Nomadik Box Review Outdoor Dining
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Nomadik Box Review: Worth Subscribing in 2024? 

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Family Travel Folio is not connected with any companies discussed in this article. Our opinions are our own and do not reflect or represent any of the companies listed. 


This Nomadik Box Review covers reviews for both the monthly and quarterly subscription boxes from the Nomadik outdoor gear subscription box.

You will find an overall review comparing the average value, quality, usefulness, and fun factor of multiple Nomadik Boxes.

We have been Nomadik box subscribers for over 2 years now, and also started receiving the Quarterly box since it launched in 2021.

As a family of 4 that goes hiking and camping on a regular basis (every month), you’ll get the opinion of parents who need and want quality gear as well as insight from their young kids who like cool gadgets.

Disclaimer: We are Affiliates of the Nomadik. This means that if you decide The Nomadik Subscription Box is something you want and you purchase it on The Nomadik through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are honest and are our own and do not represent the Nomadik company.

That being said, we do not receive free boxes. We continue to purchase the Nomadik subscription because we enjoy it. We even recommended it to friends who bought it before we became affiliates through our blog. 

Want to see more of the Nomadik Box gear in action? Subscribe to our Instagram channel for fun outdoor adventure and family travel content.

UCO Fire Striker

Nomadik Box Review

There are 4 different categories reviewed for the Nomadik Boxes we receive: value, quality, usefulness, and fun. This review section will cover how the Nomadik meets (or doesn’t meet) expectations in each of the following categories.

It will also give an overall average of our review on the Nomadik subscription based on over 2 years of receiving monthly boxes. 

For more specific insight into the quarterly boxes, please see the Nomadik monthly vs Quarterly Box Review section below.

Savings & Value Review for Nomadik Box

Each Nomadik monthly box is about $30 (slightly more or less depending on whether you have the 1, 3, or 6-month subscription).

Within each box is at least $50 worth of product, with many boxes averaging $60 or more.

This means that no matter what, you’re getting a sale on the items received.

The Nomadik Gear Quality Review

Well, everything works, and nothing has broken on us so far…

In all seriousness though, the Nomadik partners with some pretty good brands. Some brands are repeat partners with multiple products sent out in the Nomadik Boxes.

Common Nomadik Box Brands

  • Rumpl
  • MPOWERD
  • Nite Ize
  • Green Goo
  • GEAR AID
  • UCO
  • All Good

The purpose is to let you get to know and trust the brand and then have a discount if you decide to continue buying their gear as a new customer.

Plus any brand, even a new up-and-coming brand, has an opportunity to pitch their product to be in a Nomadik box. I think that is pretty cool.

Definitely higher quality than generic stores and hand-me-downs.

Green Goo Repair Salve

The Usefulness of Nomadik Gear

The usefulness of our Nomadik Box goodies varies.

For example, we have way more knives than we will ever use. They are all different knives, but still. While good to carry at least one for safety, our adventures rarely require a knife. 

On the other hand, there are a lot of items you can never get enough of such as snacks, lights, sunscreen, chapstick, bug bite cream, soap, tent repair patches, camping dishes…the list goes on and on.

I would say at least 75% of what we receive we use on a regular basis. About 20% we save for when we need to replace (or patch up) our gear. The last 5% is the gear we probably won’t ever use.

Not bad odds for a surprise delivery especially for how well The Nomadik does at not repeating items as much as possible.

Top Nomadik Gear we Always Use:

  • Rumpl Puffy Blanket (Quarterly Box)
  • AllGood Sunscreen Butter
  • AllGood SPF Lipbalm
  • Green Goo First Aid Stick
  • Starry Night Deck of Cards
  • NiteIze Bug Light
  • Human Gear Flexibowl
  • Grand Trunk Hammok (Quarterly Box)
  • UCO Survival Fire Striker
  • Speaqua Waterproof Speaker (Quarterly Box)
  • Klymit Pillow X

There are a lot more we use, but these have been my favorite go-to options from our Nomadik Boxes.

