Short answer: the Bose Soundlink Flex. It ranks #38 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $79.99; the Skullcandy Terrain XL ranks #168, rated 2.1/5, at $79.99. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
The Bose Soundlink Flex is the better-sounding pick. A small, rugged waterproof speaker that survives drops and floats, with a warm, bass forward sound for casual outdoor use. The catch: Warm sounding with overly boosted bass which drowns out midrange detail.
The Skullcandy Terrain XL is the longer-running choice. A very loud, long running Terrain speaker, waterproof with a wrist wrap and a built in microphone. It is rated for 18 hours of battery against 12 for the Bose Soundlink Flex. The tradeoff: Shares the Terrain line’s tuning: no bass, very rolled off treble, and distortion in the treble.
Buy the Bose Soundlink Flex. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Skullcandy Terrain XL at the same price, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Bose Soundlink Flex | Skullcandy Terrain XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #38 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #168 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 33ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 95dB SPL (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (SKDY Multi-Link, up to 99 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (589 g) | 1.4 lbs (635 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 7.9” x 3.5” x 2” (201 x 90 x 52 mm) | 7.5” x 3.5” x 3.5” (190.5 x 88.9 x 88.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 60mm full-range driver + 2x passive radiators | 2x 48mm drivers + passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (wrist strap) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 2 x 20W |
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