What’s in the Box? March Highlight Reel
Spring is here, and with spring comes a chance to get out adventuring in more seasonable temperatures. In this month’s Cairn, subscribers received active essentials and a handful of snack-related goodies perfect for fueling up during spring adventures. This month the team at Cairn offered gals and guys their own unique mix (noted below).
ExOfficio Give-N-Go Bikini Brief (or Boxer Brief)
When we think of the most important clothing items to pack for travel and outdoor adventure, unmentionables might not be first on our list. But as they’re the next-to-skin layer, they should certainly be near the top. The team at ExOfficio recognized the importance of designing underwear specifically for travel and, as part of this month’s Cairn box, subscribers received a pair of gender-specific travel-inspired unmentionables.
The Women’s Give-N-Go Bikini Briefs are lightweight, breathable, and soft. They also dry quickly, making them ideal for washing in the sink while globe-trotting. The fabric is designed to be odor-resistant, but don’t expect miracles. I found ExOfficio underwear runs large across the board; I’m normally a medium and found the medium briefs a bit too big. Regardless, they’re well made, still look new after multiple washes, and they’re a great addition to any lady traveler’s packing list. If you’re more of a thong gal, ExOfficio has you covered there as well.
McNett Gear Aid Tenacious Tape Repair Patches
There are few things worse than realizing mid-trip that you’ve got a hole in your sleeping pad, your tent fly, your down jacket, or any of your gear, really. Having a patch kit is essential on outdoor adventures, and McNett’s Gear Aid Tenacious Tape Repair Patches, along with the company’s entire line of gear repair products, are great starter items.
The tape is designed to fix rips, holes and gashes in just about any gear. If you’re careful while applying, the patches stick to almost any surface. The clear version of the patches blend in, making the repairs almost invisible, and unlike other types of tape, there’s no sticky residue left behind. You can also find the patches in fun tattoo-themed shapes.
Picky Bars Cookie Doughpness Energy Bar
Oregon-based Picky Bars started with three dreamers – a professional triathlete, a professional runner, and a professional marathoner – hoping to find an energy bar that married both performance and real food attributes. Dates, nut butter, and other carefully chosen ingredients are combined to create energy bars that are designed to provide the perfect amount of carbohydrates and protein (4:1 ratio) to help you fuel and recover from your next adventure. They’re also gluten, dairy, and soy free.
But how do they taste? I gave the Cookie Doughpness bar a try and it was absolutely delicious. It tasted more like a cookie than an energy bar, and the crispy brown rice cereal gave the bar a satisfying crunch. Check the card in your Cairn box for a coupon code to order more if you just can’t get enough.
Aloe Up White Collection Therapeutic Moisturizer (gals)
Even though we celebrated the first day of spring already, if your skin is still in need of a little post-winter TLC, you're in luck. Aloe Up's White Collection Therapuetic Moisturizer is formulated for folks who live in dry climates, but no matter where you are, it's worth a try.
The lotion goes on smoothly, doesn't leave a white residue behind, and doesn't take ages to absorb. It also doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy like other deep moisturizing lotions can. The lotion has a slightly sweet, subtle scent, but isn't overpowering. The aloe vera gel, cocoa seed butter and shea butter formula left my skin feeling soft and smooth. It's also Paraben-Free.
Honey Stinger Organic Gingersnap Waffle
We saw a familiar product in March’s Cairn box. If you were among the original Cairn subscribers, you’ll remember we got to try Honey Stinger Waffles in Cairn’s first box. Though the original Honey Waffle is always a winner, the Gingersnap Waffle in this month’s box is a seriously delicious snack.
With a thin layer of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and molasses sandwiched in between two thin, crunchy waffles, the Gingersnap Waffle is impossible not to love. I enjoyed my sample as a post-workout snack, given they’re relatively high in carbohydrates, but I could see them being ideal with a cup of coffee in the morning, or for quick energy on the trail.
Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews (guys)
When it comes to fueling adventures that are long in duration and don’t allow you to eat much in the way of solid food, i.e. marathons and triathlons, finding something you can keep down that’ll give you the energy you need is paramount. Even when I’m backpacking, I find I’d rather look to snacks for quick energy than stop for a meal.
Between all the gels and gummies out there, it’s a matter of testing and finding what works for you, but Honey Stinger’s Energy Chews are definitely worth a look. The Orange Blossom chews tasted like sweetened orange juice; they’re on the edge of candy-like. They’re palatable, softer than gummy bears, and won’t stick to your teeth. They chews are also gluten free, Vitamin C fortified, and organic. Drop them in your pack when you’re looking for quick energy.
What are you most excited about in the March box? If you’re not a Cairn subscriber, which item would you most like to try? Leave a comment!