Destinations & Things To Do
The Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers (Summer 2025)
This year, there have been some nice trends in the best outdoor Bluetooth speakers: “True stereo,” which lets you pair two speakers at once and play the left channel in one and the right in the other, is available in more and more models. While it may be a clever way of selling you two speakers instead of one, it makes the experience more like sitting in front of your home hi-fi system. Meanwhile, battery life keeps on improving across the board, and it’s kind of stunning how water-resistant these devices have become: All of the speakers below have an ingress rating of at least IP57, which means they can be submerged in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. If you’ve ever combined a swimming hole and a large dog in the same outing, you know why this matters. All of which makes the new speakers highlighted here some of the best ever for your adventures. Here are reviews of seven of our current favorite outdoor Bluetooth speakers, depending on your needs and budget.
Update July 2025: We’ve tested and selected new Bluetooth speakers in two of our seven categories, including a new best all-around pick of the Brane X, and updated prices and availability for all.
At a Glance
Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker Overall
Brane X
$499 at Amazon $499 at Brane Audio
Pros and Cons
⊕ More bass than you’ll believe possible
⊕ Wi-Fi connectivity
⊗ Makes funny noises on startup
⊗ Touch controls are overly sensitive
It’s rare that a product has so much crossover appeal that it’s nearly impossible to categorize—labels be damned. The Brane X is an ingenious piece of technology that transitions neatly from a bookshelf-style speaker for your desktop to a backyard DJ boom box to a travel companion for a remote lakeshore, where, as one tester said, it produces bass that can “scare away the bears.” This versatility and its surprising power are what led our testers to name it the best outdoor Bluetooth speaker we tested.
The reason this 7.7-pound unit has such outsize power is magnets. Specifically, it’s the first Bluetooth speaker with a subwoofer, which relies on a Repel-Attract Driver (RAD), a patented technology that employs specially designed magnets that cancel internal air pressure and allow it to produce deeper bass than was previously possible.
In practice, the results are impressive: Played at lower volumes, it produces fine detail that is as good as anything that comes out of a Bose product. But when you pump up the volume, you can hear bass notes that reach lower into the audio spectrum. It’s safe to say nothing we’ve seen at this size (under ten inches wide) has been able to create such a rumble way down deep in your belly.
The Brane X can connect with your home Wi-Fi, eliminating the problem of your Bluetooth speaker glitching out during a party because you stepped outside to fetch ice. This feature also makes streaming music over a subscription service or using the built-in Alexa voice assistant easier and more reliable.
And yes, despite its urban looks, the Brane X can withstand water, dust, and a fair bit of rough handling: Its IP57 rating means it can survive in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. A 12-hour battery life is respectable, given its power. And the Brane app makes it easy to set up and equalize, for less bass, more bass, or more more more bass. Listening to jazz with a double bass, one user said, “you can hear all the subtle squeaks of the player’s fingers on the strings.”
If there’s a drawback to a speaker this good, it would only be that it makes the windows rattle. Said one tester: “It makes other portable speakers seem like toys.”
Best Value
Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2
Pros and Cons
⊕ Sound fills the room
⊕ Long battery life
⊗ Controls not all in same place
The German audio engineers at Teuful got together with the American guitar and amp brand Fender to make this thing of beauty. The sleekly designed Rockster Go 2 is smaller than a hardcover airport novel, at eight by four inches, but it pumps out some of the best, bassiest sound in this size range. Much like Bose’s SoundLink Flex—whose latest version weighs in at 1.3 pounds and costs $149—the 1.6-pound Rockster Go 2 amazed us with its “straight-ahead sound quality and musical vividness,” as one tester put it. It goes one step further than Bose with a button that engages what’s called Dynamore virtual stereo sound, an impressive, non-gimmicky feature that seems to magically move the music to the corners of the room. The speaker is unidirectional, but the Dynamore feature does a lot to make it sound good from the front or the back.
The Rockster Go 2 is supposed to last for up to a whopping 28 hours in Eco Mode (which reduces the bass), though you’ll probably get more like the 15 hours it promises in regular mode at medium volume. Quick charging, however, gets you out the door faster if you forgot to plug it in the night before. A short carry strap enables easier toting, and GoPro users will appreciate the quarter-inch threading on the base, which is compatible with camera mounts. Although its range is only 30 feet, one reviewer remarked that “with a design that’s worthy of residing on your bookcase plus its rugged build, this may be the ideal indoor/outdoor speaker in the midsize range.”
Note: The Rockster line includes two other, larger sizes: the $180 Rockster Cross and the monster $480 Rockster Air 2.
