I know I certainly can't live without my music in the shower, and beach parties without tunes are barely worth having, but water and electronics tend not to mix very well. That's where one of the best waterproof speakers comes into play. Music makers that have been ruggedized to prevent damage in the event of an impromptu dip.
My favorite waterproof Bluetooth speaker at the moment is the Ultimate Ears Epicboom, and massive speaker that pumps out miles and miles of volume. It sounds good, looks even better, and packs in 17 hours of battery for some decent staying. Most importantly, it's IP67 water and dust resistant, so it'll survive even the hottest, wettest beach gathering.
If that's slightly out of your budget or not quite your tempo, we've more picks that are sure to suit your needs. The Anker Soundcore 3's diminutive design and epic battery keep the party going long into the night, while the Sonos Move 2 is the hero speaker for those with more spending power. No matter what, though, they're all ruggedized and waterproofed for peace of mind should they be near a body of water.
The best Waterproof Bluetooth speakers
The Epicboom brings big volume and solid, bassy sound in a ruggedized enclosure. There's 17 hours of battery on tap to keep the party going, and then multi-connect options so that you can hook more Ultimate Ears speakers together for even more volume.
The compact Anker Soundcore 3 might not look like it could pump out mega volume — but it's size belies its heart of a true party animal. 24 hours of battery life and IP67 water resistance make it perfect poolside, on the beach, or even in the bathroom.
This compact hero has a strap so that you can attach it to poles or even trees — like your parasol at the beach. IP67 water resistance makes sure it'll survive even the biggest splashes. Small, well priced, and rugged — perfect to toss in a bag before that camping trip.
The Sonos Move 2 isn't a cheap Bluetooth speaker, but it packs loads of battery and some stunning sound into its IP56 splash-resistant shell. Perhaps not one to leave next to the pool, it's a great option for kitchens or bathrooms.
Sony's party beast brings the boom with massive bass and some slick flashing LEDs on the side. It's IP67 rating makes sure that it'll survive any kind of pool party you could throw it at — although you'll have a job throwing it too far. It's quite heavy.
Crafted from metal and coated in silicon, the SoundLink Flex is a very special looking and sounding speaker. IP67 water and dust resistance is just the icing on top of a rugged speaker cake — and the fetching colors just make it all the sweeter.
IP ratings explained
One of the most annoying and confusing things when you're looking for something waterproof is what those IP-ratings mean. IP67, IP54, IP44... they're all just numbers and letters.
So what do they all mean? Allow me to explain. IP just stands for Ingress Protection — making sure that water and dust can't get in the speaker. The numbers then represent the level of protection.
The first number is about dust and other solids. This is rated between 1-6, with 1 being the least protective and 6 being the most. The second number represents liquid (water) protection. this is between 1-8, with 1 being barely waterproof at all and 8 meaning it can sit in water for a certain amount of time.
It does get more complicated if you go into more detail, but ideally you're looking for IP54 at least for a splash-proof speaker and IP67 for something that'll survive a pool party or beach trip.
If you see an X in place of one of the numbers, that means it's not been tested for that kind of material ingress. You'll usually see IPX7 – that means it's waterproofed, but not tested for dust ingress.
"Pool Party Rating" explained
To make sure that the speakers I've got on the list are going to survive the wettest activity known to man (a pool party), I've created the "Tom's Guide Pool Party Rating." It's a breakdown of five stars so that you can see at a glance why a speaker got its place on the list, and why it'll power your outdoor reveling for a long time to come.
1st star
Is it IP67 rated? Afterall, it's got to be able to survive more than a splash for the full star.
2nd star
Does it connect multi-connect? You want to make the party as big as possible, and the best way to do that is with multiple speakers.
3rd star
Is it ruggedized? Waterproofing is one thing, but if it can't take a fall it won't be good for a lively party.
4th star
Is it portable? Your pool party needs something that can be moved around without problem.
5th star
Plenty of battery? Pool parties can go long, long into the night — so you want something with loads of battery. You'll want something with at least 15 hours.
Meet the testing team
If I had to test every single Bluetooth speaker that came to Tom's Guide, I think I'd go mad — so I've got our expert reviews team on hand to help me out.
Tammy is Tom's Guide's Audio Editor, curating the sites audio content to make sure that it's informative and helpful. Reviewing bluetooth speakers and making sure they're rugged enough to survive any pool party is a very important part of her day — and one she relishes like little else.
Erin spends 95% of her waking hours listening to music, and that doesn't change with terrain. Whether she's at the beach or just wanting a shower sing-along session, she needs to have the best waterproof speakers to soundtrack her life. With hundreds of hours of speaker testing under her belt, she knows what she's looking for: deep bass, expansive treble, and warm mids.
Nikita has been known to perform full-length concerts in the shower, and she also gets dragged to the beach by her partner when the opportunity arises, so she always has one of the best waterproof speakers with her. As with other audio gear, she tests them rigorously by pushing battery life to the limit, scrutinizing the design and features, and analyzing sound quality across a range of genres.
