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).
About BattlBox
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.
BattlBox January 2018 Review
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 Jungle Survival and features several items that will help keep you safe, give you shelter, and offer peace of mind should you find yourself traipsing through the jungle.
Here are the items included in the Basic level ($24.99 cost / $40.95 listed value):
Jungle First Aid Kit - Retail Value $4.50, Listed Value $6.99
First up this month we have this little first aid kit in a snap-closure canvas pouch. There’s a handful of essential first aid items here, packaged in a plastic zipper bag inside the pouch. It can be carried via the attached belt loop or just tossed in a pack. Nothing terribly special here, but first aid kits are handy in any sort of situation, and I’ll get use out of most of these items.
Sniper Veil - Retail Value $16.26, Listed Value $11.95
Next up we have this 48”x36” cotton mesh sniper veil. This is an interesting item for sure. It reminds me of the shemagh from a few boxes back, but much more mesh-y. BattlBox included this as something that could keep bugs off your skin in the jungle, which would obviously be beneficial. It’s cotton so you could mop up sweat, but it might take a while to dry, especially in the jungle. I doubt I’ll get a ton of use out of this personally.
Rothco Army Type Insect Repellant - Retail Value $8.38 (found here for $4.59), Listed Value $5.95
Next up we get a bottle of insect repellant from Rothco. This is heavy duty stuff - 30% DEET! I used a heavy DEET bug repellent for years until recently and found that it was super effective. You get a decent amount here, probably more than enough for a week in the jungle. Bonus - it fits in the first aid kit from earlier!
Stansport Mosquito Head Net - Retail Value $5.76, Listed Value $6.02
Up next we get a mosquito head net! I’ve used these many times when camping. Maine in the summer is not only gorgeous but also the most bugs I’ve ever encountered in my life, and a head net allowed me to get some sleep at night. This one from Stansport has a reinforced crown area, likely to keep the net from ripping when you pull it around. It fits on your head even with a hat on, which is helpful. The elastic band does not tighten, but can be tied if you need to. If you’re not feeling DEET on your face, this is a nice alternative.
Army Style LED Anglehead Flashlight - Value $10
Finally, at the Basic level, we have this classic-looking anglehead flashlight with an LED upgrade. Normally I love flashlights but this one didn’t work for me. I tried a couple sets of D batteries just to be safe, and the switch seems broken, or the connectors are off, I’m not sure what happened. But, for the ones that do work, there are some cool features. Each of the compartments screw together and have an O-ring to keep the light waterproof. In one compartment you’ll find 4 different colored gels to change the light color output. The base compartment has a metal loop so you can quickly attach it to a carabiner or tie paracord to the light. The plastic construction keeps the flashlight lightweight, but it feels a little cheap for a Battlbox item.
In addition to the items included in the Basic box, here are the items included at the Advanced level: ($49.99 cost / $105.93 listed value)
Battlbox Jungle Hammock with Built-in Mosquito Netting - Retail Value $29.95
I am a huge hammock fan, so I was excited to see one with an integrated bug net in this month’s box! Included with the hammock are tree straps and a guy line to keep the bug netting out of your face. If you’re not familiar with camping hammocks, they are incredibly comfortable and a lightweight alternative to tent camping, as long as you’re going somewhere with trees! The included tree straps are stitched with loops every few inches, allowing an easy setup no matter the size of trees you find. The bug net loops are sewn from the base of the hammock so they won’t tear away no matter how much you twist and turn. I couldn’t test this out just yet for this review, but the base material seems strong and light, similar to any standard recreational camping hammock.
Cold Steel Kukri Machete with Sheath - Retail Value $34.99
The second item in the Advanced box is this gigantic kukri machete! This machete is super heavy, and the weight lands at the end of the blade, unlike some other fixed blades I’ve received in the past. The sheath is heavy duty with extra protection at the tip, and two snap closures to ensure the kukri stays in place. There’s also a belt loop for quick access. The blade is thick and sharp, and with the weight behind it, you could easily hack your way through heavy brush - jungle or otherwise. The grip is uniform and has a spot for paracord if you need to hang it. The bottom of my blade needed a little extra sharpening but it was a breeze with the stone included in November's Battlbox. We also get a coupon from Cold Steel for 50% off a future order.
In addition to the items included in the Basic and Advanced boxes, here are the items included at the Pro level: ($99.99 cost / $165.92 listed value)
BattlTac Snake Gaiters / Brush Guards - Value $54.99
The only item in the Pro level this month is this set of gaiters/guards from Battltac! We’ve been getting more and more items from this brand lately in Battlbox and they all seem to be of high quality. These gaiters are no exception. They offer good protection all around your leg and ankle and cover your laces to help them from getting untied in heavy brush. They’re comfortable to walk around in and the cinch-able straps keep everything in place. There’s some added protection in the front with some branded rubber pads as well. If you’re concerned about potential snake bites, this is “fang-proof” according to Battlbox, but if you’re not going to be in snake country these will definitely protect your shins from getting mangled in heavy brush.
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 / $260.92 listed value)
Ontario Knife Co. ASEK with Sheath - Retail Value $116.46, Listed Value $95
Finally this month we get this heavy duty fixed blade survival/egress blade from Ontario Knife Co.! The ASEK was chosen as part of the U.S. Army Air Warrior Equipment System, which the army calls “a modular, integrated, rapidly reconfigurable combat aircrew ensemble that saves lives and maximizes Army aircrew mission performance.” This blade comes with a fairly cheap leather sheath that is actually pretty difficult to secure, but it does have a sharpening stone and a pouch to hold it which is a nice bonus. The blade is pretty thick and has a zinc phosphate finish that feels similar to stone almost. The glass breaker at the base of the hilt is a nice addition, and there are several points to attach paracord. This is a pretty nice all-purpose knife with some good bonus features. That said, it does feel like one of the lower value KOTMs in recent memory.
Verdict: This month's BattlBox was a rare lackluster box for me. I know I’ll get use out of a couple of the items, and while the value is good as usual, the theme was a little odd for a January box and it feels like there’s something missing this month. This month’s box tops out at $281.29 - well over the asking price.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? You won’t get this box as a subscriber if you sign up today, but you can buy past boxes in the BattlBox store.
Coupon – Use coupon code MYSUBTEN to save 10% off your first box!
Value Breakdown: At $149.99 for the ProPlus box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item:
- Jungle First Aid Kit: $2.40
- Sniper Veil: $8.67
- Insect Repellant: $4.47
- Mosquito Head Net: $3.07
- LED Anglehead Flashlight: $5.33
- Mosquito Netting: $15.97
- Kukri Machete with Sheath: $18.66
- Snake Gaiters / Brush Guards: $29.32
- ASEK with Sheath: $62.10
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