A shock-absorbing package includes a box and a base. The box is configurable to enclose an item and has a box bottom panel. The base has a base bottom panel and defines a recess sized to accommodate a portion of the box including the box bottom panel. The base interfaces with the box in a transport configuration so that the box bottom panel is held separated from the base bottom panel and a volume of air is disposed between the base bottom panel and the box bottom panel. An impact force applied to the base bottom panel generated by dropping the shock-absorbing package onto a surface induces relative movement between the box and the base that expels air from the volume air and decelerates the box at a rate less than a desired maximum deceleration rate.