Earlier this year I was hiking with the Boy Scouts, where we came across another group of hikers. One of them had music playing on one of those clip-on bluetooth speakers attached to a backpack, which was a little annoying since we were out in nature. I won’t become a noise polluter, but I was curious about this JBL Clip2 Bluetooth speaker, which as the name implies, comes with a clip and is also waterproof.
What is it?
The JBL Clip2 Bluetooth Speaker is a lightweight “dunkable” device with surprisingly loud sound from such a tiny package.
Hardware specs
What’s in the box?
In the box, you’ll find some documentation and a color-matched USB charging cable.
Design and features
The outside of the speaker is covered in a grippy, rubber-like finish. On one side is the volume and phone control. On the other is the Bluetooth pairing button and power button. Note the sealed USB charging connector. 
The Clip2 has a secondary, non-wireless playback method. Simply uncurl the attached headphone-style cable and plug into your 1/8″ inch headphone output. I’d be careful with this one. It appears to be the weakest link on the Clip2. 
I almost missed the tiny LED indicator at the base of the carabiner clip. Here it is lit up in blue to indicate pairing status.
Did I mention it’s pretty small? Here’s the Clip2 alongside a set of keys.
Setup
There’s not a lot of setup beyond the initial pairing. I had to try the Clip2’s party trick: the carabiner.
The carabiner clipped easily to most things, such as the hook of an open car hood.
Performance
As with any speaker this small, the Clip2 is not going to blow your socks off. However, the output is impressive for something so tiny. It got plenty loud! The IPX7 rating meant that it had no problem surviving a dunk or splash of water.
What I like
The waterproofing and small size means you can really take this anywhere. The carabiner clip is really quite handy.
What needs to be improved
A magnetic mounting option would be really handy!
Final thoughts
I cannot imagine blasting music during a hike in the woods. No way I would personally clip this on a backpack on an outing! But for everything else, the JBL Clip2’s water resistant build and carabiner clip makes this a no-brainer for your outdoor adventures.
Price: $59.95 MSRP
Where to buy: JBL, Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by JBL.
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This really is a bulletproof little speaker that can take a lot of abuse.
I agree with you when hiking. The point is to get away from man-made sounds and enjoy the sound of nature. But it can be a bear deterrent. They will hear you coming and stay clear.
They have just released the Clip 3 that has 10 hours of battery life and improved sound.