Best Outdoor Portable Bluetooth Speakers for Camping / Pool / Summer in 2022
It feels like summer is threatening to be over up north, but following the recent hot days and several BBQs, I wanted to find the best portable outdoor speaker.
I have reviewed quite a few portable Bluetooth speakers over the years, but it has been at least four years since I reviewed a decent speaker, and I wanted to upgrade to something a bit better.
All of the speakers have a good IP rating, allowing them to get caught out in the rain, at least. Some, you can drop in a pool; they may even float, but I still wouldn’t recommend it. They also all have a good level of durability and can take a few small drops.
They all are battery-powered, allowing you to take them anywhere.
Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus
- [BassUp Technology]: Two 30W woofers and a 10W tweeter provide 80W of stereo sound, with real-time enhanced bass provided by soundcore's unique BassUp technology. Titanium drivers offer all-around epic sound to increase the treble performance of Motion Boom Plus waterproof Bluetooth speaker.
- [Lightweight and Portable]: With the speaker's built-in handle and removable strap, you can take your music with you wherever you go.
- [IP67 Waterproof]: With IP67 certification, you'll never have to worry about splashes, rain, spills, or dust when using your waterproof Bluetooth speaker.
- [Large Capacity and Long Playtime]: This outdoor speaker has a 13,400mAh battery capacity and up to 20 hours of playtime so you can keep listening for longer. It also features a built-in power bank so you can give your phone or other accessories a quick power boost at any moment.
- [soundcore App for Software Updates]: Use the soundcore app to stay updated to the latest firmware for optimal performance.
- Battery life: 20 hours / 13,400mAh
- Waterproof: IP67
- Connections: Bluetooth 5.2
- Power: 80W (Dual 30W woofer and dual 10W tweeter)
- Dimensions: 39 x 14 x 32cm / 15.31 x 5.51 x 7.7
- inches
- Weight: 2.4kg / 5.29 lbs
I should have the new Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Plus to review soon. I’ll be honest, I love Anker, I don’t think I have ever had a bad product from them, and they always provide good value for money.
This ticks a lot of boxes if you want something bigger and more powerful. With dual 30W woofers and dual 10W tweeters, this should be loud enough for most people, albeit not the loudest on this list. If, for some reason, you want to make this even louder, it can be paired up using other PartyCast 2.0 compatible speakers, so you can have two of these running together.
It pairs up with the Souncore app so you can tweak the settings to your liking.
Durability is superb, with an IP67 rating. You won’t want to go swimming with it, but it will handle the heaviest of rain. Driving those speakers is a 13,400mAh battery which can run for 20 hours and is charged via USB-C and it also can charge your devices.
Alternative Choice: Soundcore Motion Boom
- Incredible Sound Loved by 20 Million+ People
- Extreme Outdoor Sound: Make a statement with Motion Boom outdoor Bluetooth speaker—press play and experience huge stereo sound that’s distortion-free, even at high volumes.
- 100% Pure Titanium: Motion Boom’s drivers have pure titanium diaphragms to reproduce high frequencies up to 40kHz for sound that has noticeably higher clarity.
- IPX7 Waterproof and Floats: Don’t freak out if Motion Boom outdoor Bluetooth speaker goes for a dip! It’s fully waterproof and floats on water.
- 24-Hour Playtime: Motion Boom outdoor Bluetooth speaker delivers up to 24 hours of playtime from a single charge to keep the music playing on camping weekends, days at the beach, boat trips, and more.
If you want something smaller and cheaper, Anker also has the older Soundcore Motion Boom for a reasonable price of £70. This one floats in the water, should you drop it in the pool. It is obviously not as powerful at just 30W total, but it is the best option on this list if you want something affordable.
Sonos Move
- Get brilliant sound anywhere with the weatherproof and drop-resistant Move
- Experience surprisingly deep bass, a wide soundscape, and automatic Trueplay tuning that perfectly balances the sound for where you are and what you're listening to
- Never worry about accidental drops or unexpected weather. With a tough durable shell and IP56 rating, Move is built to withstand falls, bumps, moisture, dust, UV rays, and extreme temperatures
- Enjoy a whole day of brilliant sound with 8 hours of play, easily recharge Move by setting it on the included base, or get power on the go with the USB-C travel charger
- Stream over Wi-Fi and connect Move to the rest of your Sonos system at home and switch to Bluetooth when you're away and offline
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Waterproof: IP56
- Connections: Dual-band WiFi, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth
- Power: 120W
- Dimensions: 24 x 16 x 12.6cm
- Weight: 3kg
The Sonos Move is a great speaker if you already have invested in Sonos speakers. You can have it plugged in indoors and paired up with others speakers when at home, then take it with you when you go outside or camping.