Most Portable
Ultimate Ears Miniroll
$80 at Ultimate Ears $72 at Amazon
Pros and Cons
⊕ Very compact
⊕ Impressive sound for its size
⊕ Bungee strap is useful
⊗ Can get only so loud
Over the past decade, the “mini speaker” category has been relentlessly trying to reach a level of sonic quality that sounds so much better than your laptop speaker that it warrants a purchase. With the Miniroll, we may have achieved the singularity. At less than 10 ounces and a fits-in-your-hand five-inch diameter, this grab-and-go disc produced some moments of startling loudness for its size. Physics wouldn’t allow it to be in the same acoustic class as the others in this test, but testers were impressed by what it can do.
Think of the places it can go: With its eminently handy built-in rubber strap, the Miniroll can bungee right over your bike handlebars, onto your belt loop, or—a habit I’ve acquired solely on account of this portable Bluetooth speaker—over the shower curtain rod, so I can keep clean while keeping up with the news. As secure as the strap is, a bouncy bike ride might eventually dislodge it, but with its sturdy build, we wouldn’t be too concerned about damage—and its crazy-long range of 131 feet means you won’t lose connection when you turn around to retrieve it. A PartyUp feature lets you pair multiple Minirolls together for more power or a stereo effect.
Anyone debating whether to pack a speaker for an overseas flight or strap it to a backpack for playing podcasts on a hike can be confident that the Miniroll, with its “road-friendly size and shape,” is well worth the consideration.
Most Rugged
Turtlebox Gen 3
$430 at Turtlebox $430 at Scheels
Pros and Cons
⊕ Extremely tough
⊕ Easy to tote
⊕ Smooth sound
⊗ Not cheap
Like Pelican and Otter, Turtlebox thinks in terms of durability that will see you through any terrain on earth, if not other planets. Case in point: The company claims that they were able to park a six-ton monster truck on this speaker, to no ill effect. Encased in super-hard plastic and completely waterproof (even floatable), the Gen 2 has quickly garnered a following among fishermen and watersports enthusiasts for more than being tough. The 120-decibel speaker is “both incredibly loud and impressively refined,” one tester observed. Indeed, our team was hard-pressed to find many differences in audio quality between the Turtlebox 2 and the other top scorers in this year’s test. The unit plays for 25 hours at lower volumes and about six hours at max volume, such as what you’d need for a big party.
During LCD Soundsystem’s “Tribulations,” the bass tones flowed smooth as silk and distortion-free, thanks to the 6-by-9-inch woofer, and, to our surprise, the high and midrange sounds also came across with great clarity. With five color options and an ideal form factor—a lunchbox-size 9.5-pound boombox with a hard nylon handle coated in rubber, plus rubber bumpers on the undercarriage—the Turtlebox Gen 2 gets just about everything right, and its fairly high price tag is less scary when you consider its durability.
Best for Audiophiles
Bose SoundLink Max
Pros and Cons
⊕ Very rich, loud sound
⊕ Long battery life
⊕ Easy to pair
⊗ Needs 5-volt charger; standard USB-C is slow
For those who were wowed by Bose’s 1.3-pound SoundLink Flex (our 2022 Editor’s Choice winner), this larger and far more powerful 4.9-pound edition of the SoundLink will be true love. It punches above its weight, with rich bass and perfect balance in the higher registers. While the addition of a rubber-coated rope handle is both convenient and cute, the sticking-to-basics features from this classic brand made it a bit less fun than other party-ready units in this test. Where Bose beats them, though, is with more subtle orchestral and ambient tracks. Max Richter’s The New Four Seasons came through with a dynamism and presence that was a notch above.
Battery life is 20 hours, range is a passable 30 feet, and Bose’s app is more versatile than those that accompany most speakers, with EQ settings to suit your tastes and listening environment. IP67 water and dust resistance means it’s fine being dropped in the pool for up to 30 minutes. The SoundLink Max does cost a lot for its size, but for those among us who like to just sit and focus on great music, it may be the most ideal—and ideally sized—portable Bluetooth speaker to date.
Best for Parties
Treblab HD-Max
$135 at Amazon $160 at Treblab
Pros and Cons
⊕ Loud volume when wanted
⊕ Great value
⊗ One-dimensional sound
⊗ Confusing LED modes
If you’re looking for a speaker to churn out volume in a big crowd for a fair price, the HD-Max delivers. The sound is not as detailed or three-dimensional as the others in this guide, but that matters less when it’s about a crowd and, as the evening wears on, they’re getting down and boogying. Treblab’s newest offering has the power to fill a sizable outdoor space, and if you want to go a notch higher, a bass-boosting feature adds even more thump. “It makes you feel like dancing,” said one reviewer.
Two other fiesta-friendly novelties are a pair of multicolor lights on either end that can be turned off and on, and a bottle opener on the removable carry strap. It’ll get 20 hours of play time if you keep it at 10 percent volume, but at 100 percent it’s certified for only 6.5 hours—still, enough to get you through the night, or, if not, you can always plug it in. (And the power goes both ways: If your phone is running out of juice, the HD-Max can charge it.) One thing that could use improvement: It’s hard to tell when you’re in indoor, outdoor, or bass mode; they’re indicated by a clunky system that involves deciphering a series of blinking LED lights.
