In terms of heat retention and the ability to be used as filling, these are the warmest fibers by weight:

• Qiviut [Musk Ox Wool]
• Yak Wool
• Alpaca Wool
• Camel Wool
• Sheep’s Wool

For more details, see my article explaining why these wools are ultrawarm.

After testing duvets filled with Camel, Alpaca, and Merino wool, I found that Camel wool is indeed the warmest inside a comforter.

All of these wools contain no lanolin so they are hypoallergenic and odorless.

They have good moisture “wicking” properties. This means that moisture is absorbed by the fiber. This keeps sweat away from being released to the outside of the duvet.

This is the duvet I found to be the warmest:

The absolute warmest duvet on the market is the Qiviut duvet:

Alpaca Duvet

This Alpaca duvet I have tested and it is also very warm:

• Ave Maria 400 GSM Alpaca Wool Duvet/Comforter

The post The Warmest Wool Duvets (Qiviut, Alpaca and Camel Wool) appeared first on Reactual.

Jeans Made In The U.S.

• AG Jeans — Los Angeles, California — jeans (only selected products)
• Jean Shop — New York, New York —  jeans
• Levi Strauss & Co. — San Francisco, California —  jeans (only selected products)
• Rag & Bone — New York, New York —  jeans (only selected products)
• Raleigh Denim — Raleigh, North Carolina —  jeans
• Tellason — San Francisco, California —  jeans
• The Stronghold — Los Angeles, California —  jeans
• True Religion — jeans

Accessories Made In The U.S.

• American Optical — sunglasses, eyeglasses
• Bollman Hats — Adamstown, Pennsylvania — hats
• Buffalo Gold – Goodnight, Texas – Bison wool clothing
• David Hart & Co. — New York, New York — neckties
• Dodo Case — San Francisco, California — iPad / iPhone cases
• Edgar Leather — Tallahassee, Florida — leather goods
• Faribault Woolen Mills — Faribault, Minnesota — blankets
• Geier Glove Co. — Centralia, Washington — leather gloves
• The General Knot Co. — Bedford, New York — neckties
• Gfeller Casemakers — Meridian, Idaho — leather goods
• Noble Buffalo — St. Louis, Missouri — leather belts
• Leather Man Limited — Essex, Connecticut — belts, accessories
• Optimo Hats —Chicago, Illinois — hats
• Pierrepont Hicks — Minneapolis, Minnesota — ties, accessories
• Randolph Engineering — Randolph, Massachusetts — glasses, sunglasses
• Shuron — Greeneville, South Carolina — glasses, eyeglasses
• Solesu — Belleville, Illinois — leather belts
• Tanner Goods — Portland, Oregon — leather goods
• Wiley Belts — Charlottesville, Virginia — belts, leather goods

Luggage Made In The U.S.

• Accessories Unlimited — Portland, Maine — bags
• Acorn Bags — California — cycling bags
• Artifact Bags — Omaha, Nebraska — bags
• Bailey Works — Portsmouth, New Hampshire — bicycle bags
• Billykirk — Pennsylvania — bags, leather goods
• Beckel Canvas — Portland, Oregon — bags, tents, etc.
• Buzzline — Fort Pierce, Flordia — bags
• Dandux — Ellicott City, Maryland — bags
• Domke — Hauppauge, New York — camera bags, accessories
• Duluth Pack — Duluth, Minnesota — luggage
• Emil Erwin — Nashville, Tennessee — luggage, accessories
• Estex Mfg. Co. — Fairburn, Georgia — bags
• Equinox — Williamsport, Pennsylvania — bags, outdoor gear
• Frost River — Duluth, Minnesota — bags, tents
• Ghurka — New York, NY — bags, leather goods, accessories
• Goruck — Bozeman, Montana — bags, hats
• Johnson Woolen Mills — Johnson, Vermont — bags, clothing, accessories
• Joshu+Vela — San Francisco, California — bags
• J. W. Hulme Co. — St. Paul, Minnesota — briefcases, bags, accessories
• Klein Tools — Lincolnshire, Illinois — bags, accessories
• LL Bean — Freeport, Maine — luggage (only selected products)
• Makr — Orlando, Florida — luggage, accessories, leather goods
• Mer — Brooklyn, New York — luggage
• Moop — Pittsburg, Pennsylvania —bags
• Port Canvas — Kennebunkport, Maine — canvas bags
• Red Oxx — Billings, Montana—  adventure luggage
• Topo Designs — Denver, Colorado — bags
• Tough Traveler — Schenectady, New York — bags
• Triple Aught Design — San Francisco, California — bags, accessories
• Utility Canvas — Gardiner, New York — bags, accessories
• Wm. J. Mills & Co. — Greenport, New York — bags
• Wood&Faulk — Portland, Oregon — bags, accessories

Clothing Made In The U.S.

