Cairn vs REI

What is Cairn?

 In non-formal terms, it’s a $30 box that arrives once a month and contains active-outdoor related gear, products, and food, usually 3-6 products related to camping or hiking. As a subscription service, they are inspired to enrich and expand the outdoor experience by fostering connections among those who create and enjoy it. Cairn offers an Obsidian box that arrives quarterly and is substantially more expensive, and contains much more expensive products, than their standard monthly subscription.

 Like any subscription box, you sign up to receive a monthly box on the Cairn website. You can choose to pay monthly, or purchase a 6 or 12 month subscription all at once for a discount. Each box has a value of about $50.

 Subscriptions start at $29.95 a month. There is no shipping fee for boxes shipped inside the US. If you live in Canada, shipping will cost you $5. You’ll pay $10 for shipping if you live anywhere else in the world. Once you’ve purchased a subscription, you fill out a profile that helps them tailor the box to you.

What is an REI subscription?

 REI Co-Op offers lifetime memberships for only $20. Unlike Cairn, this subscription offers perks other than tangible goods. Membership benefits include:

 -discounts on REI adventures

-inclusion in TripAssure

-inclusion in non-profit work

-$100 REI gift card upon approval for an REI Mastercard

Not only is REI beneficial to you, it’s a seriously eco-friendly and socially aware company. Its members are out there. Not just outside doing what they love, but out there rebuilding trails, defending public lands, opting outside on Black Friday. With their REI garage sale alone, 749,719 imperfect items were repurposed. That means less gear in landfills!