currently stand. I hope they haven't canceled them.
That said, there were some notable changes to the package this month! "Cairn" has officially been replaced by Outside Monthly Discovery Collection and the Cairn Scout is looking really different...
1 of 2
The newsprint mailer is officially gone (RIP) and has been replaced by a small postcard-sized insert. On the front, we see the theme for the month (Noshin' In Nature) and on the back, we have info on the items we'll find within. It's simple and I would imagine more economical (and perhaps environmentally?) than the larger mailers and while I enjoyed having a bit more to read each month (I was enjoying the on-theme article excerpts they'd been including), I like this change.
Hungry for more? Let's see what "Noshin' In Nature" actually means...
UCO Gear Eco 5-Piece Mess Kit – Retail Value $29.95
1 of 6
I live by the AHS rule: Always Have Snacks. I actually just made that up, but it's not incorrect. Snacks make life – and outdoor adventures – better. They just do. I find mess kits like this one from UCO gear to be super handy for so many things: Hiking, surfing, SUP, days at the office, car trips... basically, anytime you're going to need a snack or a meal. No need to mess around with baggies or unreliable packaging – this container, made from food-grade recycled materials, keeps everything contained and even comes with utensils. The lid locks for extra security and the included spoon/fork/knife can be separated or connected and then secured to the container when not in use. The container itself is the perfect size for a sandwich and some fruit or veg sticks, or anything else you could imagine – except maybe soup. I brought this with me for my first day out on my SUP board and it was perfect.
Fozzils Snapfold Flex Cutting Boards – Retail Value $9.95
1 of 4
I caught my husband, who's a chef, testing out these cutting boards on a recent morning and they won his seal of approval, so I have a feeling these will end up being used primarily by him. These cutting boards are the perfect size for car camping or even keeping in your backpack on hikes to use as cutting and eating surfaces. I like the map design on them and the fact that they fold and snap together so easily. The smaller cutting board can even be used as a scraper.
Outdoor Element Camp Kitchen Cleaning Kit - Retail Value $6.95
1 of 4
This cute little cleaning kit is the perfect size for a camp kitchen. It includes 2 silicone sponges and a dishtowel made from recycled plastic. The sponges are great for pack-and-go because they don't hold on to water like a regular sponge, and the towel is a perfect size – not too big, not too small. I'm excited to bring this with us on our next camping trip!
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $34.99
I'm really happy with this month's curation! All of the items work well together, but I'm also excited to use them separately. The mess kit is something I'll use for so many things, from beach days to packing lunch for the office, and the cutting boards are just as handy – I imagine my husband and I will use them on hikes and for camping trips this summer. The camp kitchen kit will be so useful on those camping trips, too. While this month's value rang in quite a bit lower than last month's curation, I'm really happy with how focused and thoughtful it is. Another winning month from Outside Discovery Collection.
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 would most likely receive June as your first box.
Value Breakdown: The value of this box rang in at $46.85, which is on-par with most monthly boxes from Outside Discovery Collection.
What do you think of this month's box? Have you heard anything about the monthly subscriptions?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.