With a great outdoor party comes a great packing list: music, a cooler, seating, shade, serving gear, portable power, lighting and bug control. You need an outdoor Bluetooth speaker that lasts as long as the party, drinks that stay cold for hours, enough seats for everyone, and a plan for the sun, the dark, the bugs, and everything that could go wrong.
We put together eight essentials that cover all of it. Prices last checked on October 29.
Outdoor party essentials, at a glance
1. Music: Bumpboxx Slapstik™ V2
Price: $129
Every outdoor party needs music, and the Bumpboxx Slapstik V2 is the speaker that goes where the party is. It’s about 9 inches long and just under 2 pounds, with a magnet built into the back. Stick it on a toolbox, a steel tailgate or the metal frame of a golf cart, and the music stays up off the grass and out of everyone’s way. On painted or delicate surfaces, test a spot first.
It puts out 40W peak, and the IPX7 rating means rain or a splash from the pool won’t hurt it. The battery lasts up to 22 hours. The speaker also works as a power bank, so if someone’s phone dies halfway through the night, it can give it up to two charges.
Once the sun goes down, five light modes react to the music. You can pair two Slapstiks if you have them. And when there’s nothing metal around, the charging cable doubles as a strap, with a carabiner in the box to clip it to a bag or chair.
2. Cooler: RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler
Price: $279
Ever tried carrying a full cooler across the yard by yourself? The RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler rolls on wheels with an aluminum tow handle, so you don’t have to. It fits 78 cans without ice or 53 pounds of ice, enough for a big group.
It’s also on the lighter side for its size. Empty, it weighs 30 pounds, which RTIC says is up to 30% lighter than similar rotomolded wheeled coolers. Up to 2.5 inches of foam insulation keeps everything cold, and ice can last up to five days if you pack it the way they recommend.
Keep in mind that it’s almost 29 inches long, so check your trunk and storage space before you buy.
3. Seating: Kelty Low Loveseat
Price: $149.95
People stay longer when they have somewhere comfortable to sit, and the Kelty Low Loveseat fits two of them side by side. It sits 13.5 inches off the ground with a slight recline, making it a good match for a fire pit, the beach, or a long evening on the lawn.
The frame is powder-coated steel with quilted polyester padding on top. Each side has an adjustable armrest and an insulated drink holder. It weighs about 15 pounds and folds down to 34.5 by 11 by 11 inches, and the carry wrap doubles as a padded mat for your dog.
The only catch is the low seat, which can be harder to get out of, so keep a regular chair or two around for guests who prefer to sit higher.
4. Shade: E-Z UP Ambassador 10x10 canopy
Price: $146.30
The E-Z UP Ambassador puts 100 square feet of shade wherever you need it, so you’re not relying on a tree being in the right spot. There’s room underneath for a food table and a few chairs.
The frame is powder-coated steel, with two leg heights and a 9-foot-6-inch peak. It weighs about 35 pounds, but it comes with a roller bag, so you can wheel it instead of carrying it. Stakes are included too, and the fabric meets the CPAI-84 fire resistance standard.
E-Z UP doesn’t list a waterproof rating for this model, so think of it as shade first. On a windy day, stake it down or add leg weights (sold separately), since any canopy can catch a strong gust.
5. Serving gear: Govino 16 oz shatterproof glasses
Price: $24.95 for four.
For serving gear, go with Govino’s 16 oz shatterproof glasses. Someone always knocks a drink off the table, and with these, that means a quick wipe and nothing to sweep up.
They’re made from BPA-free Tritan, a plastic that looks a lot like glass and won’t shatter. The pint-style shape works for beer, cocktails, sparkling water, or anything else in the cooler.
They’re dishwasher safe. Skip the heated dry, since high heat can cloud plastic glasses over time. You can buy them in packs of 4, 8, 12, or 72.
6. Portable power: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
Price: $559
1500 watts can run a blender, a fan and a string of lights at the same time, and that’s what the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 puts out. If the party is at a campsite, a beach or the far end of a big yard, this is your outlet.
It stores 1,070 Wh in a LiFePO4 battery, with a 3,000W surge for anything that needs an extra push when it starts up. There are three AC outlets plus USB-C and USB-A ports. Jackery says it runs at about 30 dB, can charge from the wall in an hour in emergency mode and is rated for 4,000 charge cycles.
