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Cairn Subscription Box Review – May 2016

Anna Rodriguez
ByAnna RodriguezMay 21, 2016 | 11 comments

cairn-may

Outside Discovery Collection
3.9 overall rating
10 Ratings | 6 Reviews

Cairn is a subscription service that delivers outdoor gear every month. They bill their service as "Your Monthly Box of Outdoor Discovery." The trees are in full bloom down here in the South, and we are outdoors as much as possible!

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

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The Subscription Box: Cairn

The Cost: $25 per month with discounts for 3-, 6-, and 12- month subscriptions

The Products: "A recurring delivery of outdoor related products sent to your doorstep! Get introduced to new brands and products, including gear, apparel, nutrition/energy, skincare, and more."

Ships to: US for free, internationally for an additional price

Check out all of our Cairn box reviews and the Lifestyle Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of your subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

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When I signed up for Cairn, they asked me to do a huge questionnaire for customization purposes. It asked questions about the types of outdoor activities I like, and I chose hiking, camping (car), backpacking, and yoga. They had loads of options, though, like rock climbing, mountain biking, fishing -- just about everything I could think of! They also asked a few lifestyle questions (kids? dogs?) plus basics like t-shirt size.

All this leads me to believe that contents may vary from subscriber to subscriber, so if you subscribe but get different things, please let me know!

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This is the info card that came in the package, listing out all the contents.

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Nectar Sunglasses - Value $34.99

The lenses of these sunglasses are actually highly reflective with a slight green cast. I have to apologize because I photoshopped the lenses - they were too reflective! I couldn't get a good picture of them without also getting a good, very clear picture, of a lot of other stuff. In any case, these are really nice Wayfarers that have a lightweight memory frame.

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Flowfold Minimalist Wallet - Value $10

Just one pocket holds an ID, a credit card, and a few bills. This wallet is as simple as they come, and is pretty much all you need in the great outdoors. I hope I remember to use it - it's so thin and lightweight!

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onXmaps Roam App Membership - Value $9.99

This card entitles me to a one-year membership on the ROAM app. It turns my iPhone into a dedicated GPS unit, and it has the most complete mapping of trails and outdoor spaces ever created! The even cooler part is that it works offline, too! I have no idea how, but that's so awesome!

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Chapul Chaco Bar - Value $3

I always knew the time would come when I would get one of these food bars made from crickets in a subscription box. Now I don't know what to do. On the one hand, I believe in them as a great alternative protein that's a lot more sustainable than livestock. But on the other hand... ewwwww....

Verdict: We love our Cairn subscription! We have discovered so many new and useful products for our camping and hiking adventures through Cairn. Everything this month is great, and I think we will use everything except maybe the cricket bar. I just don't know about that yet! The value of everything this month totals $58, which is outstanding!

Do you subscribe to Cairn? What are your outdoor activities? What did they send you?

Starting at $34.99
Subscribe Now

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... read more.

Anna Rodriguez
Anna Rodriguez
Anna has been a fan of subscription boxes since joining Birchbox in 2013, but didn't become a true addict until discovering subscriptions she could share with her children. Her favorites include Kiwi Crate and Fab Kids.

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11 comments

Adrianna

I just subscribed my boyfriend to get Cairn boxes as a graduation present and May was his first month. His box didn’t have any of these items…he got the Eco Vessel Double Barrel Mug, a McGovern & Co Wilderness Survival Bandana, a Nite Ize LED SlapLit and a Honey Stinger Snack Bar. I’m really surprised his box is entirely different.

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Jeannie

I just started my subscription, and May was my first box. It had some things in common with your box, but some things were different. I did not get the sunglasses/wallet but instead got this emergency whistle/firestarted and a really fun pair of arm warmers that you would wear for cycling (which was high on my interests list). So, it looks like it is tailored somewhat. I did get the crickets. 🙂

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Punkykiki

It’s a great time to be vegan!!!!! Honestly, I get plenty of protein from plants…..no need to eat chocolate covered critters or animal parts. ???

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Melissa

My friends is an adventurous eater and her and her kids all say that crickets are tasty. They’ve eaten them covered in various flavors and stuff. I mean knowing them they’d probably eat them live too though ….. at one of the kids birthday parties them and some of the other adult friends there decided it was a good time to dig for and grub on worms for the hell of it. I even avoid eating meat on the bone sooo not me at all Lol

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Anna

Y’all are killing me! Lol! I’ve used crickets as fishing bait, and they’re just so… Squirmy…

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Teresa

It is only Cricket protien, it is not like you are going to find little legs, I would guess it is ground so would not even be able to tell it is there. Personally I would try it just to see, who knows, could end up really liking it.

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Ragan

I would not even try to pawn the cricket bar off on people at my work. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Now you have got me wanting to CAREFULLY read the ingredients on all my subscription box protein bars…

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Jody

hahahaha!!! this review cannot be complete until you EAT THE CRICKETS!!!!! (;

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Anna

Lol Jody! Eeeeeeek!

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Wendy

EAT THE CRICKETS! I tried one- full cricket, freeze dried, dusted with Cheetos powder. Pretty darn good, once I stopped thinking about what I was eating ( on a dare from a six yr old at a science museum-he ate one too). Only drawback was the wee leg in my teeth. JUST KIDDING. About the leg!