5k Crate is a quarterly subscription box for runners, with a focus on premium apparel, gear, and other essentials for runners of all skill levels.
We received this box for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: 5k Crate
The Cost: $59.99/quarter with free shipping
The Products: 5-7 items (apparel, gear, and essentials) with a value of over $100
Ships to: US only
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This is our first 5k Crate, so I wasn't sure what to expect upon unboxing. Everything was nicely packaged and wrapped in blue tissue paper, which was a nice touch. The info card is simple, and lists out the included items with some suggested retail values.
They advertise 5-7 items, and this first box has 6, so we're off to a good start! I did notice the retail values on the card didn't always match what I could find online, but they were both over- and under-valued at different points, and the value for the box as a whole was still good– so I chose not to dwell on that.
Mission VaporActive Alpha Running Shirt - Retail Value $25
Most of my technical clothing is more geared toward cold weather activities, so I was happy to see this short sleeved shirt in the box! This is the perfect bright high-visibility color for road running. It's nice and lightweight, with sweat-wicking powers and UPF 20 sun protection. I threw this on while playing with my son outside one sunny and hot afternoon, and it definitely did a good job of keeping me cool. I am looking forward to road testing it this weekend!
When you sign up for 5k Crate, you'll enter your shoe size and shirt size, and can choose from Men's or Women's, so I received a Medium according to my preferences. The fit on this was happily spot on.
Spigen Wireless Bluetooth Earphones R12E - Value $26.99 on Amazon (retail price $49.99)
This was another exciting item for me because I've been running with regular corded Apple earbuds forever and they are constantly falling out of my ears. I've tested some in-ear headphones before but have always ended up giving them to my husband; my ears are pretty small and I've never found a pair that were truly comfortable for me.
These have some simple controls on the right earpiece, including power, pairing, and volume.
Charging is via USB. I charged mine on a USB outlet that we have in our house, and they were fully ready to go within 3 hours.
These come with a set of small, medium, and large buds as well as some different sizes of those ear loops that supposedly help keep your earbuds in. (Side note: These things never seem to work for me. Has anyone tried these earbud hooks successfully?)
I've been testing these for about a day, and so far they're actually working pretty well for me. Pairing is easy and the volume controls are easy to access. I haven't had issues with static or losing the Bluetooth connection with my phone in my pocket (common problems for me with past wireless sets), and the audio quality is actually really good. Although since I usually use the standard Apple earbuds, anything sounds great in comparison!
Even though those ear loops don't work for me, these Spigen headphones have stayed in place really well through a variety of physical activity. I do need to periodically adjust them but they've not fully fallen out. These are definitely a win!
Mission EnduraCool Cooling Towel - Retail Value $14.99
This is another useful summer item if you live in a hot and humid climate. I have a tendency to procrastinate and avoid running on really hot days, but I'm hoping I can use this as an excuse and a bit of mental encouragement to try to keep my routine up in the heat a bit more. My parents have done several Grand Canyon hikes and swear by similar products to keep them from overheating.
The towel is long and skinny, so it's easy to wrap around your neck and kind of tuck into itself like a small neck scarf. You can also wear it open across the back of your neck, and I was even able to tie it up on my head like a wide headband.
There's even a little place for your name and bib #!
These things are deceptively simple looking, but it's another item I didn't already own and that I'm happy to have in my running kit.
Zensah Peek Compression Socks - Retail Value $13.99
I love trying out fancy performance socks, so I'm always happy to get another pair. These are sized according to my preferences, which is one of the things I appreciate about 5k Crate since I've received too-big socks from Runner's World Box in the past.
These are a thin synthetic for the summer and have great compression around the ankle. They feel great on and I love the ankle support! The fit is perfect too, and these aren't too long for my size 6.5 feet.
Epic Wipes – Value $2.50 each (Buy a pack of 10 on Amazon for $24.99)
I previously received one of these in Runner's World Box and thought it was a cool idea, but also maybe a little unnecessary. How often does one really need a giant sized wet wipe? But I dutifully tucked it into my backpack for a camping trip to Iceland a few weeks ago, figuring it might come in handy. I really surprised myself by loving it and I was so happy I had it on hand!
Epic Wipes are so big that I was able to tear one in half to use as a whole-body wipe down when I was dying for a shower after a long day of hiking, so I actually got two days worth from one wipe. I can see the full size (31.5″ x 19.7″) being great if you're muddy/dirty, but I just didn't need that much. The fabric is substantial, and the eucalyptus oil was refreshing and left me feeling clean. I don't have any more camping trips coming up anytime soon, but I plan on keeping these in our cars for easy clean up after hiking and other outdoor activities.
La Fresh Sunscreen Wipes, Quantity 4 - Value $1.70? ($0.42 each)
The info card said 3 wipes, but I received 4. I also couldn't find this exact product online; I do see Sunnyside Lotion Wipes on their website, but that product doesn't say anything about SPF specifically, although it shares the same active ingredients.
I am super cautious about sun exposure and apply an SPF30 lotion to my face, neck, and arms every morning, and often use 70-100 if I'll be outside for long periods of time. I'm surprised I didn't know this product existed before, because applying sunscreen with a wipe is an awesome idea!
While these wipes wouldn't replace my normal routine, they are super lightweight and easy to pack - so small you could put them in your pocket or even the waistband of your shorts if you're going out for a run. As expected, they were super easy to apply and left no residue, and actually felt pretty refreshing! They'd be great to have on hand if you're worried about sweating off your sunscreen and want to reapply while you're on a long run; I just wish they were available in a higher SPF formula.
Verdict: This first 5k Crate was a pretty well-rounded collection of useful gear for summer running. I am most excited about the headphones, but I'll get a lot of miles from the shirt and socks too. Going strictly off of the retail prices for these items, the overall value of the box is around $110. Using the sale price for the headphones on Amazon (which was about half of their MSRP), it's closer to $87, which is still a good bang for your buck in my opinion for this type of box.
Looking back at the other subscriptions for runners that I've reviewed, this one has the most stuff I'm likely to actually use month after month, plus it's quarterly– which I prefer since I don't really need a ton of new running stuff all the time. It also had no snacks, and while I do personally enjoy the snacks in Runner's World Box, I know some of you have commented that you don't want snacks in your fitness boxes! 😉 If you are looking for a running box that focuses on gear and apparel, it's worth considering if this one fits your fitness needs.
What do you think about 5k Crate?
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