As soon as we heard that GQ would be getting into the subscription box game, you knew, of course that we would have to take a look and review it for you guys. We were, as it happens, super, super impressed with the first three boxes, and now it’s time to take a look at their fourth. GQ’s box delivers every quarter, as opposed to the more common monthly boxes you might be used to. And it’s something I truly look forward to every time now that they have such a good track record with it. It’s really fun! And there is always seemingly something great inside that I am excited to use. It’s called, as always, the GQ “Best Stuff Box” and it will run you $50 per box, or $190 if you sign up for a whole year of them.
If you are interested, note that they sell out super quickly. So while you can buy them outright without a subscription, it’s super hard. If you want them, you need to subscribe. Anyway, we are indeed looking at a price a little bit higher than what most of these subscription boxes usually cost, but, it’s only four times a year as opposed to 6 or 12 times, and we think the value here is tremendous. It’s quickly become our favorite subscription box service, by quite a margin (with Bespoke Post being second place). Let’s get into it a bit more by taking a look at what came in this third box from GQ.
The Box Contents
RAEN Sunglasses: This is the big ticket item in this box. These are actually super nice, quite high-end sunglasses that would, in and of themselves, run you over $100. This is the sort of deal that, honestly, only GQ could pull off, and so is the sort of item you would only see in a GQ box. Unfair advantage? I suppose. But you, the customer benefit. These are great glasses. They are unusual in all the right ways, and super sleek, cool, and unique. Plus they fit my gigantic head. Big win all around. (I need prescription lenses, so I had them put in at my local glasses shop. I have never done that with subscription box sunglasses as they are usually so cheap. Not these. Well worth the money having them filled.)
GQ tote bag: A nice thing they threw in here. Fun for the summer. A bit on the small side, though, in all honesty.
Marlowe bar soap: More of a body wash guy myself, but this is still nice. Does a good job getting you feeling clean, and a nice scent as well.
Harry’s razor + 4 more blades: The classic Harry’s razor; mine in the standard grey color. I had one of these already, in the same color, but hey, I can always use another. I still think Gillette make a better razor overall, but I like Harry’s razors too. The GQ box also comes with a coupon code to get 4 more blades from Harry’s for free, no hidden fees, no catches. So, I ordered those as well, duh.
Tani underwear: You get a coupon code for (another) free pair of underwear from Tani. I find their sizing difficult to get right, and their prices are super high, but you can’t deny the quality. Plus, they seem to love offering free stuff in GQ boxes, so I am not complaining. You don’t even have to pay shipping this time. Nice.
FatBoy spray putty: Odd name aside, this is pretty cool. It’s a putty, but a spray. Oxymoron? Sure. But it works. It sprays in like a sea salt spray, but works in to your hair more like a pomade. A bit magical to be honest. An awesome thing to throw in a travel kit, even if not ideal for everyday use.
Herbivore post-shave mist: I am a big fan of the post-shave mist, over aftershave type products. Much more subtle, and, I think it does a better job. I have long used the mist from Harry’s, but this is super nice as well. Again, perfect to throw in a travel kit.
Coppertone Sport Clear sunscreen: Who likes sunscreen? No one. It’s greasy, white, gets everywhere, and leaves you feeling dirty as you start your day outside. This one tries to mitigate most of those issues and does a fairly good job overall. It goes on clean and clear, and is mostly sweat-proof too. It feels overall more like a skincare product than sunscreen, which is super high praise. Look, it’s still sunscreen, but it’s the best of all the evils.
Charcoal + Magnesium deodorant: A natural deodorant that actually smells nice? Check. I am super picky with my deodorants, so I don’t see myself using this every day, but for those days I want something a bit less intense, this is a great option to have around. Plus, for those of you that prefer something more natural, look no further.
Boka toothbrush + SteriPod + Marvis toothpaste: GQ decided to have a little “mouth section” in this box, I guess. And hey, I am not complaining. The toothbrush is, well, a toothbrush. But it is nice. Plus Steripod’s are the bomb. Love those things, and can always use another one. They protect and disinfect your toothbrush. Brilliant idea, and amazing for travel. And Marvis is the king of fancy, expensive toothpaste. This is about 2-week’s supply or so, maybe less. But perfect for on-the-go luxury. And a nice way to get something that I would never buy on my own (like I always say these boxes are so good for.)
Value & Conclusion
Like we said above, this box will run you $50 per quarter. Originally, you could subscribe for the whole year for $150, but it seems they raised that price, so get in now before they raise it any more. The value in each box well exceeds what you pay. Unlike some other subscription boxes, the items you get in this box are truly high quality, top of the field items. There is no crap in this box. True, you might not use every item as it might not fit into your life, but overall, I was shocked at how much stuff came in this box, and the value inside of it, and the fact that GQ has now been able to deliver this same reaction two times in a row. I don’t know how GQ pulled it off, but I guess they are capable of doing things and making deals that the smaller subscription box companies cannot. They call this a “Best Stuff” box and it truly is. Again, color me surprised. But they really deliver here!
To be sure, one of the best parts of these boxes is getting items that you never would have purchased alone, but, now that you have them, are excited to get to try to use. All subscription boxes we have tested get the first part right, but the second part is the key. It all comes down to curation. Are the items you are getting actually any good? Are the items that you would not have done out and gotten yourself something that you now actually want to use and are happy to have? Do you feel like you have something of a personal stylist and curator? Well, GQ utterly nails this. I was, truly, blown away by all the great stuff in this box.
It is a bit pricier than the other subscription boxes — even more than the already-expensive Bespoke Post at $45. Plus, you get no customization whatsoever (like you do with Bespoke Post), and have no idea what is in the box until it shows up (or until you read GQ online or in print, as they sort of start advertising it before everyone gets their box, something I wish they didn’t do to keep it a surprise!). Nevertheless, I think it is without question worth the money. Right now, if you could only subscribe to one subscription box, it should be this GQ one. Once a quarter is a much more reasonable frequency to get a box like this than once a month, and, if the third box is anything like this one, I fully trust GQ to continue to deliver awesome items you’ll be excited to use and try — even if you did not select them beforehand.
Other boxes at cheaper price points give you products that are not as well curated, nor as high quality. GQ’s box gives you a bit of everything. Some lifestyle items, some grooming, some clothing. It’s the best of all worlds. As with so many things, you get what you pay for. If you’re going to subscribe to a service like this, we have seen without a doubt that a bit more money goes a much longer way. If you are asking us, we think the best subscription box service is GQ’s Best Stuff Box, pretty much hands down.
Check back next quarter for our review of that box!