These are small trade-offs when you consider that the HD-Max is a tough-built five-pound, foot-wide boom box that retails for $200—but can be found for 30 percent less than that. Others in its class, like Ultimate Ears’ Hyperboom, usually set you back $350 or $400. When the fun is over and it’s back-to-work time, the speaker has a built-in mic that performs well for conference calls, with an average range of 33 feet. One tester praised the HD-Max for its “combination of sound quality, volume, and portability.”
Best for Travel
Marshall Emberton III
$180 at Marshall $180 at Amazon
Pros and Cons
⊕ Solid, compact, travel-friendly build
⊕ Room-filling sound
⊗ No bass/treble controls on unit
Don’t let the throwback looks of the Emberton III fool you: This technology is far from basic. Marshall’s newest travel Bluetooth speaker has better, more robust sound than its predecessors while adding some new features like Bluetooth LE—a more efficient form of Bluetooth that sucks less energy—and Auracast, an incoming technology that will soon have you wirelessly linking several of your speakers and headphones at once, making a connected life more seamless.
The Emberton III is that one piece of gear you’ll wish you’d packed for your family reunion on the lake this summer. You’ll realize this when you go to play home movies on your tablet with its anemic speaker. You’ll hardly notice the Emberton III in your luggage, at a little over six inches from end to end and only 1.5 pounds—three percent of your checked-bag limit. But you’ll notice it when you fire it up, because, in the words of one tester, “this little thing cranks!”
As with other Marshall speakers, the Emberton III achieves a deceptively dynamic sound quality through “True Stereophonic” multi-directional technology, which replicates the experience of being on a soundstage by moving different tones to different areas of the speaker. One tester noticed the “rich bass notes—not much thump, but clean and clear.” And the well-rounded sound is just as good from the back side as the front.
A whopping 32-hour battery life makes it even more travel-friendly, and a 20-minute quick charge provides six more hours of battery life. The range (thanks to the Bluetooth LE addition) is an excellent 100 feet. And an IP67 rating lets you drop it in the drink (up to three feet deep) with no repercussions (although no testers reported trying this).
One tester summed up his report, “I love the retro looks and small package. It makes a cool statement on the shelf but is small enough you can slip it into your pocket on the way out the door.”
How to Choose the Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker
When shopping for a new outdoor Bluetooth speaker, your first move is to check its IP (ingress protection) rating to get an idea of how much water and dust resistance it offers; these are typically reliable. Next, think about how much you’ll be carrying it around—between house and backyard, say, or moving from campsite to campsite—and whether you’ll be on foot (carrying a pack or duffel, or not) or on wheels. Then consider what makes sense in terms of weight and dimensions. As a general rule, the heavier a speaker is, the more volume you’ll get out of it, but playing it loud isn’t always a necessity—some of you will be entertaining large groups, but others will just be setting it up for mellow creekside cocktail-hour listening with your partner.
If you’re someone who moves around a lot, a portable Bluetooth speaker with long battery life might also make a difference. These days most new models will play for a good 10 hours or more even at high volume, but some are longer-lasting than others, as detailed in the models reviewed here. Finally, more and more models offer “true stereo” linking, where two or more speakers can be paired to play at once but in stereo; this makes smaller models with this option a little more attractive than before, because if you later decide to invest more, you can give your soundscape an appreciable boost.
Finally, don’t assume that if one of the speakers in this list doesn’t sound great to you, it’s your fault. Different folks have different tastes, and some types of music sound better—or worse—on certain speakers. If you make a purchase and are feeling lukewarm afterwards, keep an eye on your return window and don’t feel guilty if you have to exchange it.
How We Tested Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers
- Hours of Testing: 419
- Test Environments: Hiking, pool parties, stand-up paddleboarding, yardwork, movie watching, car camping, making dinner, conference calls
- Highest Elevation: 10,152 feet, Leadville, Colorado
- Lowest Elevation: 5 feet underwater in Lake Pleasant, Arizona
- Most Listened-To Tracks: Bon Iver: “Dijon,” Charli xcx featuring BB Tricks: “Club Classics,” Childish Gambino: “Lithonia,” Drugdealer and Kim Bollinger: “Pictures of You,” Flock of Dimes: “Day One,” Fontaines D.C.: “Favourite,” J Dilla: “Workinonit,” Kenya Grace: “Strangers,” The Hold Steady: “Stuck Between Stations,” Magdalena Bay: “Image,” Prince: “Electric Chair,” Puentes: “Amor y Unidad,” Kathleen Smith: “I Can See for Miles,” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross: “Challengers”
The first thing we do with any Bluetooth speakers is attempt to pair them with our phones without consulting the user manual: The quicker, more intuitive, and easier the sync, the more points scored. Then we put them through hours of testing doing the kinds of things Outside readers do—soaking in remote hot springs, inviting friends over for outdoor dance parties, playing audiobooks while riding a bike, etc.
