Even before the pandemic hit, shopping in person kinda sucked.
Don’t get me wrong—as a proud style blogger, there are a lot of things about shopping I love:
Like lthe thrill of discovering a new brand, or that feeling when you try on a new piece and instantly know how, where and when you’re going to wear it.
But going to a physical mall or shopping center and sifting through the racks to find those diamonds in the rough is both time-consuming and frustrating.
So when subscription boxes stormed onto the scene a few years ago, I was more than a little intrigued.
I felt like I had finally found a way to satisfy my (insatiable and probably unhealthy) desire for new gear without having to suffer through the (ignoble and definitely unhealthy) annoyances of going to the mall.
The only problem? Decision fatigue.
Since the whole subscription box model emerged a few years back, dozens of men’s subscription box services have popped up, offering everything from clothes and grooming supplies to life-sustaining essentials, by which of course I mean craft beer.
There are now so many monthly subscription boxes for men that it can be hard to know where to start, and which ones are worth your hard-earned dollars.
And that’s where this post comes in.
Below I’ve rounded up some of the best subscription boxes for men, and explained why each one offers good bang for your buck.
The 9 Best Subscription Boxes for Men
A Curated List of the Best Men’s Subscription Boxes
Nordstrom Trunk Club
For the guy who wants Nordstrom brands—without having to go to Nordstrom
Pricing:
Varies depending on quantity and brands selected for you by Nordstrom stylists. Returns are free, so you keep/pay for what you like and send the rest back.
Overview:
Trunk Club basically gives you all the benefits of hiring a Nordstrom personal shopper, without the hassle (or expense) of having to go to an actual Nordstrom’s and hiring one of their personal stylists.
The process is pretty straightforward. You fill out their online quiz and tell them your size, style and budget.
You have to pay a $25 styling fee upfront, but it ends up going toward your purchase so it’s more like a deposit. (And if you’re a Nordstrom Cardmember, the fee’s waived entirely.)
There’s no subscription required for Trunk Club so you can do it once just to try it out without having to worry that you’re going to get a new box every month.
Like Bombfell, you can keep what you like and return the rest, so you only pay for what you keep.
The advantage of Trunk Club is that Nordstrom stocks a lot of great brands, giving you access to a lot of stylish and well made menswear.
Watch Gang
For the watch aficionado
Pricing:
Watch Gang’s pricing comes in three tiers (Original, Black and Platinum), with the quality of the watches increasing with each tier.
The price also varies based on how long you’d like to subscribe to each tier. After you pick a tier, you can choose to pay month-to-month, or in batches of 3, 6 or 12 months.
So the lowest possible price is to pay for just one month of the Original tier, which will cost $50.
The highest is to opt for a 12-month subscription to the Platinum tier, which comes in at $3,400.
All other prices fall somewhere between those two price points.
Overview:
I like to say that the (handsome) devil is in the details, and for my money there are few details as classically handsome as a well made watch.
Watch Gang was basically founded for guys who share my philosophy.
You fill out a form to tell them a little bit about yourself and your style, and each month they send you a selection of well made watches from stylish brands you might never have found on your own.
It’s a great way to build out a watch collection (especially if you’re new to the game and don’t know where to start) and get access to some pretty cool pieces that will help you look sharp and stand out.
Check out our full, in-depth Watch Gang review to learn more about how it works.
Save 15% on Watch Gang:
Watch Gang is offering Irreverent Gent readers a special rate. Just use code IR15 at checkout to get 15% off your first month when you sign up for a subscription!
Dollar Shave Club
For the guy who’s sick of shelling out for the big shaving brands
Pricing:
Multi-product starter sets start at just $5 for the first month. From there, price varies depending on which products you order.
Overview:
Dollar Shave Club burst onto the scene eight years ago with a hilarious ad that immediate put them on the map, and has since been seen more than 26 million times on YouTube.
Nearly a decade later, their original value proposition remains as enticing as it is logical: why pay exorbitant prices for razors at the pharmacy, when you could pay cheaper prices for blades that are just as good, and have them shipped right to your door?
Not surprisingly, an offer that sound appeals to a lot of guys, and Dollar Shave Club has both grown and expanded their product offering over the past decade.
They still offer high-quality razors that will let you ditch your expensive name-brand versions.
But now you can also get a ton of other products, including everything from shaving cream and cologne to deodorant and butt wipes. (Yes, seriously.)
If you’re sick of feeling like the major razor brands are fleecing you, I highly recommend checking out DSC’s blades and grooming products.
Bespoke Post
For the guy who wants the best of everything
Pricing:
$45 per month
Overview:
Bespoke Post boxes are designed to give you a little bit of everything. Like some of the other boxes on this list, you take a quick when you sign up and tell them what you like and what you don’t.
