Summer is almost upon us here in the UK, and that means warm sunny weeks filled with festivals, ice creams, cottage holidays and camping. Or at least that’s what we’re all hoping for if the weather behaves. British summers invariably mean filling the car to the brim with tents, bbqs and buckets and spades, as well as countless gadgets to help the holiday run smoothly. Then it’s a long drive to the coast, mountains or countryside with tins of soup rolling around in your foot well, and numerous arguments with the lady on the out of date sat nav who doesn’t realise we can’t drive through fields.

We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Yet when there’s an opportunity to make things just a little bit easier, we’ll grab it with both hands. Which is why we’re always on the lookout for new bits of kit to cut down our load. This summer we’ve discovered the Lava Brightsounds 2.  A multi-functional lamp, power bank and Bluetooth speaker that is perfect for holidays and festivals in the UK. In today’s age of technology, new gadgets have to be versatile to meet our demands. No-one wants to be carrying several devices around when one can do it all!

When we’re not hot footing it across the globe in search of jungles and palm trees, we do like to get out and about in the UK, to escape the daily grind of 9-5 life. Yet whether it’s weekends away, days out, sleeping in remote highland bothies or wild camping here in the Lake District, we do still have some basic needs. Lighting, charging mobile phones (there’s no true escape!), and entertainment of some sort.

The Lava Brightsounds 2 – a multi-functional lamp, charger, speaker and Bluetooth device

LAVA is a new UK based company that specialises in providing high quality innovative and exciting audio and multi-media devices.  So with Bluetooth speakers and power hubs being in great demand, why not combine the two and throw in some lighting as well?

Step forward the Lava Brightsounds 2, a second-generation speaker from LAVA.  This multi-functional Bluetooth speaker, ambient LED light and built in power bank is great around the house and relaxing in the garden, for weekends away, or those summer camping and festival trips.  It’s not the smallest bit of kit, but when you consider that it is combining a light, Bluetooth speaker and a charging hub all in one robust unit it takes up less space than those items on their own, whether that’s in the back of the car or in the rucksack.

Whats in the box:

Lava Brightsounds 2 Unit

USB universal charging cable

3mm aux in cable

Quick guide

How easy is it to operate?

I never read instructions, whether I’m assembling furniture, learning how to use a new mobile phone, or baking a cake. I’m just too impatient. So when Hubbie had our Brightsounds 2 working within seconds having not even glanced at the instruction book, I knew we were on to a winner.

It really is simple to use.

There are 4 buttons on top of the multi-functional lamp that allow you to connect to Bluetooth, receive or reject calls from your mobile, adjust the volume, skip music tracks and control the dimmable light.  There are also lights to indicate status and power level. To the rear of the lamp are the port connections which are protected by a removable rubber cover. A great idea if you’re using it on the beach and don’t want sand to work its way in, like it does in your sandwiches.

The Lamp

Most of the unit (approx. three quarters of its height) is dedicated to the white LED light.  Because the lantern uses an LED it is more energy efficient and will last longer than a traditional bulb – ideal if you are out camping and want to have a reliable source of light.  A quick press of a  button will switch the light on and off, and holding the button down will adjust the brightness so you can set the light to suit your mood.  This makes it a versatile bit of kit, which can be used as  a camping light, ambient lighting for the garden/bbq party, a night light for children, or even an emergency light!

The Speaker

Connecting a smart phone via Bluetooth was easy and the flashing status light lets you know that the device is still paired, and acts as a handy reminder as there is no “on/off” button.  Once paired you can use the four top buttons to receive or reject calls, skip music tracks or adjust the volume. The 5W wraparound speaker provides good quality sound and when Hubbie annoyingly had the volume turned up fully, there was no distortion that he could detect.

Don’t worry if your device does not have Bluetooth connectivity, you can still use the speaker thanks to a handy 3.5mm AUX input (cable provided) located on the rear of the unit behind the rubber protective cover.  Also at the back there is a USB 5V port for charging your electrical devices whilst on the move or out on the beach enjoying the sunset.

The Battery

Brightsounds 2 can run direct from the mains if you’re knocking around the house, but with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery offering up to 36 hours of music playback and 48 hours of light (depending on usage) on a full charge, you don’t really need to be tied to places with electric sockets.

The Colours

The top quarter of the Brightsounds 2 multi-functional lamp is the wraparound speaker that comes in a variety of colours including blue, green, mustard, teal and pink.  The unit also comes with a leatherette carry handle, adding to the portability of the product.

What we loved

It is British designed and engineered.  When we travel we do try and support local business – whether it is a locally run tour company, independent accommodation or street vendors.  So nothing should be different when we’re travelling back home around the UK.

It really is simple to use. Hubbie had the Lava Brightsounds 2 up and running and in use within seconds of taking it out of the box without even looking at the instruction sheet. What’s not to like?!!

The Lava Brightsounds 2 is a multi-functional lamp with numerous uses.  We have purchased various portable speakers over the years, but this is the first device we’ve had that is also a Bluetooth speaker that you can answer phone calls through, a dimmable light and charging unit.

The lamp is even water resistant! Whilst it won’t survive a dunking, and is not intended to be left out in the garden, the multi-functional lamp should be able to withstand the rain if there is a change in the weather – always handy when you’re in the UK!

What wasn’t so great

Lava advertise this lamp as being great for camping.  Certainly, if you are at a campsite with the car, the Lava Brightsounds 2 would be ideal – you have a speaker, a light, and a charging unit.  Yet whilst the Lava Brightsounds 2 isn’t particularly heavy, it is too bulky to take with us in a rucksack on our wild camps. However since we go wild camping to escape everyday life and enjoy being immersed in nature, why would we need a speaker on these occasions?

The Verdict

Overall, we think the Lava Brightsounds 2 is a great versatile piece of kit which will always find its way into the back of the car when we go off on trips in the UK. It really is ideal for campsites and cottages, and we’ve even been using it at home this week too!

The Giveaway

We have teamed up with Lava Sound and Vision to give you the chance to win a Brightsounds 2 multi-functional lamp.

Please note that by entering you are opting in to my monthly newsletter, Conversant Chronicle. I promise not to bombard you with messages, just one newsletter a month where you can keep up to date with our adventures, travel tips, and giveaways. You can unsubscribe at any time.

This Lava Brightsounds 2 giveaway is open to UK residents only.

The giveaway ends at midnight on Monday 3rd July 2017.

How to enter

It couldn’t be simpler. Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, completing as many of the options as you like. If you have previously completed any of the actions (for example if you already follow us on Facebook, Twitter etc) then feel free to have an entry for them!

Make sure you select your entries on the Rafflecopter widget to validate your entry!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

No purchase is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. The prize is provided by Lava Sound and Vision, and is a Brightsounds 2.

The prize is not refundable or exchangeable for cash, and no change will be given. This giveaway is open to a UK audience. The giveaway will run for 2 weeks and end at midnight on Monday 3rd July 2017. The winner will be determined on or around the 4th July 2017 by a random drawing of eligible entries received. Your chances of winning are determined by the number of eligible entries. Winners must respond within a week of receiving the notification email, otherwise another winner will be chosen.

Lava Sound and Vision kindly provided us with our Brightsounds 2 for the purposes of this review, and are also providing the prize for this giveaway. Words and opinions remain our own.