The Best Still Air Boxes of 2024: Which One Should You Choose?
So, you’ve decided to go with a Still Air Box instead of a Flow Hood. Now, you might be wondering what the best options are today. In this article, we will dive into an in-depth comparison of Still Air Boxes available on the market.
In 2024, the technology has evolved, and we now have more options to acquire a ready-to-use Still Air Box without needing to build one yourself. However, in a growing market, there are always bad products trying to capitalize on the opportunity to make quick bucks, and over time, many products become somewhat similar with minor variations. This often leads to a race to the bottom, where quality and innovation are lacking.
At Trippy Tek, we believe we’ve made a great innovation by assembling all growers' needs into one product. Our product is a PLUS for beginners, and experienced growers will wish they had it when they started. So, we took the best ideas and added our own to create the Trippy Tek Still Air Box. Without further ado, let’s dive in and start by exploring the traditional options.
DIY Still Air Box ($15)
The simple DIY Still Air Box is tough to beat. Its straightforward design and basic function make it a go-to option for most home mushroom growers. Originating from mycologist forums, it typically uses a basic plastic container with two armholes. This option is popular because it’s cheap, effective, and meets most needs. However, it can be time-consuming to build, especially without the right tools. Visibility can be imperfect, and differing DIY methods can be confusing. Still, it’s a convenient and affordable choice.
Check out my deep dive in the video and blog to learn more and how to build it yourself.
Pros:
- Simple
- Affordable
- Solid and durable
Cons:
- Imperfect visibility (side view only)
- Can be a hassle to build
- Accessories sold separately
- Confusing DIY variations
- Not collapsible, takes up space
Similar SAB to a DIY ($50)
If you value your time, you might consider a pre-built Still Air Box that mimics the shape of a DIY model. These typically cost around $50. While they save you the effort of building one, they don’t offer many added benefits. The construction is fairly simple.
Pros:
- Simple design
- Ready-to-use solution
- Solid and durable
Cons:
- Limited visibility (side view only)
- Accessories sold separately
- Not collapsible, so it takes up space
- Overpriced, considering you can build it yourself
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1051834330/still-air-box-sab-50l-includes-10-agar
Still Air Box on the Market
Bella Bora 45$ https://a.co/d/9yplYNU
Bella Bora has been a leader on Amazon since its inception in 2021 but has lost market share over time. They benefited from an early mover advantage, with a hefty price tag of over $100. Being alone in their category initially served them well, and they still sell well, accumulating numerous reviews that position them as a leader. However, success has brought challenges. Over the years, they’ve faced increased competition from similar, lower-priced products, forcing them to reduce their price, which is now around $40-50.
The product itself is an improvement over a basic $50 solid plastic Still Air Box. It features PVC tube frames covered with thin plastic film, offering a more refined structure while still maintaining affordability. However, the debate between glove boxes and Still Air Boxes, which was debunked years ago, still affects this product. The main difference is how the armholes are covered. In this product, the glove box design with covered holes causes unnecessary air movement, which can be a drawback.
