I recently signed up for and received two subscription boxes from Battlbox.com, linked through a prepper podcast I've been enjoying, and I thought I'd share my thoughts and experience with the shipment. A lot of people into preparedness turn their noses up at subscription boxes and not for bad reasons at all. As I read on one preparedness forum I'm a member of, most people, "save the money you'd spend on random stuff and use it to buy stuff you actually need." Although I whole heartedly agree with this statement I'm not to the point of writing off subscription prepping boxes just yet.
Most subscription boxes such as these offer tiers of membership. Battlbox themselves offers four tiers; basic, advanced, pro, and pro+. Pricing ranges from $30 per month to $160 a month. There are additional boxes out there (some links at the bottom of this post), but a cursory search and I found TacPack, BespokePost, and Cairn subscription services.
**Please note that most of my assessment and comments have to do with Battlbox and these shipments altogether. Other subscription boxes may offer a different experience for a different value.**
What I got
When I signed up for the subscription I paid for the lowest level, Basic, and went ahead and splurged for the bonus box Battlbox offered. Both boxes came the same day and had the following content.
The Bonus Box
Four items came in the bonus box I received; 100' of paracord, a large camp towel from Grenade Soap, a Zippo Typhoon match kit (award for being the most useful/coolest), and a Colby Valve. Now, I had no idea what a Colby Valve is, but the packaging states it's, "...the only tool-free solution for replacing tire valve stems on-location in 5 minutes or less." This threw me for a serious loop. I've never had the need to replace a tire-valve stem, but I suppose if I had a bug out vehicle/golf-cart type of ride, this may come in handy at times.
The Standard Box
Again, four items (probably the standard), which included a cordage micro tool (used for shredding plastic bottles into cordage, apparently), four CamJam cord tighteners, a book; The Emergency Survival Manual by Outdoor Life, and a Buri drop point knife by Gear Aid. Fun fact! of the four items in this box, I already had two! The CamJams, which I'd bought from a local Tractor Supply and the book, which I'd picked up about a year ago at a local book store. I wasn't that upset about the CamJams; they're certainly something I can use more of (like firestarters), but the book indicated to me that I'd reached some level of peak saturation in one degree of my preps. Am I that addicted? (yeah, probably). Of course I don't blame Battlbox for these duplicates. They have no way of knowing what I have in my inventory.
Professed Value
One of the major pushes for subscription boxes is that you get more in gear value than what you actually paid for the box. I paid $30 for this month's subscription, for instance, and the knife alone is valued at that. The slight rub on this is the 'value' of the items indicated is tagged at the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) which, come on, everybody knows is over inflated already. Sheesh. Off the shelf at your local sporting goods store, that same knife would probably run you $25, and I saw a similar blade online for $10 off. The CamJams I'd bought were on sale for $5 to $7 dollars for the same four pack on clearance. The book has an MSRP of $29.99, though I paid less than $15 for it at my local book store.
Dollar amount aside the quality of items in the boxes is overall high. From what I've seen and heard, specifically from Battlbox, this stuff's not junk. It tends to be mid-to-top quality gear. Add to that the fact that some of the items I may not typically find on my own, or even think about looking for. As an example, though I've not tested it yet, a small tool that can shred a plastic bottle into useful cordage is pretty slick.
Why Subscribe?
In general I can think of two good reasons to subscribe to a service like this.
You Can Afford It and Enjoy Monthly Intrigue.
This one may fall under the category of "wealthy prepper", but some folks may be able to chuck away the $30+ dollars a month for gear that's delivered right to their door. If you are already secure in your preparedness, have the financial resources to be a little frivolous, and enjoy a monthly "surprise", getting a subscription box may be or you. As you can see in the boxes I received I at least achieved the dollar value (MSRP, that is), I paid for in the box within one or two items. The rest was cheddar.
You're Brand New to Preparedness and Aren't Sure Where to Start.
Over the course of weeks, months, or years, we people who are into preparedness accumulate quite a bit of gadgets and do-dads we can use to form sufficient kits and bags. I've gathered quite a bit of books and knowledge over time as well, but to someone brand spanking new to prepping it can seem overwhelming the amount of gear and raw knowledge needed to become sufficiently self reliant. A monthly box of gear can give you a good place to start, and kicks off that trend of gathering the right kind of gadgets and toys.
Looking at the two boxes I received in my first shipment, for instance, and we can see a new prepper would have a few essentials already; cordage, fire-starting capability, a decent knife, and a book to start a foundation of knowledge. Honestly, this is not too bad at all, and even aligns with Battlboxes claimed philosophy of providing materials and items useful in the Survival 13 key by Daniel Dabbs. To a brand new prepper, this is a great start and I commend Battlbox for being this thoughtful.
Why or When Not to Subscribe?
Money is usually a factor when prepping and some of us simply don't have the funds to burn $30 a month on unknowns, especially if we have a dedicated plan where that $30 can be more precisely applied. Even for a newer prepper who has a detailed plan and who's still building up food stocks or other basics, that $30 can help towards those specific goals much more efficiently.
There is also the question of value. "IF" you had a crystal ball and could see what you're getting in the boxes before they come, it's assured you'd be able to save yourself a little cash shopping around for the same products cheaper. Add to that the fact that inevitably you're going to receive some items that simply aren't practical for your style of preparedness (I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with an emergency tire valve tool.)
Final Thoughts
In the end subscription boxes boil down to how much money you have budgeted for preparations and what your tolerance is for acquiring 'stuff and gear'. If you're a little more experienced and/or know specifically what you want-per-dollar of your prepping budget, these boxes probably aren't for you.
On the other hand if you have the monthly budget to support the subscription cost and are looking to start or increase your preparedness and gear, a subscription box may be both enjoyable and beneficial. Again, my experience with Battlbox, so far, has been pleasant with good-quality gear and the 'surprise me' factor that my personality type is addicted to.
Lastly, these subscriptions aren't contractual, meaning you can literally cancel at any time. If you're still on the fence about whether or not you'd like a subscription box, sign up for a month or two and see how you feel about what you get. The benefit of cancelling any time makes the risk a lot less threatening.
Links
BattlBox (Coupon code; CASUALPREPPERS)
CAIRN (via Amazon)
*Disclaimer; I receive no promotional kick back for these subscription services. Links and review are only provided for the reader's information and entertainment.
Peace!
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