Overall review of the Nomadik Box usefulness factor? Pretty darn good. Not 100% with every box, but nobody is perfect.

It really comes down to personality and adventure preference.

The Nomadik Fun Factor

Ok, some things are not necessary, but they sure are fun! I mean, a light shaped like a bug? We have headlamps, but now we also have a cute little friend bug light that keeps the girls entertained.

Plus there are a lot of fun items that are super useful.

The waterproof Bluetooth speaker has fun written all over it (and is perfect for lullaby music or white noise)!

Fun for me is the spearmint eucalyptus scented soap. It makes me smile every time we use it because it smells so good!

And if you have never tried a fire striker before, you have to get the UCO survival fire striker. It’s like you’re on survivor doing the fire-making challenge, and it’s harder than it looks.

Overall, most of their boxes get high “fun” ratings from me.

Nomadik Quarterly Box

Nomadik Monthly vs. Quarterly Box Review

What is the Nomadik Monthly Box

The Nomadik monthly box is an outdoor gear subscription box. You pay about $30 for at least $50 worth of product. Most boxes are worth around $60 at the face value of the gear included.

Start out by taking a quiz to match the Nomadik gear best for your preferred type of outdoor adventures (camping, hiking, kayaking, etc.) and sign up for a 1-month, 6-month, or 12-month subscription.

The 12-month subscription saves you some money and is $29.99 per month, whereas the month-per-month subscription is $34.99. 

Nomadik Box Monthly Subscription Options

  • 12-month: $29.99/month
  • 6-month: $32.99/month
  • 1-month: $34.99/month

What is the Nomadik Quarterly Box

The Nomadik Quarterly box is the same subscription box concept, but with higher ticket items.

Instead of once a month, you receive the box once every 3 months (quarterly). The cost is $149 for at least $200 worth of product.

Receive Rumpl blankets, Togo backpacks, and other higher-priced items along with a few items you would find in a typical monthly box.

That being said, the company is good at not overlapping. There may be similar products (to me a knife is a knife), but they won’t be the same. They guarantee different items so you can feel confident subscribing to the monthly and quarterly boxes.

Our only overlaps have been the All Good sunscreen butter from the free box from winning the monthly challenge which also made an appearance in a quarterly box. I’m ok with that since I use it all the time.

What is the Best Nomadik Subscription Choice for You

If you are looking for a good deal on more significant items, maybe a chair or JetBoil or backpack or blanket, then go for the quarterly box.

If you want fun new gear and you’re not really sure what you need or want, the monthly box is perfect for trying a wide variety of your average gear. It will include basic essentials, survival items, and some fun gadgets.

If you like trying new brands, upgrading your gear, and just getting fun mail, then go with both!

You’ll definitely get your money’s worth no matter which one you go with.

Nomadik Box Challenge Win

The Nomadik Box Challenge Review

What is the Nomadik Challenge

The Nomadik challenge is a photo challenge associated with each box sent out. 

The idea is to take a photo with at least one item you just received and post it to Instagram while tagging the Nomadik brand in your post.

If you are 1 of 5 lucky winners, then you will receive a prize: free gear from the Nomdadik.

One of the drawbacks to the Nomadik is that the monthly challenges have a bit of a delay in choosing the winner and sending the prize. They always follow through, and their prize gear is pretty awesome, but for some who might not have patience it could be a frustrating thing.

Pure speculation here, but the low participation rate in their monthly challenges might have something to do with that…

On the plus side, a low participation rate means you have a good chance to win if you enter.

Unless they are getting a lot of e-mail entries from those who prefer not to have a public Instagram account, you can just look up that month’s challenge hashtag to see how many visible entries there are. 

Look up #nomadikchallenge45 on Instagram, and you will see our post is one of 2 entries for the January 2022 box reviewed in this article.

