The GQ Best Stuff Box is a quarterly men's subscription from GQ magazine that features products the editors have tested and love. Although this box is geared towards men, I personally find most of the items to be delightfully unisex! Each box is promised to be valued at over $200.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About GQ Best Stuff Box
The Subscription Box: GQ Best Stuff Box
The Cost: $49.99 + free shipping
The Products: “The GQ BEST STUFF BOX is a quarterly subscription box featuring the things we love—rigorously tested and loved by GQ editors. It includes our favorite electronics, grooming products, and accessories—every box valued at over $200 each”
Ships to: US
GQ Best Stuff Box Summer 2019 Review
There's a little fold-out information card/poster.
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RAEN 'Remmy' 52 Sunglasses in Fog and Bottle Green - Retail Value $135.00
There are a few distinct pleasures I experience when I review a men's box. One is showering my husband, Will, in new products he never knew he needed. Another benefit is hoarding the ones he doesn't like or can't use. These glasses fall into the latter category because Will has to wear prescription eyewear at all times now, meaning these automatically default to me! For someone who tends to lose, destroy, or forget about sunglasses, "expensive" ones have never been a treat I have indulged in. Why splurge on something with such a short lifespan? Hopefully, the included felt case and inner microfiber drawstring help protect them from me.
These shades are a gorgeous combo of clear grey frames and bottle green lenses and the acetate feels so smooth and light to wear. The shape of the frames is wonderfully unisex, and would likely flatter most faces. They are a little loose on mine, but I plan on taking them into my local optometrist to have them adjusted.
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I love these. (Sorry Will!)
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Fatboy Spray Putty Travel Size, 1 oz - Retail Value $9.95
Will uses some sort of pomade every day. It honestly changes because I bring him so many new ones to try each month! This spray type of formula is new for him, as he has always preferred harder formulas that usually come in tubs. I don't think this was the product that will change his mind, as the amount that came out per spray seemed like way too much and he felt it was stickier than his usual formula. Will is a creature of habit though, so maybe a few more attempts might lead to a more positive experience?
Tani USA Voucher Code - Potential Value $45.00
Described in the included item info as "rich guy underwear", I knew Will would likely not be too interested. He is in no way fancy or flashy, and is pretty content with his Fruit of the Loom boxers. I, on the other hand, know the power of owning a few pairs of luxury underwear. I used his voucher to buy these (originally $65), and though they haven't yet arrived, I look forward to his opinion on them. Shipping was free and I was not required to enter a credit card, which is a huge plus in my book because it makes the process risk free and very easy. I probably won't mention the retail value of these to him, because it might make him worried about actually wearing them. I will update this review when they arrive!
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Herbivore Botanicals After Shave Spritzer, 1 fl oz - Estimated Value $5.50 (Buy a full-size 4 oz for $22.00)
Will has to have a clean face for work, which I hate because he truly looks so good with a beard or at least a little scruff! He also gets his 5 o clock shadow by closer to 1 pm, so he shaves every single morning. Needless to say, his skin can get a little bothered by all that shaving! His normal aftershave works fine, but stings because it has alcohol in it. I swapped it out one morning for this spray and he seemed to really like it! This alcohol-free formula is powered by calming witch hazel, and it smells herbal and citrusy. He mentioned that he might prefer this spray bottle sort of application over his normal gel, so maybe this will become something we buy regularly.
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Harry's Truman Razor and 4-Blade Gift Card - Retail Value $9.00-$18.00
My husband and I both use Harry's Razors because they work really well and it is easier just to buy one type of razor (though that Flamingo review by Marne makes me question everything). We have a navy and hunter green handle already, so this handsome charcoal grey is a great addition for his weekender bag. Also included was a promo code for an additional 4 free razors, though I did notice that you have to provide a credit card during the signup because it looks to auto-enroll you in their monthly razor subscription. You can cancel right after making this purchase, but I dislike the inconvenience. If you need to sign up for monthly razor deliveries though, this is a double win!
