I just saw this. I was the designer of the base insert, and I was very pleased with how it came out. Additionally, we designed it so that you could sleeve the commonly used cards. There was no way to accommodate sleeves for all of the cards. But, we thought that only a very hard core sleever would want to sleeve all of the cards and that person is likely to go to a third party insert anyway.

This is one of the most incredibly useful review videos for ANYTHING I've ever seen. Amazing job in not just telling but SHOWING exactly what you mean by the pros and cons!

This video is such a step up from the Quackalope version, even if that one is twice as long. The only thing I learned from their video is that these guys really really really do not like building organisers themselves. You did a great job explaining what is important: how well does it help you set-up and play? I was hoping of choosing between these two organisers but was worried about awkward card/token placement which would hinder set-up. And I was right, bases on this video! I think I'll look for a solution that designed after actually obtaining the final game and the designers playing Frosthaven. That or 3D printing which I did from JotL and is awesome!

I have to give you some props. You are all really likeable dudes and you give honest options. There are so many channels put there that are just so excited about everything after one play or try because they want more free stuff from that company. I regularly recommend your channel to people. Greetings from Germany. Love ya, guys!

The dedication of packing and organizing this game at least three times just for a video. You guys are the gods or board game KZfaq!

The default organizer IS SO GOOD! I only wanted a solution for the monsters and map tiles.

This is a really wonderful review. Bravo! I built my folded space insert without having played the game. Now that I've got a few games under my belt, the strength of the core insert is apparent.

Thank you for all the details in the review. I wanted to add a few items. In full disclosure, I am a Gloomhaven vet who used Broken Token, and this time around I went with Laser Ox (Tuck boxes) plus the Folded Space tile box. Here are some items worth noting: 1) some of the fit issues Shelfside mentions for Laser Ox are due to the thicker sleeves he is using (which Shelfside notes). From my testing, it is a bit too tight with Paladin 90 micro sleeves, while reality king or swan 60 micron sleeves work much better. 2) The token tray issue lid not staying on is a build issue. 3) Yes it takes a super long time to build the Laser Ox insert. It took me days (on and off). 4) The complaint about the loot deck for laser ox is spot on. It is manageable (imo), but it could be a bit better. 5) If you do Laser Ox, get the tuck box version to to eliminate all the monster box concerns. The monster are organized mostly alphabetical in the tuck version. 6) I too see no reason for the Folded Space insert to exist. The included insert looks better. 7) The folded space tile holder does give depth for each slot (that standard accordion folders would not have), so I do think it is solid. 8) I agree with Shelfside that you only need to sleeve the shuffled decks (and the player action card IMO). SUMMARY) Overall, I'm very happy with my solution, but it is more expensive and does take awhile to build at the beginning. However, I can pretty much guarantee my time-to-table will be much faster than the default organizer and baggies (especially with the alphabetical tuck box organization).

Thank you for this. It just puts other board gaming channels in perspective when they're all just claiming these new organizing solutions (which are ridiculously expensive) are the best shit since sliced bread. Thanks for the effort and the scrutiny you put in actually evaluating these products.

I really appreciate how detailed and specific you are with this video, but also how honest you are about the little isms of each organizer. I have been researching of the organizers are worth it and most videos don't talk about the bad things that much, if at all. I agree and will be sticking with the default box organization. Only thing that stays outside the box is i have the monsters/bases in their own separate organizer similar to the one you used. You also go over the consequences of sleeving cards, which i definitely do for mine, and the combined with the app reducing the amount of overall cards needed , default just did it better. Thank you

Finally! A review on how the components are actually organized, not just the usual aesthetic or build quality comparison. (Yes, I plan to stick with the default organizer, and perhaps come up with a DIY solution for all the free bags of monsters.)