The main reason people give one-star reviews and are unhappy with this product is the assembly process. The difficulty in assembling it often leads to improper alignment of the PVC tubes, causing the plastic to wear and the product to fail before customers even get to use it.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Large capacity, suitable for more equipment * calculate and compare *
- Collapsible and easy to transport
- Better visibility in some cases*
- Large access door on the side
- USA seller
Cons:
- Lightweight, leading to less stability
- Large capacity can be a disadvantage if you can’t reach your workspace * calculate and compare *
- Fragile (high risk of plastic tearing)
- Poor visibility in some cases*
- Follows the outdated glove box design with covered holes
- No added accessories
- Setup can be a hassle; the assemble/disassemble cycle may not last long
- Soft bottom (thin plastic) prone to damage from tools like a scalpel
Lovely Ryan 40$ https://a.co/d/0uH01Fo
The LOVELY RYAN Still Air Box is currently the second-best-selling product on Amazon, with a similar shape and design to the Bella Bora Still Air Box. This means it shares similar pros and cons, such as assembly difficulties and issues with the plastic film tearing. Although it comes with bonus accessories like a thermometer and spray bottles, these additions aren't particularly game-changing. Essentially, it’s a more affordable alternative to the Bella Bora, made by a Chinese seller, but it suffers from the same frustrating problems.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Large capacity, suitable for more equipment * calculate and compare *
- Collapsible and easy to transport
- Better visibility in some cases*
- Large access door on the side
- Cheaper than Bella Bora
Cons:
- Lightweight, leading to less stability
- Large capacity can be a disadvantage if you can’t reach your workspace * calculate and compare *
- Fragile (high risk of plastic tearing)
- Poor visibility in some cases*
- Follows the outdated glove box design with covered holes
- No added Useful accessories
- Setup can be a hassle
- The assemble/disassemble cycle may not last long
- Soft bottom (thin plastic) prone to damage from tools like a scalpel
- Chinese Seller
The ZZM Still Air Box is similar to its competitors, using the same PVC frame tubes and plastic film cover design, with comparable pros and cons. However, it stands out with a more affordable price and a unique oblique front window, which is a notable improvement in the market. The thicker frame and crystal-clear viewing window make it a superior option, offering a better user experience.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Large capacity, suitable for more equipment * calculate and compare *
- Collapsible and easy to transport
- Better visibility in some cases*
- Oblique Front Window is a improvement for visibility
- Large access door on the side
- Cheaper than Lovely Ryan
Cons:
- Lightweight, leading to less stability
- Large capacity can be a disadvantage if you can’t reach your workspace * calculate and compare *
- Fragile (high risk of plastic tearing)
- Poor visibility in some cases*
- Follows the outdated glove box design with covered holes
- No added accessories
- Setup can be a hassle (short and long mix post)
- The assemble/disassemble cycle may not last long
- Soft bottom (thin plastic) prone to damage from tools like a scalpel
- Chinese Seller
CCGRTART(30$) https://a.co/d/759fSTB
The CCGRTART Still Air Box offers a different design compared to others on the market by not using PVC tubes as frames. This makes the structure softer, which simplifies setup but significantly reduces the product's quality and user experience. It’s lightweight, making it easy to bump and disrupt equipment. The holes are covered with long plastic sleeves, which are also cheaply made. Overall, this is the worst design I’ve seen, aside from DIY alternatives like cardboard. The low price reflects the poor quality.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Large capacity, suitable for more equipment * calculate and compare *
- Collapsible and easy to transport
- Better visibility in some cases*
- Large access door on the side
- Cheaper than ZZM
- Fast Assembly
Cons:
- SUPER Lightweight, leading to less stability
- Large capacity can be a disadvantage if you can’t reach your workspace * calculate and compare *
- Fragile (high risk of plastic tearing)
- Poor visibility in some cases*
- Follows the outdated glove box design with covered holes
- No added accessories
- The assemble/disassemble cycle may not last long
- Hard to put back into the storage bag
- Soft bottom (thin plastic) prone to damage from tools like a scalpel
- Chinese Seller
Trippy Tek Still Air Box
With thorough research, we've listened to both beginners and experienced mushroom growers to create the ideal Still Air Box design.
- Clear, Solid, and Collapsible Plastic Container:
- Our box is solid and durable, avoiding the issues of fragile plastic films. The bottom is resistant to damage from tools like scalpels or syringes.
- We provide excellent visibility through a clear plastic box that won't wrinkle.
- The collapsible design makes it easy to store when not in use.
- Dual doors (front and back) simplify access and cleaning.
- Assembly is straightforward, despite being different from typical setups.
- Integrated Induction Sterilizer:
- We've integrated the best sterilization tool directly inside the SAB, allowing for sterilization from within.
- Operated by laser, it requires no button or pedal, making it a one-handed tool.
- It's safe, fast, and flame-free, achieving sterilization in just 5-10 seconds.
- LED Strip Light Add-On:
- The LED strip light greatly improves lighting and visibility, making it easier to work and record your process.
- It’s operated by a simple ON/OFF switch.
- Easy to install with a sticker backing.
- Wire Rack:
- The wire rack add-on is extremely useful, eliminating the need to purchase a separate one.
- It reduces contamination risk by allowing you to work on an elevated surface.
Overall, while our price is a bit higher, the added value more than justifies the cost. The essential tools included would make it even more expensive if purchased separately.
We believe we've created the best Still Air Box on the market, designed by mushroom growers, for mushroom growers—premium and worth every penny.
