QBox Monthly is a subscription box founded by former intelligence agents and filled with spy gear! For adults! How awesome is that?!
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: QBox Monthly
The Cost: $55 + $18.95 shipping = $73.95 per month
COUPON: Use code ADDICTION20 to save 20% off your first box!
The Products: 6-10 items (including a t-shirt) that support the clandestine lifestyle
Ships to: US, Canada, and Mexico for $18.95; Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, and the UK for $22.75
Check out the Geek + Nerd Subscription Box Directory and make sure to add QBox Monthly to your subscription list or wishlist!
I received this mysterious envelope a couple of weeks in advance of receiving my box.
This little note was included as a bit of a teaser.
These are my official agent tags. The note says to wear them constantly, but I'm not 100% sure these are my style! Plus I like to live life on the edge.
These stickers were also included in the welcome packet.
When my actual box arrived, this was printed on the inside of the lid. This made me think there would be some kind of mission associated with this box, but I didn't see any mission briefing in the box. Did I miss something?
Or is this the mission briefing? This doesn't really give me any instructions, though, so I'm not sure.
This information card was also included, listing the box contents.
Spy Style T-shirt - Listed Value $29.95
This is a cute tee-shirt, and it seems sturdy. My husband will probably wear it. I don't think there's anything particularly clandestine about advertising your spy affiliations on a t-shirt, though. It strikes me as kind of funny!
SOG Key Knife - Value $12.95
This is super sneaky! How cool! I hope the TSA knows about these.
Field Notes Memo Book - Value $9.95
We have received these notebooks in subscription boxes before, and they're great. They're surprisingly durable!
Blacksmith Card Knife - Listed Value $10.99
Wow, two knives in one box! I didn't realize there was so much stabbing involved in being a spy! This is also pretty sneaky, and it's really sharp!
Sparrows Hide Patch - Value $5.95
I had no idea what this was or what it was for until I looked it up online. It's a patch with a hidden pocket inside that you can conceal a lock pick tool (or other very small things) in.
BICYCLE "Black Series" Playing Cards - Value $9.95
Every spy needs some super cool cards, right? These are nice playing cards made of thick card stock. We can always use more cards. They also sent a sticker in this box.
100 Deadly Skills by Clint Emerson - Value $12.34
Whoa! This book looks awesome! It was written by a retired Navy SEAL, too. It seems to be less about aggressively deadly skills and more about surviving bad scenarios that one might find oneself in, which is cool information to know. From Amazon:
A hands-on, practical survival guide from retired Navy SEAL Clint Emerson-adapted for civilians from actual special forces operations - to eluding pursuers, evading capture, and surviving any dangerous situation.
In today's increasingly dangerous world, threats to your personal safety are everywhere. From acts of terror to mass shootings, and from the unseen (and sometimes virtual) matrix of everyday crime, danger is no longer confined to dark alleys or unstable regions. Potentially life-threatening circumstances can arise anywhere, anytime, and Clint Emerson - former Navy SEAL - wants you to be prepared.
100 Deadly Skills contains proven self-defense skills, evasion tactics, and immobilizing maneuvers - modified from the world of black ops - to help you take action in numerous "worst case" scenarios from escaping a locked trunk, to making an improvised Taser, to tricking facial recognition software. With easy-to-understand instructions and illustrations, Emerson outlines in detail many life-saving strategies and teaches you how to think and act like a member of the special forces.
This complete course in survival teaches you how to prevent tracking, evade a kidnapping, elude an active shooter, rappel down the side of a building, immobilize a bad guy, protect yourself against cyber-criminals, and much more - all using low-tech to "no-tech" methods. Clear, detailed, and presented in an easy-to-understand and execute format, 100 Deadly Skills is an invaluable resource. Because let's face it, when danger is imminent, you don't have time for complicated instructions.
Verdict: Overall, I thought this was a really fun package from QBox Monthly! I got lots of cool new gear, plus I am actually very interested in reading the book. I was a little disappointed that there was no mission, or at least no apparent mission, and it's been really confusing trying to figure out if there was a mission or not. The value of the items came to $92.08, which is great for a $74 box, but it is definitely less than the value they have listed on the info card of $130.94. I wish sub boxes in general would not inflate listed values. In this case it's not even necessary because this box is more about curation and the experience anyway. I guess I have pretty favorable but slightly mixed feelings about the box overall. I wish there was a clear mission! With instructions! I think that would take it from being a good box to a great one.
What do you think of QBox Monthly?
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