I bought an insert from the company Gaming Trunk - it is the Frost Tavern organizer... I realize the last thing you need is another one of these, but I do think it works well. Expensive, but super well executed - everything fits, stacks nicely, does not damage, etc. I did need to trim four of the separator/label dividers from the base game in order to get them to fit (because item cards are stored vertically...) This review is the first thing I've seen from your channel, and I've since been catching up on your earlier reviews. Great stuff!!

I was tempted to get one of these organizers even though my copy of frosthaven still hasnt shipped yet. Now, I'm pretty sure I'll just end up either using default, or else designing/3d printing my own solution. great video, very informative.

You just saved me a mini fortune with this review, thank you!

Got my Fristhaven KS 2 weeks ago (yea...! In June...) Thank you for this vid! I am, indeed, GH insert post traumatic, and glad to hear that this base insert (with a place for the tiles) is quite good. Thanks!

I was looking to buy the Laserox insert on their new kickstarter and exactly like you said, I have some PTSD from organising the original so I didn't want to have to do it all again but it looks like I will. As you were going through both inserts there are many great ideas in both so I'll use them, and the community ideas, to create my own organiser. And I don't think they will make a 2.0 version of the organisers either as people will get upset

thanks to this video, I was able to story ALL of Frosthaven in the box with only the default storage system and keep all of my enemies and map pieces sorted. We can do set up and tear down even faster than Gloomhaven and only need to pull out one box as opposed to 3! Thanks Shelfside. Especially for saving me a load of money.

Dang, this is a nicely done video! It was hard for us to decided between the two, so seeing this was great!

I appreciate you answered the question in the title so quickly. Thanks! I’ll be watching more of your videos.

love your flow - speed and the edited videos to support your voiceover. In addition a sharp and to the point analysis. Good job - and thx for making this video.

You guys are awesome! Thank you for the in-depth and proper review. I was already questioning some things about quack’s review and this confirmed it. I hope you guys are able to grow and be one of the biggest board game channels out there. Thank you for all the excellent content!

This review is a step up from most content I see regarding the haven series. Go7 just released their organizer which I immediately ordered based on owning their Gloomhaven and Crimson Scales organizers.

Just found you by random. Great video. Glad I decided not to get an insert. Your communication style, honesty/bluntness, and dry humor are fantastic and you have a new subscriber. Looking forward to checking out your other content.

Thanks for putting the summary at the beginning of the video instead of edging me until the end. Also I don’t think not playing Frosthaven is an excuse for some of these design choices, because Gloomhaven is a fairly known quantity and many of these mistakes could have been avoided by just understanding how the game is actually set up.

I have no intentions of buying Frosthaven, but I am such a nerd, I watched this entire video. I also enjoy your insightful and somewhat ranty videos.

man this is such a well rounded, informative review - great job!

Loved the video! I started building the folded space organizer because it came with our kickstarter rewards, and I immediately clocked that separating monster initiative, monster standees, and monster action cards would make setup and teardown a headache. I looked up reviews to see what to expect from it, and you pointing out other downsides convinced me that I'm probably better off just using the default insert lol. Apps are pretty solid these days so I'm just gonna remove the monster cards and initiative markers.

I’m hoping Smonex will come up with an insert for Frosthaven. I have their Gloomhaven version and really love it but I do use an cheap accordion file for map tiles which is the best thing money can buy to get scenarios tabled fast. Great vid by the way!

Yes, I will sleeve every single card in Frosthaven, as I did in Gloomhaven. Setting up Laserox insert, sleeving every card (even locked characters, but not sealed envelopes) and organising it for first game took me 6 days, about 4 hours a day.

I'm 100% in agreement w/ you. The organizer that comes in the game was well designed and works very well. I can't say how happy I was to see the token organizer with those snug lids!

I'm in strong agreement with the base game insert being the best for consolidation, but I do recommend the accordion folder, which I backed in Kickstarter. The game arrived yesterday, and I spent most of it getting things organized. Having the monster cards and initiative tracker in the same baggie is likely the fastest way for setting up. I also used a sharpie to write the name so it's easier to see in the box. Consequently, the lid is flush, and there is tons of room for pencils, a second rule book (if or when available), etc. I'll sell the foam insert to offset the costs. I suspect Broken Token would have gotten it right.... let's not go down that rabbit hole. Great reviews!

