A closer look at rugged Bluetooth
speakers
The market for rugged Bluetooth speakers is
still relatively new, but it's growing quickly. There's no shortage of
Bluetooth speakers out there, but when it comes to finding portable and durable
ones, the field narrows down to a select few. Here's a roundup of the best
adventure-ready, portable Bluetooth speakers available.
ECOXBT
Price: $129.99
Website: www.ecoxgear.com
ECOXBT
The waterproof ECOXBT Bluetooth speaker is
part of a larger line of well-tested rugged gear from Grace Digital. This is
my number-one pick for all-around, most rugged Bluetooth speaker. The structure
of the speaker itself is a feat of amazing craftsmanship. You'll sacrifice
slightly in sound quality (most noticeably with the deeper bass tones), but
it's an acceptable trade-off for a speaker that can float - even be submerged
in water - and continue to operate perfectly.
With big grip handles, a built-in
speakerphone, a 10-hour rechargeable battery, and easy-to-access control
buttons, the XBT is the most versatile and battle-ready Bluetooth speaker I
found.
Philips Shoqbox SB7200
Price: $179.99
Website: www.store.apple.com
Philips
Shoqbox SB7200
The Philips Shoqbox is a rugged Bluetooth
speaker that can withstand drops, shocks, and splashes, making it the ideal companion
on all your outdoor adventures. Its sleek, stylish design also makes it perfect
around the house or at the office. Its miniature size makes it a breeze to
carry, and its impressive speakers, designed to improve the lower frequency
bass response, deliver stunning audio quality with a booming eight watts of
power. Its built-in, rechargeable battery lasts for about eight hours.
The Shoqbox is equipped with a motion
sensor for easy gesture control. You can swipe your palm over the sensor to
skip tracks, or hold your hand over the sensor to pause or play audio. If
you've ever wanted to feel like a Jedi master, this is your chance!
I couldn't have been more impressed with
the sound, construction, and overall performance of this diminutive powerhouse.
Braven 625s
Price: $179.99
Website: www.braven.com
Braven
625s
The Braven 625s, with its massive bass and
three watts of power, produces some of the best sound of any rugged portable
Bluetooth speaker. For such a small unit, its full-spectrum audio experience is
astonishing. The bass rumbles, the mid-tones are silky smooth, and the highs
are crystal-sharp and piercing.
The 625s touts the longest rechargeable
battery life (about 16 hours) of any speaker in this review. Additionally, the
Braven can "daisy chain," meaning you can link up to six speakers via
3.5mm headphone cables, providing a thunderous surround-sound experience. The
Braven also allows you to charge your iDevice from its internal battery via a
USB port.
While the Braven isn’t waterproof, or even
water resistant, it does have a shock-absorbing, dense silicone skin and sturdy
aluminum speaker grills. It also includes a built-in mic for speakerphone
functionality, a USB-powered LED flashlight, and a water-resistant dry bag.
Boombot 2
Price: $69.99 - $79.99
Website: www.store.boombotix.com
Boombot
2
At first glance, it's hard to tell what the
Boombot is. Resembling something from Alice in Wonderland, this
otherworldly speaker features wild artwork styles, a creepy-cute skull shape,
and expansive and boisterous sound quality. It's one of the most rugged, water-resistant,
ultra-portable Bluetooth speakers I've come across.
The Boombot puts a modern twist on the
typical speaker design. It does away with the hard edges and bland design of
average speakers, making it perfect for the young or young at heart. The only
drawback is that it doesn’t have a built-in microphone, which means you can’t
use it as a speakerphone. If that’s not an issue for you, then I recommend it
as a top choice for anyone 18 and under.
Outdoor Tech Turtle Shell
Price: $149.99
Website: www.outdoortechnology.com
Outdoor
Tech Turtle Shell
The ultra-portable and durable Turtle Shell
features crisp, clear audio that’s very loud for its size. It’s one of my
favorite Bluetooth speakers because it is built to be tough, and has a high
waterproof and dustproof rating.
The Turtle Shell is small and compact, so
you can easily hold in one hand or carry it in your pocket, purse, or backpack.
It even has a mounting point, so you can securely attach it to anything with a
handlebar, like a mountain bike or a stroller.
The Turtle Shell has a charging port and
3.5mm audio jack hidden behind a snugly sealed rubber flap, and the build-in
microphone doubles as a speakerphone. The Turtle Shell was the most portable
out of all the rugged Bluetooth speakers featured here.
