Bespoke Post Subscription Box Reviews & Coupon – Weekender & Ember

Bespoke Post is a monthly men’s subscription box that allows you great freedom: while each month the folks at Bespoke Post select a proposed box for you to receive, from the first through the fifth of the month, you have the option of logging into the site and changing or canceling their proposed selection. This month, I changed my selection and added a number of additional items from the shop with free shipping included (orders over $45, including subscription boxes, include free shipping). When purchased through the monthly subscription service, boxes are $45, though they may be purchased individually for $55. Each box has a suggested retail value of at least $70.

Since you may change your box selection monthly based on availability, you effectively have a choice of about 15 boxes each month. This month I selected the weekender box in navy.

Each box is a perfectly curated gift. This is why I love Bespoke Post and why I subscribed. I have the hardest time finding and selecting men’s gifts for holidays and special occasions. Now I no longer have to fret. I can let Bespoke Post do all the difficult, thought-provoking work, and I can take all the credit. Win! The Weekender box contained a weekender bag, deodorizing body wipes, playing cards and a hydration vitamin. Everything a man would need were he to want to escape for the weekend!

At 20″ x 12″ x 8″, the Weekender Bag, made by and for Bespoke Post, is substantial in size. It is made of navy canvas with brown leather accents. The feet on the bottom help to protect the bag when erect. This appears to be a solid bag with classic features. It’s a reissue of one of Bespoke Post’s most successful boxes. I love how Bespoke Post will reissue its boxes if enough people request them. Putting an exact retail value on the bag is difficult as it’s a Bespoke Post exclusive that’s only available through their weekender box. However, I can attest that I have never seen such a high quality bag for $45.

These Miller Lite playing cards ($3.95) will make my husband very happy. Although we’re not beer drinkers, we love playing bridge and can always use a nice clean deck of cards for our family trips.

Goodwipes (suggested retail is 10 for $8, bringing these 3 to $2.40) deodorizing body wipes for busy guys are hypoallergenic wipes that remove dirt and sweat so that you feel fresh even on adventures where showers are not available. Each wipe is 9.5″ x 11.5″. Produced with tea tree oil, peppermint and ginseng, these will leave you fresh and energized.

Brode’s Electrolyte Vitamin (10 for $24.97 or 100 for $147) is a convenient alternative to sports drinks for active adults. Just drop it in your drink and you’re ready to go. This collection of electrolytes and B vitamins contains no added sugars, sweeteners or flavorings. It can be added to any drink, even beer. In fact, those who place it in their beer claim to feel less hungover afterwards. Two Brode Vitamins have more electrolytes than either Emergen-C or Gatorade and contain 0 calories.

I also picked up the Ember box (it’s no longer available, but may yet return!).

As always, the opening presentation looks great!

The Ember box contains items one would use while camping, hiking or backpacking: a portable stove, an eating utensil, a fire starter, a meal, and dude wipes so that one always smells fresh!

Dude Wipes (currently on sale for 30 for $9.34) are flushable wipes for use in lieu of toilet paper. Because they are moist, they clean better than regular toilet paper, and because they smell nice, you’ll smell nicer after using them. While these sound like a great addition to an outdoor gear box, before using them, it would be nice if there were some way to find out what their environmental impact would be if one were to bury them. Unfortunately, their website has no details relating to this. Until it does, I’d stick to using these in an actual toilet.

UST’s Sparkforce ($7.99) is a flint based fire starter designed to create sparks in windy or wet conditions. It comes with a small lanyard to keep the components together.

Light My Fire’s Titanium Spork ($15) is a light and strong dishwasher-safe eating utensil that can withstand the rigors of outdoor use. It’s a perfect addition to a pack or even a briefcase. I’ll be bringing it camping this weekend.

Ember Lit’s Fire Ant ($69.99) is an ultralight titanium backpacking stove that can accommodate an array of fuel including solid fuel, burners–even trees! Weighing just 2.8 oz and collapsing completely flat, this stove is an ideal addition to a long-haul pack.

Before using this on an outdoor adventure, though, be sure to practice putting it together. While not difficult, it was much easier the second time around.

Mountain House’s Freeze Dried Beef Stroganoff with Noodles ($8.49) is a yummy combination of beef, mushrooms, onions and noodles prepared in a rich sour cream sauce. Each pouch contains 2.5 servings.

All told, the Ember box contained a retail value of roughly $102.

In addition to the Eeekender and Ember boxes, this month I decided to add a compass, four enamel mugs, a small leatherman and a blanket to my order. As they were shipped along with my box (and surpassed the $45 threshold anyway), they incurred no additional shipping charge.

Tru-Nord 100c Pocket Model Compass (suggested retail $44.95; on sale at Bespoke Post for $33): This small (roughly 1″ x .5″), lightweight,  water-resistant compass would be a perfect addition to a pack for use in a single area. It comes with a lifetime repair or replace warranty. If ordered directly from Tru-Nord, it comes calibrated to your local zip code, although they will happily calibrate it to magnetic north (or somewhere else!) if requested. As I ordered it from Bespoke Post, mine may need recalibration. If it does, I can mail it to Tru-Nord along with $8 shipping and handling to get it recalibrated. I’m taking mine with me on my tracking adventure this weekend (along with another compass for comparison purposes!) so I don’t get lost in the sand! I’m eager to get this set up and working for me so I can switch compasses!

Although initially I planned to purchase only one of these 12 oz Enamelware Mugs by Emalco (suggested retail $16 each; on sale at Bespoke Post for $10.60 each) for myself, I decided to purchase four of them instead so my family can enjoy them on our upcoming camping trips together. Enamel is great for camping trips: it’s rugged, scratch resistant and doesn’t burn.

Although small (1.8 oz, 2.5″ long), this Leatherman Micra (suggested retail $30.00; on sale at Bespoke post for $19.60) packs a big punch. It contains 10 tools including: 3 sizes of screwdrivers, a 1.6″ knife, spring action scissors, nail cleaner, nail filer, 4.7″ ruler, tweezers and bottle opener. It comes with a 25 year warranty and has been approved by the TSA for air travel. Because of its diminutive size, this is the ideal tool to put in your purse, pocket, pack or tackle box.

Give Perf’s La Playa Blanket ($42) is a large blanket (73″ x 42″) whose substantial acrylic, cotton and polyester weave makes it an ideal blanket for a picnic in a park or a night of stargazing. It comes accented with a leather patch. Give Perf donates 15% of its profits to organizations that support the basic needs of families around the world.

I’m thrilled with my purchases this month from Bespoke Post and look forward to stocking up on presents for myself as well as my friends and family in the coming months.

Visit Bespoke Post to subscribe or find out more! SSave $9 on your first box with coupon code FREEBEER.