Testing new gear has never been easier. Subscription boxes provide a way to have vetted, desirable outdoor gear show up at your doorstep with little effort on your part. While there are hundreds of boxes to choose from — there’s one for just about every outdoor interest — not all of them are created equal. Here, we cut through the fat and gather four that we’re actually excited about and are worth subscribing to.
The Runner Box
For $20 you get 11 to 14 items that are tested by athletes to help runners improve performance. With marathon season looming, it can be a daunting task to try and figure out what your body can eat before, during and after a race. It can also be easy to quickly drop $50 on food to test. This box narrows your list of potential snack buddies on your long run. With partners like RXBAR, Bia and Rise Buddy, there will be snacks you’ve likely heard of before, and some that are brand new. If you’re not a runner, check out the TriBox (for triathletes) or CycleBox (for cyclists), or special edition boxes like the Race Survival Kit, a one-time gift that is ideal for anyone running their first race.
Cairn Obsidian
Cairn’s latest Obsidian subscription box was designed in collaboration with photographer and adventurer Andy Best. The box is geared specifically toward adventure travel and features gear like Black Diamond’s Fineline Stretch Rainshell, Osprey’s Big Kit packable duffel bag and a book designed specifically to spark inspiration to travel: Lonely Planet’s Epic Hikes of the World. The Obsidian box’s ingredients are valued at over $300, but a quarterly subscription will run you just $250 (each quarter). It’s a box full of high-quality gear that will stand up to the rigors a cross-country road trip or backpacking through Europe with ease.
