Cairn is a subscription service that delivers outdoor gear every month. They are inspired to enrich and expand the outdoor experience by fostering connections among those who create and enjoy it.
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.)
The Subscription Box: Cairn
The Cost: $29.95 per month with discounts for 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: U.S. for free, Canada for $5, and Internationally for $10
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!
As usual, we get a logo sticker. I’ll be adding it to my growing collection!
Cairn Scout! Featuring all the info we’re used to - full descriptions of each item, coupons from manufacturers, a look at the next Obsidian box (stay tuned for the MSA review!), tips for using your new gear, and more. It is printed on easily recyclable newsprint too.
This month we also get a free item - 4GB of storage on Tribe Pilot, a new adventure planning app. My friends and I normally use a private Facebook group for outdoor trip planning and event tracking, but for those who don’t use Facebook, this seems like a pretty great service!
UCO Air USB Rechargeable Headlamp – Retail Value $34.99
First up this month we get this awesome headlamp from UCO! I’ve had a couple of headlamps in my many years of camping but this one is 100% my new go-to. I am amazed at how light it is (1.6oz), which is obviously due to the fact that it doesn’t need a bunch of heavy batteries to power it. The strap is also super padded and lightweight. I am loving the minimal design, no crazy patterns or logos all over the place. The lumen output maxes at 150, but it can be dimmed easily by turning the crown. If you turn the crown the opposite way, you get a red light mode, which was perfect for checking my camera during some astrophotography without blinding myself. I took this with me this past weekend camping and used it for about 15 minutes to set up my hammock and get situated at our shelter. It was super easy to adjust the velcro strap to fit over my beanie when the temperature dropped. I hadn’t thought to charge it the night before and it started to flicker, so I popped it on my portable USB charger and it was fully charged in no time and lasted me all night. This is one of my favorite items in a subscription box yet!
Hydrapak Stash 750ml Collapsible Bottle – Retail Value $18
Up next we’ve got this collapsible bottle from Hydrapak! It feels like I get a Hydrapak item every couple of months and I’m not complaining - their products are innovative and I get a lot of use out of them. The Stash is an interesting concept that looks to improve on their less structured water storage items. It has a rigid top and base that interlock, so when you twist down the walls of the bottle, everything stays protected from possible punctures. It does require a two-handed approach to drinking and pouring, which isn’t a huge trade-off when you consider the weight and space savings. They claim it can be frozen, which I didn’t test, but I did put some hot water in it just to see. They recommend nothing over 140º, and it seemed to hold up just fine. I love that it takes up next to no space when empty, and was easily clippable to the exterior of my pack. While it is a little smaller than a standard Nalgene, I think the added convenience and lighter weight justifies the higher price.
Skout Organic Argentian Peanut Butter Energy Bar – Retail Value $2.95
Up next we’ve got an energy bar from Skout. This bar was pretty good, it reminded me of the RXBAR since they used dates as the binder. It’s pretty chewy and would make a perfect trail snack. It clocks in at 130 calories and has 4g of protein, and the 10g of sugar comes entirely from the 4 ingredients: dates, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, and sea salt.
Portland Bee Balm - Oregon Mint Scent – Retail Value $2.99
Finally this month we get a tube of lip balm from Portland Bee Balm. This is very reminiscent of a Burt’s Bees lip balm but has a slightly sweeter scent. Made from PNW beeswax, coconut oil, olive oil and peppermint oil, this gave my lips a little tingle after application. I like to apply lip balm when sleeping outdoors as the moving air tends to dry my lips out over the course of the night.
Verdict: As usual, I am very impressed with my Cairn this month. I got an upgrade to some old equipment, and was introduced to a couple of brands I probably wouldn’t have heard of on my own. This month’s value adds up to $58.93, exactly $1 more than September’s box and still a deal for the $29.95 investment.
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.
Coupon - While supplies last, use code TRAILHEAD to get the Trailhead welcome box your first month!
Value Breakdown: At $29.95 for this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Headlamp: $17.80
- Bottle: $9.16
- Energy Bar: $1.50
- Lip Balm: $1.52
What do you think of Cairn this month? Did you get the same items? Alternate colors of the headlamp?
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.