As someone who has the LaserOx insert, I can say that I'm VERY glad I got the tuckbox version. it makes setup of monsters a breeze, and thinking about having the monsters organized by size makes me cringe. For the loot deck, I agree that having that third slot used for the random scenarios is useless, so you can tuck those cards (in their plastic sheath) somewhere else and have plenty of room to divide the loot into three stacks.

The accordion file for the maps tiles is great. Other than that, the base organizer seems to be fine.

Thank you for the honest review.

Rapidly becoming my favourite boardgame channel! keep up the good work!

So as a backer of Frosthaven (no I have yet to get my copy) I went with the tier that came with an insert because I remember the horror that was Gloomhaven and thought "JOTL was good but that was aimed at more casual board gamers, there's no way they'll make an insert that good for FH" And I'm glad to see that I was wrong. Since I went with the Folded Space one, which also comes with the Map Tile folder, I'll probably end up using that along with the insert the base game comes with. That or just never tear down Frosthaven...

Brutally honest review. Don't get me wrong I got some organizers from Folded Space (FFG LCG's and Lost Ruins of Arnak), but for Gloomhaven, the BEST and cheapest organiser is an accordion folder and 2-3 Plano boxes. If you want to go to the next level, you can throw a business card organizer into the mix for the item shop. Basically between 30-50$ and you can reuse in the future for any other games.

You just saved me money. Thank you.

I got the tuck box version of lazer ox box. Vastly the best monster organization out of all 4 options by far

Holyshit great content review, and amazing humor lol. I love the tone

Fantastic video. I ended up getting the Folded Space organizers (map and insert). After watching your video I think I will just use the default insert that comes in the box and possibly FS map organizer... It is a shame products like these, which are supposed to be better than the default stuff you get, do not fulfill their purpose well

Thank you so much for this video, by far the best review of Frosthaven inserts out there. Subscribed ! :)

Not gonna lie, I enjoy organizing my games more then playing them.

ty very much for your amazing video! Saved me a lot of money and time :) THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

Very nice review based on actual play, thanks! It answered my questions about the LaserOx organizer. I didn't have the issue you had with lids not fitting; I suspect that's a matter of not getting the side walls flush when assembling. They have really tight fits on the slots (tighter than the BT inserts I've tried) presumably in an attempt to make glue optional. But as a result a mallet is not optional when assembling it.

You sir, are a God among men! And your voice is nice too... I'm very impressed with the base organizer, it rivals my Plano boxes and foam core solution for Gloomhaven!

SUPER helpful man - thanks so much!

I'm plesently surprised by how much the built in organiser is a step up over Gloomhaven. Having played our first game on the weekend, some additional organisation is still gonna be necessary for sure. I'm thinking an accordion folder for the map tiles (I might get the custom one just because I dislike how the generic one looks on my shelf beside Gloomhaven), some planos for the overlay tiles, and probably the laserox tuckboxes. I'm a bit conserned that the insert with the majority of the cards might not survive being lifted in and out of the box every session long term but that's a problem for the future. For Gloomhaven I put together a card folio for the shop which was really nice so maybe I'll return to that too.

To me the biggest issue with the base insert is how the dividers are to tall and get bent

The best organizer for Frosthaven is a "Coffee table with a lift table feature" with storage space, where you can securely store the game in an unpacked state without any extra organizers (the ones coming with the game are good enough) on a wooden board and when you want to play a session you put the wooden board on the lift table next to your gaming table as a side table (not a real gaming table, no one needs those). The storage space of the Coffee table should be 43cm length; 50cm width; 11cm height or more. You don't need the height of the Frosthaven box, because you store the components over a larger area less on top of each other. If the Coffee table has additional drawers, they would be ideal to store unlock able content. I would buy a "Coffee table with a lift table feature" that can also be used to put a laptop or food in a more comfortable position while sitting on a couch. The lift functionality doesn't have to reach the full height of the gaming table, because it is more a side table for the "Game Master". Trays that everybody needs should be put on the gaming table anyway. But for the Campaign Step a lot of stuff is less often needed to be in arms lengths of everyone in the gaming group.

