Dave Asprey Quarterly Subscription Box Review #BIO01

Dave Asprey is one of the newest Quarterly Box curators, and also one of the most popular! I wasn't familiar with him before he launched on Quarterly, but after checking out his new book I was intrigued. Here's the quick background from Amazon:

In his midtwenties, Dave Asprey was a successful Silicon Valley multimillionaire. He also weighed 300 pounds, despite the fact that he was doing what doctors recommended: eating 1,800 calories a day and working out 90 minutes a day, six times a week.When his excess fat started causing brain fog and food cravings sapped his energy and willpower, Asprey turned to the same hacking techniques that made his fortune to "hack" his own biology, investing more than $300,000 and 15 years to uncover what was hindering his energy, performance, appearance, and happiness. From private brain EEG facilities to remote monasteries in Tibet, through radioactive brain scans, blood chemistry work, nervous system testing, and more, he explored traditional and alternative technologies to reach his physical and mental prime.

And his quick Quarterly bio:

Dave Asprey is the founder of Bulletproof, and his blog reaches more than 1.5 million visitors each month. His mailings include things that optimize your performance as a human.

This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

The Subscription Box: Dave Asprey Quarterly Box

The Cost: $100

The Products: Things that optimize your performance as a human

Ships: Worldwide. (additional charges for international shipping).

Each Quarterly curator includes a letter detailing the items included. Dave wanted to do a video letter instead, so you can check it out if you like!

AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker - Value $25.32

This little coffee maker gets excellent reviews on Amazon, and Dave recommends it for making your own coffee at work or for travel.

EPIC Lamb Currant Mint Bar - Value $2.50

EPIC Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar - Value $2.50

We actually had just seen these at Whole Foods, and my husband wanted to try them, so this was perfect timing. He wasn't a huge fan of the flavor combinations though - I think he was looking for more of a jerky-type bar.

Surthrival Colostrum Immunity Quest - Value $50

I'm completely new to this type of product, so I'm going to quote the website since I don't feel informed enough yet to weigh in on the benefits:

Colostrum is the “immune milk” produced by all mammals for only the first few hours before and after birth. Supercharged with 97 immune factors and 87 growth factors, bovine Colostrum is nature’s “first food”. Its adaptogenic properties have been known to enhance rejuvenation and regeneration while strengthening the immune system, allowing your body to thrive under any circumstance.

Widely known for its potent anti-aging benefits and broad spectrum probiotics in their whole food forms, bovine Colostrum supports good digestion and is extremely dense in nutrition, helping to support your health and longevity strategy. SurThrival Colostrum powder is Grade A quality, harvested from growth-hormone free cows and only harvested after the newborn calves get their share. This is true, third party verified 6 hour Colostrum powder. SurThrival colostrum is low temperature spray-dried and contains no unnecessary fillers or additives.

Colostrum feature elements:

• Harvested only after the newborn calves get their share.
• Full fat, SurThrival Colostrum is never “de-fatted” like many commercial colostrum powders and formulas.
• Third Party Verified True 6-Hour Colostrum.
• Nature’s most complete whole food.
• Tested to be free from herbicides, antibiotics and synthetic hormones.
• Low Temperature spray dried to preserve bioactivity.
• A functional food, supercharged with 97 Immune Factors and 87 known Growth Factors.
• Supportive to digestive health and a balanced intestinal environment.
• A complete protein containing all essential Amino Acids, Fatty Acids and Glyconutrients.

All Natural Perfect Desiccated Liver Capsules - Value $20

This is a product I never would have picked up in a store or thought about trying without receiving it in this box. Now that I have it in my hands I'm going to give it a try though. Liver is one of those ingredients in paleo cookbooks that makes me turn the page immediately because I can't imagine cooking with it, so I think this might be the best way to get some of the nutritional benefits without preparing/cooking/eating it.

Rapid Response 10 Parameter Urinalysis Strips - Value $19

Radius BPA-Free Travel Soap Dish - Value $3

I noticed on Quarterly's Facebook page that someone brought up that these strips are expired. (The date on mine is 11/2014). It looks like the manufacturer assured Quarterly they will still work, but just something to keep in mind.

I thought this soap dish seemed a little out of place when I first opened the box, and I was right. In his video, Dave explains that he uses this as a bit of a disguise to travel with organic grass fed butter.

Holosync Demo CD - free

You can listen to the demo online too. (That's what I did). The holosync sounds are supposed to help with mediation and brain function. The first half of the demo is kind of a sales pitch for the program (which I found to be a little annoying), but the second half is very relaxing.

Rest Wise 6-month Membership - $99 value

This free 6-month subscription does require you to use a PayPal account, and they will charge you again in 6-months if you don't cancel your account before then. Canceling a subscription through PayPal is easy, so I just signed up for this. I'm guessing I'm not in their target demographic (serious athletes), but I try to workout everyday, so we'll see if this helps me too. (Their product is designed to help answer the question: Am I training too hard, or not hard enough?)

This box also included coupons for PowerLung and Muse headband.

Verdict: This box has a value of about $220 (that's including the 6-month membership to restwise). I think the value is great, and all these items are really interesting to me. I was expecting him to include the new Bulletproof Diet book in this box since it released around the same time this box shipped, but as soon as I saw it wasn't included I went ahead and purchased it since I'm curious about it. (In his video he said he didn't include it because if you subscribe to the Quarterly box he assumed you already pre-ordered the book!)

What do you think of the first Dave Asprey Quarterly Box?