Lifejacket 2: Speakers so tough, they might survive the apocalypse

Speakers that work despite being thrown about and immersed in water. The Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 impresses

The Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 speakers work despite being thrown about and immersed in water

It looks a bit like Wall-E's face, with the two speakers, seen through a black mesh, resembling the eyes. Just as well, perhaps. For, if you're betting on speakers that might survive the end of the world, we'd put our money on the Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2. The company claims that the speakers are "waterproof", "dustproof", "sandproof (sic)" "shockproof" and "snowproof (sic)".

What's good: We deliberately knocked the speakers off a shelf. The speakers landed with a soft, cheery bounce, with no interruption in the music. We even gingerly put it in a bucket of water — it floated on the surface. Pairing the device is a breeze. There's no setting up at all. When paired, it will also answer phone calls; the addition of a little mic makes it behave the same way your car Bluetooth speakers would. The other big plus is the battery life. Altec Lansing claims 16 hours of playback. With frequent usage, it went the whole week on a single charge.

What's not: The heavy-duty battery makes the speakers unexpectedly heavy and brick-like (about 900gm). The rubber casing also means that this isn't the prettiest Bluetooth speakers in the market (and there are some really elegant, futuristic-looking ones). While the speakers are tremendously loud, there's no thumping bass, or the clarity of good stereo sound, and it cracks at high volumes.

Verdict: The Lifejacket 2, like Shwarzeneggar in Terminator 2, is a survivor. Altec Lansing suggests it will survive being run over by a car, or being shot by a sniper rifle (true story), so it will surely survive your cycling expeditions, or poolside parties. But it's meant for outdoor adventures, and not as a replacement for your home or car stereo.

Quick specs

What: Altec Lansing Lifejacket 2 Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

At a glance: IP67 protection, 16 hours battery life, NFC compatible, 33ft wireless range

USP: Waterproof, dustproof, shockproof

Best buy: ₹12,580 on snapdeal.com