The Surprise Inside Volleybird

An inside look at the pickleball subscription delivering boutique discoveries, court essentials and lifestyle finds directly to players

By Adriana Falco
November 11, 2026 • 7 min read

Pickleball players have no shortage of equipment to choose from. Paddles, shoes, apparel and accessories fill online stores and pro shops, with new products appearing almost daily. Yet discovering something genuinely different can be surprisingly difficult.

Volleybird Athletic Lifestyle offers a refreshing alternative. Instead of asking players to search through hundreds of products, the company curates a selection of pickleball essentials, accessories and wellness items, delivering them in a subscription box every 60 days.

The concept combines the convenience of home delivery with the excitement of discovering brands and products that might otherwise go unnoticed. After receiving a complimentary box for review, it became clear that Volleybird delivers more than the usual assortment of pickleball accessories.

Discovering Something Different

Founded by Cassandra Toroian and Tracy Thomas, Volleybird launched subscription boxes for pickleball, tennis, padel and golf simultaneously. The founders recognized an opportunity to connect players with independent manufacturers whose products were often overshadowed by established brands.

“Pickleball players can be fanatical about ‘all things pickleball,’ and I include myself in that!” Thomas explained.

While browsing social media, she noticed that many retailers offered nearly identical selections, even as smaller companies were introducing creative and distinctive products.

“The pickleball space felt wide open for great products, and nobody was connecting the dots between those makers and the players who’d love them,” she said.

Volleybird was designed to bridge that gap. Rather than concentrating on the latest paddle release, its boxes introduce subscribers to products selected for their quality, usefulness and originality.

The company places particular emphasis on independent, family-owned and women-led businesses, including brands with meaningful stories or charitable missions. Among the brands the founders highlighted are DoublePom, PicklePockets and Headbands of Hope.

According to Thomas, every prospective product undergoes personal testing before it is approved for inclusion.

“If we wouldn’t use it ourselves, it doesn’t go in the box,” she said firmly.

Inside the Box

From the moment my Volleybird pickleball box was ordered, I received email updates tracking its journey through shipping and delivery. When it arrived, the box was securely protected by brown outer packaging. Inside was an attractively branded Volleybird box that made a great first impression.

Upon opening it, I was greeted by a handwritten thank-you note from founders Toroian and Thomas, a thoughtful personal touch that immediately set the tone for the experience. Beneath the green tissue paper, 12 pickleball-related products were neatly arranged, ready to be discovered. Together, the items had an estimated combined retail value of $245.

Because my clothing size was provided, the selection focused on accessories, court essentials and lifestyle products rather than fitted apparel. The result was a colorful and varied collection that reflected Volleybird’s emphasis on practical items with a little personality.

Among the highlights was a green HydroBag HANDLE 40-ounce tumbler carrier, complete with a green-and-pink striped strap and a convenient phone pocket. Designed to make carrying a large water bottle easier, it was one of the more substantial accessories in the box and an especially useful addition for players who regularly bring drinks to the court.

Another standout was the navy multicolored AHDORNED pickleball crossbody strap. Adjustable from 35 to 54 inches, the two-inch-wide strap offers a stylish accessory option that fits the company’s athletic lifestyle philosophy.

The box also included a Pickle Love red neoprene paddle cover, designed to fit standard-sized paddles. Its weather-resistant construction, zippered storage pocket and carabiner fence clip make it a practical choice for protecting equipment while keeping smaller essentials within reach.

For court use, the assortment featured a pink Pickle Pocket three-ball holder with three matching pickleballs, GAMMA edge guard tape, GAMMA lead tape and paddle grip bands. These products add practical value for players who maintain or customize their equipment.

Smaller lifestyle touches included a green-and-white striped Shiraleah cotton pickleball towel, a pink Volleybird performance rope cap, pink mid-calf grip socks, a decorative PickleBelleDesigns crystal ball keychain and Doc&Glo No. 3161 deodorant.

The combination was particularly appealing because it avoided feeling like a box filled with inexpensive promotional merchandise. There were recognizable equipment accessories alongside more distinctive items that a player might not think to purchase independently.

