Having a good tent and durable pair of hiking boots makes for an enjoyable outdoor experience. A Bluetooth speaker for camping can add an extra element of fun when relaxing at base camp. I recently tested the Outdoor Tech Bolt Bluetooth Speaker and put it through its paces on a trip from Oregon to Arizona for the 2024 Overland Expo West show. Would it produce better quality sound than the JBL Clip 3 we picked up a few years back or the original Jawbone Jambox Black Diamond we’ve had for several years? Let’s check it out.
Weighing only one pound, the Outdoor Tech Bolt Bluetooth Speaker is a slim portable and magnetic … [+]
Bolt Bluetooth Speaker Stats
The Outdoor Tech Bolt Bluetooth Speaker weighs one pound and is roughly the size of a pair of ski goggles. I measured it at 7 ¾” long x 3 ¼” wide x 1 7/8” tall. This speaker comes with a heavy-duty magnetized base that instantly grabs onto steel surfaces. However, it doesn’t have a carrying sleeve or case (I used an old drawstring ski goggle sleeve to protect it while traveling).
The Bolt Bluetooth Speaker has a soft black mesh material top and a bright red rubber loop for hanging. The loop is openable, a good feature when hooking it around a small tree branch, tent poles, or other things. It works well but the rubber loop, and its rubber base, can attract lint and debris because of its material type.
The rubberized bottom helps to prevent scratches but can collect a fair bit of dust and debris.
This Outdoor Tech Bolt Bluetooth Speaker can be paired with a second speaker to create a surround-sound experience, though I only tested a single unit on my camping excursion. Not only can it be used as a speaker, but the Bolt can double as a battery bank if needed, providing power to other devices. It has a built-in 3.7V, 2600mAh rechargeable battery that charges in about two hours via a USB-C cable (not supplied). It runs about eight hours before full depletion.
The Outdoor Tech Bolt Bluetooth Speaker provided full and rich sound no matter where I went.
Ingress Protection Ratings
Outdoor Tech states the Bolt has an IPX6 waterproof rating on their website. However, when examining the ingress protection (IP) rating’s chart, the following is determined:
- I: Ingress
- P: Protection
- X: Solid materials intrusion was not formally tested against this product, hence the X designation.
- 6: This product is designed to have protection against high pressure jets of water.
The highest water intrusion rating for waterproofness is IPX9k, with an IPX6 rating (Outdoor Tech Bolt Bluetooth Speaker) being better than most water resistance levels.
The Outdoor Tech Bolt Bluetooth Speaker can either hang from a variety of methods (like an exterior … [+]
My Thoughts
This speaker was right at home no matter if it was stuck to our Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear van’s wheel, the INEOS Grenadier 4×4 we drove during our camping trip, or sitting on the picnic table as I worked on this article. The Outdoor Tech Bolt Bluetooth Speaker produces crisp, clear sounds via its two 50mm 8w speakers. It can be very loud if desired. The Bolt speaker can also be used for conference calls and other audible duties as it has a built-in microphone.
The rubber loop provides a secure way to hang the speaker, in this instance, from an old nail at a … [+]
Although the Outdoor Tech Bolt Bluetooth Speaker didn’t come with a carrying sleeve to protect it when not in use, it held up camping and backpacking relatively unscathed.
When I did a side-by-side sound test against the JBL Clip 3 and the original Jawbone Jambox Black Diamond, it was by far the loudest of the trio, producing a rich sound that could easily encapsulate a large area.
The Outdoor Tech Bolt Bluetooth Speaker had a wide range of sound levels, with a surprisingly crisp and clean sound coming from such a small speaker. However, its bass lacked a bit when compared to the JBL Clip 3. Listening to it on its own, it’s not noticeable unless you have bass-heavy tunes playing. Certain songs also got slightly muddied at higher volumes, though that wasn’t my primary way of using it.
The Bolt speaker was a great Bluetooth speaker to have on hand while camping.
Summing It Up
If you’re in the market for a Bluetooth speaker that’s stylish, functional, great for camping or traveling, and sounds appreciable with most song types, then the Outdoor Tech Bolt Bluetooth Speaker should be looked at. While I personally wouldn’t use it during a rainstorm while camping, it’s good to know it has better water resistance than other products also tested using the same system. It’s got great sound, the magnet is super strong, and the oversized loop allows for a wide range of hanging opportunities. Price: $79.95
