When I load up the truck for an outdoor adventure, almost all of the gear is durable, waterproof, and can withstand the harshest conditions outside. So why should my Bluetooth speaker be any different? Just like my bombproof cooler and indestructible tent that can handle the worst things nature can throw at them, my Turtlebox Gen 2 Speaker is tough as nails, waterproof, drop-proof, and loud to boot.
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There are a lot of Bluetooth speakers out there that are supposedly made for the backcountry. Most are fine for tailgating or sitting around a campfire, but that’s where their rugged journey ends. Few can really handle the harsh, wet, and muddy conditions I find myself in. For a serious camping trip or fishing expedition, the Turtlebox is my pick. It’s designed specifically for the toughest, most challenging outdoors.
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Tough and Durable
The term “overbuilt” is thrown around a lot these days to emphasize how rugged a device is. The Turtlebox Gen 2 is one of the few outdoor speakers that meets that description. It’s drop-proof from up to 10 feet and has the most waterproof build possible, meaning you can submerge it in a lake up to several feet and it’ll still play. Its tough exterior will withstand even the worst dirt, dust, and rocks without missing a beat.
Encased in a tough plastic shell, the speaker is built for impact and mobility, and there are tie-down points for attaching it to a boat or truck. The built-in lithium-ion battery lasts for 25 hours, more than a day per charge. Its weight of 10 pounds is a testament to the speaker’s brick-like quality. However, if you’re looking for something compact, this isn’t it. At a foot long and nearly 9 inches tall, the Turtlebox Gen 2 feels more like an old-school boom box than one of the smaller Bluetooth speakers that tend to break when really tested.
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It was originally conceived by a group of adventurous guys living the rough life on Buffalo Bayou in Houston, TX, who broke every Bluetooth speaker they tried until they decided to make their own. From the damp and rough shores came the Turtlebox, a truly indestructible marine-grade speaker that can withstand just about anything.
These creators remember floating everything downstream—including their newly designed speaker—after a boat capsized on the Colorado River. It was eventually found downriver (still playing music!) by an adventurer—who returned it to them and told them he had to get one for himself.
I've heard of fishing guides who lost their Turtlebox on a lake and found it floating on the shore days later. When they got it home, plugged it in, and charged it, the speaker worked like new.
Like a speaker housed in an ammunition box, it's solid and seamless. There's a control panel on top with buttons for adjusting music and Bluetooth pairing. A clasp opens to allow charging with a standard USB cable. Bluetooth 5.0 supports audio from any Bluetooth-enabled device, plus multiple stereo pairing options left and right.
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Hi-Fi, High Sound
A speaker is only as good as its sound, and the Turtlebox sounds great. One of my first experiences with this speaker was syncing it to my phone and turning on Chris Stapleton; it was so loud and clear, it was like I was listening to the album in a whole new way. My wife had to tell me to turn the volume down so the neighbors wouldn't complain.
I am an avid vinyl collector and as I write I am constantly listening to music on a high-quality record player. The Turtlebox rivals the crisp sound quality of my hi-fi system and is actually advertised as a hi-fi speaker. Normally, I wouldn't use that term for a Bluetooth speaker, but in this case it's justified. I hear distorted notes on my Turtlebox, on headphones, or on a smaller Bluetooth speaker.
What makes it sound so good? Underneath the shell, a one-inch titanium tweeter creates crystal-clear sound and is paired with a 6 x 9 woofer driver for deep bass and powerful midrange notes. The sound stage is actually a curved design designed for the open-air listening experience.
Given the speaker's powerful sound quality, it's recommended that you place it 3 to 4 feet away in a truck bed or on an elevated surface to fill your campsite or boat with music.
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Bottom line
When it comes to a truly solid outdoor speaker, the Turtlebox Audio Gen 2 gets my vote for the best Bluetooth speaker on the market, and I say that after trying many of them over the years. For use in the harshest conditions, there really isn’t a comparable version on the market. This, combined with pristine, hi-fi sound quality that you can enjoy in wind and rain, makes it the best backcountry Bluetooth speaker on the market.
The only downside to this speaker (except for the girth, which is a good thing if you need something small and lightweight) is its cost. At $400, it’s a more expensive Bluetooth speaker, but in this case, you get what you pay for. Unless you lose it in the river (go for the bright orange option to avoid that), you won’t need to replace it anytime soon.
