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Best Emergency Radio
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Abbreviation | ARES |
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Type |
Non-profit organization |
Purpose | Emergency response |
Region served
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Canada, United States |
Affiliations |
Radio Amateurs of Canada , American Radio Relay League |
Website |
(via ARRL) |
Our Pick
Midland ER310 Durable, versatile, and portability. The ER310 has great radio reception and NOAA Early-Warning Notifications. A hand crank can also revive the radio.
Lowe’s, $70 * $73 Staples, $60 Amazon
Midland ER310 is our top choice for emergency weather radios. The model offers superior reception, a better flashlight, and more cost-effective charging options. The radio can be used to receive NOAA severe-weather alerts. They provide loud, easily visible notifications so that you are not missing any important warnings. Because of its small size, the ER310 is easier to take with you in an emergency. It also proved to be one of the best radios in our testing. One minute of cranking generated 10 minutes or less of radio time, and several minutes of flashlight usage. Plus, its durable body can stand up to rainy weather or a drop onto a hard surface Advertisement
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Eton Sidekick The best-sounding weather radio This radio is packed with small luxuries such as Bluetooth, a reading light, and a solid speaker. This radio also has the SAME alerts as our other portable weather radios.
Amazon $80 Lowe’s The Eton Sidekick is the only model we could find with Bluetooth or an au-in port. We also found it to have the highest-sounding speaker we tested for any weather radio. A back panel acts as a 5-by-5 inch reading light. It’s a good choice for those who need to read in darkness or locate kindling. In addition to receiving AM/FM, weather-band radio, and NOAA weather alerts, the Sidekick also picks up the hyper-local and customizable Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) alerts it’s the only portable emergency weather radio we’ve found that does so. The Sidekick is also water- and dustproof. It can charge via USB and has a headphone socket. However, the flashlight isn’t quite as bright as on our other picks, and the position of the handle means you might accidentally press a button and alter the radio or alert settings while you’re carrying it. However, the other features make up for it.
Here are 2021’s Best Emergency Radios
Midland ER210 Emergency Company, Crank Weather AM/FM radio The ergonomic ER210 battery is lightweight and offers 25 hours of uninterrupted use. It can also be charged via the solar panel or a hand crank.
The radio (50 dollars) can receive both AM/FM and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association channels. This radio has an easy-to-use auto scan that will locate the optimal weather channel signal to your specific location.
The alarm can also be used to warn you about severe weather in your region. A large LCD LCD backlit display displays the station name, time, weather channel and other information.
We love the small things, such as the SOS flasher. The 130-lumen LED light has an SOS strobe to call for help in emergency situations. You can attach the loop to your backpack so that the panel gets the maximum sun.
Weight: 15 oz.
Power source: Rechargeable battery pack, solar, hand crank
1. Midland Er310 Emergency Radio
BENEFITS ALL-IN-ALL: With 32 hours of battery capacity, you can stay informed about weather conditions while out on the trail. If you’re out on long trips, the battery can be recharged by either using a hand crank and/or placing it in sunlight. This is particularly handy as it can be attached to your backpack during hiking. It grabs AM/FM radio as well as NOAA weather channels to keep you informed. But when things get really hairy out in the wild, a 130 Lumen flashlight with an SOS strobe as well as an ultrasonic dog whistle may just save your behind in an emergency situation.
Convertibles: There is a lot of emergency equipment, like an ultrasonic pet whistle or SOS flashlight.
Cons: To get the direct sun, it is possible for the solar panel to become too small.
2. Runningsnail Emergency Radio
This radio offers the best value. For instance, the LED flashlight has three different lighting modes that can be used to flag someone down in an emergency situation or to softly light an area when the power goes out in your home. There’s also a sound alarm to increase the chances of you getting help in an emergency. The powerful 4000mAH lithium battery will keep your radio running for hours and can also be used to charge USB ports to charge additional devices. When the battery is low, the user can crank it manually or use solar power to charge the external devices.
Con: The affordable emergency radio offers many useful features.