• Anderson-Little — Tamarac, Flordia — navy blazerslected products)
• Berle Manufacturing — Charleston, South Carolina — trousers
• Beyond Clothing — Seattle, Washington — outdoors clothing
• Bill’s Khakis — Reading, Pennsylvania — khaki pants, clothing
• Brooks Brothers — New York, New York — clothing, sportswear, footwear, accessories (only selected products)
• Bemidji Woolen Mills — Bemidji, Minnesota — clothing, blankets
• Camber — Norristown, Pennsylvania — tee shirts, sweatshirts
• Carhartt — Dearborn, Michigan — workwear, outerwear (only selected products)
• CC Filson — Seattle, Washington — outwear, bags, accessories (only selected products)
• CEGO — New York, New York — custom shirts
• Commonwealth Proper — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — shirts
• Centralia Knitting Mills — Centralia, Washington — outerwear
• Crescent Down Works — Seattle, Washington — outerwear
• Ebbets Field Flannels — Seattle, Washington — jackets, jerseys, accessories
• Engineered Garments — New York, New York — clothing, bags, accessories
• Epaulet — Brooklyn, New York — shirts, ties
• Gitman Brothers — Ashland, Pennsylvania — woven shirts
• Hamilton Shirts — Houston, Texas — custom shirts
• Hart Schaffner Marx — Chicago, Illinois — tailored clothing
• Hertling Trousers — Brooklyn, New York — pants
• Homage — Columbus, Ohio — tee shirts, sweatshirts, accessories
• Individualized — Perth Amboy, New Jersey — woven shirts
• Langlitz Leathers — Portland, Oregon — motorcycle jackets
• New England Shirt Company — Fall River, Massachusetts — shirts
• Oxxford Clothing — Chicago, Illinois — tailored clothing
• Pendleton Woolen Mills — Portland, Oregon — sportswear, blankets (only selected products)
• Pointer Brand — Bristol, Tennessee — clothing, denim, workwear
• Post Overalls — New York, NY — clothing
• Ramblers Way — Kennebunk, Maine — wool clothing
• REI — Kent, Washington — outdoor clothing  (only selected products – see their “Made In USA” section)
• Rogue Territory — Los Angeles, California — clothing, accessories
• Round House — Shawnee, Oklahoma — denim, workwear
• Self Edge — San Francisco, California — clothing
• Schott NYC — New York, New York — outerwear
• Spiewak — New York, New York — outerwear
• Sterlingwear — Boston, Massachusetts — outerwear
• Steven Alan — New York, New York — sportswear, accessories (only selected products)
• Stormy Kromer — Ironwood, Michigan — hats, clothing, outerwear
• Taylor Stitch — San Francisco, California — shirts
• Thom Browne — New York, New York — tailored clothing, sportswear
• Vanson Leathers — Fall River, Massachusetts — leather jackets
• Western Mountaineering — San Jose, California — down jackets, sleeping bags
• Wrath Arcane — Cleveland, Ohio — sportswear

Footware Made In The U.S.

• Allen-Edmonds — Port Washington, Wisconsin — shoes (only selected products)
• Altama — Atlanta, Georgia — boots
• Arrow Moccasin Company — Hudson, Massachusetts — footwear
• Chippewa Boots — Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin — footwear (only selected products)
• Danner — Portland, Oregon — footwear
• Darn Tough — Northfield, Vermont — socks
• E. Vogel — New York, New York — boots, shoes
• Fox River Mills — Osage, Iowa — socks
• Keen – Portland, Oregon – footwear — (only selected products)
• Limmer Boots — Intervale, New Hampshire — boots
• LL Bean — Freeport, Maine — boots
• New Balance — Boston, Massachusetts — athletic shoes (only selected products)
• Oak Street Bootmakers — Chicago, Illinois — shoes, boots
• Oliver Moore — New York, New York — custom shoes
• Perry Ercolino — Doylestown, Pennsylvania — custom shoes
• Quoddy — Perry, Maine — footwear
• Rancourt & Co. — Lewiston, Maine — footwear
• Red Wing — Red Wing, Minnesota — footwear (only selected products)
• Russell Moccasin Co. — Berlin, Wisconsin — footwear
• Townview Leather — Dexter, Maine — footwear
• Vincent & Edgar — New York, New York — bespoke shoes
• Weinbrenner — Merrill, Wisconsin — footwear
• Wesco Boots — Scappoose, Oregon — footwear
• White’s Boots — Spokane, Washington — footwear
• Wigwam — Sheboygan, Wisconsin — socks
• Wolverine – boots (only selected products)
• Yuketen — Hermosa Beach, California — boots, shoes

Tools Made In The U.S.

