It’s barely even Memorial Day, but we know you’re already planning all of your summer getaways, beach days, pool parties and family barbecues. (You can bet we are!) But what’s a great summer day without a soundtrack?
Whatever you have planned for these summer months, the one sidekick you need to secure is your Bluetooth speaker. Depending on where you’re headed and for how long, your choice of Bluetooth speaker can have a huge effect on your summer fun. Pick the wrong one and you could lose your tunes halfway through a weekend camping trip, or get your speaker so clogged up with sand that you’ll want to just chuck it straight into the ocean. (Just kidding — no littering!)
To help you make sure your personal soundtrack is always sufficiently fueling your summer fun, we’ve rounded up a carefully curated selection of Bluetooth speakers for every scenario. All of our picks deliver quality audio — that was a non-negotiable prerequisite. But we dug into the details to decipher which have the features that are most suitable for a wide variety of summer activities at home, on vacation or while communing with nature.
Read on to discover:
- The best Bluetooth speakers for every activity this summer
- The standout speaker specs that matter most in each scenario
- Some playlist inspiration for curating the perfect summer vibes
What’s the Best Bluetooth Speaker for a Beach Day?
JBL Grip
Beach days bring some dilemmas when it comes to tech — namely in the form of water and sand — but the JBL Grip is a sturdy, 6-inch-tall speaker built to withstand it all. Plus, it has a handy loop for hanging, fun color options and ambient lighting for the post-sunset trip home.
- IP68 rating means it’s as waterproof and sand-proof as you can get
- Grip-friendly exterior prevents wet-handed drops (but it’s also drop-proof)
- Sized just right to throw in your beach bag and go
- Up to 14 hours of playtime — more than enough for a day out
Playlist picks: Jack Johnson, Bob Marley and Jimmy Buffet are all great places to start the soundtrack for a breezy, beach day. And throw in Weezer’s “Island in the Sun” for good measure, too.
Price: $69.95 (orig. $99.95) at P.C. Richard & Son
What’s the Best Bluetooth Speaker for an Elegant Patio Dinner?
Marshall Emberton III
The Emberton III is a 6-inch-wide speaker that’s just so sleek, especially in this pretty sage hue. It’s made to show off at the centerpiece of your patio dining table — right next to the charcuterie spread — but it’s not just a pretty face. It’s also an incredibly capable speaker, offering rich, full sound and instantly adjusting tonal balance as you change the volume.
- Dust- and waterproof, so don’t worry about crumbs and spills
- 32+ hours of playtime, so no interruptions to deep convos
- No blind spots — the music finds you wherever you are thanks to Marshall’s true stereophonic, 360-degree audio technology
Playlist picks: Keep it instrumental so as not to compete with conversations and long-awaited catch-ups with friends. Think soft jazz like Kenny G or some light classical like Erik Satie.
Price: $99.99 (orig. $179.99) at Marshall
What’s the Best Bluetooth Speaker for a Pool Party?
soundcore Rave 3S
Pool parties require a loud Bluetooth speaker with a few tricks up its sleeve, and the Rave 3s delivers with self-proclaimed “ground-shaking” audio that’ll contend with the sounds of a crowd splashing around. It’s bigger and heavier than others on this list but it’s still easy to move it around wherever the party needs it.
- Resistant to splashes and light rain
- Customizable, music-syncable lights to keep the party going after the sun goes down
- AI vocal removal instantly makes any song karaoke-ready — and it comes with two wireless microphones
Playlist picks: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Bad Bunny and Bruno Mars — all the top pop hits that everyone will want (or at least try) to sing along to!
Price: $299.99 (orig. $349.99) at Walmart
What’s the Best Bluetooth Speaker for Camping?
JBL Charge 6
If you’re headed out for a weekend camping trip, you’ll need a ruggedly built Bluetooth speaker with enough battery life to keep up. Available in a bunch of fun colors, the JBL Charge 6 and its built-in handle is more than ready for adventure.
