Gainz Box is a monthly box of fitness apparel, supplements, equipment, snacks, and more. Gainz Box is a veteran-owned business and donates a portion of their proceeds to charities that support U.S. veterans.
This review is of the Gainz for Women, $32 a month, box.
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Gainz Box
The Subscription Box: Gainz Box
The Cost: $32 + $6 shipping on a month-to-month basis, save with longer subscriptions
The Products: Workout apparel (in your size), equipment, snacks and supplements, and other fitness items. (Gainz Box markets to a CrossFit audience, but I do not think you absolutely have to be into CrossFit to enjoy this box – many of the items are suitable for general fitness enthusiasts!)
Ships to: U.S.
Gainz Box January 2019 Review
Gainz Box is a fitness-oriented subscription but they definitely have a sense of humor. You can usually see that in the poses in their information booklet:
The box came with a full-color fold-out information card featuring some of the items from the box in action. I think the posing is often kind of cheesy but I also think it shows people who have a sense of humor and a fun attitude. Some months feature an athlete and some don’t.
There was also a lot of product literature this month.
Stance Supplements BCAA Complex – Listed Value $1 (buy 60 servings for $49.95)
I am always happy to see BCAA (branched chain amino acid) supplements, especially when they are vegetarian and caffeine-free and not sweetened with stevia (I just don’t like the taste of stevia) and this meets all my qualifications. I did mix this with 32 ounces of water instead of the recommended 8-12 ounces, as I find supplements like this to taste kind of strong. Anyway, this had a pleasant flavor and replenishes some electrolytes as well as providing BCAAs for post-workout muscle recovery.
Altrufuel Unwind CBD Nighttime Blend (6 capsules) – Listed Value $18 (buy 30 capsules for $44.99)
This is the second month in a row with a CBD product from Gainz Box. I am really not on the CBD bandwagon. (CBD is a non-psychoactive extract from hemp plants that proponents say promotes relaxation but most everyone I’ve talked to who’s tried it says it basically doesn’t do anything, and there aren’t a lot of studies to back it up yet, anyway.) But, this also has melatonin so I am staying away. Melatonin gives me vivid, unsettling dreams.
Iron Lily Unisex Joggers – Listed Value $35
This product is not listed on the Iron Lily site and that’s really too bad because these are like my favorite sweatpants ever. I don’t work out in them although they’d be totally appropriate for that, as they fit great. But they are SO SOFT and warm and comfortable that I sleep in them and wear them around the house.
RxBar Almond Butter (10 packets) – Retail Value $15.99
Unfortunately, I am not a fan of this stuff. The egg whites make it have a weird, almost slimy texture that just doesn’t work for me. I also am, in general, not a fan of nut butter products in pouches like this because it is nearly impossible to get much of the product out of there. It seems this company has gone all in on adding egg whites to protein bars, nut butters, etc., and I don’t think that’s a winning strategy.
AI Tape – Retail Value $9.99
This is kinesiology tape with menthol and camphor. Now, I was excited to get kinesiology tape because I am looking for help with my plantar fasciitis and have read that it can be useful but wanted to try it out before buying any. I have learned a couple of things: (1) I need to work on my taping skills, because I kind of made a mess of this, (2) the adhesive is really, really strong and stuck to my foot and made the sticky stuff on my foot pick up bits of sock lint, etc. (you are supposed to leave this on for a long time but I made such a mess of putting it on that leaving it wasn’t going to work), and (3) the menthol and camphor don’t penetrate the thick skin on the bottom of my foot and back of my ankle, so although I did get some support, I did not experience any pain relief from the active ingredients. If your problem is in your knee or somewhere with thinner skin, you may have better results.
Verdict: I calculated a value of $79.98 for the January Gainz Box. That is about twice the monthly cost of the box, including shipping. The highlight was the sweatpants and I’m happy to have tried the BCAA supplement. I learned a few things in attempting to use the tape that will be useful in the future, too. And, while the sleep supplement and nut butter weren’t for me, I think it is reasonable to expect items like those in a box of this nature from time to time.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, Gainz Box has already shipped for January. Your first box would probably be January’s.
Value Breakdown: at $38 for this box ($32 monthly plus $6 shipping), you are paying approximately the following per item:
- BCAA supplement $0.48
- CBD supplement $8.55
- Sweatpants $16.63
- Nut butter $7.60
- Kinesiology tape $4.75
Check out our past reviews of Gainz Box or see more fitness subscriptions in the fitness subscription box directory!
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What did you think of the January Gainz Box?
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