Sonic Impact i-F3

Portable iPod speakers come in many shapes and sizes, and form factor is the most important aspect for determining just how portable an item is. Sonic Impact obviously has a firm grasp on this concept: Every portable unit the company has put out features a highly totable design. The latest set, dubbed the i-F3, is no different, and fans of rugged portability should take heed. This $170 speaker for the iPod will follow you anywhere and put up with your abuse--just don't try drop-kicking it across a room or anything.

Like other Sonic Impact speakers, the i-F3 features a clamshell design with a zipper closure and textured canvas coating--gray, in this case. When zipped shut, the unit measures a respectably compact 9.5 by 7.5 by 2.8 inches. However, this device is no lightweight. It weighs 3.2 pounds, so you'll definitely notice it in a carry-on. That doesn't mean you should leave the i-F3 behind, though. It's a rugged unit that--when closed--is water-resistant, with a rubber flap protecting the DC-in, auxiliary line-in, and antenna ports located on the outer right edge.

When you open the i-F3, its upper half is supported by two sturdy-feeling canvas straps. This half contains four speaker drivers hidden behind two gray grilles that flank a central LCD. The LCD, which is backlit in red, displays the time, alarm status, battery meter, and various speaker modes. It also conceals one of the handy design features of the i-F3: Press a small button and the LCD panel pops out and reveals a slot for storing your iPod during transport. A nice touch, if you ask us.