Best Emergency Radio – Top 8 Revealed
Whether you’re exploring the wilderness, or about to brave a big storm at home, you need to make sure you are fully prepared and protected. Part of that means making sure you have the best emergency radio at your side.
Anything can happen, and you need to be prepared for the unknown. With an emergency radio, you can call for help when a crisis hits. And you need to have the best emergency radio so that if the time comes to call for help; it works consistently and with a long-lasting battery.
Contents
Comparison Table
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Product FAQs
1. Why Is an Emergency Radio Necessary?
We all have cell phones, so why do you need to have an emergency radio?
Well, we use our phones not just to communicate with each other, but to take pictures, listen to music, and do many things. So our cell phone batteries run out pretty quickly. Having a radio specifically for emergencies means that when you need it, it will be fully powered.
Not to mention, being battery–or crank-powered means you aren’t relying on electricity, which often goes out. And if you’re stuck at home during a storm, cell towers often go down in poor weather. You’ll need an emergency radio to receive updates about dangerous weather.
2. How Does an Emergency Radio Work?
Most emergency radios are battery-powered, and they all work using radio frequencies rather than cell towers. Many parts of the wilderness are not covered by cell towers, and therefore cannot provide service to your phone. However, there are usually rangers listening to local radio frequencies for SOS calls.
3. Where Can I Buy One?
You can buy the best emergency radio at any place that offers camping supplies. Or, you can take the easy way out and order one on Amazon.com.
How We Reviewed the Best Emergency Radio Options
Image via Amazon
There are many great emergency radio options on the market and finding the best emergency radio for you will depend on your needs and preferences. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve gathered some of the best emergency radio options out there and reviewed what they offer.
What We Reviewed
RunningSnail Solar Crank NOAA Weather Radio for Emergency…
- A Must For Emergency: Keep…
- Table Lamp & 1W LED…
- Hand Crank Self-charge for…
- SOS Alarm With Flashing Red…
- Multiple Ways to Charge: Hand…
FEATURES
This is one of the best emergency radio options available and will help you always be prepared. The RunningSnail radio is an AM/FM and NOAA weather alert radio to keep you in the know when severe storms hit. This radio also comes equipped with a table lamp, and a 1W LED flashlight for when the power goes out.
You can recharge the 2000mAh battery with a self-charging hand crank. You can also charge it using solar charging, a micro USB cable, and 3 AAA batteries. When fully charged, the battery provides up to 12 hours of light or 4 to 6 hours of radio time. The radio also offers an SOS alarm with a flashing red light to ask for help in an emergency.
Pros
Cons
WARRANTY
The manufacturer offers a one-year limited warranty on this emergency radio.
Sangean MMR-88 AM/FM/Weather+Alert Emergency Radio….
- Digital AM/ FM tuner with 19…
- Powered by hand-crank Dynamo/…
- Illumination Lamp, charging…
- Built-in clock with optional…
- Dc out（5v/ 0.3A）usb a type…
FEATURES
This AM/FM and weather alert emergency radio is a Public Alert Certified weather alert radio. It has a DSP Digital AM/FM/WX tuner with 19 AM/FM presets. It comes with a bright back-lit LCD, hand strap, and a micro USB cable. It also comes with a built-in clock and speaker, emergency buzzer, and stereo headphone output. It can be charged by USB, hand crank, or solar power.
Pros
Cons
WARRANTY
The manufacturer offers a one-year limited warranty.
Midland – WR120B/WR120EZ – NOAA Emergency Weather Alert…
- Public-alert certified monitor…
- SAME alert programming sounds…
- 25-county memory system; 90 dB…
- Uses three AA alkaline…
- Built-in clock with alarm and…
FEATURES
This radio comes with programming that sounds an alert only when specific counties are threatened, so you don’t receive a flood of inapplicable alerts. It receives 7 NOAA channels with storm warnings and civil alerts. It has a 25-county memory system, a 90dB siren, voice alert, and flashing LED warning systems. It also has a built-in clock with an alarm and snooze. It has Alert Override to warn you of impending danger automatically and is Public Alert Certified. It uses 3 AA alkaline batteries for emergency power back-up.
Pros
Cons
WARRANTY
This emergency radio comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Kaito KA500IP-BLK Voyager Solar/Dynamo AM/FM/SW NOAA Weather…
- 5-way powered emergency radio,…
- AM/FM/Shortwave radio and 7…
- 180-degree adjustable solar…
FEATURES
This robust option can be powered using a hand crank, AC, battery, solar, or computer. It offers AM/FM/Shortwave radio and seven pre-set NOAA weather channels with weather alerts. It has a 180-degree adjustable solar panel with a 5-LED reading lamp and back-lit frequency display.
Pros
Cons
WARRANTY
The manufacturer offers a one-year limited warranty on this emergency radio.
