If you’re looking for ultimate portability and great sound quality in a Bluetooth speaker, then you’re going to need an Ultra-Portable Bluetooth speaker. These are very small and compact speakers with excellent durability and superior waterproofing with the ability to be taken just about anywhere. You can pin them on your gear, use them in the shower, put them in your pocket, or just stick them in your bag to take on your outdoor adventures. Ultra-Portable speakers won’t be as powerful or as loud as most of the bigger more premium speakers, but they will deliver a great audio experience and offer excellent portability to enjoy your music no matter where your adventure takes you.
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JBL Clip 4
The JBL Clip 4 is one of the best ultra-portable Bluetooth speakers you can get at any price point. JBL has redesigned this latest Clip 4 with a more robust carabiner for extra protection, so you can clip it and enjoy your music with ever worrying. The fabric cover has an IP67 waterproof rating so you don’t have to worry about dust and water. While battery life remains the same as the older Clip 3 at 10-hrs.
While it won’t blow you away, the Clip 4 sound quality is good enough to be enjoyed in the shower, backyard, or outdoor activities like a picnic or hiking. If you’re looking for a small speaker durable speaker that you can clip and throw around and and not worry, you can’t go wrong with the JBL Clip 4.
Sony SRS-XB13
The Sony XB13 is one of the smallest and most compact Sony speakers on the market. Designed to go with you anywhere, this compact speaker includes a detachable strap which allows you to hang or carry it from anywhere. It also has an IP67 rating so its dustproof and can survive being dropped in water. Like all Sony XB speakers, you can also pair two Sony XB13 speakers together and have them play at the same time for a more stereo sound experience.
Your able gets 16 hours of playtimes and 2 hours recharged time. This small speaker sports a single upwards facing driver that provides a 360 degrees sound experience. The single monaural speaker works with a passive radiator to enhance low-end tones to improve bass performance. So despite its compact size, you’re able to get impressive punchy bass with clear mids and highs.
UE ROLL 2
The UE ROLL2 features an elastic bungee cord that allows you to hang or wrap the speaker around just about anything. It’s made from a similar rugged material as most of the other premium speakers on the list. The ROLL2 has an IPX7 certification so it’s fully waterproof and it can be submerged in up to a 1m of water up to 30 minutes. You’re able to get 9 hours of playtime with a wireless range of up to 65 feet. Sound quality is very good you get a very balanced audio experience and you can also use the UE app to get more customization and control of your sound experience. Unlike a lot of the other speakers on the market, the UE ROLL2 is available in a wide array of colours and designs which helps you stand out from the crowd.
Jam Hang Up
The Hang Up is a great option for those on a budget of less than $30. This travel companion has an IP67 rating, so it will be able to handle dust and being submersible in up to 1-meter of water for 30 minutes. What makes this affordable speaker really stand out from the rest is its innovative stick pad which gives its the ability to stick on just about any surface regardless of gravity. You can stick it on your shower wall, boat, ceiling, standing mirror, solar panels, or anywhere that has a flat, smooth surface. Finally, you’ll get loud and clear enjoyable audio that’s backed by around 10-hours of playtime. And like the UE ROLL 2 above the Hang Up is available in a wide array of colours and designs.
B&O Beoplay A1 2nd Gen
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A1 2nd Gen Wireless Waterproof Speaker produces big sound in a very compact design. It’s perfect for those that want a loud, powerful party speaker in a small package to anywhere. It delivers a 360 omnidirectional sound with a very rich and detailed sound experience. You’re able to get an impressive 18 hours of audio playtime at typical listening volumes and up to 43 hours at low volume. And like the Sony speaker above, you can also pair two A1 speakers together and play them at the same time to get a more stereo experience. Finally, the A1 is dust-resistant and can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
Bose Soundlink Micro Speaker
The Bose Soundlink Micro speaker is currently the best ultra-portable speaker on the market, its the speaker that provides the best balance between sound quality and portability. This speaker is a durable outdoor speaker that’s made from tear-resistant silicone so it’s not only scratch-resistant, but it’s also able to withstand drops on hard surfaces from various heights. See Full Review
Honourable Mention!
Boompods Aquablaster Bluetooth Wireless Speaker
The Boompods Aquablaster Bluetooth Speaker is an Alexa enabled ultra-portable speaker that allows you to use Alexa voice assistant anywhere you go both indoors and outdoors. This rugged little speaker has an IPX7 rating so it’s completely waterproof and drop proof. It also comes with a few handy accessories which allow you to hang or wall mount it using the charging cable lanyard, wall mounting cup, karabiner or bike mount. The high quality 8 Watt driver delivers great sound quality with loud clear vocals and ample bass. If you’re looking for a rugged ultra-portable speaker with voice assistant capabilities the Boompods Aquablaster is a great option.
Beoplay P2
Considered to be one of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market, the Beoplay P2 from Bang & Olufsen is a compact and flat speaker that measures just 28mm×80×140mm and weighs 275g, yet it still manages to impress in the sound department. It’s also splash and dust resistant. The P2 offers up to 10 hours of playtime per charge. It can be used with a quick shake or double-tap to active Beoplay P2 smart features to play, pause or skip tracks, launch your smartphones personal assistant or use the Beoplay app to wake up with your favourite music or podcast. The Beoplay P2 is one of the best speakers, great for the person who wants a flat sleek speaker that sounds great and is splash resistant.
MARSHALL STOCKWELL II Bluetooth Speaker
The STOCKWELL II Bluetooth Speaker is a very thin and compact Bluetooth speaker with a lot of portability. MARSHALL uses the same metal mesh-like design patterns that you would see there amplifiers and microphones to give the STOCKWELL II that authentic look. Your able to get 19 hours of playtime along with quick charging technology so just 20 minutes of charge will give you 6 hours of power. See Full Review
Great selection! The JBL Clip3 or the UE Roll2 are among my all-time favorites, but I didn’t know the BePlay. In fact I wasn’t aware that Bang&Olufsen made Bluetooth speakers! Good to know that, though they are priced a little more that I can personnally afford.
Thank you, David. You have great taste. The JBL Clip3 is currently my favourite Bluetooth speaker for travel, it’s the perfect travel companion. Yes, B&O has been making Bluetooth speakers for a while now, but they all are a bit overpriced in my book, especially when compared the competition.