Thread title says enough. I’m browsing around and considering signing up for a subscription box. My wife has one through some fitness site and gets a box every month full of nice workout stuff like water bottoes, small equipment like resistance bands, clothing, etc. There are several EDC/Tactical/Manly types out there such as Blade and Barrel, BattlBox, Never Enough Tactixal, and several others. Just curious if anyone has ever tried one they liked.

For the unfamiliar, the premise is that you pay a flat fee every month ($30-$100 depending on the service and the plan you select) and they send you a box full of gear, usually 4-10 pieces. In the genre I’m looking at, it could be knives, flashlights, sunglasses, gun parts, gloves, hats, shirtz...you name it. Just kind of a fun thing to look forward to each month.

I don't understand the point at all.

Essentially you hire a company to send you a box every month that you don't know what it contains other than a certain theme or category of items. Am I understanding the service correctly?

I'll stick with Amazon for now, I think.

I guess it is an interesting way to find new gear that you wouldn't otherwise have discovered or bought on your own, but it seems like an awfully expensive way to do it, especially since I imagine you will only truly like or need a small percentage of what gets shipped.

I prefer to just buy what I need when I need it.

On the other hand, it could lead to a lot of karma threads for the rest of us!

The Mystery Karma Box was full of this junk. It was endless and mostly useless.

Put $40 a month aside and buy something nice that you actually want.

I don’t, but my wife was gonna get me a subscription to one of these things. I forget which one it was, but the reviews said the majority of the stuff was cheap ass Chinese crap.

Well, I guess that answers my question. Thanks for the input!

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
I don't understand the point at all.

Essentially you hire a company to send you a box every month that you don't know what it contains other than a certain theme or category of items. Am I understanding the service correctly?

I'll stick with Amazon for now, I think.

They are pretty much junk. The value proposition is that they give you more value than the cost of the box. Pay $40 for the box and get $75 worth of stuff.

The only ones I would ever entertain would be the ones that directly support a creator I like such as IV8888's man cans. Even then it's unlikely but if I was gonna, thats what I would get.

There was one with quality gear selected by special ops guys. I would never buy a subscription myself, but as a gift from a group with experienced people who only include quality gear, it would be cool.

This is the one I am thinking of: https://www.crateclub.us/

I don't think a subscription would serve me well. I already have a bunch of stuff I don't need.

For EDC gotta-haves, I'll stick with SIGforum to clue me in to the things I didn't know I couldn't live without. It's been working well for the last ten years.

Even though I've retired as a reserve LEO, I'm on several mailing lists and I have lots of spare time to read about new gear. Here's an offer for a tactical box, whatever that is:

https://www.copsplus.com/month...ear-subscription-box

quote:

Originally posted by braillediver:
Put $40 a month aside and buy something nice that you actually want.

Yep.

These monthly subscription boxes of whatever flavor are geared towards the "accumulator" mindset of those (mainly younger) folks who thrive on the novelty of acquiring "new stuff" on the regular. They're not designed for the serious user. I guarantee that nearly all the stuff will be cheap crap that gets tossed in a drawer and forgotten about once the initial burst of novelty wears off, just to later be thrown out or given away once you're tired of it cluttering up your house.

Besides, it may be "$75 worth of stuff for $40", but it's quite likely that only a small fraction of the random crap they send you will be things you want or will use. And if you only use/want $30 or $10 or $0 of the stuff you get each month, then you're wasting money.

Instead, figure out what you need/want, then save your money until you can get a quality item to fit that desire/need. If you're mature enough to deal with the delayed gratification, you'll be happier in the long run.

quote:

Originally posted by Strambo:
There was one with quality gear selected by special ops guys. I would never buy a subscription myself, but as a gift from a group with experienced people who only include quality gear, it would be cool.

This is the one I am thinking of: https://www.crateclub.us/

The Tactical Washboard looks like a must have.

Yep, I'll select my own stuff or have you guys empty my wallet for things I didn't know I needed.

My wife fell for Crate Club and gave me 3 month subscription for Christmas. Cancelled after a month, useless.

^^^^

Good to know!



...I do kinda want the "tactical" washboard now...


-just kidding!

Worse idea ever.

Just a way to clutter your life up with a bunch of useless crap.

Be intentional with your spending. Save your money and buy quality products that specifically fulfill a need or desire.

I DO NOT get this entire "EDC" thing. I get carrying a pocketknife or small blade, maybe a small pen, etc.

But visit a few of these EDC sites and you find $50 handkerchiefs, $200+ fidget spinners, all sorts of expen$ive mini pry bars and pens (?), to name a few items.

The mini pry bars from titanium, amuse me the most. What are you prying with a 2" tool? Though the fifty dollar hankies are a hoot too.

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:
I DO NOT get this entire "EDC" thing. I get carrying a pocketknife or small blade, maybe a small pen, etc.

But visit a few of these EDC sites and you find $50 handkerchiefs, $200+ fidget spinners, all sorts of expen$ive mini pry bars and pens (?), to name a few items.

The mini pry bars from titanium, amuse me the most. What are you prying with a 2" tool? Though the fifty dollar hankies are a hoot too.

I broke a knife tip from an expensive knife several years ago at work trying to pry a door. Spent $2.00 on a little keychain pry bar after that, on my work keys.

But otherwise...ditto.

When I'm off work--Pocket knife, chapstick, AAA flashlight, small wallet, single key, badge. Gun and spare mag on my belt. As you did...I carry entirely too much crap on me when I'm working, I don't want to carry a plethora of "EDC" junk. I've got a backpack locked up in the Jeep for that nonsense.