The best waterproof Bluetooth speakers you can buy
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Best waterproof Bluetooth speaker overall
1. IP67
2. UE party mode
3. Rugged build
4. Pre-attached carry strap
5. 17 hours battery
If you want to be the life of the party, then the Epicboom from Ultimate Ears is the way to go. It's big, it's brash, and its waterproofed about as much as a Bluetooth speaker can be. We absolutely loved our time with the Epicboom, and we where impressed by not just it's solid sound and great ruggedization, but the cool colorful design as well.
The whole thing is wrapped in a combination of Ultimate Ears' usual fabric mesh and rubber, and it feels like it could really take some punishment. There's a reassuring heft to the speaker to make sure that you know it's rugged, and a drop won't break anything.
You've not got to worry about the speaker taking a tumble into the pool either — it's not just IP67 water resistant, but its designed so that it'll float in the water. Now that's smart. We tested it in the bath because we didn't have access to a pool, and it sure did float. We might not want to let it float for the duration of a pool party, but it's good to know it'll survive a fall into the water. Or a lake.
Beyond it's rugged build and water proofing, the Epicboom will make an excellent party center with its massive sound. There's plenty of bass to keep the party going, and then some nice balance to the highs and lows for what we'd call an 'energetic listen.'
Sound not powerful enough for you? Hook it up to other Ultimate Ears speakers for house and yard filling sound. It's the ultimate watery party speaker, and well worth picking up.
- Read the full Ultimate Ears Epicboom review
Best budget waterproof Bluetooth speaker
1. IPX7
2. Anker multi-connect
3. Rubber-coated plastic
4. Small and light
5. 17 hours battery
If you're a student living in your first college house (with a pool, no less) you're almost certainly looking for a waterproof speaker that won't break the bank. The Soundcore 3 fits the bill to a tee — it doesn't cost a load, it's super portable, and most importantly it will survive a splashes and drops into a pool with its IPX7 water resistance.
Now, that does mean its not dust resistant (or it least its not been tested as such), so it might not be one for the beach goers. For every other wet activity that needs some musical accompaniment, however, it's a true budget hero.
It's rubberized for a sturdier feel, although you might not want to drop it too much like some of the more rugged options on the list. It does make it easier to grab with we fingers we found though, so you're less likely to drop it as you grab it when you get out of the pool.
Battery life is a flagship feature here, with 24 hours of use on tap — and we found in our testing that it matched its lofty claims. That makes it one of the longest lasting speakers on the list — not bad for a budget model.
Sound is good too. There's plenty of bass, and the mids and trebles sound good whether you're in the garden or the bathroom. You can hook loads (up to 100) together as well for more powerful sound. If you're on a budget but need something
- Read the full Anker Soundcore 3 review
Best compact waterproof Bluetooth speaker
1. IP67
2. Button-activated multiconnect
3. Ruggedized build
4. Small and light
5. 12 hours battery
Sometimes you want something that'll slip perfectly into a slot in your backpack — and the Ultimate Ears Miniroll is just that. It's a small speaker that packs in big sound and loads of great features, while being no bigger than your palm. How cool is that?
First and foremost is the waterproofing of the speaker. It'll survive any kind of water ingress you might throw at it, thanks to its IP67 water and dust resistance. Pool party? Safe. Sudden, diabolical rainstorm on a camping trip? Sorted. A dip in the sink when you're washing up? No problem at all.
I've been known to strap it to the pip in my shower on occasion — that's not a suggested or officially sanctioned use, of course — but it's worked well as a musical companion while washing. The rugged fabric cover and rubberized back means that it'll survive drops too. Mine survived a drop from a kitchen table, and it's come out the otherside with no damage at all.
It sounds good for the size, although it's not the bassiest speaker around. You can connect multiple together for more powerful sound though, thanks to a button on the speaker. 12 hours of battery isn't the best on the list, but it'll get you through a hike. As long as you don't get caught by other hikers when they take offence at your blasting music in nature.
Overall, the UE Miniroll is a very good sub-$100 compact waterproof speaker that will make a great addition to your camping pack, or to power a small pool-based gathering.
- Read the full Ultimate Ears Miniroll review
Best premium waterproof Bluetooth speaker
1. IP45
2. WiFi multiconnect
3. sturdy metal build
4. Handy carry handle
5. 24 hours battery
The Sonos Move 2 is my Bluetooth speaker of choice, and it's had a permanent place on my night stand since it was launched. Part of that is that it sounds really good, but I also love that I can take it into wetter environments when I want to listen to music in the bath or while doing the dishes.
Its IP54 rating means that its not out-and-out waterproof, but it's splash proof. That means that it will survive a little bit of water heading in its direction. Pool partys might well be out of the question — it's very heavy, and it'll almost certainly break if it falls into the pool — but bath time in a steamy bath room or a little bit of washing up water aren't going to do it any harm.
It's not as rugged as the other speakers on the list. It's sturdy, with premium metal and plastic construction, but you wouldn't want to drop it all to often lest it get really damaged.