Our team turns in reports on each product tested, providing a score of 1 to 10 for five different measures: sound quality, pairing and connectivity, fit and comfort, rain and drop protection, and user friendliness. Scores are averaged, with more weight given to sound quality and (knowing our audience) how well they stand up to the elements. Note: Battery life estimates in these reviews are based on manufacturer specs; it’s difficult to confirm those numbers, given the time involved and variances among user habits (different volumes, different uses, different functions enabled). Actual results may be 10 to 20 percent lower, judging from averages experienced in general testing.
Meet Our Lead Tester
Will Palmer has been testing gear for 21 years for Outside, where he was managing editor and copy chief for nine years. Based in Santa Fe, he has been a runner since 1984, and while the mile counts have decreased over the years, he’s kept motivated to head out the door on the hottest, coldest, and wettest days by the opportunity to test the best new products—and to commune with the junipers and piñons.
*these posts are coming straight from trail, I apologize in advance for typos!*
Location: High Sierra
Start: Vermilion Valley Resort – 879.9
End: Tentsite – 889.7
Miles: 9.8
Ascent: 4165 | Descent: 2649
Sleep: Tent
What a great day! We woke up around 6:30am at VVR to pack up the tent before breakfast. The resort served breakfast from 7-9:30am and we wanted to be some of the first in line. When we got inside to order there was already a line, but it gave us a chance to peruse the resupply options. We had looked at our food last night and determined that we had enough to get us into Mammoth in 2 days so we didn’t need to buy anything from VVR. We ended up purchasing a couple of Rice Crispy Treats and some Oreos for extra snacks just in case.
When we finally got to the counter to order I got the limber jack platter and Truffles got a breakfast burrito. We both ordered unlimited coffee as well. We knew our bill would be pricey since everything at VVR was expensive, but our total after tip and tax was $150. Considering all we ate for dinner and breakfast plus free camping and bathrooms/water, I think we did pretty good. We definitely saved by not taking the $20 ferry across the lake, and I was pleased by everything at VVR.
We sat outside in the porch to wait and sip on coffee. I am so grateful I got a new battery bank at KMS because my new battery charged from dead to 100% in the time we ate breakfast. When our names were finally called to get our food I was shocked by the amount that came with my order. The lumberjack platter consisted of 2 humongous pancakes that cook up an entire plate, a large side of hashbrowns, a hearty helping of scrambled eggs, sausage links, bacon, ham, and 2 pieces of toast. Even with my hiker hunger there was no way I could eat all that food! Truffles’ breakfast burrito was good but he still had room to try and help me finish all my food.
We sat with Cheesehead and Andrew and talked about our Sierra experiences and what our plans for the next sections are. When we were finished we slowly began to pack up and tried to get excited to hike out. We ended up leaving VVR around 9:30am and headed to the blue blaze to connect us back to the PCT. Yesterday we came down the Bear Ridge Trail and to get to VVR, but today we took another trail around the lake to get us back on trail.
The side trail was about 7 miles long and took us through pine forests and over rocks overlooking the lake. We had a little bit of climbing that wouldn’t have been bad expect for the fact that I was stuffed from breakfast. We were both moving slow and I thought I was going to throw up about half of the time. When I finally made it to the PCT junction I sat down to wait for Truffles and that helped to settle my stomach.
Once we were on the PCT again we had a 6 mile climb to the top of Silver Pass. According to a FarOut comment, Silver Pass is the last pass of the High Sierra! The climb was steep in sections but overall wasn’t too bad. It just felt like it took a long time and like we were moving slowly since it was afternoon when we started the ascent. In reality we were moving just fine and ended up getting up and over before 5pm. Some of the steep sections of the trail took us directly through streams and even a waterfall, so our feet were soaked and we were huffing and puffing the whole way.
We stopped to filter water by a meadow and thankfully after this point the steepness of the trail slackened off. We were able to continue climbing without gasping for breath. We crossed over rocky plateaus and finally got a good view of the pass and the mountains beyond. There was minimal snow so it made for easy hiking. We made it to the top of the pass around 4:30pm and had a final climb to the “high point” before beginning the descent.
We weren’t sure what to expect coming down the mountain, but the snow was very manageable and we were able to travel over the boot prints rather than post holing. We even got several opportunities to glissade! We were through the snow in less than a mile and weee able to cruise downhill. We had our sites set on a campsite 3ish miles from the pass, so we moseyed our way down trail.
As soon as we arrived at the Tentsite we were immediately swarmed by mosquitoes. We got the tent up as fast as we could and jumped inside. We decided to cook inside the tent in the safety of the bug net rather than being eaten alive outside. Thankfully we were careful and neither of us spilled anything inside the tent. I’ve cooked in my vestibule when it’s been raining before, but this was the first time actually sitting fully in the tent. After dinner we laid out our sleeping stuff and got ready for bed. Because of the blue blaze we hiked 16.4 total miles today.
