Barbella Box is a monthly fitness subscription box for women. It is marketed for a CrossFit lifestyle but I think it works for any woman who likes to work out (especially if heavy lifting and/or kettlebells are involved).
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Barbella Box
The Subscription Box: Barbella Box
The Cost: $49.99 a month, $141 for 3 months, and $540 for 12 months
COUPON: Save $5 off with code MSA5!
The Products: Apparel, fitness gear, accessories, snacks, and supplements
Ships to: The US for free, Canada, Mexico, and Columbia for an additional shipping cost
Barbella Box August 2018 Review
I haven’t received this box for a little while so I was curious to see what was in store:
There was a card (one-sided) describing the items as well as a little bit of product literature.
Fuel Clothing Barbella Low Socks – Listed Value $11
These are an exclusive design for the box but the $11 from the information card matches the values for all the other low socks on the Fuel website. I have some Fuel socks from another subscription box and I really like them – they’ve held up to a lot of washings. These are even better since they’re low, which is my preference for workout socks. These fit well (I wear size 7 shoes).
RxBar Vanilla Almond Butter Pouch – Buy 10 Pouches for $15.99
These have been making the rounds of fitness and food boxes lately and they are also heavily promoted at Whole Foods and Target. My husband and I are kind of iffy on this. Yes, it tastes good, but we don’t see why egg white is needed in nut butter? Also, this seems overly sweet to us but we are used to the peanut butter you get at Whole Foods, straight from the grinder, that’s made from just peanuts and nothing else.
Barbella Velcro Lifting Straps – Listed Value $14.99
I am probably not lifting heavy enough weights to justify using straps yet (took a long time off lifting after abdominal surgery last year) but these will eventually come in handy. They seem easier to put on and more secure than the other style (where you slide one end through a loop) and, as you can see, these do fit even my tiny wrists.
Gym Hair, 1 fl oz – Retail Value $9.99
I don’t actually work out at a gym because I have a workout room in the basement (with Smith machine/cables, bench, pull-up tower, treadmill, recumbent bike, free weights, kettlebells, and dozens of workout DVDs). So I don’t really have the problem this product is designed to solve, which is to keep from having smelly hair if you have to run errands after a workout. I did try this out one evening just to see, and it isn’t like dry shampoo, which is a plus in my book as I am not a fan of dry shampoo, and I did kind of like the scent. I have put this in my purse in case I get too hot while out walking the dog during the day and don’t want to smell back at the office.
Cyclone Cup 22oz shaker Cup – Retail Value $10.99
Although this design is exclusive for the box, you can buy the 22oz cups for $10.99 in a variety of colors, so that’s the value I’ve used. This has quite a lot of features including a compartment for storing a scoop of protein powder or pre-workout product, a pill compartment that I missed when I was taking photos, and a mixing apparatus (I don’t know what to call it) that is actually pretty good at breaking up clumps. I have brought this to work, where I do occasionally drink a powdered product in water (like when I need afternoon caffeine!) and like to keep a few shaker cups so there will always be a clean one.
Lion Strong Dad Hat – Retail Value $14.99
Maybe I am old school but I don’t get the whole pre-distressed *new* item thing. (You will never catch me buying distressed jeans, at all.) However, the hat I was using to keep rain out of my face when walking Nyx or to shield myself from the sun on that one time a year I do yard work, was getting pretty beat up, so it will be replaced with this one. I like the color and this is adjustable so it fits pretty well.
Barbella Barbell Sleeveless Muscle Hoodie – Listed Value $24.99
First off, I want to say that this is incredibly soft for a hoodie and also I like the way it drapes (it’s not stiff or anything, but moves with you). However, I’m not sure how practical it is for me, personally – when I get cold, my extremities get cold first, and they are the hardest to warm up, and I want my arms covered. (I don’t have muscles worth showing off…) I may pass this along to someone who actually does go sleeveless from time to time.
Verdict: I calculated a value of about $88.55 for the August Barbella Box. This does meet the stated $80-120 value, which deserves mention because not every fitness box does that. I do feel this differs enough from the women’s versions of the other fitness boxes to have its own niche; although some products like shaker cups will show up in any fitness subscription, other products were selected with women specifically in mind (Gym Hair, hoodie, and wrist straps that fit smaller wrists). I definitely appreciate this since I occasionally feel like the clothing for women in some of the other fitness boxes is a cheaper version of what the men get (tanks instead of tees, etc.). Also, I am irrationally happy about getting socks for some reason, I think I must not have received any for a while.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you will receive the September box!
Value Breakdown: At $49.99 for this box, you are paying approximately the following per item:
- Socks: $6.21
- Nut Butter: $0.90
- Lifting Straps: $8.46
- Gym Hair: $5.64
- Shaker Cup: $6.20
- Hat: $8.46
- Hoodie: $14.11
COUPON: Save $5 off with code MSA5!
Check out all of our Barbella Box reviews the Fitness Subscription Box Directory!
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What did you think of the August Barbella Box? Do you subscribe to any fitness, weight loss, or workout subscriptions?
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