These days, you can sign up for a monthly subscription box of pretty much anything: clothing, coffee, or even unusual condiments. It follows that we would soon have a gear subscription box for outdoor enthusiasts as well. BattlBox brings a menagerie of outdoor and tactical gear to doorsteps across North America.
BattlBox promises to deliver a variety of “camping, survival, everyday carry (EDC), and all-around epic outdoor gear,” according to the website. The company delivered its first “mission” (which is how the company describes its monthly boxes) in March 2015 and has shipped over 40 missions since. Each mission is curated based on a theme with a selection of three to 12 tested and approved items inside, depending on your subscription. The items range from relatively inexpensive gadgets to high-end outdoor equipment and survivalist paraphernalia.
Each mission is curated based on a theme with a selection of three to 12 items inside
For example, Mission 20 was dubbed the “Shelter Building & Tinder Collection Box” and included a tinder maker, a handsaw, and an arborist throw bag. Others, like Mission 41 (which shipped in July this year), are a little more on the nose; the “Freedom Box” was filled with patriotic products like a branded tumbler and a desktop flag. All new subscribers receive the Mission 34 Welcome Box upon signing up.
Every month, new missions are delivered by the 15th, which is also when your monthly payment is processed. BattlBox delivers all across the U.S. and Canada via USPS Priority Mail, USPS First Class Mail, UPS Ground, and UPS SurePost. If ever gear arrives and damaged or broken, you can send it back to receive a replacement item or something of similar value within 15 days of receipt of your BattlBox.
Want to receive boxes more frequently? You can join the wait list for the next Mystery Box. These are curated and delivered based on demand; inside, you’ll find favorite gear from prior missions as well as never-before-seen equipment. Currently, Mystery Boxes are released every four to six weeks.
Watch us unbox a BattlBox on Digital Trends Live, the daily show from our tech-focused brother site.
Canceling your subscription is fairly easy — all you need to do is log in to your BattlBox account, click on the orange Edit/View button, and press the “Cancel subscription” button that pops up. And, like most subscription services, you can always skip a month instead of canceling your entire subscription.
While the military and “prepper” demographics form a large part of BattlBox’s customer base, the products are varied and useful enough to appeal to a broader group of outdoor adventurers. Sure, you might not end up using the pocket chainsaw (or will you?), but you will definitely appreciate having a reliable, high-quality camping stove kit for your overnight adventures. Let’s dive into the different subscription packages so you can see which option suits your needs best.
BattlBox Subscription Options
Basic
- Who it’s for:
- Someone who’s just beginning to learn about outdoor and survival tactics. The box often includes basic camping gear, as well as unique items that will kindle your interest in the great outdoors and the survivalist lifestyle.
- What’s inside:
- Three to seven hand-selected items, including manuals, emergency supplies, outdoor gear, and survival tools. For example, in the Mission 34 Welcome Box (an appraised value of $51), subscribers receive the following:
- Price:
Advanced
- Who it’s for:
- The gear junkie. By subscribing to the Advanced Box, you’ll begin collecting essential outdoor gear like fire starters and cookware. This box is an excellent way to create a quality collection of outdoor supplies over time.
- What’s inside:
- Four to 10 hand-selected items, including one to three higher-value items such as camping equipment, hiking essentials, bushcraft, EDC gear, and more. In additional to the Basic equipment in the Mission 34 Welcome Box, subscribers receive the following:
- Price:
Pro
- Who it’s for:
- Professional outdoorsmen who are working in the field and survivalists who want to expand their inventory. Additional items that come with the Pro box often include overnight supplies.
- What’s inside:
- Six to 11 items, of which one to two are top-tier products like sleeping bags, backpacks, watches, and even tents. The two additional products in the Mission 34 box are the:
- Price:
Pro Plus
- Who it’s for:
- If you’re investing in the Pro Plus box, it’s probably because you have (or want to begin) a knife collection and want to invest extra dollars to get top-of-the-line gear.
- What’s inside:
- Included in each Pro Plus box is a knife from such brands as TOPS, Kershaw, Spyderco, CRKT, Gerber, Bastion, and many others. For instance, the Mission 34 box includes the following:
- Price:
