Before I get Cairn Box #6, I figure I’d best post my notes on #5 (August).
luminAID PackLite 16 Value: $25.
What they say: “This waterproof, inflatable, lightweight lantern provides up to 16 hours of consistent LED light. Use it at night to light up your campsite, then recharge in the sun during the day. A new and improved version of their original, and light-years ahead of white gas or propane.”
What I say: I’ve lit it up and the concept works well, emitting a soft glow over the area. Seems perfect for setting in a tent’s gear loft and it does pack down small and light. My concern would be that if I wasn’t stationary long enough to let it recharge in the sun, there’s no alternate means of power it. That and I never fully trust those heat welded seams for longevity.
My valuation: The $25 (confirmed by on Amazon) seems a bit high for a lantern. I’ve been considering one of the Black Diamond Orbit models which seem to go on sale for around $15. It’s definitely smaller, but with my concerns stated, I’m not sure if this is better or worse.
The Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide Value: $10.
What they say: “Don’t panic! This handy book outlines the essential techniques you need to cope with a short-term survival situation, and we don’t mean the kind that involves no wi-fi or a dead battery.”
What I say: I can’t see every carrying these books into the woods, and I always suspect the information in them can be gleaned equally well from any number of web sites out there. Still, could be interesting.
My valuation: Meh, $4
Kate’s Real Food Grizzly Bar Value: $3.
What they say: “The combination of smooth dark chocolate, sweet blossom honey, chewy dried fruit, and creamy peanut butter make the Grizzly Bar an adventure in every bite.”
What I say: I think they’ve included one of the Kate’s Real Food bars before and I recall it being pretty good. I’ll add this to the trail food stash.
My valuation: $1.50 – standard bar valuation
Qancha by Nazqiz Value: $2.50
What they say: “A taste of the Peruvian Andes in the form of air toasted heirloom chulpe corn, lightly coated in avocado oil and seasoned with sea salt.”
What I say: I was going to write this off as a bag of air, but then they had to put avocado oil on it. Now, I’m actually interested in trying it. I’m am a little annoyed by the lack of u’s following their q’s.
My valuation: $1.25 – vending machine rate for a bag of popcorn (this isn’t actually popped).
Conclusion: As listed, the content’s value is $40.50. I would put the value of the contents at around $22.75.
And then!: This was one of the promotional cards in last month’s box. Usually I just dismiss these as you would any advertisement, but this is something that I would really like to see in a box. Unfortunately, they appear to start at $65, so they’re probably a bit out of the price range for a $25 Cairn Box.
