Outer Places’ Supply Pod – The Martian Box Review & Coupon

Supply Pod by Outer Places is a new bimonthly subscription box catering to Sci-Fi Fans. Supply Pod delivers products themed around upcoming sci-fi releases and scientific events.

The first box was a one-time box based on the real-life science behind Andy Weir’s The Martian, which inspired the movie starring Matt Damon about an astronaut stranded on Mars. There were two options available: The Essential Pod ($29.99 plus shipping, handling and tax) contained science and sci-fi items that would be great to have if stranded on Mars. The Deluxe Pod ($39.99 plus shipping, handling and tax) contained all the items in the Essential Pod plus a paperback version of The Martian – a No. 1 book on the New York Times Best Sellers list!

As you can see, we reviewed the Deluxe Pod.

The info card describes all the items in the Pod. 

The card has two sides, because there’s lots of cool stuff in here.

Everything in the Pod.  

Kikkerland Spaceman Magnifier ($6.27):  This little dude magnifies at 5X strength, making him perfect for reading maps, menus, ingredient listings, and the like.  The button on his chest activates a super bright LED light, so he can help out even in dimly-lit areas.

Astronaut Freeze-Dried Ice Cream Sandwich ($6.18):  Astronaut Ice Cream is a modern classic, with all the creaminess of ice cream, and the portability of a pack of tissues.  This takes the idea one step further, freeze-drying an entire ice cream sandwich!

LUCI EMRG Inflatable Solar Powered Lantern ($9.99):  Lightweight, waterproof, and powerful, this is a great item to have in your emergency preparedness kit.  The solar panel charges in 8 hours of direct sunlight and can then retain its charge for up to a month or illuminate on bright mode for 7 hours.  It has two brightness levels, as well as a flashing and emergency signal mode. Brandy didn’t blow it up for the photo because she has a cold. She is totally incapable of going to Mars.

The Martian by Andy Weir ($9):  The NYT Bestseller, now a moving featuring Matt Damon, chronicles the harrowing experience of Mark Watney, an astronaut abandoned on Mars to fend for his survival alone on the alien planet. We are fighting over who gets to read this one first, then we’ll rent the movie! We can’t wait. We saw the preview a few weeks ago and we were immediately excited.

4M Green Science Weather Station ($10.69):  This quirky little Swiss Army knife of a planter houses a transparent terrarium, a weathervane, wind speed gauge, rainfall gauge, and a thermometer.

Brandy: We’re not sure about wind speed inside a Martian habitat, although you may find reading Seveneves intriguing for some of the artificial habitat imaginings. And I totally could go to Mars.

Foam Space Shuttle Gliders (50¢):  This glider flies better than I had expected, sailing across the room in a more or less straight trajectory.  Also pictured is a sticker quoting astronaut Watney’s assessment of his predicament.

A Mars rock special offer is also included. 

I thought this was a truly interesting addition to the Pod.  This chart lists the ten planets most like our own and residing in the “goldilocks zone” in their respective solar systems, making them the best candidates for supporting human colonization.  Basic metrics of each planet are shown, along with the Earth Similarity Index for each.

Alien vs. Predator Fire and Stone #1 of 4 ($3.50):  A copy of Dark Horse Comics’ AVP Fire and Stone (issue 1 in a series of 4) is included for our enjoyment.  I was impressed with the treatment of the comic — it was bagged and boarded, so it arrived in collectible condition.

 As the mercenary crew of the Perses leave the horror of LV-223 behind them, one passenger reveals a terrible new danger, and the crew soon find themselves in a deadly struggle between predator and prey!

The theme for this subscription is very cool — it dovetails with the excitement sci-fi fans experience awaiting new releases by Hollywood or NASA.  Like any subscription in the genre, the contents will vary greatly from one box to the next (in this case depending on the upcoming release chosen for the theme), so subscribers should have a broad appreciation for the sci-fi genre.  I thought this was a fun way to get psyched for the movie! Speaking of upcoming movies, check out the first spoiler for the December box, which is Star Wars themed!

Visit Supply Pod by Outer Places to subscribe or find out more!