All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Listening to your favorite artists on Apple Music, Spotify or whatever streaming service you prefer doesn’t just have to be done indoors. While Bluetooth earbuds and wireless headphones allow you to take your music on the go, gatherings of more than just yourself require a speaker. Home speakers are reliable for indoor use, but incorporating a quality outdoor waterproof speaker is a travel necessity for a versatile design that won’t break if your outdoor BBQ gets rained on.
An outdoor speaker will not only emit crystal clear sounds for you and your friends to enjoy, these speakers also won’t get damaged by any spilled drinks or splashes thanks to their heavy-duty and waterproof materials. The devices are also usually lightweight to help carry your tunes from place to place without weighing your backpack or tote bag down.
Keep reading to learn more about the outdoor waterproof speakers below.
What Are the Best Waterproof Outdoor Speakers?
Looking for the best waterproof outdoor speakers? ShopBillboard did the digging for you and rounded up bestselling models below for you to buy online now.
EDITOR’S PICK
Marshall Stockwell II Portable Bluetooth Speaker
If you want your music to sound as if you’re at a concert, then consider adding Marshall’s Stockwell II speaker to your cart. It’s designed to not only look like a mini amp but also emit professional quality sounds that’ll feel as though you’re standing at a live show. Additionally, it comes with waterproof materials as well as a built in handle to make it easy to carry to picnics and any outdoor hangs.
One Amazon reviewer even went as far as to say, “it was literally sinking in the water, slipped out of my freaked-out hands and then fell again — and I dried it off and it sounds like nothing happened. Incredible!”
BLUETOOTH PICK
JBL Clip 4 Portable Mini Bluetooth Speaker
For less than $50, you can get JBL’s mini speaker and enjoy portable listening without fear of rain causing the speaker to short out. Besides having Bluetooth capabilities, the mini speaker has a built-in clip that’ll let you seamlessly attach it to your bag or belt loop. Plus, the buttons on the front create a shortcut so you can quickly adjust the volume and play music with just a push.
The clip and its waterproof material is just one of the various features reviewers have been loving, with one Target shopper writing that “it has gotten wet many times and has held up just fine.”
HIGH-END PICK
Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Portable Speaker
Bose’s Soundlink Flex speaker isn’t just bold and bright in design, it comes with luxurious features on top of its dust- and waterproof materials that make it worth the price. Think: up to 12 hours of battery on a full charge and built-in microphones to use your voice assistant to control settings and make calls. Plus, the device uses Bose’s high-tech audio technology that provides optimal sound no matter what position the speaker is in.
The speaker has gathered more than 2,000 reviews online, with 81% of shoppers giving it a five-star rating.
FLOATING PICK
Blufree Floating Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Immerse yourself in your music as you float in your pool or lounge in your backyard hot tub using this completely waterproof speaker. It was built to float in the water allowing you to enjoy soothing playlists or your latest party mix without having to make sure your speaker is protected from the weather. Besides being able to safely float, the device can be submerged underwater up to 30 minutes for as deep as three feet without damage.
Reviewers are impressed with the color changing lights as well as the “impressive, clean, wireless sound with plenty of bass,” which is why it’s earned itself more than 7,000 reviews.
TRAVEL-FRIENDLY PICK
Sony SRS-XB100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Sony’s portable speaker is not only up to 20% off right now, it shows off a small size that you can clip onto your backpack, bike or carry on your wrist. While it’s tiny in size, it packs a long-lasting battery of up to 16 hours on a full charge. Plus, the brand’s Sound Diffusion Processor allows sounds to emit far and wide.
More than 7,000 Amazon shoppers can’t get enough of Sony’s speaker, which is small enough to fit in a cupholder with one reviewer even saying, “I could comfortably dunk this thing into water and be comfortable that it will still work.”
AFFORDABLE PICK
iLive Audio Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
For less than $15, iLive’s waterproof speaker will emit clear tunes without requiring you to splurge. The device comes with easy press buttons on the top to adjust the volume, power it on and play or pause the music. It’s also Bluetooth-compatible to allow you to play your music directly from your smartphone.
The speaker already has a 4.6-star rating with one shopper gushing over its ability to work just as new even five years after purchasing. Plus, another review finds it “works great in the shower!”
Can You Put a Waterproof Speaker In a Pool?
Generally, most outdoor waterproof speakers are not designed to be submerged in water as it can cause lasting damage to the speaker or tech. Typically, outdoor speakers with waterproof qualities are made to withstand a little bit of of water whether its a splash from the pool or a drizzle of rain. It’s not recommended that you completely submerge your outdoor speaker under water if you want to ensure its longevity, but you can determine how waterproof your device is based on the IPX guide.
The IPX Standard looks to provide a “clearer” picture as to how waterproof a device is, according to Hyper Gear’s guide. The scale goes from 0-8 with the highest number being the maximum amount of waterproofing a device has — meaning, yes, you would be able to completely submerge the tech in water safely.
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best laptop deals, soundbars under $200 and record players and turntables.
Read more