Pros: The solar panel charging process can take a while.
What You Should Do When You Really Need It: 2021’s Best Emergency Radios
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Prepare for any unexpected weather conditions, including a severe storm, tornado, hurricane, major earthquake or severe thunderstorm. The type of event you’re facing can impact how much time you have to prepare. Everyone needs an emergency preparedness kit. A part of this plan must include the ability to communicate with others and be informed. So it is logical that having a reliable radio will make you more prepared.
We did all the research for you. Our team has researched and scouted the top emergency radios to suit all situations and uses. And we even tested a few out to see if their claims were up to snuff. As a result of our hard work, we’ve found some of the best top-rated emergency radios. Whether you’re looking for the best battery-operated emergency radios, hand-crank emergency radios, solar emergency radios, or best weather radios, there’s a current and reputable option here. Take a look at our list below and see which one is right for you.
Sometimes the best things are often found in tiny packages. RunningSnail Emergency Radio is small, but it impressed me greatly with its abilities and features. You can carry the device around with you and it is easy to find in an emergency.
Features To Look For In Emergency Radios
Channels and Alerts: Many radios can both access FM and AM stations as well the NOAA channels. The ability to receive severe weather alerts from NOAA channels, and NOAA channels in general are vital elements of emergency radios. However, AM/FM radios offer a valuable bonus that can be used for entertainment during camping trips or any other situation where the radio cannot be reached by another means. You see, the best thing about enjoying the outdoors is not always to disconnect from technology.
Ability to Recive Signals from NOAA They are vital in emergency situations.
NOAA provides weather updates for every state. Should you be out of power, these signals can inform you of what’s happening around you.
NOAA sends out critical safety warnings to you during severe weather events like tornadoes and earthquakes. This can assist with making decisions regarding your safety, before, during, after, and following the event.
Charging methods – You should think about what you might have access to in the event of a natural disaster in your region. The more charging methods, the better.
It is possible for the power to go out in many situations, so charging your phone with a cable alone may not be practical. While solar power is an excellent option, it can also be clouded by storm clouds, smoke or ash. Because it doesn’t rely on movement, hand cranking can be one of the most efficient charging methods.
Battery life – This can include many aspects when discussing emergency radios. The battery life can be defined as the time the radio works while it is powered by batteries, or how long the device operates after being charged via solar or hand cranking.
The Solar-powered and reliable hand crank are the top survival radios available today.
Did you know that the federal government encourages emergency radios to be kept in your first aid kit?
Because they allow us to be in touch with all that is going on around us, You can receive alerts about severe weather, hear air traffic and monitor ham radio. An emergency radio works even when other electronic devices stop working. Your radio will help you stay connected with the outside world regardless of whether you are dealing with severe weather or an unforeseen situation.
These are the most reliable emergency radios. They can run on solar energy or batteries. Some of them also charge by hand cranks.
Check out my guide on how to choose an emergency radio. Keep reading for my review of emergency radios. We appreciate your use of our affiliate links.
Powering Your Radio
Many options exist to power your radio. Do not buy radios that need to be plugged in the wall. Instead, you will want a radio that you can carry with you anywhere you go.
That means batteries, and radios can be powered by everything from small AAA batteries, to big, heavy D cells, and even 18650 lithium-ion batteries. It is not a good idea to have a heavy radio because it can make it difficult to take with you and makes your bag heavier. Rechargeable versions of AAA and AA batteries are available. Rechargeable 18650 batteries are fine, but the nice thing about AA and AAA is that they’re common and thus easy to scavenge.
So-called “emergency radios” often feature a charging crank. It is not an undesirable feature to have. This is especially true for radios which have USB charging ports. But they do come with some serious drawbacks. One, they can often break. Two, you must crank them very hard (about 2 minutes to listen to five minutes), and three, the dynamo is heavy and bulky.
Many emergency radios include solar panels. This is not a terrible feature. However, radios with built-in solar panels are small enough to make them ineffective. You must also place the radio directly in sunlight in order to charge it. This heats the radio, which can cause damage to the batteries and the plastic.