I’d say this excels for people that take their speakers into the garden a lot. The battery life is good enough for an afternoon in the sun, it can handle a bit of rain, and it can still connect to WiFi, avoiding you having to have a specific phone paired up with it.
It is also very loud with great bass, which is surprising because I wouldn’t say it is massive, though it is heavy.
Alternative Choice: Sonos Roam
- Stream at home or on-the-go: Experience immersive sound wherever you go with the Sonos ROAM SL portable Bluetooth & Wifi speaker, offering multi-room sound and effective Bluetooth & Wifi streaming
- Go anywhere: Featuring robust construction with IP67 waterproof protection up to a depth of 1 metre plus a dust-proof design - sturdy enough for wherever your adventures may take you
- Smooth and versatile: Connect your ROAM SL to any Sonos WiFi speaker to create a sound system for the whole house, allowing you to listen to different songs in different rooms or listen simultaneously
- Personalise your soundscape: Choose the Roam SL or the Roam with additional automatic Trueplay and voice assistant, both available with a smart magnetic wireless charger - enjoy music your way
- Items delivered: 1 x Sonos ROAM SL speaker, 1 x USB-C charging cable, 1 x quick start guide, compatible with wireless charging and Sonos app, in black
The Sonos Roam is the smaller portable Sonos speaker. It has all the same features as the Move and a superior IP67 rating. The battery life is the same, being 10 hours, not amazing, but more than enough for a day outside. It only weighs half a kilo, so it is not going to be the most powerful speaker.
Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3
- Sound fidelity at any volume: The mobile loudspeaker ensures really loud, clear and room-filling 360 ° sound with rich, powerful bass that you can feel. Completely waterproof and can even swim: the ip67 protection class rt that the speaker is absolutely waterproof and dustproof and can be completely immersed in the water for up to 30 minutes
- Wirelessly rechargeable with the (separately available) POWER UP charging station, so that you can always start your next musical adventure with a full charge of energy. Magic button: play, pause and skip tracks directly on the speaker. Press to control all types of streaming music, program and navigate individual playlists for Apple Music / Deezer Premium +. no smartphone necessary
- The MEGABOOM 3 offers a whopping 20 hours of battery life. Thanks to the battery cell technology, it can last for almost a whole day on just a single charge
- Connect multiple speakers: Use the Ultimate Ears app to connect more than 150 speakers - also works between all generations of BOOM and MEGABOOM
- COMPATIBILITY: For audio playback: Support smartphones, tablets, and other devices that support the Bluetooth and Bluetooth Smart wireless audio profile [Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)]
It has been years since I have reviewed an Ultimate Ears speaker. They used to be the go-to brand for loud portable Bluetooth speakers.
The MEGABOOM 3 has been out for several years and is still regarded as one of the best. Similar to the Anker, you can pair this up with other Ultimate Ears, up to 150 of them, in fact.
They don’t state the power of the speakers, just the maximum sound level. The drivers themselves are two 50mm (2 in), 4-ohm full range drivers and two 55mm x 86mm passive radiators.
I’d say the main downside to this is because it has been out for a few years, it uses microUSB and it also can’t charge your other devices. You can get a charging dock for it, which makes life a little easier.
Alternative Choice: Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM
- Big, loud pristine sound and extreme bass: Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM is a portable Bluetooth speaker with beautifully rich sound and big booming bass
- Easy music sharing: Play music from 4 different devices and easily switch between them with a press of a button; connect to this loud speaker via 2 Bluetooth inputs, 1 auxiliary, and 1 optical input
- All-day 24-hour battery life: HYPERBOOM portable party speaker with a rechargeable battery that keeps the party pumpin’ wherever you take it; plug it in to rave for the rest of time
- Adaptive equalizer: This outdoor speaker does all the heavy lifting to rock pitch-perfect audio anywhere; its adaptive EQ literally reads the environment and automatically customises the sound
- Spill- and splash-proof: HYPERBOOM is built to handle the sloshiest of soirées at home or outside; the IPX4 rating has got your back come spill or splash, simply wipe it off and you’re good to go
The Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM is a newer speaker and is significantly bigger, louder and more expensive. It’s the speaker you want for a proper outdoor party. This goes up to 100 dBC with a speaker configuration of 2 x 114 mm woofers + 2 x 25 mm tweeters + 2 x 89 mm x 190 mm passive radiators, and it is the equal heaviest on this list at 5.9kg. It has a 24-hour battery life and has a USB charge out to keep your phone charged. One downside is that it doesn’t look that convenient to carry around.
