BattlBox is a subscription service delivering survival and tactical gear every month. Each month has a theme based on a different experience with a focus on preparedness and survival.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
This review is for the Pro Plus box ($149.99 a month).
The Subscription Box: BattlBox
The Cost: $24.99 plus shipping for Basic, $49.99 plus shipping for Advanced, $99.99 plus shipping for Pro, and $149.99 plus shipping for Pro Plus.
The Products: A variety of tactical, survival and EDC gear
Ships to: U.S.
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Each month’s box is themed as a Mission and includes a detailed list of products and their values in all the different level options. This month’s theme is CWPP or Community Wildfire and Protection Plan, and features several items to help you be prepared in the event of a fire
BattlBox has really been upping the quality of the content on their info cards lately. There is a nice introduction to the box itself, explaining why all these items could prove useful, and there is a ton of interesting stats about fires in the US. Each item has it’s own detailed description as per usual.
Another note before the review this month - many of these items are one-time use and can’t be physically tested without, you know, an actual fire emergency. I’ll be doing my best to research the all the items usefulness based on what I can learn around the internet.
Here are the items included in the Basic level ($24.99 cost / $56.88 value):
WaterJel Burn Kit - Value $20.31 not including the pouch (Listed value $24.95)
I couldn’t find this specific kit on WaterJel’s website, but each of the products inside are available in multipacks and I based my value off those. First, this little bag is really nice and can be reused for future kits when/if you end up using all the pieces inside, so it probably makes up the remaining $3.64 in value. It’s vinyl wrapped in soft nylon, so it’s sort of water-resistant too. Inside, we get 2 4”x4” WaterJel Burn Dressings, and a package containing some individual packets of neomycin antibiotic, first aid burn cream, hand sanitizer, hydrocortisone, bacitracin, BurnJel, MuscleJel, and CoolJel. These are all available in larger quantities from WaterJel, but make up a nice little kit for emergency burn situations. The burn dressing pouches are branded differently but are marked as the same item # which I thought was interesting. I didn’t open up the pouch of sample packets to shoot them because at least one of the gels had burst and was all over everything.
ReadiMask - Value $9.99
Up next we have this smoke mask with integrated eyeshield from ReadiMask. This looks like it’s a pretty effective mask for getting out of a smoky area quickly. Most injuries or deaths related to fires actually occur due to smoke inhalation, so having a mask like this on hand is important. The mask itself fully seals around your face, and if you wear glasses you can put them on over this mask. It claims that it can protect you from many things, from allergens to pepper spray and lots more in between. Also, it’s super light and takes up nearly no space in a bag or nightstand drawer, which is where I’ll be keeping mine.
Wagan Tech FRED Light Emergency Beacon - Value $20.60 on Amazon (Listed value $14.95)
Next up we have this really bright emergency beacon from Wagan Tech that is just slightly larger than a hockey puck. It’s got a ton of modes, 10 in total, and will really take a beating. It’s crushproof, shatterproof, and with an IP55 rating, it is definitely rainproof (though not submergible). I love that it has a heavy magnet and collapsible hook on the back. The magnet would be great if you were using it as a beacon on the roadside while working on your car, and the hook will allow it to hang pretty much anywhere. It comes with batteries, which is a nice plus, though it’s pretty hard to get the case open. I had to pry it apart with a flathead screwdriver. In a fire emergency, this could be used as a locator beacon, but I think I might get more use out of it in my vehicle emergency kit.
U.S. Patrol Fire Resistant Document Bag - Value $5.98 (Listed value $9.99)
The final item in the basic level box this month is this fiberglass document bag from U.S. Patrol. This was a great item to include this month as it will protect a ton of important papers and other items from direct flames in the event of a house fire. I was able to get a pretty considerable amount of paper into this bag, in addition to a handful of smaller items. It can handle up to a legal-size sheet of paper (8.5”x14”) and is made of fiberglass which can resist up to 1,000 degrees of heat. The packaging recommends you store it flat, and since it’s not waterproof you should keep it away from where it may get water damaged. I would recommend a drawer or something partially enclosed just in case there is major water damage from fire hoses.