• All American Pressure Cooker — Wisconsin — Pressure Cookers
• Ambruster Tent Company — Springfield, Illinois — Canvas Tents
• Annin & Company — Roseland, New Jersey — Flags
• Baxter of California — Los Angeles, California — Men’s Grooming Products (only selected products)
• Benchmade — Oregon City, Oregon — Knives (only selected products)
• Buck Knives — Post Falls, Idaho — Knives
• Estwing — Rockford, Illinois — Axes / Wood Splitting
• Field Notes — Portland, Oregon — Notepads, Writing Instruments
• Fisher Space Pen — Boulder City, Nevada — Writing Instruments
• Klhip — Ketchum, Idaho — Nail Clippers
• The Good Flock — Portland, Oregon — Technology Cases
• Jacob Bromwell — Tempe, Arizona — pots, pans, accessories
• Klein Tools – only selected products
• Leatherman — Portland, Oregon — Multi-Tools
• Luma Labs — Portland, Oregon — Camera Straps
• PortaBrace — North Bennington, Vermont — Camera Bags
• Pocket Pin High Pro – Knoxville, Tennessee — Golf training equipment
• Rada Cutlery — Iowa — Kitchen Utensils
• School House Electric — Portland, Oregon — light fixtures, home accessories
• Scout Books — Portland, Oregon — Notebooks
• Springbar Tents — Salt Lake City, Utah — Canvas Tents
• Snap On Tools – only selected products
• Steelcase —  Grand Rapids, Michigan — Chairs
• Streamlight — Eagleville, Pennsylvania — Flashlights
• Surefire — Fountain Valley, California — Flashlights
• The United States Playing Card Company — Cincinnati, Ohio — Playing Cards
• Vornado Fans — Andover, Kansas — Fans
• Wiggy’s — Grand Junction, Colorado — Sleeping Bags, Outerwear
• Wilson Bohannan Co. — Marion, Ohio — Padlocks
• Woodman’s Pal — Boyertown, Pennsylvania — Machetes
• W.R. Case & Sons — Bradford, Pennsylvania — Knives
• Zeroll — Fort Pierce, Flordia — Ice Cream Scoops
• Zippo — Bradford, Pennsylvania — Lighters

Audio Gear Made In The U.S.

• Audio by Van Alstine — Woodbury, MN — preamplifiers, amplifiers, digital-to-analog converters, and phase inverters
• Ayre Acoustics, Inc. — Boulder, CO — full line of audio and video components
• Audeze — Headphones
• Car Audio Factory — Richmond, TX — subwoofer enclosers
• Carr Amplifiers — Pittsboro, NC — guitar amplifiers, made by guitarists for guitarists.
• CI Audio — Port Hueneme, CA — headphone amplifiers, monoblock amplifiers, and power supplies.
• Fargen Amps — Sacramento, CA — all tube (not solid-state) guitar and bass amplifiers
• Grado Labs — Brooklyn, NY — high-quality headphones and phono cartridges (their SR80-i is one of the best headphones under $100)
• KCS Loudspeakers — Sun Prairie, WI — custom horn loudspeakers
• Klipsch –  Hope, AR – audio gear
• Koss Headphones – Milwaukee, WI – headphones
• Manley Labs — Chino, CA — Hi-Fi and professional recording gear
• McIntosh Labs — Binghamton, NY: fine audio and home theater sound systems
• Mohu, Inc. — Raleigh, NC — makers of the LeafTM, a USA-made indoor HDTV antenna
• Moog Music — Ashville, NC — miniMoog Voyager analog monosynth, MoogerFooger guitar pedals, and Etherwave theremin
• Ohm Acoustics — Brooklyn, NY — high-end speakers for audio and home theater applications
• Orb Audio — Sherman Oaks, CA — Mod1 and Mod2 satellite speakers for flat screen and home theater applications, handmade in the USA. “Small Speakers for Smart People”
• Schitt Audio – Audio Gear
• Synthesizers.com — Tyler, TX — modular analog music synthesizers, assembled in USA with domestic and imported components
• SVS — Ohio — speakers and subwoofers for music and home theater
• Wavefront Technologies — Los Angeles, CA — theremin musical instruments and accessories
• Westone — Colorado — Earphones
• Woo Audio — New York — amps
• Zinky Electronics — Flagstaff, AZ — electric guitar amplifiers & accessories

Camping Equipment Made In The U.S.

