Bring the Tunes Along with JBL Clip 4 Speaker

The days of toting your tunes along on a giant boombox are long gone. And while you can bring your earbuds or headphones to the beach, they’re not exactly good social choices. How do you bring your favorite music along on a day trip—whether it’s to the beach, mountains, country, or even the park?

The JBL Clip 4 speaker is compact enough (at 3.4 inches x 5.3 inches x 1.8 inches) to pack in your carry-on or tuck into your day pack. It’s got an integrated carabiner, so you can clip the speaker on your pack, beach chair, bike, strap, or belt and go hands-free. Please don’t blast it on the trail, however. A lot of hikers prefer to hear the sounds of nature and not a booming soundtrack.

The speaker allows you to wirelessly stream music from your phone, tablet, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device. The robust battery will give you up to 10 hours of playtime on a single charge, so you don’t have to worry about having to recharge after only a few hours.

The Clip 4 is IP67 waterproof and dustproof, so you don’t have to worry about it getting a splash from the pool or lake, being rained on, or being too dusty at the campsite. IP67 rating means it can survive immersion in 3.3 feet for up to 30 minutes. The standard for waterproofing is tap water, and salt water can damage the seals or harm the surface finish over time if not rinsed off after use.

I was surprised to learn that the speaker packs a powerful sound despite its small size. You really don’t need anything larger, unless you’re hosting a huge party.

The Clip 4 speaker lists for $49.95 on sale, and comes in black (pictured), red, gray (with pink and gold), and “squad” (camo with orange). Find it on the JBL site.