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
The seasons are shifting, so it's time for another BREO BOX. Just like last quarter, this box comes in one edition, so no variations between boxes. They're still going strong with this more eco-friendly setup involving a recyclable cardboard box (with their patent-pending design) instead of a wooden box. All the items still come cinched in a lightweight duster bag, and their signature "scent element" is a good-smelling card that can be seen in the last photo. It is a really pleasant cologne-like smell that could totally be used as a car freshener for awhile.
Rather than a printed info booklet, BREO has been including this simple card with a QR code printed on it, linking to a digital catalog.
Here's What's Inside
Rocket Book Core Smart Notebook — Retail Value $29.99 (currently on sale for $16.99)
While "back to school" season is unrelated to most careers, there's still something festive about the change in pace. I love that a gadget-y notebook was included in this fall box for those of us who are feeling the urge to do our own version of back-to-school shopping. This concept is so cool and futuristic. The notebook is made from special paper that's printed with dotted grid pages (like a bullet journal). You write in it like you would any old notebook, you take a photo of it on your phone, and your note are uploaded to the cloud for future digital use. At the bottom of each page is a variety of little icons that, when checked, trigger the cloud to auto-upload that page's notes to Dropbox, Drive, Slack, or other common programs. When you're done, you can erase what you've written and reuse the pages.
With the notebook comes one Pilot Frixion pen, but you can use any pen, marker, or highlighter from this brand. The provided cloth is a soft microfiber. I haven't tested other cloths with the notebook but I would imagine others could work.
Each page has its own unique QR code for uploading. I am a hoarder of old-fashioned notebooks, and already I have a hard time opening up a new one and writing on the first page and destroying its purity. Imagine my Smeagol tendencies with this fancy notebook! I haven't been able to bring myself to write in it yet because mindless doodles haven't felt worthy, but I strongly recommend watching the video at the top of the Rocket Book Amazon landing page and letting yourself be impressed!
MPowerd Luci Solar Bike Light Set — Retail Value $64.95 (currently on sale for $54.56)
I've received a handful of Luci solar lights in subscriptions over the years, and I'm always happy with their design and quality. They're attractive, clever, and functional. This pair of bike lights was a really exciting score for my household, being the bike people that we are. It does seem specific, though, as I imagine your average person doesn't use bike lights. That said, an argument can be made for using bike lights even during the day. There are three brightness settings here and it's pretty intuitive to function.
My husband put the headlight right to work, as his had died earlier that day. He put it on top of his handlebars to solar charge and then flipped it under for riding. He used it to commute home from a rehearsal after dark, and his review is that it's a great product for safety—it made him visible to cars—but it doesn't have a wide enough beam to serve as an actual headlight to light his way in the dark. He ended up taking a different route home than usual because the Luci light wasn't bright enough for the speed at which he was riding.
JoGo Brew Straw — Retail Value $24.95
Such an interesting concept here! This straw has a tiny filter on the bottom so that you can drink what JoGo calls "French press style coffee" without the French press. Basically you just mix coffee grounds into hot water and drink it through this straw so that you don't consume the grounds. The concept of drinking hot coffee out of a straw is tripping me up a little, mainly because it's hot drinks through a straw sound like mouth burn city, but it's also kind of thrilling to think about it in the context of camping or backpacking. Imagine the equipment you don't have to bring.
They also offer a 30% discount code to grab a backup or one for a friend.
GEFU Spiral Slicer Spirelli 2.0 — Retail Value $24.94
I go back and forth on spiralizers. I've used them many times and loved the result, but they're a pain to clean and sometimes finicky to use. This one is pretty minimalist, which is a plus, but it's also pretty manual with a lot of wrist twisting. We were sent a multi-use spiralizer and grater in Spring 2021 that I still use, and I don't see this one replacing it, since it only has one use and is almost as big. I'll be moving this one along.
Hello Light Wall Plate NightLight x 2 — Retail Value $26.45
This is another clever idea: a light plate cover that has built-in down-shining night lights. We were sent two in this box: one that's compatible with two outlets, and the other which could work with a single pole light switch. The night light has a sensor so it turns on when the overhead light is switched off, so you might want to choose your location wisely. It would be nice to have the option to turn the night light off, but overall it's a great product.
Voltzy USB Solar Panel — Retail Value $39.95 (currently on sale for $29.95)
And here we have a solar panel! It's wide, capturing more sunlight than a smaller panel and leading to faster charging times, but it's really slim and lightweight. It comes with a set of clips to attach it to anything you need, and it can be used to charge devices or to boost a power bank.
Keysmart Statik 360 Power Cable — Retail Value $16.99
This looks like your average charging cable until you get to the end, where you'll see a cluster of three types of tips clung together with a super-strong magnet. The three types are an iPhone charger, a micro-USB, and a USB-C. In our family, that covers all our devices' needs. I do worry about losing one or more tips, because they're of course tiny (and very much choking hazards to babies), but it would be a good backup, emergency cord to keep in my car. It doesn't come with a base, so all the more reason the car is a good spot for it.
Bonus: Delta x BREO BOX Trip Wipes Singles
As a little bonus, we're sent two single-use anti-bacterial wipes. The note that comes with them says they've partnered with Delta and we'll soon see these guys in airplane lavatories. In the meantime, here are some to take with us on the go.
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 Fall 2022 BREO BOX was packed full of 7 items (counting the light switches as a set) plus bonus wipes. Every subscriber gets the same curation this month, so you can count on these items arriving in your box, with a total retail value of $228.22. That said, a handful of products were on sale (either through Amazon or on their own site), and when sale prices are considered, the total retail value is more like $126.72. That's a significant difference, adding up to $101.50 in savings! At full retail value, say, if you wish to support these businesses directly rather than buying on Amazon*, you're getting an awesome value. My favorite items this month were the bike lights, which got put to immediate use for us, and the futuristic notebook, which I can't wait to explore soon.
*Edited 9/17/22; Jenny from our community helped me understand that some small businesses sell directly through Amazon. In some cases, buying through Amazon is the best way to support a small business!
Key Takeaways
There were all sorts of categories represented in this BREO BOX: office, recreation, travel, home, and kitchen. I had fun exploring these new-to-me gadgets and always feel good gifting anything I won't use, like the spiralizer this quarter. It's fun for me when my friends feel like they're getting a score that makes their life easier!
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 Fall 2022 box is still available as of publication.
What do you think of the Fall BREO BOX? Which item are you most excited to receive?
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