We were able to get signal yesterday to call Hangman and get an update from him. After he and Pinky went back into Bishop on day 62, they were able to get him an xray to confirm that he does indeed have a stress fracture. We all have family coming to visit later this week, so they decided to just bop around in the meantime and then fly home with family. When we talked to him yesterday they had rented a car and we made plans for them to pick us up tomorrow from the Horseshoe Lake trailhead and take us into Mammoth for a few days before driving all of us to South Lake Tahoe to meet our family. I’m so looking forward to a few days off trial and to see family and rest!
Location: High Sierra
Start: Tentsite – 889.7
End: Mammoth Pass (Mammoth Lakes) – 904.4
Miles: 14.7
Ascent: 2501 | Descent: 2777
Sleep: Tent
Town day! Truffles and I were up and on trail around 6:30am eager to hike hard to be picked up and head into Mammoth Lakes. The trail in the morning was cruisey and we hiked along side the river and through meadows before our big climb for the day. Numerous switchbacks had us climbing up and up. We saw a family of deer as we climbed, and before long the trail flattened out and we were at the top.
We passed by Lake Virginia where the trail abruptly ended and we had to slog through the water to reach the trail on the other side. I don’t think my feet will ever be fully dry in the Sierra, but at least the rest of my body isn’t soaked like on the AT.
We hiked along the ridge line for a while before a long descent down to Purple Lake. Truffles had to dig a cat hole and we made plans to meet in a couple miles at Duck Lake. I hiked alone for a while until I passed another solo woman and we struck up a conversation. Her name was Scales and she was from Australia. We hiked together for the next several hours and I was so engrossed in conversation with her that I completely missed Duck Lake.
Scales and I hiked hard for several miles, only stopping when we were both out of water and we crossed a creek. I stopped to filter water and Truffles caught up. He was pretty aggravated that I missed our rendezvous spot at Duck Lake, so he filtered water and quickly left me in the dust. We were both heading to the same trailhead, so I let him go and knew I’d see him after while.
After filter water at the creek it was only 2 more miles in the PCT before we’d head down Mammoth Pass/Horseshoe Lake Trail down to the trailhead. They were easy miles and before I knew it I was at the junction. I was so in the zone I didn’t even see the 900 mile marker… bummer! Going down to Horseshoe Lake Trail was mostly smooth with a few ups and downs. I had expected it to be all downhill so the ups took me by surprise and I felt like I was moving slowly. I kept meeting hikers coming the opposite way, all of whom said they’d been in Mammoth and told me to have a great time in town.
As I neared McLeod Lake I began to see more and more day hikers. The trail quickly got crowded and I felt like I was playing Frogger the way I was having to doge people. It was all downhill so I was able to move fast, plus I was motivated by the potential for town food. I flew down the trail and tried to politely ask everyone in my way to let me pass.
Finally I made it down to Horseshoe Lake and was greeted in the parking lot by Truffles, Pinky, Hangman, and Pimento in a rental car. The 3 of them had been in Bishop and rented a car to come pick us up. Pinky and Hangman had hiked out of Bishop with us on day 62, but Hangman’s foot pain became unbearable and they decided to go back down into Bishop so that he could get a xray. It was confirmed that he had a stress fracture, so they hung out in Bishop for a while waiting for Pimento to hike into town since he was behind us. Once they were all together they rented a car so that we could all explore for a while. We have family meeting all of us in South Lake Tahoe in a few days, so this way we can drive to see family and all still get to be together even if we aren’t hiking together.
The 5 of us (plus our packs and bear cans) all piled into the Nissan Altima, it was a tight squeeze to say the least. They caught us up on what they’d been doing for the past few days and told them about our time in the Sierra. Pinky drove us into the town of Mammoth Lakes where we made a beeline for Distant Brewing for drinks and food. We had beer and caught up over pizza before trying to make a rough plan for our few days before going to Tahoe to see family. We decided that we’d drive out to Yosemite to spend a couple of days and we all applied for the Half Dome permits.
We left the brewery and made a quick pit stop at an RV park so that Truffles and I could take showers since we just came off the trail. We still had to put on our stinky hiking clothes, but I felt a little cleaner and more presentable. We made a trip to the grocery outlet to get food for the next few days and were on our way.
We all decided to just camp on National Forest land rather than paying for a campsite or hotel room, so we drove out of town a few miles and found a sweet little campsite thanks to Pimento’s favorite “freecampsites.net” website. We set up our tents by the car and built a small fire to roast hotdogs. It felt just like being on trail besides the fact that we kept going to the car to get stuff. It reminded me a lot of Truffles, Pimento, and I’s big road trip after the AZT in 2023 when we basically did the same thing for a month. It felt good to have our group back together.
