The Camp Life is a subscription box for outdoor lovers. Whether you camp in a tent or RV, this subscription will bring gear, snacks, and multi-use items straight to your door.
The Camp Life offers two subscription options:
- the Outdoor Essentials $44.95/month box is geared toward avid campers and includes 3-5 curated and custom-designed items.
- the Camp Life $49.95/quarter box is for those who live the RV life. It includes 6-8 items for camping enthusiasts that includes camping themed products and RV accessories.
This is a review of the monthly Outdoors Essentials box.
This box was sent to us at no cost to review. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About The Camp Life Outdoor Essentials Box
The Subscription Box: The Camp Life Outdoor Essentials
The Cost: $44.95/month + free shipping. Save with longer subscription commitments.
ACTIVE DEAL: 15% off your first crate. No coupon needed - just use this link.
The Products: 3-5 outdoor essential products
Ships to: The U.S. and Canada for free.
The Camp Life Outdoor Essentials December Review
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The monthly info card features a wintry hiking scene on the front and a list of every product included, with a brief description, on the other side. My last delivery (which was October) included a discount code for every brand featured, which is not the case this month. To be honest, I don't often take advantage of discount codes provided in sub boxes, but I did use the 50% Karmik code to buy a few packs of those cool decals (more info in my review) as Christmas gifts. Anyway, back to this month, of the 5 products included, two are customized with the Camp Life logo. It's always nice to receive custom stuff in a subscription box.
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Camp Life Exclusive Sock Guy Wooligan Socks - Buy other Wooligan socks here for $10-$15.95
Meet my new coolest pair of socks! How great is that nighttime wilderness design? They're definitely a pair I would rock for a camping trip, not because of the design (though that's a nice bonus), but because they're really high-quality and comfortable. I wear Merino wool socks with my hiking boots all year 'round, and these ones are next-level: they're made with 75% TURBOwool, which is a blend of polypropylene and Merino wool. For those unfamiliar with polypro, it's often recommended to wear socks of this material under your hiking socks due to their warmth and moisture-wicking qualities. Merino wool is moisture-absorbing and antimicrobial, so they're a great combo for dry feet. And, bonus, you can usually get a few wears out of them before smelling like they need to be washed.
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UCO Gear Collapsible Camp Cup, 2 Pack - Retail Value $16.99
Next up is this duo of collapsible camp mugs. It's always fun to explore a new type of camping gear, and this nesting pair is clever. It's nice that they have a hole for a carabiner, and that they're made of materials that wouldn't be too noisy if clipped on the outside of a frame pack. They're also safe for both cold and boiling liquids. The Camp Life info card mentions that there are volume gradients indicated, but that doesn't seem to actually be the case, which is a bummer.
As I mentioned in my October Camp Life review with the enamel mug, I've learned that mugs, in particular, can be such a personal item—everyone has different preferences and needs depending on what type of outdoor adventuring they're doing. I personally don't have a use for these two mugs among my camping supplies, but my two-year-old daughter is finding them interesting, as she's been drinking out of a non-sippy cup more and more these days.
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Super Pop Peanut Butter Honey Protein Bar, 1.9 oz - Buy 12 here for $34.99
It's hard to go wrong with peanut butter in my household, and this protein bar was a hit. I chuckled when I read "crunchy, creamy, addicting" on the packaging, but it's true that it is both crunchy and creamy! The crunch is courtesy of organic quinoa which adds a lightweight pop, sort of like the crisped rice in a Krackel bar. It's free of gluten, soy, and dairy, lightly sweetened by honey, and very peanut-butter-y. I can see myself buying these to have on hand.
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Camp Life Exclusive 16L Water-Resistant, Lightweight Packable Backpack — Similar pack found here for $17.99
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum from my thoughts on camping mugs, I find day packs to be something I can't have enough of! Since they tend to stuff up pretty small, it's not unreasonable to have a few selections on hand for various uses. On any given adventure into our local park, I may use a backpack, a fanny pack (of which I also have 3 sizes to choose from, haha), or just fill my pockets. My first-ever day pack had a crossbody strap, so the pack itself would swing around to my belly when I bent my body to crouch or climb an obstacle. My next one is the one that actually came as part of my backpacking pack, and while it's a great lightweight bag, I hesitate to remove it from my pack too often, lest I forget to put it back in when I have a backpacking trip planned. This Camp Life exclusive one is maybe my favorite yet! I like the breathable mesh straps, its stretchy side pockets, the fact that it zips (rather than cinching with a drawstring), and that it has a smaller compartment. My only feedback is that the nylon material has kind of a loud crunchy sound to it—but it's also tear-resistant and water-resistant, so really the sound is a nitpicky complaint. A bonus is that it only weighs 4 oz, so it really can come along in its stuff sack as a just-in-case bag for so many adventures without being much of a burden. For an $18 pack, I'm really impressed.
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GEAR AID Revivex Instant Water Repellant Spray, 5 oz - Retail Value $9.95
There's no better way to find out your tent or other gear has a leak than being caught outdoors in a downpour. This quick-dry spray is safe for nylon, leather, suede, and GORE-TEX fabrics—so really that should cover your tent, your pack, your jacket, and shoes. A peek at the reviews of this spray on the GEAR AID site makes it sound like a real necessity if you live in an area that's prone to precipitation. Apparently you can spray it on your gear or clothes during a rainfall and be effectively protected. One reviewer said that a single application lasted about 9 months, and another made the good point that it's also useful for those who work outdoors. I'll want to try it myself first, but I can see myself stocking up on a few cans of this stuff to keep in the car and garage, and also thinking of it if I need a gift for a fellow adventurer.
Verdict: This was my second month receiving The Camp Life Monthly Essentials box, and again I am a happy camper. I actually had a similar experience to my first go-round in that the camping mugs I was sent were the only item I couldn't get excited about. My top scores were the quality socks and stuffable backpack, the water repellent spray is going to be really useful when needed, and the peanut butter bar was thoroughly enjoyed. In terms of value, this box costs $44.95 + free shipping. I received about $63.80 worth of stuff (which was calculated using the non-sale price for black Wooligan socks, an estimated cost for the protein bar, and the price of the day pack sans customization). This value seems to be about average for this box.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? You will receive the January or February box. From The Camp Life:
Monthly Boxes: Boxes ship out to current subscribers by the 5th of each month. New Subscriptions after the 10th will receive the next month's box.
ACTIVE DEAL: 15% off your first crate. No coupon needed - just use this link.
Value Breakdown: At $44.95 for this box, each of the 5 items has an average cost of $8.99.
Check out all of our The Camp Life reviews and other Lifestyle Subscription Boxes.
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What do you think of the items from this month's The Camp Life?
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