Loot Crate April 2015 Review - "Fantasy" Box

I've known about Loot Crate for a little under a year now, but being overseas has prevented me from reviewing any of the previous boxes I've received. That's why, when I learned the theme for April's crate, I was doubly excited: not only would I have a (hopefully) useful article for you, my maybe-existent-readers, but fantasy is my favorite genre.

For those of you who don't know, Loot Crate is a monthly themed subscription box that always contains 6-8 delightfully geeky items valued at $40 or more. It costs $13.37 a month + $6.00 shipping, although the price drops if you sign up for a multi-month plan, and they always have coupon codes available. Click here if you're interested in subscribing!

(I should mention that this is not a promotional crate. I bought it myself - this is an independent customer review.)

The spoilers for this month promised exclusive and wearable items from Game of Thrones, Dungeons & Dragons, and The Princess Bride, while later emails also added Harry Potter to the list.

Well, without further ado, the review!

The box this month is small, but with enough weight to it that it promises not to be a lot of paper goods.

The magazine includes articles about D&D history and fantasy TV shows to check out. Also pictured is April's collectible "fantasy" button.

Dungeons & Dragons T-Shirt (by Wizards of the Coast and Loot Crate Labs) - As a big D&D fan, this shirt is a big hit with me. It's very soft pre-shrunk cotton. I'm also happy to see a t-shirt in a color other than black. The above pictured shirt is a women's small.

Value - $12 (estimated)

Inflatable Crown (by Loot Crate Labs) - The spoilers promised wearables, and this is the second. It's silly but fun. The material feels sturdy and it's neither too large nor too small. I was able to blow it up in less than 15 seconds. It definitely fits with a medieval fantasy theme.

Value - $6 at Urban Outfitters

The Princess Bride Playing Cards (by Albino Dragon) - Not going to lie, but seeing The Princess Bride as part of the advertising is a big part of why I signed up for this month's crate. I feel like for such a well-loved movie there's not a huge amount of merchandise available. The cards are nice quality. The face cards show different characters with some of their most famous lines (although to be fair, it's inconceivable to think that a single line from the film isn't famous).

Value - $9.99 at Vat19.com

RPG Bow Tie (a Loot Crate exclusive by Black Tie Geek) - Now, I've never had much need for a bow tie, but seeing as my ideal future spouse will be as big a D&D nerd as me, this seems like a good thing to hold on to. It's pre-tied with an adjustable strap and a hook-and-eye latch.

Value - $10 (estimated, based on other geek-themed bow ties like those found in Hot Topic)

Harry Potter Bag Tag (by Bioworld) - As a Harry Potter fan of roughly 16 years and a world traveler, I can't think of a more useful item to find in my Loot Crate. It appears to be made of rubber or some similar material, and it feels solid and well-made. I'll be attaching this to my suitcase as quick as a Quidditch player.

Value -  $12.99 at Kohl's

Game of Thrones USB Flash Drive (a Loot Crate exclusive by CustomUSB) - This 4GB Stark direwolf might have been my favorite item, mostly because I've been in the market for a new nerdy thumb drive. I only wish it had a keychain component so I could make sure not to lose it as fast as Catelyn loses her children. (Too soon? Yes, too soon.)

Value - $10 (estimated, based on the cost of other licensed flash drives)

  
Game of Thrones Magnet Set (by Dark Horse) - I've been slowly amassing fridge magnets for my new apartment, so these came at the perfect time. There are actually 5 magnets in the set: the four house sigils and the show title at the top. I don't predict that they're very strong, so they'll definitely be more for decoration than for holding anything up.

Value - $6.00 (estimated, based on it being smaller than a similar set selling for $11.99 on the HBO website)

This month's box is reversible, which makes me want to go back and check if any of the others are. 

The collection.

The fully inflated crown.

 The verdict - I am very pleased with Loot Crate's "Fantasy" box. With the exception of the crown, everything in the box is useful to me in some way (and who knows, I might find a place for the crown too). I haven't gotten any crates since September's "Galactic" theme because I was disappointed with the overabundance of paper goods and kiddy stuff, and a lack of item variety. I thought this month was excellently curated and not overhyped, with nice quality items. If Loot Crate ever does another fantasy-themed box, though, I would love to see something Tolkien-related.

For $16.37 (after using NEWS3 to save $3.00), this box has an estimated value of $66.98, which seems like a good deal to me!

Hope you found this review helpful. Check back here soon for more nerd-related reviews and commentaries.