If portability isn’t of top concern, the 9-inch-tall Megaboom 4 is one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy. It’s got clear and full 360-degree sound with plenty of low-end punch. Its drop-tested, weatherproof body is ready for any adventure, from surf to sand, and it offers over 150 feet of wireless range and up to 20 hours of battery life (more like 15 hours at volume). As with other UE speakers, the app adds great features, like the ability to connect multiple speakers in a group or two Megaboom 4s in stereo, adjust the EQ to taste, and wake the speaker from sleep. This rugged sound pillar is key to backyard jams, and well worth adding to your semi-mobile arsenal. —Ryan Waniata
20-hour battery life, USB-C charging, IP67 dust/water resistance
★ Also Great: If you like to shake the room, even if the “room” is the great outdoors, the latest Charge from JBL ($180) is an ultra-portable banger. The speaker is IP67-rated against dust and moisture and offers great battery life. It has up to eight different finishes, and the ability to charge your phone while off the grid. Its tubular shape is designed to fit neatly into your hand, and just as important, it’s capable of kicking the party right off if you want it to. It’s not a blunt instrument, but its prodigious and frankly unlikely low-frequency response never stops surprising. If it’s portable party time you’re after, JBL has you covered in fine style. —Simon Lucas
20-hour battery life, USB-C charging, IP67 dust/water resistance
