Looking for a Bluetooth speaker that’s rugged and ready for anything? The JBL Clip 5, named for its built-in latching hook, is currently marked down to just $60 at Amazon and Walmart in a variety of colors and finishes. That’s a healthy 25 percent discount and makes this compact Bluetooth speaker an appealing option for anyone who loves a little adventure.
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Photograph: Ryan Waniata
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Photograph: Ryan Waniata
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Photograph: Ryan Waniata
While the attached clip is the big draw, this little speaker packs a surprisingly big sound profile. In his write-up, our reviewer Ryan Waniata says it has a “fuller bass and midrange frequencies than expected.” That’s good news for anyone who doesn’t want to compromise on sound quality just because they’re hanging off the side of a rock wall or floating down a river. Better yet, you can use the JBL Portable app to adjust the profile to fit your favorite genre.
Importantly, this little speaker is also IP67 certified, which is a pretty serious dust and water ingress rating. The 6 means it’s totally dust-proof, so you can throw it around on the beach without worry of sand getting into the important bits, and the 7 means it can be fully immersed in water without causing any damage. Our reviewer even tested it in the shower with no issues, and clipped it to his belt while doing yard work, and the JBL never missed a beat.
Battery life in a device this small can’t keep up with the larger Bluetooth speakers, but it still manages almost 12 hours on a single charge, or up to 15 with Playtime Boost, an app-enabled feature that boosts both volume and battery life. If you want to pick up multiple, you can pair two of them together to form a stereo pair, for the perfect music setup, even in the middle of nowhere.
If the JBL Clip 5 doesn’t sound like your speed, you can always check out some of our other favorite Bluetooth speakers, but this speaker does offer something unique for adventurous and outdoorsy folks. At its full price of $80, it feels a little on the expensive side, but a $20 discount makes it much more appealing.