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Schmidt's Charcoal + Magnesium Natural Deodorant, 2.65oz - Full Size! Retail Value $4.99
Ahh, natural deodorant. You either work really well, or you don't, and everyone is miserable. Will refuses to even try natural deodorant, and I can't totally blame him because he works outside all day and sweats a ton, especially in the summer. I knew this was a bust for him, so I decided to test it. I already have a natural deodorant that I LOVE, and though I don't plan on changing, this stick was still pretty effective and much less expensive than other brands. It has a rainy/masculine scent and did keep me from stinking, though I do sit inside most of the day.
Curious about natural deodorants? Anna reviewed the same Schmidt's bar and Native here!
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Coppertone Sport Clear SPF 50 Sunscreen, 5 oz - Full Size! Retail Value $7.97
Yikes. I did not like this stuff. It was the weirdest texture I have ever experienced in a sunscreen. You shake the tube first and the odd gel blob inside flops around because there is a ton of empty space inside. The main ingredient here aside from the sunscreen is alcohol, which can irritate skin, especially if you already have some sunburn sensitivity happening. It does absorb easily and smell nice, but despite it being SPF 50, Will still had some redness on his shoulder after doing a few hours of yard work. Was it much more pleasant to apply than heavier lotions? Yes. But in my opinion, you pay for that in overall sun protection.
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Marlowe No. 102 Body Scrub Soap Bar, 7 oz - Full Size! Retail Value $7.99
Will absolutely loves bar soap so I am always happy to bring home a new bar. This bar smells amazingly clean, but also kind of sexy, with notes of woods and musk. It has gentle pumice stone exfoliants that polish skin without being too abrasive. Will gives it two thumbs up.
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Marvis Whitening Mint Toothpaste, 0.5 oz - Estimated Value $1.78 (Buy a full-size 3.8 oz here for $13.50)
This whitening toothpaste comes from Italy, and has been beloved there for a long time. It is a white cream with a super strong mint flavor that I really liked. This sadly won't become a staple in our house because we prefer a fluoride toothpaste (my enamel is a mess!) but it will certainly go into our weekender toiletry case.
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Boka 2.0 Toothbrush - Buy 2 for $10.00
Will isn't picky about toothbrushes, and I'm not either. Even so, we were both pretty curious about these charcoal-infused bristles. They are said to help reduce odor-causing mouth bacteria, which sounds like a no brainer. Did Will notice a difference after brushing? Not really, but he did like how basic this toothbrush was and how the bristles were soft on his gums while still being effective at cleaning his teeth. I am more interested in this brand because they have a 2 for $10 subscription option! We could be better about replacing our brushes more often, and this is the sort of mindless automation our house would benefit from at a pretty reasonable price.
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BONUS: Steripod Toothbrush Protector - Buy a set of 2 for $3.39
Finally, our last item is a brush protector with one of the most strong scents I have ever experienced. Embedded inside the pod is a compartment filled with whatever thymol is. It is there to keep your toothbrush smelling clean, and I totally believe it, because all I can smell whenever I am near this thing is a sterile overpowering mint. Will thought it smelled "medicinal" and liked it a lot more than I did.
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BONUS: GQ Tote Bag
Also included was a sturdy GQ tote. Will doesn't carry totes and I have a brand new leather one, so this will likely be reserved for a reusable grocery bag.
Verdict: This box had so much stuff! The overall value of this box varies quite a bit depending on if you utilize the $45 Tani gift voucher and the $9 value razor promo card. I broke it down to somewhere between $188.88-$242.88, which is a great value for a $49.99 sub. Obviously, a huge part of this value is purely in those $135 sunglasses, which I happen to adore, though Will couldn't use himself. I would buy this quarter all over again just to get another pair! Otherwise, all of the items were pretty straightforward and undeniably useful to most people. I feel like I also ended up benefitting from the other items in this box as much as Will did, because our product usage overlaps quite a bit, and he is content to just use whatever I have laying around the sink. He isn't a complicated guy and would literally buy the same facebar, soap, and aftershave for the rest of his life! I personally like boxes like this that give him some variety and let him try things he would never seek out while shopping for himself.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? It looks like it! The FAQ notes: “The specific box you receive will depend on the date you signed up and how that corresponds with the shipping deadlines of the quarterly boxes. You may contact customer service at: 1-800-999-6536 for the specifics.” I would give them a call to be 100% sure!
Value Breakdown: Each of the 11 items in the $49.99 box has an average cost of $4.54.
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