Topic: The Best Emergency Radios of 2022 (Read 130 times)
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Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The Eton Sidekick is the Swiss Army Knife of emergency radios. It can do just about anything you would expect from a radio and then some. While it’s a higher price tag, there’s no beating this list of accessories.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The Eton Sidekick is an emergency radio, but in a lot of ways, it’s more than that. With the added Bluetooth and phone charging capabilities, this is a great device to also take camping, or in some cases, one of the best emergency radios for preppers. Having the laundry list of capabilities makes this a great device in any situation.
The added Bluetooth was my favorite advantage of the product, as you can stream music or other audio from your phone. That was followed by a close second of the ambient light that makes up the entire backside of the radio. This is a great light to have at night in a tent or sitting around a campfire without being too bright. All the radio capabilities and Bluetooth also worked at home and in the mountains, meaning you can take it anywhere. Plus, the battery lasts a very long time. It also has one of the easier cranks to use as the product’s face is flat, and it’s easy to turn.
However, the small solar panel grid at the top of the product was lacking co*pared to the best solar panels for camping. It didn’t do much to add a charge but would work for someone using this solely for emergency reports in a dire situation.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
After Midland, Eton offers some of the top emergency radios on the market. This includes the FRX3+, which is certified by the American Red Cross. This radio is similar to the Eton Sidekick but with a cheaper price tag.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The FRX3+ is similar to the Sidekick in many ways but without the added durable feel. As far as capabilities go, it’s on par with the Midland ER 210. Out of the box, it feels noticeably less durable than other products. This is Eton’s design for a product that is solely for emergencies. That said, the product did everything it said it would. With the same-looking solar panel as the Sidekick, the FRX3+ also didn’t generate a charge very quickly, but unlike the Sidekick, the charge was enough for the intended job of this being just a radio to alert you during severe weather. The price tag is fairly high on this one, but the American Red Cross stamp shows the extra cash may be worth it.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
This is it if you’re looking for an emergency radio for extreme weather or other similar situations. Small enough to store in a kitchen drawer or wherever else, it still has the same radio power as the Midland ER210.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
With a NOAA certification but at half the price and even simpler than the other Midland radio, the Midland ER10VP is an item that should be found in every home. Out of the package, the radio is the side of two decks of cards stacked and is very easy to use. It can easily fit in a kitchen drawer or somewhere else for easy access if bad weather were to move in. This could also be carried by weight-conscious backpackers and other campers who simply want to get a weather report and have a flashlight, in addition to their primary best flashlight.
Unlike some of the other radios, this one still uses standard batteries, which I see as being a plus or minus depending on who you ask. There’s also no other way to charge it if the batteries die, and I would reco*mend keeping three extra AAA batteries in the event of an emergency.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
Similar in size to the Midland ER210, the RunningSnail Emergency Crank Radio has a few added accessories that make this a great product the best portable emergency radio. This includes a great added light under the solar panel and a more efficient SOS system.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The RunningSnail Emergency Crank Radio out of the box looks a little bit more like a toy co*pared to other products but works just as well. I left it outside before charging it otherwise, and it was quickly charged with the help of the sun. This radio has one of the most impressive solar panel charging abilities as it charged quickly and lasted a very long time. Many of the radios also have an SOS system that flashes the flashlight, but on the RunningSnail, it flashes red and sounds an alarm. The sound was enough to scare my dog and seems like a great addition to any device that could be used to save your life. These added benefits and low price makes this a great portable radio to bring with you on trail or overlanding.
Each emergency radio has different capabilities and standards, so there were some variances with each device. To get a feel for a radio’s most basic feature, I tested the radios in town as well as in the mountains to see how strong of a signal I could receive. Impressively, I didn’t find a whole lot of difference between the areas where I easily had cell phone service and the areas with rolling hills where a radio would be necessary.
Here’s a breakdown of the other items I tested.
Federal agencies like NOAA reco*mend having an emergency radio in your home. These simple devices can make a big difference, especially now when there’s an overreliance on smartphones and the internet. If you were to lose power or a cell tower went down, you would be left with nothing. Having this as an inexpensive backup item could make a difference.
Secondly, they work in areas where your phone may not have a signal and could warn travelers about current and upco*ing weather conditions.
This is dependent on the person. For the most part, however, some basic accessories can only upgrade your product in an emergency. Simple additions like a hand crank allow you to power your radio when batteries have died. Other more elaborate accessories like Bluetooth may just make the item more appealing to the user.
It’s fair to say most cost between $20 to $100. The price variation is broken down by how many added capabilities each radio has. From solar panels to USB charging and added lights, each radio is different. It’s up to you to decide your budget and to figure out how many accessories you want for your radio.
You might never need to use one of the best emergency radios. But, if you do need it one day, you’ll be glad you have it. While prices and capabilities vary, plenty of today’s radios have added features like Bluetooth and lighting that can make them useful while camping or at home. Plus, these radios bring the benefit of peace of mind that you’re prepared for an emergency—and that’s priceless.
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