Sony SRS-XG500
- The SRS-XG500 is both portable and durable. With an IP66 rating, it is water resistant and dustproof - it even has a water repellent mesh finish. With 30 hours of battery life, quick charging (10 mins for 3 hours battery) and smartphone charging via USB-C, you can keep the tunes going all day. And the built-in handle makes this Boombox easy to just grab and go.
- LIVE LIFE LOUD with the SRS-XG500. This Sony speaker is powerful and designed to deliver deep, punchy bass and rich, clear sound - whatever you are listening to - thanks to the X-Balanced Speaker unit, High-efficiency tweeters and passive radiators. And to give bass an extra boost, just hit the MEGA BASS button!
- Multi-colour lighting on the passive radiators to fit your mood, music or occasion. Just go to the Sony | Music Center app to select your favourite pattern, and use the app to optimise your audio settings or control your music too.
- Love karaoke or playing guitar? You can plug in a microphone or use the input for your guitar and use the karaoke speaker as an amp.
- Make your party even bigger with Party Connect via Bluetooth. Connect up to 100 compatible Sony Bluetooth speaker models to enjoy synchronised sound and lighting.
- Battery life: 30 hours
- Waterproof: IP66
- Connections: 3.5mm input, USB-C, USB outputs, Bluetooth
- Power: Not Stated
- Drivers: 2 x 11cm Woofer + 2 x 2.5cm Tweeter
- Dimensions : 460 x 256 x 215 mm
- Weight: 5.6kg
This is another speaker that can handle big parties. It is a hefty speaker with big drivers, but they do not state the power. It can then be paired up with 100 similar speakers, and you have the Sony Music Center app for music control and EQ or the Fiestable app to control the party features.
Alternative Choice: Sony SRS-XB33
- Experience powerful sound, deep punchy bass and enhanced vocal clarity
- This portable speaker is waterproof, dustproof, rustproof (IP67), saltwater resistant, and shockproof (up to 1.2 m) with up to 24 hours battery life
- Make your party even bigger connect up to 100 compatible wireless speakers or stereo pair
- Light it up with the customisable, multi-coloured speaker and line lights that move to the beat
- Charge your smartphone directly from your SRS-XB33 speaker
I have listed a lot of large portable speakers, but if you want something a bit more portable and don’t need it to go incredibly loud, then the Sony SRS-XB33 is the best-reviewed portable speaker on the Sony website and well reviewed amongst critics.
It weighs a touch more than the UE MEGABOOM 3, but they are a bit vague about the overall driver specification. It has two main woofers and then dual passive radiators on the side with an extra bass function. Battery life is 24 hours in the normal mode or 14 hours with extra base, and this is charged via USB-C and has an additional USB-A port for charging other devices.
JBL Xtreme 3
- The JBL Xtreme 3 is a wireless speaker for parties at the pool, beach or park thanks to its waterproof and dustproof construction and portable design
- This speaker packs a loud punch with 4 drivers, 2 JBL Bass Radiators and PartyBoost function which allows you to connect multiple JBL speakers for an immersive sound experience
- This black wireless speaker comes with a handy carry strap and built-in bottle opener, making it easy to take the party with you, wherever you go
- With up to 15 hours playtime on a single charge, Bluetooth pairing with up to 2 devices and an integrated powerbank for charging, the music never needs to stop with the JBL Xtreme 3
- Items Delivered: 1 x JBL Xtreme 3 speaker made with waterproof materials in black, 1 x adaptor with power cable and regional plug, 1 x JBL Xtreme 3 strap, 1 x Quick Start Guide, 1 x safety sheet
- Battery life: 15 hours
- Waterproof: IP67
- Connections: 3.5mm input, USB-C, USB outputs, Bluetooth
- Power: 100W
- Dimensions: 13.9 x 29.8 x 13.4cm
- Weight 1.97kg
The JBL Xtreme 3 is a bit lighter but more powerful than the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus I listed above. There are two 7cm woofers for low frequencies and two 20mm tweeters for the highs, while at either end of the speaker, you’ll find a chunky passive bass radiator.
