Buckshot Wireless Speaker
The Desert Rat 05.16.14
I’d like to thank Jennifer Reiss from the Max Borges Agency, and the folks from Outdoor Tech for sending me a Buckshot Wireless Speaker to review!
According to Outdoor Tech, the Buckshot has the following features:
- The Buckshot wirelessly connects to your phone, tablet, laptop, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device and streams crystal-clear audio for a range of up to 33 feet for 10 hours on a single charge
- A built-in speakerphone and microphone for hands-free calls with your therapist wherever you want
- Designed with a rugged, rubberized exterior, it’s both shock-resistant and dustproof
- An IPX5 water resistance rating so it will withstand splashes of liquid
- Included bicycle mount allows you to mount the Buckshot to your bicycle handlebars, golf cart, baby stroller, moped, or anything else with a similar profile
At first I was a bit reluctant to do the review as I’m not very techy and I couldn’t imagine what I would do with it. Now that I’ve used it, I think this thing is awesome!
The first things you notice are the sound quality and the volume. The sound from the speaker is crystal-clear and of a high quality. I have used it (with Bluetooth) to play the radio (iHeartRadio app), to play music, and as a speaker with the phone. I use it a lot when doing yard work. The company claims it can be heard up to 33 feet away from the device, and I did use it from 25 to 30 feet away with no problems. It’s cool to listen to the radio when working in the backyard. It would make for a great camp radio!
Based on the available volume and the quality of the sound, I think in a pinch you could use it for predator calling (where electronic calls are legal). I’m going to give that a whirl this fall.
The controls are easy to access and master. It doesn’t use much power and the packaging indicates 16 hours of play time, and I have every reason to believe that is accurate.
The speaker was built with the outdoor enthusiast in mind. It is water-resistant. I didn’t formally test this, but it did damp a few times due to some errant spills and not being careful when watering the garden. It is in a sturdy, rubber armored case and the company claims it is shockproof. This was another feature that I didn’t formally test, but it did roll off of the table a few times with no ill effects.
The speaker comes with a charging cord, an instruction booklet, and a simple handlebar mounting device. At first, I wondered how well the mount would work, based on its simplicity. Sure enough, it worked well. It’s easy to use, and it held the speaker securely to the handlebar on all of my bike rides.
At the end of the day, this device is a home run by Outdoor Tech. Honestly, I can’t talk enough about the quality of sound and the volume. Even my wife, who is a bit of a music snob, was impressed! You’ll find lots of uses for this like rocking out in the garden or the campsite. I really think you could use it for an electronic game call (again—where legal). Finally, don’t forget you can use it as an extension of your speaker phone, too.
These retail for around $50 and I honestly think you’d have to try hard to damage this thing. It’s a rugged little unit. You can find it online here.
I have been a freelance outdoor writer since High School (a long time). I have two successful blogs - Desert Rat which focuses on hunting and fishing in Arizona, the southwest and beyond. If you like smoking, barbecue and other fun cooking stuff, visit the Dry Rubbed Rat. On both sites you'll find cool product reviews, interviews, industry news and more. My "other" job is in Facilities Management. I was born and raised in New Brunswick, Canada; I lived in northern Maine for about 6 years before moving to Arizona 15 years ago. I live in Queen Creek with my wife, daughter and dogs.
