The perfect portable Bluetooth speaker is a fairly simple idea. It’s easy to connect and has good range, never dropping its connection as you hike the trail or bounce around the garage. It should look as good as it sounds whether you’re rocking out to old school Mötley Crüe, or new school MAGIC!. It should be light and portable with a battery that lasts as long as your average barbecue – and ideally it doubles as a speakerphone just in case mom calls.
On Performance & Design…
Now that we’ve established the parameters for what makes a fully equipped Bluetooth speaker, it’s time to delve into the new #StrapSound from RuggedTec. Part of the new wave of wireless speakers, the RuggedTec brand was born in Idaho where a passion for the outdoors and love for technology showed the need for a more compact, rugged speaker capable of standing up to a life of adventure.
Admittedly when the #StrapSound arrived, it’s scant size threw us for a loop. The smaller of RuggedTec’s two offerings, this little music machine is significantly smaller than it appears on the RuggedTec website. Measuring 50x50x80mm, the #StrapSound easily fits into the palm of your hand leaving with you the question, how loud can this little guy actually be? We quickly learned however that when it comes to volume, the #StrapSound’s small stature belies its abilities.
Bluetooth connectivity is a snap – so you can easily sync it up with your phone, tablet, laptop or any other Bluetooth-enabled device. The process takes all of about ten seconds and once connected, this little guy serves up clean, crisp audio at relatively high volumes (albeit thin at the higher levels).
The cylindrical design makes the #StrapSound not only compact, but über portable and impressively lightweight. Add in the included rubber strap that allows you to attach the #StrapSound to your bike, kayak, or the nearest tree, and you’ve got a level of portability that means you can take it with you on the trail, to neighborhood BBQs and beyond. And because it’s built for travel, RuggedTec ensured the #StrapSound is dustproof, shockproof and comes with a water-resistant rating of IPX3. This rugged portability is where the #StrapSound shines making it easy to add some tunes to your post climb celebrations back at base camp, or ensure your hikes have a soundtrack befitting of your adventure.
Notes from the Field…
The #StrapSound checks several of the boxes, but unfortunately not all of them. The round form factor looks great, but it comes with a definitive downside. If you’re using the #StrapSound as a stand alone and it gets knocked over, it’s going to roll, and you’re going to chase it. We had a few experiences with that, and trust us, it’s a bummer.
Moreover, in comparison to other some similarly sized competitors, the #StrapSound has a comparatively short battery life. We’ve been informed by the RuggedTec team that the second generation #StrapSound (available now) does have a significantly longer battery life, but we haven’t had the opportunity to test it first hand. Finally, as mentioned, while the speaker deserves credit for cranking out exceptional levels of volume, it does suffer in sound quality at the top end, and lacks the speakerphone capability of similar competitors making it a one trick pony.
Bottom Line…
The #StrapSound has too many shortcomings to earn our full endorsement. However, at a great price point of only $49, it does make for a viable entry level option for those seeking the benefit of a Bluetooth speaker, but looking to avoid a hefty sticker price.
*Gumption Gear Review received a product sample of the item featured in this review from RuggedTec at no cost, and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The item featured was provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.