The tradeoff is weight at about 24 pounds. But buy it from Jackery and you get a five-year warranty.
7. Lighting: Brightech Ambience Pro LED string lights
Price: $55 on sale.
When the sun goes down, the lighting decides whether people stay. Overhead bistro lights change the look of a yard more than anything else on this list.
The Brightech Ambience Pro string runs 48 feet with 15 shatterproof Edison-style bulbs spaced 3 feet apart. Each bulb uses 2W. Choose warm, soft or neutral white. Brightech says you can connect two strings for a bigger space, and it builds the lights to handle wind, rain and snow. Add a separate outdoor dimmer if you want softer light.
The plug-in version needs an outlet or an extension cord, and the Jackery above can run it. If your yard gets good sun, Brightech also makes a solar Ambience Pro that runs off its own panel. The plug-in string comes with a three-year warranty.
8. Bug control: Thermacell E-ZoneGuard Patio repeller
Price: $39.99
Here’s how a lot of backyard parties end: one slap on the arm, then another, then everyone suddenly remembers they have work in the morning. A bug repeller is how you keep that from happening, but nobody remembers it until it’s too late.
The Thermacell E-ZoneGuard Patio is a good one to have ready before guests arrive. It creates a 20-foot zone of mosquito protection around where people are sitting and is fully working in about 15 minutes. No spray, no flame, no smell, and nobody has to rub DEET on their arms. One charge lasts up to 5.5 hours, and the 12-hour refill in the box covers a couple of evenings. After that, refills cost extra.
It does have limits. A strong breeze weakens the zone, so it works best in still air close to the seating. The repellent is also toxic to fish, so keep it away from ponds and fish tanks.
The fine print
Know before you buy
Slapstik V2
On painted or delicate surfaces, test a spot first.
RTIC 52 QT
Almost 29 inches long. Check your trunk and storage space.
Kelty Low Loveseat
The low seat is harder to get out of. Keep a regular chair or two around.
E-Z UP Ambassador
No waterproof rating listed. On windy days, stake it down or add leg weights (sold separately).
Govino 16 oz
Dishwasher safe, but skip the heated dry. High heat can cloud plastic glasses.
Jackery 1000 v2
About 24 pounds.
Brightech Ambience Pro
The plug-in version needs an outlet or extension cord. The Jackery can run it.
Thermacell E-ZoneGuard
The 12-hour refill in the box covers a couple of evenings. After that, refills cost extra.
Ready to take it outside?
You don’t have to buy all eight at once. If you’re starting from scratch, get the music and the cooler first, since those two are what turn a few people in a backyard into a party. Add shade and seating next, then the lights, power and bug repellent as your parties get bigger and run later.
Build your kit
Start small, add as you go
01
Start
Music + cooler
Slapstik V2 and RTIC 52 QT. The two that turn a few people in a backyard into a party.
02
Next
Shade + seating
E-Z UP Ambassador and Kelty Low Loveseat.
03
Later
Lights, power, bug control
Brightech Ambience Pro, Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 and Thermacell E-ZoneGuard, as your parties get bigger and run later.
Whatever you start with, set it up before the first guest arrives. That way you’re hanging out with everyone instead of running back inside for ice.
FAQ
What do I need for an outdoor party?
A speaker, a cooler, seating, shade, serving gear, portable power, lighting and bug control. If you’re starting small, get a speaker and a cooler first and build from there.
What is the best portable speaker for a party?
For most backyard parties, the Bumpboxx Slapstik V2. It’s rated IPX7, runs up to 22 hours and has a magnetic back that sticks to suitable metal surfaces, so it stays off the ground and out of the way. For a bigger crowd, step up to the Bumpboxx Thump (120W) or Flare8 Pro (400W).
What should I look for in a portable speaker for outdoor use?
A water rating, long battery life and enough volume for open air. Outside, there are no walls for sound to bounce off, so a speaker that sounds loud in your living room can feel quieter in the yard. A built-in power bank or lights are nice extras once it gets dark.
Do I need a power station if my speaker has a power bank?
Only if you want to run things that plug into a wall outlet. A speaker’s power bank charges phones. A power station like the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 runs small kitchen appliances, fans and string lights.