• American Outdoors — coolers, boat totes, camp chairs, etc.
• Arc Flashlight —Phoenix, AZ — LED pocket flashlights that run on a single AAA battery
• Awl for All —Arlington Hts., IL — indispensable wooden-handled awl for repairing leather, canvas, and vinyl outdoor gear
• Butler Bags —Cedar City, UT — sleeping bags, bedrolls, and gear bags
• Cascade Designs —Seattle, WA — manufacturer of camping gear of all sorts (including Therm-a-rest self-inflating camping mattresses, MSR camping stoves)
• Equinox. —Williamsport, PA — makers of ultralight backpacking gear, including sleeping bags, tarps, ponchos packs, and totes
• EZ-Sales and Mfg. —Gardena, CA— American-made hammocks, folding aluminum camp chairs, cots, and canteens (only selected products)
• Feathered Friends —Seattle, WA — sleeping bags, outwear, and comforters
• Fuerte Cases —La Mesa, CA — waterproof protective cases for laptops, PDAs, firearms
• Kirkham’s Outdoor Products —Salt Lake City, UT — manufacturer of Springbar and AAA canvas wall tents
• Nalgene —Rochester, NY — water bottles, bike bottles, travel mugs, and other “hydration necessities” (only selected products)
• Northern Lites —Wausau, WI — high-tech, lightweight snowshoes for all uses, from racing to hiking
• Open Country Campware — aluminum camp ware kits, plates, pots, and canteens made by Metal Ware Corp. (Two Rivers, WI)
• Outdoor Research —Seattle, WA — shelter systems, headwear, gaiters/footwear, and storage systems/stuff sacks (only selected products)
• Princeton Tec — headlamps, outdoor gear, bikes lights
• Purcell Trench Mfg — Addy, WA —ultra-lightweight camping grills and tarp shelters
• REI — Kent, Washington — outdoor equipment  (only selected products – see their “Made In USA” section)
• TarpTent —Redwood City, CA —ultralight, mobile shelters made with US materials in Seattle, WA
• Tektite —Trenton,NJ — LED flashlights and lanterns, divelights, and marker lights

Bikes Made In The U.S.

• Ahearne — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• A.N.T. Bicycles — Holliston, Massachusetts — bicycles, bicycle accessories
• Bilenky Cycle Works — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — bicycles
• Brooklyn Machine Works — Brooklyn, New York — bicycles
• Calfee Design — La Selva Beach, California — bicycles
• Courage Bicycle MFG Co. — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Cygolite  — bike lights
• Davidson — Seattle, Washington — bicycles
• Fast Boy Cycles — New York, New York — bicycles
• Gunnar Cycles — Waterford, Wisconsin — bicycle frames
• Hufnagel — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Independent Fabrication — Somerville, Massachusetts — bicycles
• Ira Ryan Cycles — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• J.P. Weigle — Lyme, Connecticut — bicycles
• Lightspeed — Chattanooga, Tennessee — bicycles
• MAP — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Metrofiets — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Moots Cycles — Steamboat Springs, Colorado — bicycles
• NiteRider  — bike lights
• Outlier — Brooklyn, New York — cycling clothing
• Pereira — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Phil Wood —San Jose, California — bicycle components
• Princeton Tec — bikes lights
• Richard Sachs Cycles — Chester, Connecticut — bicycles
• Seven Cycles — Watertown, Massachusetts — bicycles
• Signal Cycles — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Six-Eleven Bicycle Co. — Roanoke, Virginia — Bicycles
• Steelman Cycles — Redwood City, California — bicycles
• Strawberry — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Tet Cycles — West Branch, Iowa — bicycles
• Townsend Bicycles — Monrovia, California — bicycles
• Waterford Precision Bicycles — Waterford, Wisconsin — bicycle frames
• Worksmen Bicycles — Queens, New York — bicycles

The post A List Of Goods Still Made In The USA appeared first on Reactual.