It comes with a handy shoulder strap and hooks on top of the speaker for easy carrying, and it is charged via USB-C with a USB-A output. Battery life is 15 hours which is a bit less than others but should see you through a couple of days of use.
Alternative Option: JBL Boombox 2
- Powerful JBL Bass: Switch between indoor and outdoor playing modes; experience a deeper bass and richer sound indoors and expansive sound, strong bass and long playtime outdoors
- Non-Stop Music: High-capacity 20,000mAh rechargeable battery lasts up to 24 hours on a single charge; Dual USB charging port; Keep your party going all day long
- Quality Sound Wherever You Go: Boombox is fully waterproof (IPX7) so you can live free from the worry of rain or spills, making it the ideal piece of equipment for the pool or the beach
- Wireless Streaming Made Easy: Connect up to 2 devices (such as a tablet and smartphone) and enjoy high-quality stereo sound
- Items Delivered: 1x JBL Boombox wireless speaker in black; Amplify your party with JBL Connect+: connect more than 100 enabled devices; Power adaptor and charging cable included
I have listed this as an alternative option as I have so many other big speakers on the list. This is the loudest boombox JBL has produced. It has 2 x 40 W RMS-woofer + 2 x 40 W RMS-tweeter as well as a passive radiator.
It is the equal heaviest option on my list at 5.9kg. This has a massive 20,000 mAh Battery with Dual Charge Out, and the speaker should last for 24 hours of use. The built-in carry handle makes it a bit easier for transport than the UE HYPERBOOM.
Bose SoundLink Flex
- STATE-OF-ART DESIGN: SoundLink Flex outdoor speaker is packed with exclusive technologies and a custom-engineered transducer for deep, clear, and immersive audio at home or on the go
- CLEAREST POSSIBLE SOUND: Proprietary Position Qtechnology automatically detects the position of your portable Bluetooth speaker for optimal sound quality in any orientation or environment
- WATERPROOF WIRELESS SPEAKER FOR TRAVEL: SoundLink Flex is rigorously tested to meet IP67 waterproof speaker standards. Crafted and sealed with waterproof materials, it even floats – ideal for outdoor adventures
- PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER: Built to resist water, dust, and debris, in a design that withstands drops and rust, this compact speaker goes wherever you do. It’s also easy to hold and store, and resistant to corrosion and UV light
- RECHARGEABLE BATTERY: Portable speaker charges through USB-C cable (included). Lithium-ion battery offers up to 12 hours of life per charge
- Battery life: 12 hours
- Waterproof: IP67
- Connections: USB-C, Bluetooth
- Power: Not stated
- Dimensions: 9 cm H x 20.1 cm W x 5.2 cm
- Weight 0.6kg
Personally, I am not as keen on small Bluetooth speakers as they don’t have enough power for a group of people. However, they are convenient for some people. If you hike to a campsite, you probably don’t want to carry around a 5Kg speaker.
Bose is one of the best companies for producing quality audio gear in a compact form factor. Their small Acoustimass speakers were an iconic product from Bose.
As for the Bose SoundLink Flex, it is universally well reviewed, and I’d say it is a reasonable price. It is fully waterproof, has a 12 hours battery life and has a convenient hoop on the end for you to attach it to things with a carabiner.
Alternative Option: Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Generation)
- Sound bigger than it looks: A peak power of 2x140 watts contained in a sleek, small speaker. Beosound A1 speaker wireless bluetooth sound to any trip.
- Waterproof bluetooth speakers for life's thrills and spills: Share your soundtrack on the go. A durable, wireless bluetooth speaker loud, designed for life on the road, chilled pool holidays or home life
- A battery to match you: Lose yourself in the music, listen in to your favourite podcast or chat on speakerphone for up to 18 hours at increased volume, and for even longer on lower settings.
- Sleek yet strong: Elegantly self-contained and designed to travel. Beosound A1 is fully waterproof, dust-resistant and encased in a tough aluminium dome.
- Alexa speaker: Built-in voice control and Amazon Alexa make it easy to say – and get – what you want.
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 is tiny and incredibly well reviewed. I’d have listed it as the main choice over Bose, but the price is a little off-putting at around £230. If money isn’t a concern, this seems to be the best tiny portable speaker on the market and has 2 x 30W Class D For toofer and tweeter and weighs just 558 g. It is IP67 rated, has an 18-hour battery life and a convenient carry loop.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
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