BattlBox

BattlBox was founded in 2015 by Daniel Dabbs, Patrick Kelley, and John Roman in Milledgeville, Georgia. Dabbs was inspired to create a men-focused subscription box after seeing his girlfriend’s excitement receiving her monthly Birchbox. John Roman initially invested shortly after launch and served as a board advisor before joining full-time as co-founder and CMO about a year later. The company exceeded $5 million in sales in its first year.

Company Mission

BattlBox’s mission is to equip outdoor enthusiasts, survivalists, and preparedness-minded individuals with high-quality gear they can rely on in real-world situations. By curating monthly themed missions featuring full-size products (not samples) from trusted manufacturers, they aim to help subscribers build comprehensive emergency kits and expand their outdoor capabilities.

Products & Services

BattlBox offers four subscription tiers:

• Basic: $34.99/month + shipping ($60 retail value)
• Advanced: $64.99/month + shipping ($100 retail value)
• Pro: $119.99/month + shipping ($180 retail value)
• Pro Plus: $169.99/month + shipping ($287 retail value, includes Knife of the Month)

Each box features monthly themed missions like “Jungle Survival” or “Repair Anything” with 4-8 full-size outdoor, survival, and EDC gear items. Members also access the BattlVault, an exclusive online store offering significant discounts on over 1,500 products.

What Sets Them Apart

BattlBox differentiates through content-driven marketing and real-world testing. The company gained national attention with “Southern Survival,” a Netflix show launched in 2020 showcasing extreme product testing. This commitment to video content and transparent gear evaluation builds trust with subscribers seeking dependable equipment. The BattlVault member perks and 30-day satisfaction guarantee reinforce customer retention. However, the company’s business model faced challenges when it sold for $19 million in 2021 to Emerge Commerce, only to be reacquired by the founders less than two years later at a fraction of the price, suggesting operational or strategic misalignment during that period. Despite this volatility, customer service consistently receives praise as “top notch” in 2,652 Trustpilot reviews (4.6/5 stars).