Thanks for saving my money.

Gaming Trunk is my fav so far.

Thank you very much for the break down of what is really bad with these products (and what is good). I mean I wasn't going to get one of these cos they provide storage space for things I will genuinely never use, due to using an app. So I have known that I'll probably have to discover my own storage solution. Personally I would much rather use something like a plano box for the monster standees and the overlay tiles (makes it so much easier to find things). As for the cards the game's insert with its separators seem like they will do a really job for about as long as the plastic holds up (friend of mine already has their card trays breaking and they haven't even played the game yet), so I will no doubt ultimately sort out some sort of organiser for those too. There is no way I'd ever store the map tiles in anything other than an accordion folder, those just make finding the needed tiles so much easier and faster. At least I can take my time while trying to find and set-up my storage solution, cos I will be playing someone else's copy initially.

I should have seen this before I hit the order button :(

You guys are the best boardgame channel out there. Glad I ultimately decided to not purchase a third party insert. Really appreciate seeing this after that decision and feeling solid in my decision.

My laserox condition box lid did not fit at first than I realized I messed up on the assembly now it fits perfectly . 👌

I had gotten screwed out of the wood organizer I originally paid for in the Kickstarter and got defaulted to the Folded Space one - which I didn't want so I got a refund on the organizer. After seeing this video - I think it turned out to be a good thing I didn't get either organizer. I bought an STL file that is really well done and accommodates sleeved cards so no issues about everything fitting. Sure it takes time to print but in the end it is; 1) cheaper. 2) lighter than wood. 3) no assembly. 4) well organized. 5) it all fits quite well.

Damn the default organizer is better than the JotL default organizer. Not bad at all

This review was hot fire! Seriously I was likely going to pick up one of the inserts but holy heck sounds like wait a few months until some mad lad BGG user gives a best layout plano box idea, etc etc. Also got a greater vibe of the base insert from watching, ...I don't even want to open my game (just arrived today) until I figure out my organization plan.

they probably didn't have enough time for proper testing since they were available to ship same time as the game ? For me the only cards that I would even sleeve are the ones that get shuffled and held all the time

Did you tested the insert from e-Raptor already? Looks a lot better in the fact to get game ready!

The blue part pulls off and its completely clear

Whenever Broken Token releases theirs, will you be doing a video on that one as well? Just curious. And thanks by the way. Very informative video. Really appreciate it.

Thanks for giving me buyer's remorse for something without having used it first. You jerks. ♥️

Thanks!

You seem to have forgotten to take the protective films off the plastic covers on the Laserox.

GH and FH newbie here. What sleeves do you use and if I use the base game insert to store everything, does it fit the sleeved cards well? Any guidance would be hugely appreciated I own both games and really want to sleeve and organize them well!

I just got the laser ox insert put together. It took me multiple hours over multiple days to put together, glad it wasn’t just me. It wasn’t the most unenjoyable thing ever, but it did take a lot of time. I was wondering how all this would work for set up and take down, but I plan on using the app anyways so I think I’ll be ok. Overall, I think you are spot on here, I’d have probably been just fine with the base insert and the lucky duck app.

I ended up with the foam set up. Its not worth it and the makers should feel bad. During game play you are passing around them because of how things are organized. Then as you pass them around they fall apart. Sadly I tossed my original stuff to fit it all in. So now I'm stuck buying a better organizer off of etsy to replace it.

What trays would you replace with bags from the laserox organizer?