Epica Digital Emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Radio,…
- ARE YOU READY FOR WHEN THE…
- NEVER BE LEFT WITH ANALOG…
- COMPACT AND BUILT TO LAST: You…
- POWER UP IN ANY SITUATION:…
- OUR “THERE WHEN YOU NEED…
FEATURES
This best emergency radio option is affordable, compact, and lightweight. This AM/FM/NOAA radio will alert you to weather emergencies. It also includes a 3-LED flashlight and a mobile phone charger. The radio can be charged with a hand crank, solar panel, and plug-in. The rugged and water-resistant casing will keep the radio safe in even the roughest conditions. The high-quality digital tuner and retractable antennae will give you the clearest sound, each time.
Pros
Cons
WARRANTY
The manufacturer offers a one-year limited warranty.
![Esky [Upgraded Version] Portable Emergency Weather Radio...](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51jsjYLwmeL.jpg)
Esky [Upgraded Version] Portable Emergency Weather Radio…
- USB, Solar, and Manual…
- Bring Electronics Back to…
- Designed with Extremes in…
- Ultra Bright Light: Don’t…
- Portable Radio On the Go: This…
FEATURES
This emergency radio can be charged by USB, solar power, or manual charging, so you’re always ready to go. The battery is 1000mAh and is easily rechargeable. You can even use this machine to charge your cell phone! This radio strives to survive the extremes, so it is designed to be rugged, waterproof, and weather safe. There is a built-in 140-lumen flashlight to cut through the blackness that comes in power outages. The lightweight AM/FM/NOAA radio can be brought with you wherever you go, and it will send out alerts in weather emergencies.
Pros
Cons
WARRANTY
The manufacturer offers a one-year limited warranty on this emergency radio.
The American Red Cross FRX3 Hand Crank NOAA AM / FM Weather…
- Receives AM/FM & Weather band…
- Charges your smartphone via…
- Multiple power options;…
- LED flashlight & emergency…
- Aux-input
FEATURES
This portable radio is the official radio of the American Red Cross. It receives AM and FM radio frequencies and weather band alerts. You can charge the radio by powering the rechargeable battery with the hand crank, solar power, or AAA batteries. You can also use the radio to charge your cell phone. There is an aux input for you to run music or other auditory broadcasts through the speakers. Also, the LED flashlight and emergency beacon will signal SOS in emergencies.
Pros
Cons
WARRANTY
This emergency radio comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Midland – ER310, Emergency Crank Weather AM/FM Radio -…
- MULTIPLE POWER SOURCES – The…
- EMERGENCY FLASHLIGHT – The SOS…
- NOAA WEATHER SCAN + ALERT -…
- CHARGE EXTERNAL DEVICES -…
- ULTRASONIC DOG WHISTLE – Use…
FEATURES
This radio’s rechargeable 2600 mAh battery can be recharged through the solar panel, hand crank, or outlet. The replaceable long-life battery provides up to 32 hours of radio operation. This model can also be powered by 6 AA batteries. The emergency flashlight can be used to break through the darkness and serves as an emergency SOS beacon to flash Morse code. The bright LED light uses 130 lumens to help you see even in a power outage.
The NOAA Weather Scan and Alert System automatically scans through seven available weather band channels and locks onto the strongest weather channel to receive information and alert you to severe weather warnings. If there is a risk of severe weather in your area, the NOAA Weather Scan and Alert System will sound an alarm. You can also use the radio to access AM/FM radio frequencies.
The radio can be used to charge external devices such as phones and tablets. Perhaps best of all, the model comes with an ultrasonic dog whistle. One of the biggest fears for pet owners regarding natural disaster is ensuring the safety of their pets. With this radio, you can find your dog if they get out during a storm.
Pros
Cons
WARRANTY
The manufacturer offers a one-year limited warranty on this emergency radio.
The Verdict
Image via Amazon
Dangerous weather can arise out of nowhere. Sometimes you don’t have the time to gather all the necessary supplies. Having your home stocked with the best emergency radio along with other necessities is something you should plan for when storm season rolls around. And with all the options out there, you want to make sure you’re getting a model that works well and lasts for a long time. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a storm and find out that your emergency radio is no longer in working condition.
While there are many great options, we think one of the best emergency radio options out there is the Midland – ER310, Emergency Crank Weather AM/FM Radio. It is a high-quality machine that performs consistently and can withstand the worst weather. With external charging capabilities, SOS beacons, and a strong flashlight, you will be prepared for every unexpected weather condition. And, because this model comes with an ultrasonic dog whistle, you will always be prepared if your dog sneaks outside during the chaos.
Keeping yourself and your family safe is the highest priority when faced with an emergency. Don’t weather the storm alone. Visit our website today for more product reviews, FAQs, and other important info.
My articles appear in Marketing Edge Magazine, on Gizmogrind, and with various Medium publications. But one thing hasn’t changed in all of my life: no matter where I was or what I was doing. I’ve always loved to be outdoors.
A man needs nothing more than a good flannel shirt, a well-worn pair of jeans, and comfortable hiking boots. I don’t go for all the fancy luxury stuff. Suits are uncomfortable and shaving sucks.
