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Stay prepared for extreme weather or natural disasters with these emergency radios.
Travel + Leisure.
Our top choices feature important qualities like portability, long-lasting batteries, and more.
It doesnt offer Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) to program alerts for a specific local area.
The Midland ER310 is a valuable companion in emergencies and severe weather events.
Credit: Amazon
It only has one power source (AA batteries).
A notable difference, however, is that the ER10VP only runs on AA batteries.
Despite the radios compact dimensions, the display screen and buttons are easy to read and intuitive to operate.
Credit: Amazon
The pocket-sized radio delivers excellent battery life lasting nearly four weeks in standby mode.
It can’t be submerged in water.
The 5000 mAh battery is also one of the longest lasting on this list.
Credit: Amazon
The radio automatically scans all seven NOAA frequencies to lock in on the strongest signal to keep you informed.
It offers three options for customized notifications including a voice alert, siren, or flashing LED lights.
Though it has multiple power sources, the battery capacity is limited.
Credit: Amazon
The battery life is less than most emergency radios.
A reliable set of walkie-talkiescan be a critical safety tool.
The Cobra RX680 Two-way Radio helps you stay connected and prepared for emergencies when youre on the go.
Credit: Amazon
And, at 1.26 pounds, they wont make a huge dent in pack weight.
The RX680 comes with 60 preset channels, including 22 standard FRS channels and 38 pre-programmed privacy codes.
It also provides round-the-clock access to NOAA weather alerts to stay informed of storms and inclement weather.
Credit: Amazon
The display screen is on the smaller side and shows limited information at a time.
The Raddy SW5 Emergency Radio delivers superior battery life for enduring reliability.
The SW5s case boasts an IPX5 waterproof rating for added durability in extreme weather events.
Credit: Amazon
It doesn’t have many extra features.
Set weather alerts, set your favorite channels, and use a sleep timer to save battery.
This radio has a loud speaker, an alarm clock, headphone jack, and a display light.
Credit: Amazon
It isn’t a two-way radio and it doesn’t provide weather alerts.
Once alerted, the rescue team will receive regular alerts about your location until they reach you.
The radio uses a government-funded SAR satellite connection and is free to use once the gadget has been purchased.
Credit: ACR Electronics
Nelson recommends choosing a radio with multiple alert methods.
Flashing lights and vibration tweaks are helpful, especially for the hearing-impaired community, Nelson says.
The ability to charge other electronic devices is also helpful, assuming theres sufficient battery capacity and/or recharging options.
Emergency radios can also allow for customized alerts based on location or the pop in of weather event.
Radios equipped with hand cranks or solar panels can replenish the battery on an ongoing basis.
Note that it typically takes 10 or more minutes of cranking to get a usable charge.
It can also charge two devices at once.
It’s easy to turn on and off, and small enough to slip into a pocket or purse.