Not every item will be equally useful to every subscriber. Players who do not customize their paddles, for example, may have less immediate need for lead tape or grip accessories. Nevertheless, the assortment offered a satisfying mix of functional equipment, personal accessories and everyday conveniences.

Most importantly, the contents supported Volleybird’s central promise: introducing players to a broader selection of products than they might encounter during a typical shopping trip.

A Mix of Performance and Lifestyle

Volleybird’s boxes are curated according to the subscriber’s sport, gender preference and apparel size. Customers can choose a one-time purchase or recurring deliveries approximately every eight weeks.

Adding a special touch was a personal, handwritten note from founders Cassandra Toroian and Tracy Thomas. It was a thoughtful gesture that made the delivery feel more personal than a typical subscription box and reinforced the care behind the Volleybird brand.

The element of surprise is central to the experience. Rather than selecting every item individually, subscribers receive a collection assembled around their sport and the season.

For anyone who enjoys trying new products, the format offers something that traditional online shopping cannot easily replicate: the anticipation of opening a box without knowing exactly what is inside.

The founders are also introducing greater flexibility. Thomas said Volleybird is moving toward revealing more of each box’s contents in advance and offering subscribers the opportunity to choose certain products or add items to their shipments. These changes should appeal to customers who enjoy discovering new brands but prefer some control over what they receive.

The company also develops its own accessories through collections such as Darling and Highlands. Toroian explained that the founders saw a gap between products designed for younger consumers and accessories that lacked personality. They wanted to create items that were stylish, useful and distinctive without sacrificing athletic practicality. The Darling collection incorporates playful sports expressions, while Highlands includes jewelry-inspired golf ball marker necklaces. Additional products are in development, including UPF 50 sun sleeves designed for use across pickleball, tennis, padel and golf.

More Than a Subscription

Volleybird has also recognized the potential of its boxes as gifts, a one-time gift or a reoccurring gift subscription. According to Toroian, approximately half of the company’s customers purchase boxes for someone else rather than for themselves. Its electronic gifting service allows purchasers to send a gift notification while giving recipients the opportunity to select their preferred sport, size and other details.

The founders are expanding this offering with separate seasonal gift boxes that are not tied to the recurring subscription. Unlike the discovery boxes, these gift packages will feature fully disclosed contents, allowing buyers to know exactly what they are giving.

For holidays, birthdays and special occasions, this could be an especially convenient option for someone shopping for a pickleball enthusiast.

There are, however, a few considerations before purchasing. Because each subscription box is curated for the individual customer, Volleybird maintains a no-return, no-refund policy. The company does offer size exchanges and replacements for damaged merchandise.

The surprise format also means every product may not appeal equally to every subscriber. Players who prefer to select each item themselves may find a traditional retailer better suited to their shopping habits.

Nevertheless, the company’s evolving approach to customization demonstrates a willingness to respond to customer feedback.

In or Out?

Volleybird delivers on its promise of making pickleball shopping feel more like discovery than another routine purchase.

The box I received and reviewed contained 12 products with a combined estimated retail value of $245, exceeding the company’s advertised $200-plus value. At a recurring subscription price of approximately $133 per box, the assortment represents a substantial amount of merchandise relative to the purchase price, provided the subscriber has a use for most of the contents.

The value was not simply in the number of items. The HydroBag tumbler carrier, AHDORNED crossbody strap and Pickle Love paddle cover provided useful, higher-value accessories, while the smaller court essentials and lifestyle products added variety.

The selection felt thoughtfully assembled, with a combination of familiar pickleball necessities and less conventional discoveries. The absence of fitted apparel did not diminish the experience, particularly because the assortment still offered a generous range of products.

The biggest consideration remains personal preference. A surprise box will inevitably include some items that appeal more than others, and the no-return policy makes it important for buyers to understand the format before subscribing.

I loved everything that was in my box. I will now keep Volleybird in mind when buying birthday and holiday gifts for my pickleball friends.

Volleybird offers something that many traditional retailers do not: a convenient way to discover independent brands and products while enjoying the anticipation of each delivery.

For pickleball enthusiasts who appreciate variety, useful accessories and a few unexpected surprises, Volleybird makes a compelling case for bringing the pro shop experience directly to their doorstep. ●

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