We’ve been carefully analyzing dozens of Bluetooth speakers for years, and we also love gardening, so we were happy to approach the question of how best to combine the two.
We’ve found that listening to podcasts and music while weeding (especially with a stand-up weeder) makes the whole venture a lot more enjoyable.
We went in search of the best-sounding speaker that is hardy enough to tolerate the odd splash of a hose or grime from dirty hands. And our top pick well exceeds those expectations; it’s also our overall top choice for travel Bluetooth speaker. (Further down this page, we’ll also discuss a larger, louder option and a smaller, wearable speaker that can go on your collar while you do yard work.)
The Best Speaker for Working in the Garden: Ultimate Ears Boom 3
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Why We Love the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 for Gardening
The Boom 3 is our top pick for listening to music while planting, weeding, or just enjoying time outside while listening to music or podcasts.
Here are the main reasons:
- Excellent sound: Don’t be fooled by its small size; the Boom 3 delivers an even mix, warmth, and punchy bass.
- Loud: It goes plenty loud to be heard across a small or mid-sized garden (though to go across a a larger yard or down the block, you’ll want the JBL Boombox or Xtreme 2 instead).
- 360-degree sound: The speaker is designed to sound great from any spot, so if we set it in the center of your garden we don’t have to move it or turn it towards where we happen to be working at the moment.
- Battery life: Ultimate Ears claims a battery life of 15-hours and it generally got around that time in tests. It’s more than enough for a long day outdoors without recharging. You’re likely to use it sporadically throughout the week without needing to charge.
- Tap to play: In a similar vein, basic control is possible without reaching for our phones. We tap the top of the speaker to play or pause a track, and tap twice to skip to the next one. The oversize volume buttons on the side of the speaker are also convenient.
I tested the waterproofing of the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 in my bathtub and had no problems spraying or dunking this thing. Waterproof and dustproof: The speaker is fully IP67 waterproof, meaning it is rated to stand being submerged for up to 30 minutes in a meter of water. You’re not likely to put it through that test, but it is lovely to be able to just hose the speaker off at the end of the day and this can be way simpler than cleaning your gardening tools. The dustproof rating means that the Boom 3 will also stand up to grime; this is a very hardy speaker.
- Fabric loop: You can either hang the Boom 3 from the your garden fence or from the side of a work basket by attaching a carabiner through the loop. This also makes it super easy to carry around.
- Pair multiple Boom 3s: With UE’s mobile app you can pair up to 150 of the speakers — though really two is fine. It allows you to create a true stereo experience on the go, and is great for an outdoor dance party.
A few drawbacks:
- We think this is the most convenient size for a speaker we’d carry out into the garden while working, but some might want a larger speaker for more volume, a smaller speaker, or even a wearable speaker. See below for those options.
- Although most laud the Boom 3’s evenness, some critics have felt that the bass is a bit too strong in the mix at the loudest volumes. If you think this might apply to you as well, get the Bose Revolve instead (or compare the Revolve with the bigger Revolve+).
A Larger, Louder Option
In speaker design, bigger generally means more and better sound. If you’re willing to carry a slightly bigger speaker out into your garden, we recommend the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3. It’s listed as our favorite larger waterproof Bluetooth speaker.
Its features are very similar to the Boom 3, but we have a full comparison of the two speakers if you’re struggling to decide between them.
Basically, the Megaboom 3 goes just a bit louder and its bass goes deeper and has more impact. It also has a bit more battery life.
As with the Boom 3 you can pair two or more for stereo sound, and there is also a fabric loop. The Megaboom 3 is also fully waterproof.
A Wearable Speaker for Gardening
If you don’t want to blast out music that might annoy your neighbors, but you also aren’t particularly keen on wearing wireless headphones, a wearable Bluetooth speaker can be an excellent option for working out in the garden while listening to audio.
While smaller than the Ultimate Ears Boom 3, The Tribit Stormbox Micro (reviewed here) doesn’t sound tiny; it’s a significant step up in sound quality from most wearable speakers. And if you have any hose mishaps, know that it’s fully IP67 waterproof and dustproof.
Wrap-Up: Our Favorite Bluetooth Speaker for Gardening
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