Most generators run on gasoline, but propane and diesel models are also for sale. In order to use a portable generator to power sections of your home in the event of an electricity outage, you will also need to purchase and install a transfer switch, which regulates the connections between your power sources and your house

We’ve consulted review sources such as Electric Generators Direct, Amazon, Northern Tool + Equipment, Home Depot, and Good Housekeeping to find the highest rated portable power sources.

Briggs & Stratton 30470 ($917)

Pros:

• Electric start
• Rugged construction

Top Review Sources:

• Electric Generators Direct: 5.0/5.0 “It’s hard to come by a mid-sized generator such as this one, loaded with features and that has electric start in this price range”
• Electric Generators Direct Customer Reviews: 4.9/5.0 (60+ reviews)
• Amazon: 4.0/5.0 (10+ reviews)

With 7,000 watts (8,750 watts surge) of power, the Briggs & Stratton 30470 is capable of keeping several rooms of your home fully operational when paired with a transfer switch. You can still use power cords with this unit, which includes four 120-volt outlets and one 240-volt outlet, but the 30470 is at its best when connected directly to your home’s electrical system. About the only appliance the 30470 is incapable of handling is a central air conditioner. Its 7-gallon gas tank can supply energy at 50% capacity for approximately nine hours. Big wheels and space-efficient construction ensure you don’t have to wrestle with this 250-pound machine in order to move it. Its dimensions are 34.8” L x 22.2” W x 25.9” H. Recoil starters are still common in this class of generators, so the electric starter in the 30470 is a notable convenience. Other features: an hour meter to remind you of oil changes, low-oil automatic shutdown, and included battery. The Briggs & Stratton 30470 ships with a 3-year warranty.

You’ll find the Briggs & Stratton 30470 on Amazon.

Generac GP5500 ($669)

Pros:

• Reliable
• Easy to use and move

Cons:

• No DC outlet

Top Review Sources:

• Electric Generators Direct: 5.0/5.0 “You can find cheaper generators, but no where near the quality of this Generac”
• Northern Tool + Equipment Customer Rating: 4.9/5.0 (15+ reviews)
• Home Depot Customer Reviews: 4.5/5.0 (5+ reviews)

The Generac GP5500 provides 5,500 watts of power (6,875 watts surge) from a 389cc gasoline engine. Reviewers like the GP5500 because of its excellent build quality, value, ease of use, and reliability. Think of the GP5500 as a way of keeping the vital systems running in the event of a home power outage. With 5,500 watts, you won’t be able to run your entire house, but you will be able to connect a refrigerator, furnace fan, and lights at the same time. You can use a transfer switch with the GP5500, but running extension cords is a more appropriate option with a generator of this size. The GP5500 has four 120v outlets and one 240v outlet, all of which are covered when not in use. It will run for 10 continuous hours under moderate load and holds 7.2 gallons of fuel. Its rigid frame and two-wheel design ease transport. The GP5500 weights 180 pounds and has dimensions of 33.5” L x 26.5” W x 27.5” H. It comes with a 2-year consumer warranty.

Purchase the Generac GP5500 on Amazon.

Generac GP17500E ($2,599)

Pros:

• Immense capacity
• Many outlets

Cons:

• Not CARB compliant

Top Review Sources:

• Electric Generators Direct: 5.0/5.0 “Recommended”
• Electric Generators Direct Customer Reviews: 4.8/5.0 (20+ reviews)
• Good Housekeeping Seal

The Generac GP17500E is about as powerful as portable generators get. It delivers 17,500 watts of continuous power and up to 26,250 watts surge. Its engine is a gasoline-powered 992cc unit capable of providing 10 hours of uninterrupted power when loaded at 50%. Fuel capacity is 16 gallons. The GP17500E fires up via an electric start system connected to the included 12-volt battery. 17,500 watts is enough to power central air conditioning systems of up to 60,000 BTUs. The GP17500E is capable of energizing an entire house. Its advantage over immobile, standby generators is that is doesn’t need propane or natural gas to run. Keep in mind, however, that portable generators do not have auto on/off switches; if you aren’t around when the power goes out, the GP17500E will not activate. If you need this functionality, look into standby generators. The GP17500E has an oil hour meter, low oil alert, 12-inch all-terrain wheels, and built-in lifting eye. Outlets include several AC-type and one DC-type. As large as the GP17500E is (48.5” L x 30.75” W x 38.5” H, 400 pounds), it is compact and rigid enough for one person to roll. The manufacturer’s warranty is 2 years for consumers.

Generac’s GP17500E can be purchased through Amazon.

