When you arrive early in the morning at an Ultimate Frisbee tournament, no matter where it is, you will hear the same thing – Frisbee music playing on almost every single sideline as the players warm up. Pump up jams are important. They help energize teams before their first game of the day. Music helps define a team culture. Yet often, the question remains – what is the best Ultimate Frisbee speaker, or boom box, for me?
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If you are in a hurry and just want the best team boombox for Ultimate Frisbee music, check out the speaker below.
Best Sideline Speaker Boombox
BOSCH Jobsite Radio
There are many different types of speakers to use for Ultimate, depending on what you are looking for. The speakers, or boom boxes, for Ultimate Frisbee are organized in three different categories below.
Personal Speakers are for playing pump up tunes just for you. These are quietest, but the most compact.
Team Speakers are for your team as you huddle, hang out, or get ready for the day. These are a bit larger, and a bit louder.
Sideline Speakers are the loudest, and are great to use during team warmups.
There is also a section on using boom boxes – with important tips on protecting your speaker in adverse weather conditions! You can click on any of the links to jump to that section, or scroll down to keep reading!
- Personal Speakers for Ultimate
- Team Speakers for Ultimate
- Sideline Speakers for Ultimate
- Tips for Using Speakers
- Other Ultimate Gear
Personal Speakers for Ultimate
Anker Soundcore Bluetooth Speaker
To start the list of Ultimate Frisbee speakers is the Anker Soundcore. I have owned one of these for years, and could not be happier. It’s cheap compared to other speakers, reliable and easy to use. It simply connects with your phone, and can play your pump up jams wherever you want. I often use it in the morning, getting ready before heading off to the fields. At this price, you won’t be disappointed.
Anker Soundcore Wireless Headphones
If you are looking for a way to keep your pump up Frisbee music a little more personal, wireless headphones are the way to go. The best bang for your buck are going to be the Anker Soundcore Wireless Headphones. These are much cheaper than the high end Beats Headphones – but offer much of the same. The biggest benefit is that the Anker Headphones are wireless, which allows you to cleat up, throw, and warm up to your very own pump up jams in a more personal way than the Anker Bluetooth Speaker allows.
Team Speakers for Ultimate
JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
This lightweight, yet loud portable bluetooth speaker is a great addition to any team huddle or timeout circle. It’s loud, durable, and can easily be carried alongside a water bottle for a teammate. If you want a speaker that can sit in your lap and play tunes while your team recovers for the next game, you want to look at this Ultimate Frisbee speaker.
BOSE Soundlink Bluetooth Speaker II
The BOSE Soundlink offers a slightly different style and price point than the JBL Flip speaker, but it can still offer great sound for your team. The BOSE speaker works better on a more permanent surface, like on the top of a cooler during the bye round of an Ultimate Frisbee tournament. Similar to the JBL Flip speaker, it is wireless, water resistant, and offers great sound and volume.
Sideline Speakers for Ultimate
BOSCH Jobsite Radio
I see speakers like this one on sidelines at Ultimate tournaments a lot. If you need a speaker loud enough to pump up the entire team during warmups, there is a lot to love here. It’s Bluetooth and wireless, portable, and holds a charge for a long time. It’s very loud. What sets this speaker apart, is its durability. It was built for construction sites, and features rail protection across the entire frame of the speaker. If your team travels to tournaments, this speaker will stick with you through thick and thin.
ECOXGEAR EcoBoulder Speaker
This speaker is very similar to the one that my team has used for years. Honestly, it’s great. It’s super loud, and our entire team can warm up on the field and still easily hear the pump up tunes from the speaker. The combination of Bluetooth and wireless makes it easy to use, and it holds a charge for a long time. It’s also waterproof, dust proof, and durable. It even has cup holders!
Tips for Using Speakers
Using a speaker is easy, right? Turn it on, sync it to your phone, press play – the pump up tunes start flowing.
Yes…and no. You’ll want your Ultimate Frisbee speaker to last as long as possible, game after game, tournament after tournament. Here are a few tips for improving the durability and longevity of your speaker.
Bring a Plastic Garbage Bag
Some speakers claim they are waterproof. I still suggest bringing a bag for your speaker, in case of rain. Not only will this protect your speaker from water, it will protect your phone (or other music device) from getting wet. It also stops water from collecting on the speaker, because guess what? That water will end up somewhere – most likely the inside of the car that drove it here.
Use a Shade Tent
The sun is hot, and most speakers are made with dark colors. It’s quite easy for speakers to heat up fast, and a hot speaker can run into problems due to overheating. Using a shade tent can help solve this problem.
You’ll find tents like these on the sideline during Ultimate Frisbee tournaments. While your team warms up, store your speaker in the shade and keep it cool!
Don’t Play Music During the Game
This can be somewhat controversial advice, but I stand by it. Don’t play music during a game of Ultimate Frisbee. Communication is a big part of Ultimate. Teammates need to be able to communicate with one another. Opponents need to discuss calls. New players need to focus.
Blasting music on the sideline during a game is generally not in the best interest of most people on the field.
Also, it’s a bad idea if your game is being recorded or streamed. The stream’s audio can pick up the music. If streamed online, the music would be unlicensed (meaning the stream doesn’t have the license to play the music), and the stream will be kicked off-line. This has happened to games I’ve played in, and it’s much less fun.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
The final tip I have for anyone with a speaker – be aware of your surroundings. I’ve seen clueless Ultimate players jamming out in the parking lot to some sultry tunes, while youth soccer is played on the fields adjacent to the lot. Take a look around before blasting your less-than-safe-than-work tunes at full volume.
Other Ultimate Gear
Speakers aren’t the only gear you’ll need for Ultimate Frisbee. Check out more gear below.