- Up to 28 hours of playtime for campfire hangouts
- IP68 rating makes it waterproof and dustproof
- Also drop-proof from one meter onto concrete
- Built-in powerbank to charge your phone, if needed
Playlist picks: Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Zach Bryan and Darius Rucker. All the mellow, laidback, country hits that sound great around a campfire — and won’t overpower the sounds of nature.
Price: From $159.95 (orig. $199.95) at JBL
What’s the Best Bluetooth Speaker for Travel?
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4
Packing space is at a premium — we know it — so a travel Bluetooth speaker must be ultra-portable, first and foremost. Just a bit bigger than a softball, the WONDERBOOM 4 delivers 360-degree sound, so you can set it down or hang it anywhere in your hotel room or Airbnb to bring the party wherever you are.
- Big sound in a little body
- Lightweight, small and easy to toss into your carry-on
- 14 hours of playtime per charge
- Comes in fun colors and neutrals, so go as bold or understated as your vacation vibe calls for
Playlist picks: It depends on where and why you’re traveling. But pop divas like Dua Lipa and Rihanna are perfect if you need some hyping up while getting ready in your hotel room, and Olivia Dean brings a chiller vibe after a long day of travel.
Price: $79.99 at Best Buy
What’s the Best Bluetooth Speaker for a Backyard BBQ?
Bose SoundLink Plus
Big barbecues can get a little loud so you’ll need a Bluetooth speaker that can rise above with high-quality sound. The waterproof Bose SoundLink Plus delivers just that with resonant audio and booming bass — the perfect companion to your burgers and beer.
- Still pumps out 10 hours of battery life when played at high volume
- Rugged and portable — even if it never leaves your backyard
- Also comes in a sleek black build to blend into the background of your patio setup
- Can connect and sync to multiple Bose SoundLink speakers in Party Mode for full home and backyard coverage
Playlist picks: Curate a little classic rock from every era, including The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Feel free to throw in a little James Taylor and Simon & Garfunkel, too, for a more folk-rock vibe with universal appeal for a large crowd.
Price: $219.98 (orig. $269) at QVC
What’s the Best Bluetooth Speaker on a Boat?
soundcore Boom 3i
If you’re going to be surrounded by water, you’ll want to take some necessary precautions with your choice of Bluetooth speaker — just in case. Fortunately, the soundcore Boom 3i is fully waterproof, saltwater-resistant and can withstand submersion in fresh water. Not that the latter really matters because this thing can literally float and keep playing.
- Built-in beat-synced lightshow effects
- Double the bass power to really rock the boat
- Top-tier IP68 waterproof rating — and it floats if it goes overboard
- 16 hours of playtime per charge
Playlist picks: Do you really have to ask? This is precisely what yacht rock was made for! (Probably.) So fire up that playlist jam-packed with Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers and Christopher Cross — and let the sailing take you away.
Price: $129.99 at Soundcore
What’s the Best Bluetooth Speaker for Biking and Hiking?
Tribit StormBox Micro 2
Sure, you could wear earbuds — but if you’re with friends or you just want to hear your surroundings while biking or hiking, a micro-sized Bluetooth speaker is ideal. This one from Tribit is just about small enough to fit in your pocket, and it has more impressive bass output than you’d expect from its tiny frame.
- 12 hours of playtime
- Doubles as a power bank for your phone, if needed
- IP67 rating means it’s protected from dust and temporary immersion in water
- Built-in strap is thoughtfully designed to securely wrap around backpack straps and bicycle handlebars
Playlist picks: If you need something high-energy, try a little ’90s rock, like Foo Fighters or Red Hot Chili Peppers. Or, if you’re just taking in the sights on a gentle hike, lean into folk pop from the likes of Maggie Rogers, or something instrumental but driving, like Explosions in the Sky.
Price: From $49.99 (orig. $59.99) at Amazon
The post The 9 Best Bluetooth Speakers for Every Summer Activity appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
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