Apr 29, 2021

Five Reasons Why Turtlebox is the Best Outdoor Speaker - Chasing Tides Review

Name: Gen 2 Portable Speaker
Brand: TURTLEBOX
SKU: TBG2-RR
Price: 399.0 USD
Availability: InStock

In 2020 we witnessed a pandemic-induced spike in outdoor recreation. As you’ve undoubtedly noticed, that produced an ever expanding cohort of people enjoying time outside. And what my friend pairs well with time outdoors?

Music. Loud, sexy, velvety smooth tunes.

We live near the beach and spend as many days as possible on the sand or on the boat. A bluetooth speaker is always part of the equation. We’ve tried many over the years; big ones, small ones, red ones, blue ones, pill-shaped, circle-shaped...or just a cell phone in a solo cup (don’t knock it ‘til you try it).

Until recently, we’d yet to find a speaker that checks all the boxes. What matters most to us is weather resistance, sound quality, battery life, and portability. I’d be fibbing if I said aesthetics weren’t also a factor, but performance trumps prettiness.

We’ve found what we believe to be the best outdoor, weather-resistant speaker on the market in the Turtlebox. Our pursuits are generally centered around water, sand, salt and fish blood. While yours may differ, this speaker is built to accompany you on all of your outdoor endeavors.

5 Reasons Turtlebox is the Best

1) This is a fully weather and waterproof speaker.

Numero uno on our list. You don’t have to be around water to ruin a speaker with liquid. Personally, I’ve seen two speakers ruined by spilt drinks, one from coffee, and the other beer. Turtlebox takes beers like a champ.

Here’s why:

Water and dust-proof connectivity products are defined by Ingress Protection (IP) numbers. The Turtlebox has an IP67 designation. The first number after IP is used to display a product’s protection against solid particles like sand. It ranges from 0-6, with 6 denoting 100% protection against dust and sand.
The second number ranges 0-8, and refers to the product’s protection against liquids. The Turtlebox’s “7” designation means it’s protected against the effects of full liquid immersion for up to 30 minutes.
Throw in stainless steel hardware to avoid corrosion, an impact resistant outer shell, and you should feel confident to take this speaker wherever the trail leads.

2) This speaker is loud. It will actually punch the wind in the face.

Ever spent a night killing it in an air band with your friends? We have, and when you do, you want things to be loud. Turtlebox abides. On the other hand, if you want soft, buttery smooth jams, well, here’s your huckleberry.

Turtlebox boasts a clear, distortion free sound up to 120dB. Interested in knowing what that actually means? Here’s an explanation from the University of Michigan Health System’s website:

“A sound's loudness is measured in decibels (dB). Normal conversation is about 60 dB, a lawn mower is about 90 dB, and a loud rock concert is about 120 dB.”

*Personal disclaimer: don’t put your ear up to this speaker on full blast, that is inadvisable.

Turtlebox is a rock concert in a lunchbox (a very durable lunchbox). Additionally, the Turtlebox frequency curve is designed to travel long distances and cut through wind and outdoor obstructions.

3) Battery life - Turtlebox is usually the last one to leave the party.

At full volume, the speaker will last close to 6+ hours. Now, we would only recommend this in very remote environments so you don’t piss off your crusty old neighbor Harold.

At an easy listening volume, say, suitable for a backyard BBQ or campfire kumbaya, this tank will last you over 20 hours.

Turtlebox features an 85 watt-hour built in Lithium Ion battery pack, which in 2021 has been upgraded from 6-cells to 9-cells, drastically improving the battery life.

The best part, you can quickly recharge the battery to its full potential in 2-3 hours.

4) It’s portable. It really does carry just like a lunch box.

Here are the job requirements for the recreational enjoyment of Turtlebox position:

Like music
Ability to lift and/or transport up to 10lbs

Thank you for your interest in this position. You are probably qualified.

In all seriousness, Turtlebox is approximately 10lbs., and dimensions are 11.5” W x 6.5” D x 8.75” H. It’s not the lightest or smallest speaker out there, but it packs a mighty punch for its weight class.

5) Speaker pairing. Turn your backyard into a movie theatre.

Here’s a fun experiment. We recently did this Google search: “has there been a rise in outdoor projectors”

Take a guess at the results we got…...keep thinking…...now, go!

Did you guess 97,000,000? That number reflects how many people are descending upon their backyards for movie nights and social gatherings centered around projection screens. Check out this article from yahoo! Finance released two days prior to Super Bowl LV. (Well, maybe don’t if you’re a Chiefs fan).

Now, who is the projector/projection screen's best friend? It is in fact, the bluetooth speaker.

Turtlebox works seamlessly as your sound hub, and two Turtlebox speakers can be paired together to provide true left and right stereo surround sound. You can create movie theatre quality sound wherever your little heart desires.

Pick up two, or better yet, go find a friend and talk him or her into it. Then go make sweet, sweet music together.

Added Benefits

60-day money-back guarantee and a one-year replacement warranty
Connect and charge your phone through the built-in USB-C port
Tie down anchors for use with one inch straps are located on both sides
Illuminated LED control pad clearly displays volume and track control buttons
Standard 3.5mm auxiliary port to connect any of your music playing devices

There you have it, the 5 (and a few extra) reasons Turtlebox is the best bluetooth speaker for the outdoors. We’ve field tested ours multiple times, and it hasn’t disappointed. each time it becomes the steady constant in the background of our adventures.

If your leisure time is limited because of your 9 to 5 and the daily grind, you certainly don't want your beach vacation compromised by bad audio equipment, or even worse, have a trip ruined because you destroyed another bluetooth speaker.

At its size and price point, the Turtlebox really is the best bang for your buck. The sound quality is as good as it gets, and believe us, it's virtually indestructible. Head on over to Turtlebox and check them out.

Want to learn more about the story behind the brand? Check out our interview with Turtlebox Co-Founder, Jonathan McKenzie, and listen to the podcast episode here

To Read More from Chasing Tides, please click here.