We had enough signal to check our emails and learn that we got Half Dome permits for Monday! That means we’d head to Yosemite tomorrow to explore and then get to do the iconic hike the following day. The day after that we’ll drive to South Lake Tahoe to meet up with our families. What a fun week we have planned and a great break from the trail.
Location: High Sierra
Start: Mammoth Pass (Mammoth Lakes) – 904.4
End: Mammoth Lakes – 904.4
Miles: 0.0
Sleep: Tent
The perfect start to a vacation from trail! We woke up in the national forest close to town and broke camp. It was pretty much the same deal as when we break camp on trail, but this time we had to figure out how to fit all of our crap back into the trunk of the car. We ended up with everything in the trunk except for a bag of groceries, 2 bear cans, and a case of beer. That stuff was spread between mine, Pimento, and Truffle’s laps in the backseat.
We made a quick pit stop at some pit toilets before getting in the highway and heading towards Yosemite. It was about an hour and a half drive to the eastern entrance of the park. When we arrived there were signs saying June 15th (today) was the first day they started doing reservations for entry, but we didn’t have reservations. We weren’t sure what to expect when we pulled up to the ranger station the entrance. We told her we didn’t have reservations but we had half dome permits for the following day. She said that would work and waved us on through. At the fee station I decided to go ahead and buy an America the Beautiful pass so that Truffles and I can hopefully go explore more national parks in the fall and next spring. That got us into the park!
All of the stuff that we wanted to do, though, was on the west side of the park in Yosemite Valley. That meant we had to drive nearly 2 hours through the park to get there. The drive was pretty and it went by quickly. We stopped where the PCT crossed the road near Tuloumne Meadows because we saw our friend Bubbles crossing the road. We pulled over and talked to him for a while, we hadn’t seen him since Tehachapi. It was good to catch up and then send him on his way, hopefully we’ll run into him somewhere up the trail.
We continued our drive and finally made it down into Yosemite Valley. Our first stop was at Bridal Veil Falls. Hangman is in a boot because of his stress fracture so he can’t walk far. This short paved trail was perfect to get us close to the waterfall and easy enough for him. It was overwhelming how many people there were and annoying to deal with the crowds. It was jarring to the system after only seeing a handful of people each day. We admired the falls for a bit before getting back into the car and heading to the visitor center.
If the water fall was crowded, I don’t even know how to describe the visitor center. It was overflowing with people and hard to even think because of all the noise and commotion. I think we all felt overwhelmed and unsure of what to do with ourselves. We decided to get food from the grill and were lucky enough to snag a table in the shade. We ate quickly and took turns checking out the store and the visitor center. Pimento talked to a volunteer about what we need to do for half dome tomorrow, and we made a rough plan for the next couple of days.
We left the visitor center and drove an hour south west to Mariposa Grove. We wanted to check out the giant sequoias and decided to camp just outside the park boundary on this side. We parked at the outpost and go in line for the shuttle to the grove. Again it was super crowded and they fit 70 people on to a bus. I was grateful to get off the cramped bus and be back in the fresh air, even if there were people still bumping into me on the trail.
We took a short hike up to see the Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree. The giant sequoias live up to their name and are massive! The Grizzly Giant is even as tall as the Statue of Liberty according to one sign that we read. We walked back down to catch the bus and hoped back in the car to drive out of the park.
Again Pimento found a sweet campsite for us right outside of the park on National Forest land. We set up camp and it was so buggy that we had to eat in our tents. I watched countless mosquitos swarm our tent while cooking and was thankful to be *partially* inside. We’ve got a big day tomorrow and are going to get up early to head into the park. I’m nervous about half dome just because I’m scared of heights and hope i don’t freak out. I know this is a once in a lifetime hike so I really want to do it!
Just like the cyclists who use them, Troxus e-bikes are a diverse bunch. With more than ten models to choose from, the San Diego–based company offers a full range of e-bikes that have every rider—and every trip—covered. Whether you’re an adventure seeker, an everyday commuter, or the do-it-all type, Troxus has the right bike for you. Troxus also backs up the performance of its e-bikes with a five-year, 5,000-mile warranty, adding an unmatched level of security.
Trax Series
These urban-oriented e-bikes are perfect for cruising to work or exploring your city on the weekends. The Trax models are hyper efficient, with battery capacities and ranges that make them excellent eco-friendly alternatives to car travel. They’re also relatively light, so you can carry them to and from your house or on and off public transportation with ease.
If you’re looking for a classic commuter bike, it’s hard to beat the Trax Sport. It features a 500W+ peak power output motor and a minimalist aluminum build that packs in a ton of features, from an integrated color LCD display to Bluetooth. Switchable sensor modes allow you to effortlessly toggle between torque sensor mode (great for smooth handling and conserving battery) and cadence sensor mode (for when your legs could use a boost). And an optional range-extending 250Wh piggyback battery means you can jet to a weekend getaway without having to recharge.