Yamaha EF2000iS ($989)

Pros:

• Fuel efficient
• Very portable
• Quiet

Cons:

• Oil not included

Top Review Sources:

• Amazon: 5.0/5.0 (35+ reviews)
• Electric Generators Direct: 5.0/5.0 “A practical, versatile machine that can go anywhere with ease”
• Electric Generators Direct Customer Reviews: 5.0/5.0 (15+ reviews)

The Yamaha EF2000iS is a gas-powered inverter-generator of compact size and class-leading performance. The EF2000iS produces 1,600 watts of continuous power—enough to run several small appliances simultaneously. It is capable of producing a temporary surge of 2,000 watts should the demand arise. Built in are two 120v AC outlets and one 12v DC outlet. The EF2000iS is extremely portable, measuring only 19.3” L x 11” W x 17.9” H and weighing 44 pounds. Compared to older, traditional camping generators, the EF2000iS’s inverter alternator setup is much quieter (51.5 to 61 dB at a distance of about 20 feet). Its 1.1-gallon gas tank provides 8 to 10 hours of nonstop operation at moderate load. To conserve fuel, the EF2000iS features a smart throttle system that adjusts engine speed to match demand. Two EF2000iS’s can be connected to produce 3,200 watts of power. The Yamaha EF2000iS carries a 3-year consumer warranty.

The Yamaha EF2000iS is for sale on Amazon.

The post The Top Rated Portable Generators appeared first on Reactual.

Bose Free Space 51 Outdoor Speakers

The Bose Free Space 51 outdoor speakers provide even 360-degree sound, and their rugged design makes them perfect for permanent outdoor installation. Each speaker can be mounted on a deck or directly on the ground, and they are rated to withstand sun, snow, ice, and even saltwater spray. The Free Space 51 uses a 4.5” downward-directed driver, and features a domed central port to balance high and low tones. These speakers are fairly sizeable at over a foot tall, but their green color makes them easy to camouflage in grass or plants.

Bose Free Space 51 specs at a glance:
Dimensions: 14.2″H x 12.6″W x 12.6″D
Power: 100 watts

The Bose Free Space 51 outdoor speakers are available from Amazon for $449.00 per pair.

NXG Omni Planter 75 Outdoor Speaker

Instead of hiding in the bushes, the NXG Omni Planter 75 speaker can be disguised in plain sight: the omnidirectional 6.5” coax speaker is integrated into a planter pot perfect for an outdoor space like a large deck. High tones are projected at a slight upward angle to compensate for the speaker’s low position, and users report well-balanced bass tones. The weather-resistant planter speaker is available in terra-cotta or natural gray color to match your décor.

NXG Planter 75 specs at a glance:
Dimensions: 18″H x 20″W x 20″D
Power: 75 watts

The NXG Planter 75 outdoor speaker is sold individually, not as a pair. You can find it for $258.21 at Amazon.

Soundcast OutCast Outdoor Speaker

The OutCast from Soundcast doesn’t come cheap, but it delivers serious performance to match its price tag. First of all, the SoundCast is totally wireless, using a rechargeable 10-hour NiMH battery and a transmitter that can be positioned up to 350 feet away from the speaker. Packed inside the cylindrical case are a downward-firing 8” woofer and four 3” tweeters, arranged to project 360-degree sound. The water-resistant OutCast is big and heavy (weighing in at nearly 40 pounds) but it delivers excellent bass tones and serious volume levels for an omnidirectional outdoor speaker.

Soundcast OutCast specs at a glance:
Dimensions: 26″H x 11″W x 11″D
Power: Built-in 100 watt amplifier

You can find the Soundcast OutCast outdoor speaker, including the iCast transmitter, at Amazon for $799.99 (available in gray or white).

TIC GS-3 Omni Outdoor Speaker

The TIC GS-3 Omni is an affordable outdoor speaker that delivers solid omnidirectional performance. The durable ABS plastic case can be surface mounted or installed in the ground, and the green finish blends easily with surrounding plants. 360-degree sound comes from an 8” woofer (with a butyl rubber surround) and a 2” aluminum cone tweeter. Best of all, the low price tag means you can install multiple speakers to blanket your yard or pool with music.

TIC GS-3 Omni Specs at a glance:
Dimensions: 12.5×12.5x13in
Power: 125w (continuous), 200w (peak)

The TIC GS-3 Omni Outdoor Speaker is available from Amazon for $65.45 per speaker.

The post Best Omnidirectional Outdoor Speakers appeared first on Reactual.