Culture Carton is a men’s subscription box designed to make tasteful improvements in your daily life. October’s box is about making time for fitness, wherever you are. *
* They kindly sent us this box for review.
Culture Carton is based in the US and offers three subscription options (all prices in USD):
Book Club: Get the handpicked book of the month from Culture Carton. Start building your library now with the best of classic and modern fiction. $16/month + free US shipping.
Standard: All the best men’s lifestyle items and a book every man should read delivered to your doorstep monthly. $45/month + shipping.
Essential: All the best lifestyle items, hand picked by the Culture Carton team, delivered monthly. $35/month + shipping.
Culture Carton also ships outside of the US. Shipping costs vary.
Let’s have a look at October’s Standard box.
Each Culture Carton box includes a product card that describes the contents in brief, along with the retail value. I’ve quoted from it in italics below.
The Heads of Cerberus by Francis Stevens
“Our book this month is The Heads of Cerberus by Francis Stevens ($15). This is a groundbreaking early dystopian novel that laid the groundwork for many future classics in the genre. This all-time classic will make a great addition to your growing library.”
Here’s the description from the publisher:
“Philadelphia, 1918: Three friends—brave, confident Viola Trenmore, clever but shy Robert Drayton, and Viola’s strong and hot-tempered brother, Terry—discover a mysterious powder that transports them two hundred years into the future. The Philadelphia of 2118 is no longer a bustling metropolis but instead a completely isolated city recovering from an unknown disaster. Citizens are issued identification tags instead of having names, and society is split between a wealthy, powerful minority and a downtrodden lower class. The position of supreme authority is held by a woman, and once a year she oversees competitions to the death to determine who rules alongside her. When Viola, Terry, and Robert are forced to take part in these strange and deadly games, it will take their combined wits for them to escape this strange world and return home.”
I hadn’t heard of this book before seeing it here but then I’m not a science fiction fan. For those that are, this sounds like a must-read! The publisher calls it a precursor to The Hunger Games.
Survival Bracelet
“A paracord survival bracelet ($5) keeps you ready for anything and adds a bit of peace of mind to your next adventure.”
This bracelet has a built-in compass, fire striker and emergency whistle — a $5 accessory that could save your life. Fabulous stocking stuffer for outdoorsy types. (I’ve already sourced where to get more.)
Fanny Pack
“Next, a foldable fanny pack ($24) to store extra gear, money, or food on your next trip to the gym or hiking trails.”
I might never take this off. 😂 It’s large enough to hold a phone, keys, bank card and a protein bar so your fella can venture out hands-free with all of the necessities. But it could do with a longer belt, especially if you want to wear it lower on your hips. This one is 38″ around.
Running Phone Case
“A running phone case ($28) that allows you to keep your phone free of sweat and grime during a workout. You won’t have to worry about your phone popping out of your pocket anymore.”
If your phone cost as much as a mortgage payment you might be hesitant to put it in an arm band (as I am). I haven’t tested this one but if you have or use another that you like, please share your thoughts.
Resistance Bands
“We have also included a set of resistance bands ($15) that will let you get even more out of bodyweight exercises. These bands are perfect for travel or throwing in your gym bag.”
I looked these up on the manufacturer’s website and apparently they’re for your thighs, which explains why they’re so short. I wish Culture Carton had included longer bands instead. Those would have been much more versatile.
I think this month’s fitness theme was well thought out, ‘tho I would have preferred to see a more versatile set of resistance bands and the phone case swapped out for something else like a quick-drying yoga towel (I just can’t see many subscribers risking their phone on that case). That said, the fanny pack, survival bracelet and the book make it worth the price. October’s Culture Carton is valued at $87.
Try Small Things – https://trysmallthings.com