In addition to the items included in the Basic box, here are the items included at the Advanced level: ($49.99 cost / $111.82 value)
FireMask RP-D60 with Case and Firegloves - Value $39.95
Up first in the Advanced box is this really nice FireMask kit! The zippable case has a digital camo design and a wrist strap, and when you open it up you’ll find the one-time-use mask and a set of fire safe gloves! I didn’t open this mask up because it is one-time-use, but based on what I’ve read online it’s incredible effective. The mask supplies you with 60 minutes of fresh air which is a huge amount of time when escaping a fire situation. It will protect you against smoke, carbon monoxide, ammonia, toxic gases, radiant heat and fire. Since I work in a small office it hadn’t even occurred to me, but FireMask recommends this for people who live in large apartment buildings or work in high-rises, as escape time can dramatically increase in larger buildings. It will also fit in a carry-on bag if you are concerned about emergencies while traveling.
Tonyko Fiberglass Fire Blanket (Small) - Value $14.99 (Listed value $14.95)
The second item at the Advanced level this month is this quick-release fire blanket from Tonyko. Fire blankets are made from fiberglass and can stop small fires in their tracks, or be used to protect your body from fire. I got some fiberglass fibers on me just opening this up, so be sure to watch out for that. This is the smaller sized blanket and can be useful for smaller fires, such as kitchen flare-ups, or if your campfire gets a little out of control. You could also help protect a child or pet when moving through a fire escape situation. The two quick pull tabs at the bottom of the blanket allow you to pull the blanket from it’s velcro pouch quickly. I’m definitely considering having a few of the larger blankets on-hand now, just for peace of mind.
In addition to the items included in the Basic and Advanced boxes, here are the items included at the Pro level: ($99.99 cost / $181.81 value)
Soteria Throwable Fire Extinguisher - Value $69.99
This is an interesting item that I had no idea existed until this month’s BattlBox. It’s basically a water bottle with some sort of specialized solution inside that will burst and immediately put out a fire. It seems almost too easy. It also seems really expensive! Household fire extinguishers range from $25-$100 on average, but they are also sophisticated tools that can be recharged for $15-20 if necessary. So, I am thinking you are paying for the portability and convenience of this one-time-use ampoule. The instructions are easy: throw it at a fire. It’s only 500ml so it weighs just over a pound, making it easy for nearly anyone to throw at a fire. The only info I could find on what the solution is made of is “water with organic and inorganic salts.” It’s got a shelf life of five years so I’m going to keep this in the kitchen and hope that I never have to use it.
In addition to the items included in the Basic, Advanced and Pro boxes, here are the items included at the ProPlus level: ($149.99 cost / $321.80 value)
Timahawk Tactical Tomahawk - Value $139.99
Wow, this tomahawk is a beast! Weighing in at 4 pounds, this thing feels heavy in your hands but is still easy to swing around. It’s got a prybar on the back edge of the axe head, and another pry tool at the bottom of the handle. There are plenty of places to grip to get leverage on those angles too. The handles are made from recycled plastics, and the entire thing is orange powder coated, which looks pretty slick. I can’t find this exact model on their site, but it looks like it’s actually a cross between the standard Timahawk and the Tactical model. It looks to be the same size as the Tactical model, but has no scabbard and is missing the hole for a lanyard loop. It has the nail puller end though, which is a feature of the standard Timahawk. I guess this could be a BattlBox exclusive, or maybe subscribers get first access, which is pretty awesome!
Verdict: This month’s BattlBox was excellently curated as usual. All the items are perfect additions to any fire preparation bag, and gives you a lot to think about as far as being fully prepared in the event of a fire emergency. The CWPP box tops out at $321.80 (listed as $324.76) in value, which is over double the price - a regular feat for Battlbox! As was the case with last month’s box, I’m hoping I never have to use a good deal of these items, but I do feel more prepared having them around.
What do you think about this month’s BattlBox?
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