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?
Written by Liz Cadman
Mine hasn’t arrived yet as I’m in Australia but from what I’ve seen of the contents I’m really disappointed. Dave has such a strong belief in his product range I was expecting samples of those or better still a preview of products he may be considering for future inclusion in the line up. I also concur that coupons for a limited appeal service are a real booby prize. Maybe Dave is too busy and delegated this to a team member. I wont be resubscribing unless there is a big rethink !!
I’ve read numerous articles dissecting Asprey’s brand of ‘science.’ And calling him the snake oil salesman of our time-after seeing this box…I’ll agree.
Arrrgh! I ordered this and hate it! I got it because I saw early spoilers of those roller things, only to find out they’re in box 2. I eat fish and seafood but no meat so this was a totally wasted box for me. It was stomach turning to open it up honestly. I loved Arianna’s first box and Nina’s last one was okay. But this one is ridiculous. I don’t even know anyone who would use this stuff, even the body builder soldiers I know who just returned from Afghanistan turned their nose up at it. It’s going back for sure.
i buy everything from Dave, book, most upgraded products etc. on a regular basis. i was a bit disappointed with this first box.it was 2 months overdue. i dont want coupons for my cash.i want product.not demos or deals that involve me to buy more.i buy enough from Dave. i like his products. i will give the next box a chance, if it is like the first, i will not be renewing.
I order lots from Dave, even the overpriced stuff I can get in a box store, but I have to agree that cash for coupons is not a great deal. I’m disappointed with what is in the box (even though I haven’t received mine yet)… And like an earlier post I was very interested in those roller ball things too… What I don’t really like here however is the coupons and demos feel like an upset opportunity where Dave is making some extra scratch (cool, whatever) but at the cost of some value for something elseelse that could have easily been included…
Cash for coupons = bad and disappointed 🙁
Upsell opportunity NOT upset opportunity
A better alternative to the Epic bar is Tanka. They are made with bison and cranberry. They are more like a jerky and have more moisture. They are delicious! Here’s a link: http://www.tankabar.com
I LOVE Dave Asprey, and was solo stocked to see he was putting out a quarterly, even at $100 I knew I needed to get it. But this was a total let down! I at least expected the coffee and the new book, and if I don’t use the $100 valued RestWise since I’m not an athlete, this box is only worth $120 ugh. When I pay so much for a box I expect it to be worth 3x the price tag. Considering sending it back but haven’t decided. Better be some good spoilers for the 2nd box if I am going to risk it again!
I was hoping for his coffee too! At least a little sample to go with the coffee press!
I’ve used the aeropress for years and love it! I’m the only one who drinks coffee in the house…small enough for travel or camping. I’ve listened to holosync in the past and found the first cd relaxing…the one with bells and rain falling, didn’t like the second one as much. Tried the Epic bars too, they actually taste good, but I didn’t like the consistency. It was a little weird getting my head around a ground meat bar. If you are Paleo then you’d probably like it for on the go.
As soon as I read this I thought to myself I want his customer list for western PA. I’m going to order his book because chances are I will have customers that read it and will want to discuss it.
I looked up his book and am going to read it. It is a book that some of my customer base will read, and I do try to stay on top of all the books and movies like that. It helps a lot especially when I have customers that are making new food decisions for the first time because of movies they saw or books they read. It sounds like his food philosophy is similar to Weston Price or Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Dr. Mary Enig. This is broad assumption based on what I read on Amazon about his book and the items he selected for his box. I never heard of him until Quarterly.
Just an FYI – the book, although it makes bold claims to loose weight quickly, is a diet to support operating you body and especially ‘brain’ at peak efficiency and capacity.
The fringe benefit, although I feel it was over-marketed, is to loose weight.
I didn’t order it but so curious to know what’s included. The box seems interesting enough that I am thinking sign up. I hope the next box won’t have dairy (such as Surthrival Colostrum Immunity Quest), or coffee, I’m allergic to both. Thanks for the review!
I think this is actually a box I definitly wouldn’t want. Nah, pass!
Yeah, this is so totally not for me. (I’m a vegetarian, for one, and this seems like a lot of faddish stuff, anyway.)
It turned my stomach a bit…and I’m a pretty adventurous eater!
It seems pretty out – there to me. I would definitely want to read his book before trying anything in that box lol