5 Gear Subscription Box Ideas for Mother’s Day
Curated products for the activities your mom loves
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Getting a gift for your mom on Mother’s Day is great, but surprising her every month is even better. Signing her up for a subscription box service is a delightful way to show her you’re thinking about her all year. It’s also an opportunity to get her gear at a discount—subscription services often partner with brands to include gear at prices lower than what they’d normally cost. But how do you pick the right one? These days, companies deliver monthly installments of everything from houseplants to vegan jerky. We selected five of our favorites, each well-suited for a variety of outdoor enthusiasts. It’s not necessary to commit to a yearly or even monthly subscription for any of these services. You can see if Mom likes the box with a one-time delivery, then re-up the subscription if she’s into it.
Cairn
Price: From $30
Delivery Frequency: Ships three days after initial order; subsequent boxes arrive during the middle of the month.
This company curates boxes based on an individual’s specific outdoor interests. When you sign up, Cairn prompts you to fill out a brief survey of the giftee’s favorite activities. The items in each delivery range from gear and apparel to food and skin care products. If your mom’s getting into backpacking, perhaps she’ll receive a Klymit X inflatable camp pillow or a Serac camping hammock for the trail. She won’t know what’s in the box before it arrives—that would ruin the surprise!—but Cairn partners with reputable companies like Black Diamond, Cotopaxi, and Hydro Flask to deliver gear at a discount. At Outside, we like this service so much that we collaborated with Cairn last summer and picked out gear for three different adventure kits.
The Rider Giftbox
Price: $32
Delivery Frequency: Ships same day if ordered before 1 p.m.; arrives two to four business days later.
If your giftee has a penchant for running, cycling, snacking, or snacking while cycling, the Rider Giftbox is a good fit for her lifestyle. This service is staffed by athletes who handpick endurance and fuel products for each box to help cyclists and runners gear up for high-output days and recharge afterward. Each shipment contains up to 15 items, including snacks from brands like Skratch Labs and Tailwind Nutrition, both of which were included in our roundup of the best fuel of 2019.
YogaClub
Price: From $45
Delivery Frequency: Arrives as a one-time gift, but recipient can renew it monthly.
If the mom in your life is a bona fide yogi, gym shark, or a proponent of athleisure, this is the service to get her. All you have to do is take a quick quiz on her behalf and YogaClub’s stylists do the rest. Workout apparel from brands we love, like Columbia, Manduka, and Beyond Yoga, will be delivered right to her doorstep. The Guru box ($79) has three items: leggings, a sports bra, and a tank. There’s also a $65 option that includes two pieces and a $45 box that contains a pair of leggings. If she receives an item she’s not in love with, returns are free.
Lucky Tackle Box
Price: From $16
Delivery Frequency: Monthly; ships three business day after ordering; subsequent boxes arrive monthly based on the first ship date.
Is your mom trying to spend more time in her waders? Lucky Tackle has a variety of boxes, ranging from a $16 option with five baits to a $37 kit with up to 16. Sign-up is easy: First, specify the type of fish the giftee is angling for. (This company typically focuses on bass, but there’s a range.) Then, choose the box size you want delivered––Regular, XL, or Tournament. Finally, pick a delivery frequency, ranging from a one-time drop to once a month. No matter which box you choose, your recipient will get a steep discount on bait.
Nomadik
Price: From $32
Delivery Frequency: Ships between the 24th and 27th of each month.
A one-time delivery from this service costs $32, but the retail price of everything inside is guaranteed to be more than $50. Nomadik is the subscription we recommend giving to a mom who spends her weekends on the trails. This company provides gear upgrades, like drysacks and hydration bladders, that are crucial for outdoor endeavors. To sign up, fill out a brief profile on the recipient’s behalf, emphasizing her hobby of choice. Past boxes have included gear specifically designed for use at base camp, on long hikes, and for weekend camping trips. If your mom isn’t into what she receives, she can return it for a refund.