Climbing/outdoor speaker

First let me preface this with the fact that I fully understand that sometimes speakers are disruptive and annoying. I do not use a speaker if there is another party in earshot unless they also want music. Now that the music gremlins are sated, does anyone have any portable speaker recommendations? 

I currently live out of my car and I’m looking for a small portable waterproof speaker that doesn’t totally sound like shit. I’ve been on the hunt for one with good battery that is quality enough to semi crank at base camp but can also be brought on the wall. It’s just hard to tell what online reviewers are bs’ing with battery life and durability especially when you live outside. 

Following

I have a UE Boom 2, nice and compact though not super light, very durable and waterproof, sound is acceptable. I wanted to buy my mom something similar for her birthday and went with the Sony XB-33. It was between that and the JBL Charge, I listened to the demos at Best Buy and personally thought the Sony sounded better. It's bigger than my UE Boom though not much heavier, and I think it sounds a lot better.

UE Boom has this little metal loop that might be handy if you wanted to clip it to a harness or bag and bring it on the wall, though I’m sure you could finder lighter and cheaper speaker options for that purpose. I've seen a lot of goobers soloing around Joshua Tree with little speakers on them blasting tinny sounding Grateful Dead bootlegs.

Sam how is the high end volume on the boom?

Alex Coleman wrote:

Sam how is the high end volume on the boom?

Loud enough to hear on the wall if it were on the ground, certainly loud enough to piss off others at the crag, but not loud enough to rock a real party. I think it's almost exactly as loud the Sony XB33 which is bulkier.

I own a UE Boom and the newish Sonos Roam. The Roam is smaller/lighter and sounds way better, but it's battery sucks and it doesn't have a clip. For my camper and around the fire, with a portable power source, I prefer the Roam because it sounds so good but can't really recommend it because I need to charge it too frequently.

+1 for JBL I have one of the smaller flips and it has been great, long battery life, good sound quality and takes abuse well. 

M Appelquist wrote:

Doesn't Sony make a drone with a portable speaker? 

Perfect way to get two birds stoned at once.

M Appelquist wrote:

Doesn't Sony make a drone with a portable speaker? 

Is there a gas powered model?

I have the JBL clip 3 and I like it. Could clip onto your harness/something else in theory too. I've never used it outside though, so maybe it doesn't project as well as you want, idk

I have your answer to the fullest.

Bose soundlink 2is what I use, but you won’t be able to go on a wall with it(maybe look at one of boses smaller models) It’s $130 at Best Buy. Get the two year insurance for $25. Go to Best Buy before the two years are up and trade it in for a new one. Put the $25 2 year policy on it, again. Repeat repeat.

a Best Buy manager taught me this. I am on my 4th speaker and only about $200 spent

I have the JBL flip, it’s great. We use it on the raft and haven’t killed it yet.

For others reading this thread my buddy just dumped on a lap of west water canyon and lost his rig bag with all the beer and speaker (basically a mesh bag that you rig to the thwart) and his UE boom 2 basically swam 1/2 a mile of class 4 whitewater and still works. 

I appreciate your ethics, OP.

Here are some devices that are cheaper, easier to pack, and sound way better than anything above.