The big bonus here is the excellent sound quality. I think it's the best sounding speaker on the list, with excellent bass, stellar mids, and some of the best space and instrument seperation on a Bluetooth speaker. 24 hours of battery life is a nice bonus as well, and the WiFi connectivity makes it the most fully featured as well.
The Sonos Move 2 is actually our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker overall, and thanks to some minor water resistance, it lands a place on this list as well.
- Read the full Sonos Move 2 review
Best waterproof Bluetooth speaker for pool parties
1. IP67
2. Sony party mode
3. Rugged build
4. Included strap
5. 25 hours battery
This is it — the pool party hero. It's big, it's heavy, it's covered with LED RGB lights, and it's completely waterproof; the Sony ULT Field 5. The only reason that it's not right at the top of the list is the fact that it's really, really heavy — despite it's carrying strap, getting it mobile is a bit of a task.
The IP67 water resistance makes sure that it'll survive 30 minutes at a the bottom of the pool, should a particularly enthusiastic party goer accidentally knock it in. You'll need that long to go and get it, because it weighs a not insignificant 7.3lbs. Getting it off the pool floor and getting it back to dry land is going to be no mean feat, that's for sure.
It's built to be the life of the party. I really like the patterned LEDs that flash with the music on the sides of the speaker, and while the unit itself is a big black boring oblong box, it brings some great verve to the speaker. Dancing LEDs are always fun. Then there's the ULT button.
Everyone loves bass, and Sony knows this well. I love the way that the ULT Field 5 sounds. It's got buckets and buckets of the low stuff on tap, and if you hit that ULT button, things can either get more energetic or even lower. My preferred ULT mode is the energetic one; it never fails to get people moving.
25 hours of battery life means that it's the longest lasting on the list, and while heavy, it's still portable. A great option for pool parties or trips to the beach.
- Read the full Sony ULT Field 5 review
Best rugged waterproof Bluetooth speaker
The Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 is a handsome devil. Wrapped in some lovely pastel colors, Bose's home speaker is more than just a pretty face. The silicon surface and metal construction make it one of the most rugged and well build speakers we've tested. I dropped mine down some stairs accidentally — and it came out of the ordeal with nary a scratch, dent, or evidence of it's tumble.
It'll handily survive a fall into a pool during a pool party as well thanks to its IP67 water resistance. The silicon surface makes it easy to pick up with wet hands too, so you won't have to worry about testing how rugged it is when you get out of the pool and need to take it elsewhere.
The sound is good, although it take some work in the EQ to get it sounding really good. I found +6 bass and +3 trebles got it just where I wanted it. If the sound isn't powerful enough for you, then you can connect multiple together in either stereo or party mode.
The carry strap makes it great to attach to backpacks when you're in the wilderness too, and you won't have to worry about sudden rain storms thanks to the water resistance. 12 hours of battery isn't the best, but it'll still last a decent pool party, or other outdoor gathering.
- Read the full Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review
Best waterproof Bluetooth speakers: How we test
Testing waterproof speakers is a bit more in-depth than just testing Bluetooth speakers, so we have to add in some more testing regimen.
There are the usual suspects — sound quality, build quality, and battery life, but there we also have to make sure that the speaker will survive a dip in some water. We're yet to break anything in our testing, but if we do it's because we super dedicated to finding out whether it matches up to the testing criteria.
Testing waterproof ratings
We go as in-depth as possible here without going so far as to break a review unit. If a speaker says it's splash resistant, we splash it with some water to see how it fares — does the sound change? Does it survive its watery encounter? That we know that the rating is realistic.
For waterproofed to immersion speakers, we let the speaker take a quick dip in some water. We want a realistic look at whether it will survive some light soaking as opposed to 'will this survive 30 minutes in a bucket.' Given that you're likely only to drop your speaker in water for a few moments, we run the speaker under a tap or get it properly wet to see what happens to the sound, and how long it takes to dry off.
That gives a realistic view of the waterproofing of the speaker, as opposed to an outright durability test. Sometimes, though, we go a bit more in depth with extended use or with more impressive claims.
The UE Miniroll has survived many showers strapped to the pipes in direct contact with the water, for example, and when we heard that the Epicboom could float, we needed to test it out.
Sound, battery, and build
As with all the best Bluetooth speakers, there are some facets that we have to test thoroughly. Sound quality is the main area that we look at — after all, you want something that you know is going to sound really good.
We test the speaker over at least two weeks, listening critically for at least an hour per day to get a good idea of the speaker's sound. It's then compared to other speakers on the best Bluetooth speakers list so that we can judge its sound quality and score it for its full review.
Then we test the battery of the speaker, either measuring how long it takes to completely drain it over the course of our listening, or extrapolating how long it will last after a certain amount of listening. For example, if a speaker plays music for 3 hours and loses 30% of its battery life, it's likely going to last 10 hours.
Finally, we look at the build. That's where we judge the quality of the materials used to make the speaker, and if there are durability claims then we put them to the test. That means dropping it from certain heights, for example. We weigh the speaker as well, and then see how it compares to the competition.
