Culture Carton is a men's monthly lifestyle subscription box. Subscribers can expect to receive 3-5 curated lifestyle items each month, along with a book the brand believes “every man should read." There are three subscription box options:
- Culture Carton Standard – Lifestyle items and a book for $45/month + shipping
- Culture Carton Essential – Just the lifestyle items for $35/month + shipping
- Culture Carton Book Club – One book sent monthly for $16/month + shipping
This subscription box review is of the Standard Culture Carton for $45/month + shipping.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About this "Self-Improvement" Lifestyle Box
The Subscription Box: Culture Carton
The Cost: $45/month + shipping. Other subscription box options are also available.
Coupon Code: Use code CULTURE to save 20% off the first month of all subscriptions.
The Products: A bespoke, curated selection of 3-5 men’s lifestyle items and a book “that belongs in every man’s library.” This month's delivery is valued at a total of $92.
Ships to: The US for a varied cost.
Culture Carton "Towles" Review
Culture Carton's product delivery this month opens with a welcome card introducing subscribers to the box's contents. Highlighted by New York Times Bestseller "A Gentleman in Moscow," this month's theme focuses on "tasteful improvements to your daily life." But I'd argue the contents will also serve you well outside your day-to-day -- be it a trip to Russia or an evening in the woods.
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A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles – Listed Value $17.00
I was a voracious reader at the start of the pandemic -- ripping through book after book after book. As the realities of the world set in, I dove into fictional universes that kept my imagination humming. Which is why I'm extremely excited to dive into Amor Towles' A Gentleman in Moscow. The bestselling book is a window into a very different time - 1920's Moscow - and a story rich in character development, romance, and humor. After a year stuck inside my New York City apartment, I am ready to read about the glamour of this particular period.
From Amazon:
In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery.
Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose.
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Lucky Pheasant Wool Blend Beanie – Listed Value $30.00
Winter may be coming to a close but beanie-wearing has nearly become a 24/7/365 opportunity. This may seem like another basic black beanie -- and, to a degree, it is. But it's also extremely comfortable and well-fitting for my smallish (and bald) head. It's very effective in keeping me warm. And the subtle "lucky pheasant" logo is a fun touch. I've struggled to find a solid, everyday knit hat and this one immediately makes my shortlist when we inevitably receive that one, final snowstorm.
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Bennkai Travel Manicure Set – Listed Value $25.00
I'm not going to lie -- I've never even considered buying a manicure set. Having said that, upon opening this sleek, sophisticated leather case, I remembered how important so many of these individual products are to my daily life. Are there items included that I don't exactly know the purpose of? Yes. But I'll put the majority of these items to good use. And the all-black, stainless steel material makes the manicuring experience much more interesting. Would that ever inspire me to cut my nails on the subway? Of course not. But I'd be slightly less embarrassed doing so.
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Exploria Ceramic Mug – Listed Value $20.00
We have more mugs at the apartment than I know what to do with. But nearly all of them look and feel extremely fragile. They're great for my morning coffee -- but I don't envision using them for much else. And they'll certainly never make it outside. This mug looks and feels different. Is it the mountainous, outdoor-themed graphic? Maybe. But I envision multiple uses for this ceramic mug -- coffee, a glass of another favorite beverage, a bowl of soup -- overnight in my tent or during an afternoon at the park.
Verdict: I'm a man and I like items suited to enhance my lifestyle. This is why I was very excited to receive my first monthly subscription box from Culture Carton. It didn't disappoint. I'm not sure I would have considered any of the products "must-haves" but my life could always use more curation and these are all wonderful home additions that, as promised, will make "tasteful improvements" to my daily life. And at a fair, listed retail value of $92, this box is well worth the $45 + shipping subscription fee. If you're interested in adding to your library and improving your day-to-day lifestyle, Culture Carton would make a great gift for any male in your life.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, you'll receive the next installment as your first box.
Orders placed before the 15th of the month will be shipped on 15th-17th of the month. All orders placed after the 15th will ship the following month.
ACTIVE DEAL: Free shipping on all orders over $100
CODE: FREESHIPPING
Value Breakdown: This subscription is among the most expensive monthly boxes for men. It costs $53.27 ($45 + $8.27 shipping to Pittsburgh), which means that each of the four items in this box has an average cost of $13.32. They say the value of this month's box is $92 - which is a pretty fair assessment. There could be slight inflation allotted to some of these items but they're in the range of the competition and these all appear to be high-quality products. Again, these may not have been must-have items for me. But I see them being a vital addition to a lot of men's libraries, kitchens, bathrooms, and closets. I appreciate the combination of literature and lifestyle, and I'm excited to see what's next from Culture Carton.
Check out all of our Culture Carton reviews and see what the best men's subscription boxes of 2021 are, as voted on by our readers.
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What are your thoughts on this month's Culture Carton?
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