ECOXGEAR EcoSlate
Bluetooth speaker
Brand: ECOXGEAR
Model: EcoSlate
Our take Consider this the millennial’s multitool: It’s a voice-activated, waterproof speaker, power bank, and lantern. The sound quality is great, with punchy percussion and solid range (use it appropriately, far from others). “The sound of Yo-Yo Ma flowing through my campsite was a perfect end to a day of climbing near Moab,” says our tester. He also enjoyed the EcoSlate’s modest 2,600-mAh capacity: “I could fully charge my phone and still have juice left over for music,” he reports. Bummer: Bulk and weight—it’s the size of a hardcover book.
Features A 200-lumen light on one end is bright enough to light an entire campsite. Rubber bumpers protect the unit from drops. Bonus: It floats.
Trail cred “It’s tough enough that I had no qualms about lashing it to my pack while chimneying up near Independence Pass in Colorado,” our tester says