A solid Bluetooth speaker means you can take your music with you just about anywhere, but not all speakers are designed to be portable or survive outdoors.
Whether you want a speaker for poolside jams or hiking tunes, you want to consider waterproofing, dust protection, a flexible design, and, of course, audio quality.
Sonos Roam
This portable speaker can transition seamlessly from your home to an outdoor adventure. It has elite sound for a small speaker and even alters what you’re listening to for sound better in different environments with Sonos’ Trueplay tuning tech.
The built-in rechargeable battery will last about 10 hours, it’s shock-resistant and has a IP67 dust and water resistance rating — you can take in anywhere.
$179 at Sonos
JBL Flip 5
JBL makes plenty of great Bluetooth speakers, but the Flip 5 hits that sweet spot combo of quality and portability. It isn’t loaded with features, but it’s got a great sound with a booming bass for a backpack pocket-sized speaker.
The speaker is IPX7 waterproof up to three feet deep, making it perfect for pool parties, beach days, and river adventures. And the rechargeable battery will last an impressive 12 hours.
$129.95 at JBL
JBL Xtreme 3
If you love the JBL style but your more of an adventurer, the Xtreme 3 is the most rugged Bluetooth speaker available. It’s IP67 waterproof and dustproof, boasts a 15-hour of battery life, and comes with a serious strap for easy transportation.
Sure, this speaker would look fine in your home, but its true calling is strapped to your back on the trails or sitting campfire-side in the middle of nowhere.
$279.95 at JBL
Sonos Move
Sonos Move is Sonos Roam’s bigger, more powerful brother. This is more of a backyard speaker than one you’d take on the go, but it's still got that IP56 water and dust resistance rating, and an 11-hour battery life perfect for all-day parties.
This is a great speaker for moving back and forth between your home and the barbeque. And the Move has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support, is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls, and connects directly to most streaming services.
$399 at Sonos
UE Megaboom 3
The Megaboom 3 is the largest Bluetooth speaker that’s still in the portable pool. The sound is comparable to other speakers but the real winner here is the battery life — this stylish speaker packs a whopping 20 hours of playtime on a single charge.
The cylindrical design means it has a party-sized range. And you can easily connect it with any other UE speakers to create a full Bluetooth sound system wherever you are.
$185 at Amazon
Bose Portable Smart Speaker
Bose’s top Bluetooth speaker definitely has more of an inside vibe, but don’t let that soft, clean design fool you — it sounds just as good at a backyard party or at the beach. The 360-degree speaker setup means you can hear that Bose-quality sound from any direction.
The built-in handle makes it easy to grab off a shelf and bring outside. While the Bluetooth capability is reliable, it’s also got a serious range on the Wi-Fi if you’re using it near your home. Bose fans get the added feature of easy connectivity with any other Bose products.
$399 at Bose
Sony SRS-XB43
The SRS-XB43 is a bass-forward Bluetooth speaker. Its rugged, waterproof build features built-in LEDs for parties (or just to see it in the dark) and has an IP67 rating that Sony says even handles saltwater. The control panel has a safe, padded cover, but you won’t even need to use it because you can control everything from a designated app from Sony.
This is the largest of Sony’s waterproof line. It’s not exactly a monster, but you can’t really throw it in a bag on the fly. You won’t mind setting it and forgetting it though — its got full 24-hour battery life.
$249.99 at Sony
Sony SRS-XB23
For Sony sound on the go, the smaller SRS-XB23 is your speaker. It’s waterproof, dustproof, shock-resistant, and smaller enough to slip in an outer backpack pocket. It has a decent battery life at 12 hours and weighs just over a pound.
You can connect the SRS-XB23 with other Sony speakers for a more surround-sound experience. Out of the top Bluetooth speaker,s the color options for this one are definitely the most unique.
$99.99 at Sony
UE Wonderboom 2
Moving on to the ultra-portable size, the Wonderboom 2 weighs just under a pound and has a super-compact design. This mini speaker doesn’t have quite the range or volume as larger speakers, but the 360-degree design means you don’t have to worry about placement.
With an IP67 rating and small, floatable design, you and bring this little guy with you in the pool, shower, or lake, without worrying about it getting damaged.
$99.99 at Ultimate Ears
Bose SoundLink Micro
Bose is best known for its premium home audio setups, but the SoundLink Micro is designed to clip right onto a backpack strap or attach to your bike. All of its components are shock-resistant underneath a rubberized silicone exterior — it’ll stay put wherever you set it down, but it can take a beating if you’re on rough trails.
The small size and Bose’s crisp audio quality means this small speaker only has a short 6-hour battery life (and it reportedly takes about 4 hours to charge fully). Obviously not a great choice for long trips, but it's perfect for quick outdoor adventures.
$119 at Bose
JBL Clip 4
The Clip 4 has a rugged carabiner built directly into the speaker, making it the absolute easiest Bluetooth speaker to take along on an adventure. It’s got a pretty solid 10-hour battery life, is waterproof and dustproof, and is almost small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
This is priced as a budget option, but this micro speaker still packs a punch expected from a JBL product. Plus, the unique color combos available make this speaker a style statement at the gym, the skatepark, or your local hiking trail.