Cairn Subscription Box Review

So after reviewing the Nomadik Subscription Box a while back and being disappointed, I was hesitant to spend my own money on the Cairn Subscription Box, but I took the plunge. I ordered a six-month subscription and waited four months until I decided to give my opinion of it.

Watch Video of Box Layout

I’ve included my video below if you would like to see everything I received over those four months.

About Cairn Subscription Box

Before we get into my review of the Cairn Subscription Box, let’s talk about what it is and what they offer.

Monthly Outdoor Subscription Box: Each monthly box is expertly curated with tested outdoor products.

Free Shipping: All boxes have free shipping within the United States.

Discounts: Pay for a 6 month or year subscription and get a discount off each monthly box.

Full Sized Items: All items are full sized. You will never receive trial size items.

Value: Each monthly box is valued at up to $50. The current monthly subscription price is $29.95.

Types of Items: You typically receive 3 items from the following categories (so far in each box, at least one item has been from the Food & Energy category) :

APPAREL: Socks, Gloves, Beanies
GEAR: Lighting, Hydration, Cookware
FOOD & ENERGY: Energy bars, Trail snacks, Drink mixes
SKINCARE: Sun products, Insect repellants, Lip balms
EMERGENCY: First-Aid kits, Firestarters, Navigation tools

Items I Received

So I completely forgot to take a picture of my boxes and had to snag these three pictures from the Cairn website (they didn’t have a picture of one of my boxes) but this will give you an idea (or watch the video above).

What I Liked About Cairn Subscription Box

The price of $29.95/month, I feel, is a great price for the type of items you receive. The items are definitely not junk. I also like the fact that you fill out a profile once you sign up so they can curate a box for you. Shipping happens around the same time every month, so I know when to expect it.

I have found several items that will come in handy for upcoming camping trips and even items for my husband when he goes on FEMA missions, that I otherwise would have not known or thought about.

My Dislikes

So something I noticed when trying to research the items I received, is that at least one item (the sleeping bag liner) is no longer made, which tells me this is “older” gear that is being sent so to speak. To me, that seems weird since the Cairns Subscription Box website states ” Access to fresh, best-in-class products (never overstock or close-outs)”. With that statement, I take it to mean that they only send gear that is still in production, but I guess not.

Another dislike of the Cairn Subscription Box is that one of the 3 items always sent is some type of food or consumable item. I wish there was an option to have those items replaced with something else as these items are not something I would buy or eat….ever.

Overall Impression

Overall, I enjoy the box and do plan to continue my subscription (at least until I leave for the Appalachian Trail again).

Sign Up

If you would like to sign up for the Cairn Subscription Box, you can do so here (this is my affiliate link and I will earn a small commission to help keep my site going, but it costs nothing extra on your part).

Sign up for the regular monthly box – This is the $29.95 box.

Sign up for the Obsidian Collection – This is a quarterly box with a value of over $300 and includes 5-10 items.

Buy a Gift Subscription – Know someone that loves the outdoors but have no idea what to get them? This is the perfect present!

Have you tried the Cairn Subscription Box? If so, comment below and let us know what you thought!