There are a lot of Bluetooth speakers on the market today. It is tough to find one that really differentiates itself from the rest, or especially one that can handle the dangers of having electronic devices in the mountains, and especially near the water. That said, Ultimate Ears (UE) has become known for their tough built speakers, and the UE Roll speaker is river ready.
About UE Roll
The UE Roll is shaped something like a flying saucer, about 5 inches across and very light weight. On the underside of the disc is a sturdy bungee which allows it to be clipped to pretty much anything- a backpack strap, a bike handle, or even the nose of a paddle board.
Field testing the UE Roll
My first thought was that such a small size would impact the sound quality, like many speakers like it on the market. However, even pushing the volume to its limit, the sound was crisp and clear. It might not be the pulse of a pool party, but it certainly provides perfect a background soundtrack.
The battery life allows for 9 hours of music playback, which might actually be longer than my iPhone can last with Bluetooth enabled. But one of the unique features of this design is that multiple devices can be connected simultaneously. The downfall to this is that whichever device is added last hijacks the playlist.
The exterior of the UE Roll speaker is a plasma-coated acoustic skin. The top of the disc has buttons for volume control, but no pause, play or skip button. All track navigation is controlled on the connected phone, which is not ideal near the water. There are buttons on the belly, one for p
ower and one for Bluetooth, and it’s pretty much impossible to accidentally turn the speaker off.
The UE Roll also comes with its own flotation device, a mini inflatable inter tube that the speaker settles on top of and can float across the surface. And by using the bungee cord you can pretty much guarantee the speaker isn’t going to sink to the bottom of the Colorado if it capsizes. The Roll can be fully submerged, but only up to a meter for an hour. The sound is muffled underwater, so you are certain to notice your tunes are gone before the speaker drowns.
So while this speaker is great for the summer, on the river or poolside, I am also looking forward to using it this winter. The waterproof design can also handle the snow. It will be ideal for clipping to a pack while skinning or tossing in the snow while aprèsing in the backcountry or on a hut trip. The Roll is ready to roll for any adventure in the mountains.
