★★★★1/2
Let’s get down into the nitty gritty, and talk about the Postfly box. This monthly subscription service focuses on the fly fisherman, whereas I usually review boxes that focus on casting/spinning-based fisherman. I recently made a post talking about how I’m getting back into fly fishing after a several-year hiatus, and to say that I’m excited about this box would be an understatement.
First of all, let’s discuss the price point of this box. Most other fishing subscription boxes are between $14.99 and $15.99, while this one is $19.99. Having to pay an extra, we will say, 5 dollars, this box better live up to the hype…
I should also mention that from the time I ordered this box to when it arrived was reasonable – think it took a little under two weeks.
Upon receiving the box, I was greeted by a sleek, black box with what appears to be their logo on the front of the box. I opened the box to find “The Fly Guide”, a newspaper-esque document containing information about their other species-related boxes, along with a few stories and information.
After removing The Fly Guide, there was a piece of glossy cardstock that showed all of the flies in the box, along with size, price, and description. This is probably one of the coolest parts of the box, as it tells tips and tricks as to how to use each fly given, and the card itself is extremely high quality. Did I mention that it’s in color print?
Upon removing the fly guide, I was greeted by the flies. Contained by a clear plastic box with the Postfly name, 12 flies lie within the box (I think this is more than normal). The flies given were as follows:
3x Wooly Bugger (#8)
CDC Baetis (#16)
Para BWO (#12)
Pink Egg (#16)
Comparadun (#16)
Little Mormon Girl (#10)
Muddler (#8)
Partridge and Green (#14)
Olive Zebra Midge (#16)
Perdigon (#16)
All of the flies given were extremely high quality, some even containing beads. Most, if not all, had “finished” heads, and muddler was made well (it’s a relatively difficult fly to tie).
It seems as if Postfly adds one “gear” item each box, of which was a Survival Bracelet. This item was neat, as it was made of the usual paracord and buckle, but it also contained a whistle, small knife, fire starter, and compass. Now, is the paracord the standard 550 paracord? The only way to tell would be to cut it open. Personally, I would have preferred to get something that I could readily use for fly fishing, and not a bracelet. Is it a cool little gear item? Sure, but just isn’t for my style or need.
I then pulled out their standard leader – each box gets at least one leader. This one was a 5 weight, 9 feet, tapered leader, which is usually exactly what I use. I like the idea of stocking up on leaders, especially with varying qualities for different fishing styles.
Then was a few more printed items, of which one was a “Catch More Fish” Postfly sticker – not only high quality but also a cool design. This was followed by an offer to Trout Unlimited magazine, a one year free offer, that is. The final piece of cardstock in the box was a 25% off offer within Postfly’s online shop.
Overalll, I have to say that I’m impressed. The items were high quality, and the box had a certain “genuine” feel that I really liked. The captions on all of the printed materials were of a playfull, funny nature that I enjoyed – Postfly is known for this sort of style. My only critique is the survival bracelet, and I’m not even mad about it. I’ve got to give this box 4.5 out of 5 stars.
★★★★1/2
What box should I do next? If you have suggestions, feel free to comment or send me an email. I’m thinking about trying this box for one more month, and then trying one of the hunting boxes that are out there, but we shall see…