The Trax Sport’s slightly burlier cousin, the Trax SUV, is also primed for city life. Like the Sport, it boasts switchable sensor technology, and the SUV adds a smooth-riding dual-suspension frame that will brush off the rougher side of urban riding. Internal cable routing makes for a handsome aesthetic.
Adventure Series
Troxus designed this ultracapable e-bike category for far-flung missions. The Adventure Series models will take you from paved roads to rugged terrain and back in style and comfort.
The Explorer Plus is built to handle on and off-road action with aplomb. It has a 960-watt motor and a range of up to 90 miles—perfect for head-clearing getaways—and can ratchet up the speed to 28 miles per hour. It features 26”x4” fat tires built for adventures as big as they are, letting you go wherever the road or trail leads. And a newer, brighter front LED headlight system ensures you can keep riding safely when the adventure goes past dark.
The T-Rex Plus is also an excellent choice for your next adventure companion. Its whopping 1000W peak power motor makes this model a monster on the trail. With a 110mm aluminium dual suspension frame paired with the SR® Suntour air shock, the T-Rex Plus offers a smooth ride on even the most rugged terrain. And with 26”x4.8” tires, you have bigger wheels for even bigger adventures.
Lynx Series
The Lynx Series is the versatile workhorse of the bunch. These bikes’ 20-inch wheels—ideal for quick acceleration and low, easy-to-use standover heights—perhaps belie the line’s do-it-all capability.
The Lynx 2-Up and Lynx T-Scram, for example, are built for a driver and a passenger and have a 360-pound (2-UP) and 400-pound (T-Scram). Their welded carrying racks make these bikes purpose-built for grabbing groceries, taking the kids to school, and generally smoothing the corners of any hectic errand runs. That doesn’t mean the Lynx models miss out on the fun: The bikes also feature the joy of switchable sensor tech, have a 720-watt battery, and can crank the speed up to 28 miles per hour, making them reliable adventure companions in their own right.
Customers Come First
Troxus also sets itself apart with a five-year, 5,000-mile warranty. And if your bike needs a repair, Troxus offers the Total Care+ program that collaborates with its network of more than 200 authorized retailers to swiftly repair accident-related damage, replace worn components, or address battery concerns.
Finally, all Troxus models from 2025 onward are UL-compliant, ensuring their batteries, chargers, and drivetrains adhere to strict safety standards. Just one more reason Troxus e-bikes are making a name for themselves in a crowded field.
Engineered for durability, crafted for capability, and designed for fun. Troxus e-bikes incorporate innovative features like switchable torque and cadence sensors that allow you to tune your ride as you ride, as well as an industry-leading five-year/5,000-mile “fender to fender” warranty. For further information, please visit Troxus.
“‘Cause it seems I get so hung up on the history of what’s gone wrong
And the hope of a new day is sometimes hard to see
But I’m finally catching on to it, yeah, the past is just a conduit
And the light, there at the end is where I’ll be
‘Cause I’m on the up and up, I’m on the up and up
And I haven’t given up, given up on what I know I’m capable of
Yeah, I’m on the up and up and yeah, there’s nothing left to prove”
– “Up and Up” (2007) – Relient K
- Hiked Today: 17.9 miles
- Appalachian Trail (1,807.4 – 1,825.3)
- Total Hiked: 3,758.1 miles
- Total Paddled: 99.5 miles
Weather: 55 – 78 °F, sunny, mostly clear, and wonderful!
Elevation: 1,409 – 4,358 feet
Beaver Brook Shelter to Snow Catcher Lodge
Gnarly. Absurd. Diabolical.
I’m not even sure I know what that last one means, but these were the descriptive words that came to mind as I struggled up South Kinsman Mountain. It was not easy pulling myself up using roots as hand holds, stepping in the tiniest crack or divot to climb up 3-5 feet tall rock cliffs, and scrambling up boulder after boulder going up and up and up. On top of that, it was overgrown in places. The positive of this was that as I brushed the pine needles, it smelled like Christmas. Maybe that’s what caused my mind’s eye to picture Jim Carrey’s portrayal of The Grinch, when he says, “This is Nuts!”
Lots happened even before this “wonderful” experience though, so let’s start back at the beginning…
I was hiking before 6:00 am knowing today would be another big day. I’d stopped last night on the way down from Moosilauke, but the steepest part was ahead and below me. This was the part folks had warned me about. I was super happy everything was dry because if not yeesh, I would not have liked to try getting down on some such steep slanty boulder slopes.
Soon, the trail started to parallel a stream cascading down with waterfall after waterfall. It was a very pleasant scene and I took lots of pictures…
Amazing, right? Well, just remember it wasn’t a walk in the park (I mean, I suppose technically it was if you consider White Mountain National Forest a park). Once down, I found a lovely and well timed parking lot with privy and trash bin. It’s always nice when that works out.