Does anyone have a link to a 16 slot accordion file folder that work work for Frosthaven?

What do you use the d20's for? Teach me trick!

Why are there blurrs

How far are in the campaign? Looks like at least two classes unlocked. Yes?

Looking forward to putting the Laser Ox insert together. I don't sleeve cards, so I am not too worried.

Savage

Thanks to save me time and money on this two bads organizers. i will buy no one and make my own organisation.

Off my meds!

Really great coverage! You spent multiple days on this XD we spent 9 hours with 3 people on ours and were equality as "done" and ready to move on! Next time I will just let people know you are doing one XD . . . I would have rather been playing!

Harsh, but fair

Good thing I'm designing my own inserts so I can decide what comes where and how much space it gets. Oh, and also I won't buy Frosthaven anyway so that's no issue as well. Thanks for your honest review guys, good thing to have not only YT channels that praise everything that's new and expensive. I hope your channel grows without you guys leaving that path.

I wish more insert companies did it like Tower Rex where it’s wood and snaps together without glue, and actually organized smart.

Too bad they did not know about/talk about the default organisation solution or that there is one when the campaign was live. Otherwise I would have backed, but the thought of having to buy an expensive af insert on top or live with something like the organisation nightmare that is Gloomhaven made me reconsider. Now that I know about the insert they raised the price way above what I am willing to pay for a game with standees. Yes, it's a shitload of content, but it's probably more content than I am going to play and I'd rather have better components for a price like this or a lower price. And for the insane MSRP of 400 €, you could honestly expect to get both minis and a shitload of content, not either - or. If they would've been clear about the plan to have a real functional insert in the base game, I would own Frosthaven now. Because they didn't, I probably never will.

wow that folded space one looks awful, no coherency. what a shame i usually love folded space

you should just burn it all

I would suggest that anyone interested in the foam storage solution/Folded Space, watch the Dice Tower/Tom Vassels review of this. Because this is literally the worst review of a product I have ever read in my life. That may sound like an exaggeration... It isn't! To be transparent, I went all in on Frosthaven and chose the Folded Space, which I have assembled and use... But just take a step back and listen to these criticisms... 1. Instead of buying this cool Map organization tool, with "Frosthaven" art all over it... Save money and buy a cheaper solution that looks like a brown bag! Maybe I should stop painting minis? Maybe art isn't important at all??!?! In fact. Maybe I should PROXY 100% of every game. Why would I buy magic cards when I can just proxy all the lands?!?! PROXY EVERYTHING!!! BROWN PAPER BAG FOR THE WIN!!!! 2. He says the included storage solution is better. Yeah?!?! Really?!?! Go find an unboxing of this game and be fascinated by the HUGE stack of mini ziplock bags. No... Just no... I took one look at those bags during my unboxing and said, nope. If you want to open and close 500 zip lock bags to play this game, go right ahead. But if you focus on one of his token complaints where he complains about finding the right letters and numbers... Compare that to his solution. He suggests you go through and open zip lock bags for all of this stuff.. F THAT!!!! The art with of the Folded Space solution is freaking awesome. If you'd rather pass around mini ziplock bags, go ahead, I've moved on from that, I'm done... Ziplock bags are not faster, not more efficient, and completely suck compared to ANY solution.

I'm baffled at how both of these (third-party) insert solutions are such dumb-fuck designs, have so many flaws, and NONE of them hold the 3 things a monster have, into one (Stats sheet, A.I. Cards and Standees). To pick up a monster you'd always have to pick 2 or 3 things from 2 or 3 differente places and that's just way too dumb. They get paid to make these things and they can't come up with the most obvious solution that we managed to make ourselfs with custom foamcore. I hate to brag, but if I'm being honest, my custom foamboard inserts put these to shame and are probably twice faster to setup a game than these could ever do.

I regret not watching this video first and buying the folded space insert directly. I could've used the money for the insert to buy other boardgame 🥲