How do you Participate in the Nomadik Challenge

There are 2 ways to participate in the challenge. Both entry methods require taking a photo of at least one item received in that month’s box.

2 Ways to Enter The Nomadik Challenge:

  1. Post on your public Instagram account, tag the Nomadik in the photo (@thenomadik), and use the hashtag for that challenge in the caption (ex: #nomadikchallenge49)
  2. E-mail the Nomadik your photo (info@thenomadik.com) with the e-mail subject line as the hashtag challenge number (ex: #nomadikchallenge 49)

Your Instagram doesn’t have to be public per the rules of the Nomadik, but I don’t believe Instagram’s current settings alert anyone tagged in a photo or video if they are not one of your followers and the post is set to private.

What do you Win from the Nomadik Challenge

The winners receive a $50 product bundle

From my experience, this can range from a mix of previous items and new items to full-on carbon copies of past boxes. I do not know how they decide what to include in the freebie winner boxes, but my best guess is it has to deal with the extra inventory they have to work with.

Some of my favorite items have come from winning boxes. My Sand Cloud towel and our travel coffee mug, for example. 

It’s really a great opportunity to get double the worth out of your monthly payments

The quarterly box also has its own separate challenge as well. Same instructions, just a different hashtag found within that quarter’s box. Instead of 5 monthly winners, the Nomadik chooses 2 monthly winners who each receive a free $50 product bundle for winning the quarterly challenge.

Night Sky Cards

Past Nomadik Box Review: 2022 List

*Box Values may vary depending on what vendor items are quoted from. Pricing of any items may change over time.

January 2022: Camp Refresh

  • Coalatree Microfiber Towel
  • MPOWERD Luci EMRG Solar Lantern
  • Nite Ize Gear Tie Reusable Rubber Twist Ties
  • Hydralyte Hydration + Energy Electrolyte Powder

Tips About: snacking and hydrating on your adventures.

Challenge # 46

February 2022: Power Up

  • Speaqua Travel Power Bank 
  • MPOWERD Luci EMRG Solar Lantern
  • Nite Ize Gear Tie Reusable Rubber Twist Ties
  • Hydralyte Hydration + Energy Electrolyte Powder 

Tips About: snacking and hydrating on your adventures.

Challenge # 46Box Value: $47.68

March 2022: Basecamp Necessities

  • Grand Trunk Gear Sling 
  • Tactica M020 Camping Tool Card 
  • GEAR AID 550 Reflective Paracord 
  • Wildland Coffee in a Tea Bag 

Tips About: Setting up basecamp

Challenge # 47

April 2022: Light the Night

  • Sun Company Versa 360 Rechargeable Headlamp 
  • One80Light Light Diffusing Bag
  • Nite Ize BugLit LED Micro Flashlight
  • Coghlan’s Reflective Guy Line 25’

Tips About: Tips for night hikes

Challenge # 48

May 2022: Wilderness Prep

  • My Medic Hiker Medic Med Pack
  • Live Fire Original Emergency Fire Starter
  • Warrior Ice Instant Cold Pack
  • AceCamp Pocket Wire Saw
  • Karmik Outdoors Hi-Viz Decal

Tips About: First Aid Tips

Challenge # 48

June 2022: Splash Zone

  • Klymit Lightweight Dry Bag – 8 oz
  • Chums Surfshorts Wallet
  • Earth – pak Waterproof Phone Case
  • Green Goo Solar Goo Sunscreen

Tips About: Beach day packing list

Challenge # 49

July 2022: Off the Grid

  • RapidPure Pioneer Straw
  • GEAR AID Cooling Towel
  • Munkees Emergency Whistle with Capsule
  • Venture Wipes Bug Defense Wipes

Tips About: Going off-grid

Challenge # 50 

Nomadik Monthly Box

Past Nomadik Box Review: 2021 List

*Box Values may vary depending on what vendor items are quoted from. Pricing of any items may change over time.

