Why Turtlebox Has Become the Outdoor Speaker Everyone Wants

These rugged Bluetooth speakers bring big sound without needing to be babied.

Summer has now officially started, though most of us have been in the swing since Memorial Day Weekend. Personally speaking, it’s been packed coolers, family beach weekends, hammock naps, and Sundays spent grilling and smoking, all of which require some tunes.

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with outdoor speakers for some time now: For a while, I would get the cheapest speaker with a modicum of weather resistance, but they never sounded great. I’m no audiophile—I’m happy with some bass and a high volume—but even my low bar was too high for some of these budget outdoor speakers. I finally upgraded to the Sonos Move 2, and while it has excellent sound, I felt like I had to be too careful with it. The build quality is there; however, I don’t think it’s an outdoor speaker that can take a beating.

Which led me to finally try Turtlebox. I thought these flashy speakers were overbuilt and overhyped. I was right, but only about one thing: They’re built like a tank in the best way possible. And the hype? It’s well deserved. Finally, an outdoor speaker that sounds great and doesn’t need to be babied.

Turtlebox Speakers Review

Turtlebox’s Ranger is the least expensive of the bunch and is only smaller in size. It has the cylindrical build of many other outdoor speakers I tried, with a couple of unique design details. The Ranger has powerful magnets on the back for seamless mounting onto a golf cart. Even over bumps, the Ranger held onto the golf cart without sliding or falling off. I’ve also mounted it onto the cabinet door of my grill without any issues. It’s a detail I didn’t expect to enjoy so much. Sure, the speaker can sit on the floor, and you’re still hands-free, but you can position it for better sound.

The Cub has been the anchor of every backyard gathering this summer. Similar to the brand’s Original Speaker, it looks like a boombox but in a more portable package. It can be paired with other Turtlebox speakers in “party mode” for a fuller sound and has an impressive 14-hour battery life. I haven’t had any issues pairing it with my phone, and it packs a great sound.

Danny Perez
Reliable connectivity and easy controls.

What really impressed me was the waterproof performance. Whenever something is listed as “waterproof”, there’s healthy skepticism and the question of “how waterproof is it?” The Cub is IP-67-rated for both fresh and saltwater and is submersible to 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. This rang true for my real-world experience. I accidentally left it outside during a storm on Memorial Day and braced myself for a sputtering sound or, worse, it wouldn’t even turn on. I was pleasantly surprised to see it switch on without hesitation. I just had to empty the water out.

Final Thoughts

Turtlebox speakers aren’t cheap, but they’re worth it. Outdoor speakers need to balance durability, portability, and sound quality, and each person may prioritize one over the others. After testing two of Turtlebox’s speakers, I can say these overbuilt speakers are made for outdoors, not just speakers that can go outdoors.

Shop the Turtlebox Ranger Portable Speaker

Turtlebox’s Greatest Hits

Ultimate Portability

Turtlebox Ranger Outdoor Portable Bluetooth Speaker

$250 at Amazon
$370 at Walmart
Newest Turtlebox Speaker

Turtlebox Cub Outdoor Portable Speaker

$330 at turtleboxaudio.com
The Original Model Updated

Turtlebox Original Gen 3 Portable Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker

$430 at Amazon
$430 at walmart.com

Danny Perez
Reviews Editor

Danny Perez is a Reviews Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on men's style, gear, and home goods. Recently, he was coordinator of partnership content at another product journalism outlet. Prior to that, he was a buyer for an independent men's shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned all about what makes great products great. He enjoys thrifting for 90s Broadway tees and vintage pajama sets. His spare time is occupied by watching movies and running to impress strangers on Strava.