Outdoor Tech’s CES 2015 lineup aims to please the rugged tech enthusiast

By Les Shu Published January 28, 2016

For the outdoors geeks, Outdoor Tech showed off a few useful gadgets at the 2015 CES show that are great even for the non-adventurous. Take the Buckshot Pro, a portable rugged speaker that does double duty as a flashlight and portable battery.

Equipped with a 2,600mAh battery, the Buckshot Pro ($80) is a compact, lightweight portable Bluetooth speaker that provides up to 10 hours of play and talk time. When not used for charging, a flashlight component attaches to the USB, and can be used as a torch, lamp, or strobe light. The durable exterior is designed to prevent against abuse, and the included handlebar mount lets you strap the speaker onto your bicycle for tunes on the go. You can even make or accept phone calls via the built-in mic.

Outdoor Tech Kodiak Plus 10000 — Outdoor Tech Kodiak Plus 10000 Image used with permission by copyright holder

Outdoor Tech also introduced two new portable battery packs. The Kodiak Mini ($20) is an affordable 2,600mAh battery that can recharge an iPhone 1.5 times and a GoPro camera 2.5 times. Now, portable batteries are a dime-a-dozen these days, but the Kodiak Mini stands out with its water-resistant and shockproof body. A larger-capacity version, the Kodiak Plus ($80), has a 10,000mAh battery and dual USB ports to charge bigger devices like iPads or multiple phones.

Lastly, Outdoor Tech displayed a collection of accessories for its Chips and Wired Chips headphones that fit into snow helmets. The accessories expand the Chips’ utility in non-snowboarding activities. The accessories include a pouch to attach to bike and skate helmets, an adapter that turns the Chips into an over-the-head headphones, and two styles of beanies. The headphones have controls for audio and voice calls, and they are sweat- and water-resistant.

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