Welcome Box

  • Coalatree Nomad Packable Backpack
  • Vapur Shades Anti-Bottle 0.5L
  • GEAR AID Tenacious Tape Mini Patches
  • Sun Company WristTurtle Compass
  • Skratch Labs Matcha Green Tea & Lemon Hydration Mix
  • Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes (2)

Tips About: Choosing Hike Location 

Challenge # NewNomadikWBChallenge

January 2021: Camp Under the Stars

  • Klymit Pillow X
  • MPOWERD Luci Candle Solar Lantern
  • AdventureKEEN Night Sky Playing Cards
  • Chuao Chocolatier Mini Chocolate Bars

Tips About: Stargazing

Challenge # 33

2021: Stormy Weather

  • earth-pak Viewpoint Dry Bag (8L)
  • The Nomadik Lightweight Rain Poncho
  • LUXPRO Universal Tactical LED flashlight
  • GEAR AID Seam Grip WP Waterproof Sealant and Adhesive 
  • QuickSurvive 3 Piece Fire Starter Kit

Tips About: Hiking in Storm

Challenge # 34

March 2021: Scouting

  • Parks Project Boonie Hat
  • Ace Camp 11-in-1 Multi-Tool
  • Green Goo First Aid Salve – Jumbo Stick
  • Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Classic Oatmeal Cup

Tips About: Emergency Kit Items

Challenge # 35

April 2021: Leave No Trace

  • Coalatree Nomad Packable Duffel Bag
  • United by Blue Straw Kit 
  • Dear Summit Supply Co. Trail Journal
  • All Good Original SPF 15 Lip Balm

Tips About: Green Hiking

Challenge # 36

May 2021: Rugged Terrain

  • GEAR AID Buri Utility Knife
  • UCO Gear Survival Fire Striker
  • Exploria Paracord Survival Bracelet
  • Nature’s Willow Bug Bite Balm
  • Hydralyte Electrolyte Powder

Tips About: Safety

Challenge # 37

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June 2021: Independence Day Trip

  • Speaqua Pebble Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
  • KeySmart AllTul Shark Multi-Tool
  • Vapur Incognito Flask 300mL
  • Oars + Alps Cooling + Cleansing Wipes

Tips About: Summer Road Trip Tips

Challenge # 38

July 2021: Hike Harder

  • Mazama TrailFlow Hydration Reservoir 2L
  • WORN: Everyday Enhanced Socks: Knit with Arrowool
  • Green Goo Skin Repair Salve – Jumbo Stick
  • Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier
  • Liquid I.V. Energy Multiplier

Tips About: Improve your Hikes

Challenge # 39

September 2021: Parks Safari

  • Carson Kinglet Compact Binoculars
  • Parks Project Respect Protect Bandana
  • AceCamp Map Compass
  • Tosi Super Bites

Tips About: Camping Food Prep 

Challenge # 41

October 2021: Outdoor Dining

  • AceCamp Strata Stove
  • Humangear FlexiBowl
  • UCO Gear Switch Spork
  • MONTyBOCA 3 Day/2 Night Redwoods Meal Plan

Tips About: Camping Food Prep 

Challenge # 42

November 2021: Everyday Carry

  • Gerber Air Ranger Folding Knife
  • KeySmart Original Key Organizer
  • The Nomadik Card Multi-Tool
  • Tonic Products Gym & Tonic Collagen Protein
  • GOOD TO GO Chocolatey Chip Blondies

Tips About: Outdoor Hacks 

Challenge # 43

December 2021: Campfire Revelry

  • Revel Gear Trail Hound 30’ Camping Light
  • Rumple Beer Blanket
  • Exploria Retractable Roasting Fork
  • AdventureKEEN So Much S’More to Do Recipe Book

