BREO BOX is a men's and women's lifestyle subscription box that costs $159 per quarter and has a focus on the latest tech, home goods, and health & fitness items.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $15 off your first box!
CODE: MSA
Ships to: The continental U.S. for free ($30 to HI, AK, and U.S. territories), Canada for $35 ($90 for remote territories), and worldwide at varying rates.
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.)
Opening The Box
Who's ready for some summer-enhancing gadgets? The summertime BREO BOX is offered in just one edition, so no variations between boxes this quarter. Last quarter they introduced a more eco-friendly setup, with this recyclable cardboard box. Everything still comes tucked into a drawstring duster bag to keep it contained and protected. In the last photo above you can see that their signature "scent element" is a perfumed card. The oils from the fragrance did stain the bottom of the shipping box a little, but none of the products nor their packaging were damaged at all.
For the second time, their former detailed info booklet has been replaced with a single card that's printed with a QR code that links to their digital catalog. The welcome note on the other side explains that their box design has a patent pending—snazzy!
Here's What's Inside
Organically Driven Inflate-R Air Pump — Retail Value $79.50 (currently on sale for $67)
First up this quarter, all those inner tubes, tires, and balls you'll be pumping this summer just got an automated upgrade. This compact, chargeable device comes with several nozzles so you can pick which one suits your needs, and it pumps up to 150 PSI with an LCD screen indicating the pressure. The device has +/- buttons so you can set your max pressure, hit start, and then wait for it to automatically shut off when it's reached that PSI.
It's like holding a beer but much more useful in an emergency! Of course it's also great and useful for day-to-day. One thing that has me intrigued is the balloon-blowing nozzle, which I have yet to give a try but can see that being really fun. I can see our most frequent use being for bike tires, but it would also be a great thing to keep in the car, especially in the wintertime when cold temps can mess with tire pressure. This pump comes with a car charging adapter so you can charge it on the road, and a bonus feature is that you can use it as a charging bank for other devices (like your phone) as well.
The MeatStick Mini — Retail Value $69.99
I love cooking and have been at it for many years now, but I just obtained a meat thermometer last year. It's a game changer! Taking the guesswork out of meat's doneness goes a long way. The type I've been using is wireless with a dial on the top—I wouldn't call it super accurate but it gets the job done. This tiny meat thermometer is a definite upgrade. It's small and sturdy with a ceramic handle. It's dishwasher-safe, deep fryer-safe, and suitable for sous-vide. Its battery life is up to 8 hours. If you're saying to yourself, "wait, battery life?" you're not alone. I was confused, too. As it turns out this gadget's plastic cradle takes batteries, and it charges it while it's being stored.
You'll also notice the lack of dial or digital window of any sort. This meat thermometer can only be used paired with its app. Not surprisingly, the app offers all sorts of pertinent information, including an accurate temperature reading, time elapsed and remaining, and even some nifty graphs. Still, to me, having to get my phone involved is a downside. I can see myself changing my mind if I were to get into slow-roasting or otherwise long-term meal cooking more. If I'm just popping this thermometer into a slab of meat in the oven to check on its progress while juggling other parts of the meal, it feels like an unnecessary extra step to have to get my phone out. I think this thermometer would make an awesome gift for someone who goes bigger and bolder than I do with cooking meat, but since it's small I might just hang onto it and see if it might influence how I cook this summer!
Empower Cool Breeze Flex Neck Fan — Retail Value $59.99
Speaking of slow-cooking meats, here's a little something to keep your own personal internal temperature down while you're standing by the smoker. This is a wearable neck fan with 3 different settings. It's really quiet, and it charges by USB. I haven't worn it for long enough to put its battery life to the test but it should stay charged for up to 18 hours!
This fan is light and comfortable, and I like how it looks like you're wearing headphones around your neck. Scroll through the photos above and you'll see how the power button glows blue when it's on, and how extremely flexible the back of it is—after flexing it like that, it went back to its normal shape no problem. I will say the mildest setting didn't feel like much at all, the medium setting had me nodding, and the strongest setting was where I really felt a difference. I showed it to my mum and she commented that it would've been great during menopause. So there's that! My mind went to yard work or late afternoons at a music festival.
Proud Grill Q-Swiper + Wipes — Retail Value $12.56
Once per quarter when my BREO BOX arrives, I have to single myself out as not being a grill-owner! I know that's absurd here in America but here we are. My neighbors are avid grillers and have been loving being treated to tricked-out grill tools. This summer, though, it's my dear old dad who got gifted this grill cleaner. It's really well-thought-out with a sturdy handle, an abrasive pad and a metal scraper. It also comes with a pack of 25 wipes that you can wrap around the scrubber and clinch on (like a Swiffer pad) for one last step to the cleaning process. The great thing about this device is that they sell wipe refills at big box hardware stores and on Amazon, so I feel good giving this as a gift and knowing that if my dad really likes it and wants to keep using it, he can pick up refills when he's going about his usual errands.
Corkcicle Decapitator — Retail Value $19.95 (currently on sale for $9.98)
I love the Corkcicle brand. I was first introduced to it in the Spring 2021 BREO BOX with a really attractive lunch bag that my husband still uses for work. Their products are clever and functional, and make great gifts. This one in particular would make a nice housewarming gift. It's called the "Decapitator," which is a playful term for "bottle opener."
To use it, you put this sturdy cylinder on top of a beer (or similar) bottle and force it downward with the palm of your hand. The cap pops right off. In the words of my husband, "It's really satisfying to use, but my life wasn't lacking without it." Of course it wasn't, because we already have about 3 bottle openers, including one mounted to the wall, but none that are anything like this! That's why I think it would make a great gift for someone who's earlier in the process of establishing the "stuff" in their home. It's a staple item in any adult's household, and if you catch them early enough, it might be an upgrade from what they currently have.
Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $159 per quarter + free shipping to the contiguous US.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $15 off your first box!
CODE: MSA
Value Breakdown: The Summer 2022 BREO BOX comes in only one variation, so that means all subscribers can expect to receive these same 5 items. This subscription costs $159 (including shipping), meaning each item breaks down to about $31.80. The contents add up to $241.99 if you're considering everything at full retail price, or $219.52 if you're considering the sale prices of the Inflate-R air pump and the Decapitator bottle opener. Either way, the value well exceeds the cost of this box. There were some great big-ticket items in here that I may not have bought for myself but am really excited for the opportunity to try, like the meat thermometer and the automated air pump. My favorite items this quarter are the neck fan for its usefulness and the Decapitator for its fun factor.
Key Takeaways
I'm always happy with my BREO BOX, but especially this quarter. As someone who lets this subscription be my way of keeping in touch with the latest upgrades and gadgets, I am often impressed by what is offered. I thought the value this quarter was good and that the spread was great for summer.
Keep track of your subscriptions by adding this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Other Things You Should Know
When is this box available? This box is seasonal, shipping out four times a year.
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? Yes, the Summer 2022 box is still available as of publication.
What do you think of the Spring BREO BOX? Which item are you most excited to receive?
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