Do you enjoy taking your favorite tunes with you when you head outdoors? Like to listen to music when relaxing around the campsite? Judging from the growth in sales of ruggedized Bluetooth speakers designed for use while traveling or camping, you’re not alone. It seems that more and more of us appreciate having a lightweight, yet durable, speaker with us while we’re on the road.
The EcoBoulder from Ecoxgear, is not such a speaker. Don’t get me wrong; this is a high quality product with excellent sound, fantastic build-quality, and exceptional battery life. But, it is most definitely not a speaker that you’ll want to take with you everywhere. That’s because this particular speaker is big. Really big.
At first glance, the EcoBoulder looks a bit like a small piece of luggage, complete with wheels and a telescoping handle to help move it around. You’ll appreciate those two features, as the speaker tips the scales at a whopping 27 pounds. That makes it a much better option for listening to music around the house and backyard, rather than a remote campsite. But, it is also a great choice for tailgiting, car camping, or outdoor events where moving it from one place to another is an easy affair.
The EcoBoulder isn’t just big physically, it has really big sound too. Its 3-way sound system includes an 8″ full-range speaker, an 8″ subwoofer, and a 3″ tweeter, all of which is backed up by 100 watts of power. The result is massive sound that can overpower just about any background noise, filling both rooms and outdoor spaces with lots of music. Audio playback is clear and distinct; covering the full-range of sound from floor-rattling lows to ear piercing highs. The EcoBoulder even sounds very good at higher volumes where lesser speakers begin to distort and lose audio quality.
As mentioned, the EcoBoulder was designed for use in the outdoors. Ecoxgear says that is carries an IP67 water and dust proof rating, which means it can be fully immersed in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes, and still continue to function properly. The speaker even has the ability to float when tossed in a river or lake, which is one of those features you hope you never have to test but it is good know it is there for those “just in case” moments.
The EcoBoulder is equipped with a large lithium-ion battery that can power the speaker for up to 10 hours when not plugged into a wall outlet. Two USB ports – located inside a waterproof compartment – allow you to recharge your smartphone while on the go too. The speaker also comes with a built-in AM/FM radio and a microphone port to use it as a PA or karaoke system. It can even be paired with a second EcoBoulder to double the output and create a massive stereo sound.
Based on all of these features, not to mention the EcoBoulder’s great sound and durability, you would probably expect to pay a lot of money for this speaker. But, priced at $249.99, Ecoxgear has made its latest creation an accessible option for consumers who want a larger portable sound system. Sure, you can buy Bluetooth speakers for a lot less money, but you’ll be hard pressed to find one that delivers everything the EcoBoulder does at a lower price. So, while this isn’t a speaker that you’ll take with you into the backcountry, it is one that you’ll probably want to own nonetheless. Particulalry if you enjoy listen to your favorite tunes outdoors.
Find out more at ecoxgear.com.