Tips About: Campfire Food Favorites 

Challenge # 44

Nomadik Togo Backpack

Past Nomadik Quarterly Box Review: 2022 List

Winter 2022: Mountain Bound

  • Rumpl Puffy Blanket
  • GEAR AID Tenacious Tape Gear Patches
  • UCO Survival Fire Striker
  • LEDLENSER MH10 Headlamp
  • Ecovessel Transit Mug
  • KUJU Coffee Basecamp Belnd

Spring 2022: Cozy Camper

  • Grand Trunk TRUNKTECH Single Hammock
  • Grand Trunk Trunk Straps
  • MPOWERD Luci Pro Series Outdoor 2.0
  • Klymit Drift Pillow
  • Sun Company Camping with Sasquatch Card Game
  • Ursa Major Effortless Essentials Discovery Kit

Summer 2022: Waterproof

  • Gear Aid Knife
  • Earth Pak Dry Bag and Phone Case
  • Rumpl Towel
  • Speaqua Cruiser H2.0 Waterproof Speaker
  • (2) Glukos Energy Tablets
  • All Good Mineral Sunscreen
  • ToadFish Non-Tipping Cooler Can

The Nomadik Box Review Summary

Overall, we love the Nomadik box subscription

The worth of the boxes came from not having any camping or hiking gear other than a tent from Target we got off our wedding registry and well-used hand-me-downs.

Of course, hand-me-downs are absolutely all you need to get started with camping, but once we started camping an average of once a month, you definitely need to level up your equipment.

We also started hiking an average of once a week by joining the 52 Hike Challenge. You don’t need fancy hiking gear to start hiking, but it certainly helps as you increase the challenge factor of your adventures.

Sure, some boxes are not as exciting as others, but even those Nomadik subscription boxes have good value and discounted products.

We went from not having much of anything to being the go-to people for family and friends to borrow gear from. This works out great when they join us on our adventures. I also feel a lot more prepared which is very important when hiking with kids.

Our Nomadik Box review: if you go camping a handful of times per year and don’t already have your exciting, quality gear, then subscribe to the Nomadik Subscription Box.

Nomadik Hat

Pros and Cons of the Nomadik Box

Like any company, there are pros and cons to the subscription box. My biggest plug for the Nomadik is that they listen to their customers and have made adjustments to fix some growing pain issues and shipping delays caused by the pandemic. 

Let’s start with the positives, then dive into a few frustrations.

Pros of the Nomadik Box

  • Good deals & savings
  • Good quality items
  • Different items per box
  • Good odds to win the monthly challenge
  • 100% guarantee (if an item arrives damaged or missing, they will work to fix the situation)

Cons of the Nomadik Box

  • Shipping has been known to be inconsistent
  • Canceling requires non-renewal as opposed to a refund 
  • Long turnaround for the challenge-winning box

Their customer service is e-mail only. Some people might find this to be frustrating, but I prefer e-mail to phone when dealing with a company (I hate waiting on hold) as long as they reply to their e-mails. 

In our experience, the Nomadik always responds to their customer service e-mails. It may not be the same day, but it is within an appropriate time frame.

If you aren’t having any luck with an email, I suggest reaching out to them via an Instagram DM, just letting them know you sent an e-mail and are still waiting for a response. Again, please wait for an appropriate time frame (2-3 business days) before trying this method of communication, then continue communication within the e-mail chain once you have their attention.

They have worked with us very efficiently to fix a couple of shipping frustrations, so I have no concerns with their customer service.

In fact, they recently (spring 2022) switched their shipping carriers to alleviate some delay issues that occurred due to the pandemic.

We are receiving boxes on time, although in May during the switch over we received an old Welcome Box instead of what you might find listed on subscription sites as the official “May 2022” box. Now we seem to be a month behind what the official reviewing sites are receiving.

I am ok with this for 2 reasons: 

  1. Everyone could receive something different anyway depending on their quiz results and chosen categories
  2. I love the Light the Night box we received

Canceling your subscription means whatever you paid for will be shipped, but you will not be automatically renewed for the next shipment. 