Crossing NH Route 112 and Kinsman Notch, the trail went up steeply. It would be the start of some up and down rollercoaster stuff culminating in a rugged climb up to Mt. Wolf. This was tougher than anticipated. I think after Moosilauke, I had the impression it might be somewhat gentle before starting up Kinsman. Bahaha, never underestimate the AT!
This is the top of Mt. Wolf. After the tough path to get there, it was a bit of a let down, if honest.
As shown above, I had second breaky at the top “lookout” point. While hanging there, some guys came up the short side trail too. After chit chatting, someone from the back out of sight says, “Is that Stevie Wonder?” It was Ghost Dog and he recognized my voice haha. We’d met, hiked a little together, and hung out in town back near Shenandoah National Park and the town of Front Royal, VA.
The group of hikers he was with had recently grouped up for the Whites, a smart idea. They moved on north, but eventually I caught up and hiked with/sort of followed behind them for most of the day. Some of the others were Water Slide, Obi-Wan, and Freebird. It was nice to be around others and these guys set quite the pace.
Starting up South Kinsman, things started out alright. But eventually, it turned into the wild adventure I described up above.
Not until we were very near the top did views out start to show up. I had fallen behind the others at this point, but could hear them every now and then and it was as if they were straight up above me on a cliff haha.
There was a last burst of steepness after this, but finally we reached a bare rock opening with stellar views. Getting a chance to catch our breath, Ghost Dogs said something like, “Well, that was fun.” One of the others expressed agreement. And they were serious. I couldn’t help myself and laughing, said, “You guys are crazy… I’m having a great time, but that was straight gnarly.” That sort of sums it up. The way I see it, the route up here could barely be called a trail. Someone at some point said, I’m going to the top of this sucker. They picked a line and now we all follow it haha. Anyways, we did it and I felt a huge sense of accomplishment.
The summit was still ahead and so after catching our breath, we continued onward.
I hoped for a spot to sit for lunch there, but it turned out that the actual top was more tree covered. The group stayed nearby and had their break in the shade of the trees, but I kept going to North Kinsman to have my lunch out on a ledge there…
I’m reintroducing cold-soaked ramen noodles into my diet. It’s a pretty light weight lunch option and I’m intentionally trying to lighten the load with all these steep climbs.
Another outstanding summit with weather that couldn’t have been better. I have felt very honored or privileged or lucky or something of that sort to have gotten these experiences atop Kinsman and Moosilauke the past two days. It really is an incredible setting for a human to be when the weather is agreeable.
The way down felt long and slow going. I think it was something like 5 miles from the top to where the trail crosses Interstate 93.
This is the first of the Appalachian Mountain Club huts, the Lonesome Lake Hut. I wanted to check it out but wanted to get into town at a decent time more. The group of 5 I was hiking around went to see if they might score some lemonade though.
I was quite unsure how things would go this evening. I planned to go into town to resupply and hoped for a nero or zero tomorrow. Where I would stay and how I’d get there was a bit of a mystery for most of the day though. Eventually, I nailed it down to stay at Snow Chasers Lodge, which appeared to be a ski club headquarters/bunkhouse/I wasn’t sure. And to get there, I hoped to hitchhike from the Flume Gorge Visitor Center, but wasn’t sure how that’d go.
After crossing underneath the interstate, a side trail led to the visitor center. I was stoked to find it paved after all the treacherous rocky terrain over the last few days.
After a mile, I was there and bopped out to the road. I wasn’t super hopeful, if honest, but in less than 15 minutes I was in a car heading down the mountain! My savior today was Gary and he dropped me off right at the front curb to Price Chopper grocery store in Lincoln, New Hampshire! Thanks good sir!
Wow, I could hardly believe my schemes all came together. Kind of bonkers, this thru-hiking world. I jumped right into resupplying and the store was wildly busy with tourists. This town seems to be a destination for vacationers.
Afterwards, I walked about a half mile and found Snow Chasers Lodge. Collin, the manager of the place, showed me around and right away I was in town mode. It was such an inviting and comfortable place. I got my little pizzas in the toaster oven, then started up the washing machine with all my dirty belongings, and eventually got showered up. Boom. So refreshing. While going about my tasks, I spotted another hiker being shown around. It was Late Start!
Late Start and I met back at Woods Hole Hostel. He also has a blog on The Trek and in recent days we’ve been checking in with each other since we knew we were close. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised to see him thinking he was about a day back. After a quick reunion, he actually headed out to dinner with a friend. I was so freaking tired that I crashed early. I have loved my introduction to the Whites, but as expected, they’ve been kicking my behind too!
Thanks for joining on the journey! It means a lot that you took the time to read up on these adventures. If you want to help kids get access to the outdoors, a cause that means a lot to me, please help me in supporting Outdoors Empowerment Network! The “Tip Author” button is a direct link to my fundraising page. Y’all are truly amazing. Thank you!
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