Runner’s World Subscription Box #008 Review – November 2017

Runner's World Box is a monthly subscription box from the magazine of the same name. They send gear, snacks, and accessories curated by Runner's World editors.

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

What is Runner's World Box?

The Subscription Box: Runner's World Box

The Cost: $29.99/month (Save 20% with a 6-month subscription)

The Products: Gear, snacks, and accessories from the editors of Runner's World Magazine

Ships to: United States for $8; maybe more in some areas. Extra shipping costs to Hawaii.

November 2017 Review

Runner's World Box focuses on sending you the best running products picked by the editors of Runner's World Magazine. The items usually span multiple categories, including gear, snacks, and other running related items.

This month's box was packaged a little unusual because it was packed SO full. This was a very dense box this month with all full-sized product! Let's dig in:

Amphipod Stretch-Bright Twin Bands – Retail Value $12.95

Winter running means that you need to be even more careful about visibility as you might be other times of year and this item is perfect for helping you be seen.

This pair of simple retroreflective Velcro bands can be used on your wrists or ankles. (If you also ride a bicycle, these are also great for keeping your pants tight against your leg to keep them from catching in your chain!)

They feature two different little designs, but they both shine bright white in headlights. The reflective element goes all the way around the band, so you'll be visible from all angles.

You could definitely wear these against bare skin in the summer, but since they're adjustable they are easy to layer on top of winter clothing, too.

Squirrel's Nut Butter Anti Chafe Salve, 1.7 oz – Listed Value $13 (Buy here in 2.7 oz size for $16.95)

I'm not a long distance runner (yet?) so I don't typically have problems with chafing. The info card does note that dry winter weather can make it worse, though.

The ingredients are simple and all-natural, which I love. And the stick application seems like a breeze to apply:

Even though I haven't been able to test it out for chafing specifically, I did try some on my dry winter hands and found that it worked really well as a general skin salve. This is a helpful item to have on hand for various outdoor activities for sure.

They also included a Squirrel's Nut Butter sticker this month.

Nature's Path Organic Frosted Berry Strawberry Toaster Pastries – Retail Value $4.09, Listed Value $4

This was our first oddly packaged item in the box. In order for all the items to fit this month, they had to open the outer packaging and lay the foil-wrapped packets out flat next to each other... but they also included the outer box so you'd have all the nutritional info etc.

Grab and go type breakfasts definitely make it easier for me to get out the door in the morning, and these have a great strawberry flavor that isn't overly sweet.

My 2.5 year old loves to share snacks from boxes with me, and this is the first time he'd ever had any kind of toaster pastry... it was a big hit. They've got more sugar than I'd like to be honest, but sometimes you just need that extra energy in the morning.

Nature's Path Qi'a Cocoa Coconut Superflakes – Retail Value $4.69, Listed Value $5

A chocolate cereal? Runner's World is definitely appealing to my sweet tooth this month!

This item was also removed from the outer packaging, which was flattened and included in the box.

This cereal is made with coconut, fair trader cocoa, and sprouted black beans (!) and brown rice. It's gluten-free and has a healthy dose of fiber, too.

I typically eat cereal with yogurt, but I found this was better with almond milk. It was simply too crunchy unless it was served with liquid! It definitely filled me up and I would have NEVER guessed what grains it's made from. The chocolate coconut flavor was great and went perfectly with almond milk. I actually thought while I was eating that it was made with quinoa, until I took a closer look at the ingredient list.

Pro-Tec Stretch Bands – Retail Value $24.95, Listed Value $25

One of the things that appeal to me about running is that you don't need a lot of gear to get started. I've been using a spare fashion belt for simple stretching exercises when needed, and was kind of overdue for an upgrade... so I was happy to see this item!

This band is stretchy and has simple loops in the entire length, so it's super easy to stick your toes inside for stability when stretching those sore legs. They also suggest that you can use those loops for progressive stretching, so you can easily move your hand grip closer to your feet over time for example.

I *love* the stretch! It makes this a much more versatile tool than my previous workaround. I've been using it as a yoga strap and also to do some light core work.

Verdict: This Runner's World Box was one of my favorites, thanks to the very useful gear this month and the tasty snacks. 

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, if you sign up by December 31st, your first box will be the January box.

Monthly boxes are generally delivered by the last week of each month. If you signed up for a subscription at the end of the month then your first box will be shipped the following month.

Value Breakdown: Our box was worth almost exactly $60 at retail prices, so we essentially saved 50% on all of the items in the box this month. For the $37.99 price of the box, here's the per-item breakdown of what we paid:

• Amphipod Stretch-Bright Twin Bands: $8.24
• Squirrel's Nut Butter Stick: $8.28
• Nature's Path Frosted Berry Strawberry Toaster Pastries: $2.60
• Nature's Path Qi'a Cocoa Coconut Superflakes: $2.99
• Pro-Tec Stretch Bands: $15.88

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

Check out all of our Runner's World Box reviews and more boxes for runners in our Fitness Subscription Box Directory!

What do you think about Runner's World Box?

What do you think about the items we received this month? Tell us what you think in the comments!