When the monthly challenge ends, there is a bit of some randomness to the turnaround time of announcing winners and then shipping out the free box, BUT it always comes. I just enter, then if I am notified as a winner I forget about it until my free gear comes as a nice surprise. There are e-mail updates, but I try not to look so I am still surprised by the contents. 

*If you bought the Nomaidk through my affiliate link and have any concerns, then please let me know. I promote this box because I have had a positive experience with the company and love the gear we get in the subscription box.

Nomadik Gym & Tonic

Is the Nomadik Box Subscription Right for You

You can download our free hiking pack checklist and camping checklist to see what you have and what you don’t have.

If you are missing good, quality gear that will last you a while then take a look at the past Nomadik boxes in this post again.

Does the gear look like stuff you would like to have, want to have, and would actually use?

Would the items help fill in your camping and hiking outdoor adventure gear?

Top 3 Reasons to Get an Outdoor Adventure Subscription Box:

  1. You don’t have any gear and want to go on more outdoor adventures.
  2. You only have hand-me-downs or gear that needs upgrading.
  3. You want to try out different brands and products without paying full price.

If any of those reasons resonate with you, then take the Nomadik’s quiz to tailor their outdoor adventure box to your preferences.

Start with just one month or 3 months if you want to try out the subscription before committing to a bigger purchase.

The 6-month subscription, in my opinion, is perfect for those really looking to expand their gear and get fun mail every month.

If you’re more interested in big-ticket items, then the quarterly box is what you want. 

FAQ

Are Nomadik Boxes good?

If you are looking to fill out your outdoor adventure gear or upgrade your hand-me-downs, this is the perfect option. You receive practical and fun adventure-related items every month for cheaper than you would buy the items separately.
However, if you want to buy something particular there is no guarantee of what each box will have in it- so don’t wait to purchase essential items.
This is meant to be fun mail to fill in your wish list of items at a discount you may or may not have decided to buy and try on your own. You are guaranteed at least a $50 value for about $30 per month (the length of subscriptions will vary the price by a little).

What is in the Nomadik Welcome Box?


The Nomadik Welcome Box comes with 6 different items including a packable backpack to keep it all in. It’s a great mix of gear with discounts for the companies represented in it.

The Nomadik Welcome Box Items

Coalatree Nomad Packable Backpack
Vapur Shades Anti-Bottle 0.5L
GEAR AID Tenacious Tape Mini Patches
Sun Company WristTurtle Compass
Skratch Labs Matcha Green Tea & Lemon Hydration Mix
Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes (2)
Tips: Choosing Hike Location 
Challenge Welcome Box
Discounts: Coalatree, Vapur, GEAR AID, Sun Company, Skratch Labs, Ursa Major 

How long does Nomadik Take to Ship?

The Nomadik ships on the 24th of each month. If you have a new order and place it by the 15th, you will receive that month’s box. If your new order is made after the 15th, you will receive the next month’s box. 
For example: if you purchase a subscription on January 17th, your box will be the February box and ship on February 24th
The length of shipping time depends on our postal system. It typically arrives for us (California) within 7-10 business days from shipment.

How do I cancel my Nomadik Subscription?

To cancel your Nomadik Subscription, you must contact the Nomadik via e-mail or support form on their website to discontinue automatic renewal. You will still receive (and pay for) the initial purchase, your subscription will just not be automatically renewed once your current purchase ends.

What is Cairn Subscription?

2022 Update: Cairn was bought out by Outside and they discontinued the monthly subscription.
Cairn is another monthly subscription box option. You receive fewer items, but they are of a higher value than receiving multiple smaller ticket items. It is about $33 per month for at least $50 worth of product.
They don’t have a monthly challenge, but they do have a points system. Points you earn for reviewing the products, etc. can be used to purchase select gear.

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