The emergency radios should be used as backups and not your main radio or power supply. Buy a radio that is first and foremost a great radio. It’s okay to have redundant features and whizbang capabilities, but every piece in your kit should accomplish its main purpose.
Your go-bag should contain a light, folding solar panel and spare batteries. You can charge your batteries on sunny days so you are able to bring your radio everywhere you need it.
Our Picks For The Best Survival Radios
Our reviews of emergency radios were easy. Fortunately for us, we had already used a lot of the devices on this list!
It made it easy to put together a short list of quality emergency radios. Our top choices were compared to each other by trusted survivalists.
The list you see is the result. It doesn’t matter if you’re a prepper, a survivalist, or simply someone looking to protect their home a bit more, you’ll be happy with the emergency radios below.
11 Great Places to Stay Away From The Grid
Kaito Ka500 is the best power option
Kaito KA500 will ensure you have everything covered. The Kaito KA500 is a handsome, five-way emergency radio that boasts the highest quality emergency radios. The radio comes with an integrated NiMH rechargeable NiMH battery pack, hand crank generator and solar panel. The rechargeable NiMH battery pack is a wonderful feature that we believe you will love. Like other radios this battery pack lasts for years. We love non-disposable tech!
You can choose from five different colors for the Kaito: black, standard, bright, green, red and red. This radio broadcasts on Public Emergency Alert System (PEAS), AM/FM, and 7 pre-programmed NOAA Weather channels. A bright, LED flashlight features an LED SOS beacon light for calling for assistance. Even an LED reading light is available. And yes, there’s a power bank in here. You can charge all your devices via USB port.
Weatherproofing is the only thing that this radio lacks. While it’s waterproof, it can be water resistant. It has worked flawlessly in rainstorms and torrential downpours. It is an outstanding radio in sound. It’s loud, never tinny sounding, and the speakers project bass and treble tones well. Kaito’s all-round emergency radio is excellent. The Kaito has multiple charging options and a rechargeable battery pack. We love this feature.
Midland Er310 – Premium Best
Midland. If you have ever read my lists of premium items, you will know this: the best is usually the most costly. For this list, the Midland ER310 falls within that category (check out the link for pricing). This doesn’t make the radio better or more expensive than others.
Midland Radio-Tech has been operating for 50+ years. Their headquarters are in Missouri. You won’t need it during a disaster. So, before you use it in an emergency, make sure it is dry.
As for particulars, the ER310 shamelessly boasts a rechargeable 2600 mAh battery, solar panel, hand crank, and up to 32 hours of hearing air noises (i.e., listening to the radio) at full charge. If you get only 28 hours of listening time, even though that may not be the best scenario, this should suffice to keep up with the weather forecast. Listen to at least two games of baseball.
For extras, this baby has an emergency flashlight with an SOS beacon, which is a nice option in case you want to see what you’re listening to in the dark. I’d still keep another, dedicated flashlight handy in your hurricane (or whatever) kit, but it’s nice to have a backup.
What is the Best Radio Type to Use in An Emergency Situation?
Which Radio Types are Best for Emergency Situations? The federal government recommends including a battery-powered or hand-crank radio with NOAA weather access and alerts in your emergency kit.Aug 27, 2021
How Do I Choose An Emergency Radio?
Look for a radio that is manufactured by a known and trusted source that’s been in the industry for a while. The radio should be water-resistant and durable.
Noaa would recommend the following radios
1. Midland WR400 Desktop Weather Radio. Midland WR400: This is probably the best NOAA radio.
What Makes a Hand Crank Radio the Best?
BEST OF ALL: RunningSnail Emergency Crank Radio. BEST BANG FOR THE BOCK: Raynic Weather Radio 5500mAh Solar Hand Crank.BEST DIGITAL TONING: Eton American Red Cross Emergency NOAA Weather Radio.More…
.Best Emergency Radio