5 Best Emergency Radios - Feb. 2023

Updated September 2022

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Bottom line

Pros

Cons

This rugged emergency radio is proven to perform in extreme wind, heavy snow, and other inclement weather conditions.

Pros

Versatile radio can be charged using a USB cable, solar panel, or hand crank. Radio is weather-resistant. Includes a convenient built-in flashlight. Portable radio fits perfectly inside a bag or suitcase. Can be used to recharge a smartphone, tablet, or other devices that have a USB port.

Cons

Antenna sometimes breaks off the radio. May provide only a limited number of AM and FM stations.

Best Bang for the Buck

This emergency radio offers excellent performance at a budget-friendly price.

Pros

Can serve as an emergency radio, table lamp, and flashlight. Features a rechargeable battery that delivers up to 12 hours of light or 6 hours of radio time. Comes with an SOS alarm with flashing light to help you notify or warn others about an emergency. Equipped with an indicator light to show when the radio is charging or fully charged.

Cons

Radio sometimes won't hold a charge. Knob tends to snap off the radio easily.

This top-notch emergency radio is a great choice for camping trips and other outdoor excursions.

Pros

Includes a handle and reading lamp for added convenience. Offers instant access to AM and FM stations, as well as weather channels. Features a loud siren. Enables you to set up an alarm so that you can be automatically notified about natural disasters and other emergencies. Can serve as a power bank for a variety of mobile devices.

Cons

Reception may be fuzzy at times. Tuning knob may come off the radio on its own.

This radio delivers crisp, clear sound to help you track weather alerts and other emergency updates.

Pros

Includes a battery that ensures the radio provides nearly 9 times the playback time of comparable products. Integrated LED flashlight is easy to use. Boasts a USB port that enables you to recharge your smartphone at your convenience. Comes with a built-in solar panel that provides supplemental power. Ergonomic hand crank requires minimal effort to generate power.

Cons

May be difficult to hold the radio and use the hand crank at the same time.

This first-rate emergency radio offers a terrific combination of durability and affordability.

Pros

Comes with 19 pre-set channels, ensuring you can use the radio out of the box. Includes a hand strap to help you carry the radio anywhere you go. Equipped with a backlit LED display that is bright and simple to read. Features a built-in speaker and clock that are sure to serve you well.

Cons

Battery life leaves much to be desired. USB port sometimes malfunctions.

HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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An emergency radio is one of those items where you hope you won’t need to use it, but it’s important to have one just in case of natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes. These are also handy to have on a non-emergency camping trip. The biggest feature to keep in mind here: how it is powered. Some options include batteries, a hand crank, USB cable, or a solar panel; the majority have multiple options. The radio option can have bands such as AM, FM, weather channels, and pre-set channel options, plus the sound quality should be decent. Other popular options include a built-in flashlight or lamp, a smartphone recharger, and a built-in siren or signaler. Also consider one with a strap or handle for easier carrying.

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