I like music. More specifically, I like loud music. And even more specifically, I like loud music that actually sounds good. As such, over the years, I’ve become somewhat of a speaker snob. The basic stereo in my Jeep? Eh. The Sonos surround system my husband convinced me we needed? Now we’re talking. But for outside—especially when I’m in the woods, on the water, or just hanging out at the beach or the river—I needed something portable that sounded just as good.
I’ve tried my fair share of portable Bluetooth speakers. Some decent, some not so much. After hours of searching, I finally stumbled upon Turtlebox. And my life—or at least, my time outside—will never be the same.
Being in the outdoor industry, I’d heard a lot about the waterproof Bluetooth speaker. But I was skeptical, especially with a $400 price tag. I figured it was good, but I didn’t realize how good it was. Until the day it arrived on my doorstep, we set it all up, and my mind was blown. I can honestly say no other portable speaker compares to the Turtlebox. As for whether or not it’s worth the splurge? These are my thoughts.
Quick Overview
Specs
Weight: 10 lbs
Dimensions: 12″ x 7″ x 8.75″
Power: 85Wh Lithium-ion battery
Waterproof: Yes
Pros
Incredible sound quality and volume
Rugged and durable
Completely waterproof and can even float
Long battery life
Cons
Heavier than a lot of other Bluetooth speakers
Expensive
Testing Results and Analysis
Sound Quality
I have never heard an outdoor speaker with sound quality as good as the Turtlebox. And I’m not exaggerating. Even my incredibly picky husband agrees. It’s crystal clear with great bass. And the volume? Unmatched. It’s louder than any other I’ve used. The volume levels get so loud, in fact, that we put it in the back of our basement, closed all the doors, and could still hear the music clearly outside.
Durability and Waterproofness
One of the things I like most about the Turtlebox—and what drew me to it in the first place—is how rugged it is. This thing is definitely built for the outdoors. You don’t have to be gentle with it. The exterior is made of a super strong ABS plastic that’s both crush-proof and drop-proof, so it can bounce around in the bed of the truck or the hull of a kayak without issue. Plus, the stainless steel hardware is corrosion-resistant, so you can use it in saltwater—we took ours to the beach and around the saltwater pool at our beach house and it’s had zero issues.
Of. course, the real highlight is that it’s completely waterproof. Not just waterproof in that it can get a few raindrops on it. No, it’s waterproof in that you can fully submerge it and it’ll be fine (and yes, we tested this!). I like that it floats. That’s a pretty handy feature if you’re using it on the boat or around water, like I often do.
Battery Life
I’m one of those kinds of people who always forget to charge things. My phone, my laptop, my AirPods, you name it. So I love the Turtlebox’s impressive battery life. It claims to last for more than 25 hours on a single charge. While I’ve never let it run out of battery—so I can’t fully attest to that claim—I can say that it lasts all day out on the water. And then continues to work the following day… and the day after that… and the day after that. That’s more than enough for me.
Ease of Use
As someone who isn’t always the most electronic-savvy, I appreciate how easy the Turtlebox is to set up and operate. I paired it to my phone via Bluetooth in seconds and am able to play audio from any app. The controls are intuitive and illuminated, which makes them easy to see in any lighting. The speaker also has a USB-C port so you can charge your phone—pretty convenient.
Verdict
If you had asked me two months ago if spending $400 on a portable speaker was worth it, I would’ve laughed. But now? I’d say yes, absolutely yes. The Turtlebox Gen 2 is the best-sounding, the most durable, and the loudest outdoor speaker I’ve experienced. It works as well out on the boat as it does around the campfire. Plus, to be honest, it just looks cool.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
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