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Cairn Outdoor Subscription Box Review + Coupon – August 2019

Christen Russo
ByChristen RussoAug 22, 2019 | 3 comments

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. 

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

Check out our review of the "Hammock Collection" welcome box to see what will be included.

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 US for free, Canada for $5, and internationally for $10

Cairn August 2019 "Active Pursuits" Review

As always, this month's box includes a copy of Cairn Scout, which gives the lowdown on the month's products, subscriber perks, the Adventure Upgrade, the Obsidian box, and more. Check out the Cairn blog for some great tips and pieces on outdoor-related topics.

BlackStrap Daily Tube Multifunctional Sun Mask - Retail Value $19.99 

The first item I pulled out of my August Cairn subscription is the dark horse must-have for any adventurer. I first used one for snowboarding endeavors; less to keep me warm and more to protect my skin from wind burn. This BlackStrap "daily tube" (hilarious name!) is meant for sun protection with a UV 96%+ rating, though it could certainly be used all year. It's light, stretchy, and breathable, but would layer well if you needed it for warmth.

You could certainly wear it as a headband, bandana-style, or as a neck warmer, but I felt you needed to see it modeled as a hood. Very cozy. The camper pattern I received doesn't appear to be currently available on the BlackStrap site, so I linked to a sort-of similar one above, featuring a design that I think might be by the same artist. But there are over 100 different designs from a variety of artists, so if you're interested in buying one, you should take your time browsing.

Point6 Ghost Runner Ultra Light Merino Wool No-Show Socks - Retail Value $17.95

I'm not sure at what point I became a sock snob, but I am all-in on Merino wool and I'm slowly bringing my friends and family one-by-one into the light. I love them for their moisture-wicking qualities, their comfort, and their quality. They aren't cheap, but they last a long long time, and honestly I don't even always wash them between wears because they miraculously don't tend to smell.

Here's a gratuitous image of my sock-clad foot. I like their height and their cushiony heel tabs.

Defunkify Active Wash Laundry Detergent Tabs, Unscented, 5 packets - Buy a 10-packet bag here for $9.99

On the other hand, one thing that can most certainly not go two wears before washing is literally anything that touches my husband's body during a workout. These laundry tabs use enzymes to deodorize. I haven't had the chance to give them a try yet, but I have used enzymes in laundry before and it's been somewhat miraculous, so I look forward to giving these a try! I like the tab form, too.

Honey Stinger Organic Energy Gel, Mango Orange - Buy a box of 24 here for $36.00

Big Honey Stinger fans over here! We are most fond of the waffles for obvious reasons, but sometimes a gel is just the most efficient way of getting fuel. I generally find all flavors of gels to be overwhelming, but easily washed down with water. When I told my husband I got a Honey Stinger gel in my Cairn box he reacted with excitement, and the next morning it was gone. He reported that the flavor was good and sort of creamsicle-ish.

Verdict: I'm happy with every item that came in this month's Cairn box! I'm most excited about the new pair of socks, but know I'll get great use out of the Daily Tube, too. And, household items 'n' consumable goods are always welcome here, as they don't add clutter!

This box costs $29.95, which includes free shipping, and the contents add up to about $45, which I calculated using estimated values for the laundry tabs and gel. That feels like a fair deal to me!

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. 

Check out our review of the Hammock Collection welcome box to see what will be included.

Value Breakdown: This box cost $29.95 + free US shipping, but I estimate it contained $45 worth of product. That breaks down to approximately $11.25 per item.

Check out all of our Cairn reviews, and learn more about our readers' favorite fitness boxes.

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

What do you think of Cairn this month? Did you get the same items as I did?

Christen Russo
Christen Russo

Hi there, I'm Christen. I am all sorts of things:

🌳 a writer who loves to convey feeling

🌲 a mother who wants to have just as much fun as my kids do

🌳 an outdoors-lover who's achieved #1000hoursoutside with my family

🌲 a low-maintenance self-carer

🌳 a general hungry person with an unstoppable sweet tooth

You'll find me collecting stationery and squirreling away stickers, riding bikes and swimming with my family, creating outfits in colors and silhouettes that make me feel amazing, wearing big earrings, drinking beer and asking my husband to feed me harmonies to sing, taking my vitamins, living for dancing to live music, roping everyone into a craft, being human and vulnerable, and celebrating the phenomenon of being alive.

...and doing it all with energy, delight, and jokes along the way.


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3 comments

DawnS

Great review, I agree tons of fun!

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Susie

This was a fun review to read. Love the humor! Thank you!

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Christen Russo

Thanks for giving my review a read, Susie!

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