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 March 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 Base Camp and includes several items to help you have a safe, comfortable and well-stocked home away from home.
Here are the items included in the Basic level ($24.99 cost/$53.67 value):
Survival i-Shield by Survival Metrics - Retail Value $9.95
First up this month is this super compact and lightweight eye protection shield from Survival Metrics. Small enough to roll up and fit into a film canister, this eye shield can be tossed into any emergency kit or tuck into a pocket in your backpack. The shield is polarized and blocks 99% of UVA and UVB light. I have to say, they aren’t super comfortable, but I suppose in an emergency situation I would definitely use these to prevent snow or sun blindness.
Stansport 5-Gallon Collapsible Water Carrier - Retail Value $13.99
Next up we have this 5-gallon collapsible jug from Stansport. I used these in the scouts all the time as we were often not super close to fresh water. These jugs are BPA free and ultimately pretty light when empty. The plastic is a little thicker than a water bottle, but much thinner than the plastic of a Nalgene, for instance. The spout has an on/off lever and the flow rate is ok, but not super fast. The jug easily collapses and folds up, and could be quickly packed or tucked away in your car camping box.
CoreTex Skin Protection Kit - Retail Value $11.74
This kit from CoreTex includes 10 products all designed to protect your skin from sun, bugs, ivies, burns, itches, and stings. Since these are all super common while roaming around in the wilderness, this is a super handy little kit. One of the little pouches is a pre-emptive barrier to poison ivy, which was something I’d never encountered before. You put it on before you go into an area that probably has ivy, and it will prevent the oils from the plant from getting on your skin. Overall this is a great selection of items to keep around at base camp for yourself or your guests who may be less prepared. I feel like this is a good introductory kit to this brand, and if any of the items come in handier than others you can get larger quantities directly from Coretex.
Stansport Fleece Sleeping Bag - Retail Value $17.99
Finally, at the Basic level, this month is this very lightweight fleece sleeping bag from Stansport. While this is basically the same shape and idea as a sleeping bag, ultimately it is really a sheet of fleece with a zipper to keep it closed. It’s very soft, and it can be compressed very small. It’s a little over a pound, so it’s not exactly a backpacking item, but it will definitely be a nice addition to a warm-weather camping kit. I wouldn’t sleep in this under 70º. But I would wrap up in it next to a fire on a cool night, or use it as a liner in a heavier sleeping bag.
In addition to the items included in the Basic box, here are the items included at the Advanced level: ($49.99 cost/$94.03 value)
Nebo Poppy 300 Lumen Lantern/Flashlight - Retail Value $16.99
This lantern/flashlight combo from Nebo is a nice, bright, addition to this month’s box. The Poppy is battery powered, which I wasn’t super stoked about, but I’m definitely impressed by the dual functionality in this light. The sliding mechanism is pretty seamless, and the rubberized body is shock/water resistant. It doesn’t have a gasket, so it’s not waterproof. It does have multiple light modes, allowing a single set of batteries to last up to 40 hours. Even with the weight of the batteries, the light is still under a pound, so it’s an easy addition to a backpack or car camping kit.
Vaughan ZS-1/2 Sportsman's Axe - Retail Value $23.37
The second item in the Advanced box this month is this small, handy axe from Vaughan. Unfortunately, the one in BattlBox did not come with the sheath, but it did come with a blade protector that sort of snaps or sticks on. The handle is thin but sturdy hickory wood, and the head is only a half pound. This little axe would be perfect for creating kindling, doing minor wood splitting, pounding in tent stakes, and more.
In addition to the items included in the Basic and Advanced boxes, here are the items included at the Pro level: ($99.99 cost/$159.02 value)
Kelly Kettle Trekker - Retail Value $64.99
The only item at the Pro level this month is this aluminum kettle from Kelly. The Trekker is a compact, lightweight kettle with a stainless steel firebase. I had never seen anything like this before, and it’s an intriguing item. You build up a small fire in the firebase and fill the kettle with up to 20 ounces of water. The exhaust of your fire goes out through the center of the kettle, heating your water quickly due to the large surface area. This could potentially replace a stove and fuel in your backpack if you’re only carrying them to boil water. Kelly makes a myriad of add-ons for this kettle kit as well, including cooksets, hobostoves, grill tops and more, and they will all fit into the kettle to save space.
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/$369.02 value)
Klecker KLAX Lumberjack Head - Retail Value $180
Klecker KLAX Handle - Retail Value $30
The big item this month is this beautiful set from Klecker Tools - a KLAX Multi-tool Axe System Head and matching KLAX handle! The KLAX is a pretty remarkable item - you could theoretically carry the KLAX alone and turn any piece of wood into its handle. Luckily, Battlbox included the already customized handle so you don’t need to! The KLAX comes with a heavy-duty sheath, and with the built-in carabiner port you could just clip this to a belt or pack and it would keep the 2 sharpened edges from damaging anything. The lumberjack head boasts 7 tools that can be used without a handle as well; bottle opener, hex wrench set, ruler, cutting hook, hammerhead, and more. The real beauty of the tool is how it attaches to the handle. The head lays flat, but the gripping clamps can be loosened and flipped to hold fast to a handle. Speaking of - the handle is made from hardwood (they don’t specify which) and measures about 15” long - A little large but I think it would be worth it on a car camping trip. If I were backpacking, I’d probably opt to just take the head and fashion the handle myself.
Verdict: This month’s BattlBox was pretty great, and I like that the theme is less hyper-specific as some of the more recent boxes have been. Several of the items this month would be excellent complements to those boxes though, so long-time subscribers will be able to build out their prep bags even further. This month’s box tops out at $369.02 value, which is over double the initial investment at the Pro Plus level and well over some of the recent Battlboxes.
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 this box, here’s what you are paying approximately per item: 369.02
- Sunshield: $4.04
- Water jug: $5.69
- Skincare: $4.77
- Sleeping bag: $7.31
- Flashlight: $6.91
- Axe: $9.50
- Kettle: $26.42
- KLAX: $73.16
- KLAX Handle: $12.19
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