They difference is that Bespoke Post doesn’t just include clothes in your box. They could ship you anything from a cool duffle bag or a great belt to a set of whiskey tumblers or a cast iron skillet.
Basically, you tell them your hobbies, and they curate some of the coolest stuff that suits your interests. As Esquire magazine put it, “You can’t put a price on the fun you’ll have opening the boxes.”
Frank and Oak Style Plan
For the guy who wants on-point pieces
Pricing:
You pay an upfront $25 styling fee, but it gets applies toward the price of your order, which varies depending on how much you decide to keep.
Overview:
To say Frank and Oak is on point would be something of an understatement.
The retailer has such a modern and fashionable-as-hell sensibility that you can rest assured that pretty much any piece you buy from them will be on point.
Their Style Plan sends you four on-trend items each month, picked for you based on your quiz results. As with some of the other boxes on this list, you keep/pay for what you like, and send back the rest for free.
Score a Deal:
Get $50 off your first month of Style Plan and pay no styling fee. Use code SURPRISE50 at checkout.
Gentleman’s Box
For the guy who wants all the gear of the modern gentleman
Pricing:
$29 per month
Overview:
Gentleman’s Box prides itself on sending you all the fashion and lifestyle accessories you need to take your look to the next level.
From socks, ties and pocket squares to watches, whiskey stones and stationery, each month Gentleman’s Box sends you all the gear you need to be a modern (and – depending on your temperament – irreverent) gent.
Beer Drop
For the guy who wants a wide array of great craft beer
Pricing:
Starting at $4 per drink
Overview:
Beer Drop is a company that essentially does the Lord’s work: delivering great beer straight to your door.
The craft beer movement has exploded in recent years, making great brews available all across the country. Beer Drop introduces you to some awesome selections from outside your locality, that you might not otherwise have ever stumbled on.
All you have to do is sign up, tell them which styles of beers you’re interested in, and they’ll send an assortment of options straight to you.
Society Socks
For the guy who wants to step up his sock game
Pricing:
$16 per month
Overview:
The handsome devil is in the details, and one of the top ways that devilishly stylish guys distinguish themselves is through their accessories.
As a company Society Socks makes it easy to not only look sharp and stand out, but do a little good, too. When you sign up for a monthly sock subscription, Society Socks not only sends you some stylish pairs each month, they also donate two pairs to those in need.
So if you want to look good and feel good, signing up for Society Socks is a great start.
GQ Best Stuff Box
For the guy who wants to look sharp and live smart
Pricing:
$50 per quarter
Overview:
All of us who share advice about how to dress better for guys are following in the footsteps of GQ, the men’s style mag that has long been the authority on men’s fashion and style.
When you sign up for their Best Stuff Box, you get a curated selection of gear curated by GQ’s editors, which is specifically chosen to help you live up to their motto: look sharp, live smart.
What’s Next?
So you know which monthly boxes for men are best. Now what?
For guys who want to sharpen their style and stand out (without having to stand in line at the store), knowing which men’s subscription boxes to sign up for is an excellent first step.
But sharp style gear is a bit like at-home workout equipment: you can’t expect to get ripped if don’t know how to use your newfound equipment properly.
Similarly, you can’t expect to look sharp without knowing how to elevate every aspect of your look.
Overall, our generation is much better dressed than that of our fathers, and the very best-dressed guys are the ones who know how to nail the details.
When everyone else is wearing nice clothes, guys who nail the details are the ones who rock them.
Fortunately, nailing the details is easy when you have the right knowledge. Sign up below to receive my email series outlining the nine most important details you need to nail if you want to join the (ever-expanding) ranks of well dressed men.
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More Resources ↓
More Men’s Style Advice from Irreverent Gent
- The Taper vs Fade Haircut: The Ultimate Guide
- The Best Subscription Boxes for Men
- How to Dress for Better for Guys
- 8 Fundamental Style Principles I Wish Someone Had Told Me
- How to Look More Handsome
- Dapper Deep Dive: English Laundry
- What is a Professional Clothier?
More Round Ups of Men’s Subscription Boxes From Around the Net*
*Remember when people used to call it “the Net”? Weird, right?
I thought about signing up for a box back in December but I was a little low on funds after the holidays so I decided not to. Now I think it’s time to pull the trigger!!!
I hear you Ryan. Now that we’re all in self-isolation, the idea of having some stylish stuff sent straight to us has gotten a lot more appealing.
Dave, any preference between Bombfell, Gentleman’s Box and Bespoke Post?
It really depends on what you’re looking for Nawaz. If you want clothes, Bombfell might be your best bet. If you’re primarily looking for accessories, I’d go with Gentleman’s Box. And if you want a selection of stuff that’s not just limited style, I’d say Bespoke Post. It really comes down to personal preference. And of course your tastes may change, so you could start with one, and then switch to another after receiving a few boxes.