Are you off on an outdoor camping adventure? A pair of walkie talkies is essential for keeping in touch with your campmates, especially if you’re heading out into the wilderness. It’s highly unlikely you’ll have cell service, so it’s super important to stay safe.
Choosing the best option to take with you on your trip can be a difficult task. With so many on the market today it can be very confusing, especially if you’re not too tech savvy. What features do you look for? How much do you spend?
If you’re on a budget, don’t worry. You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a good quality pair of radios. We’ve picked out 3 of the best walkie talkies for outdoor camping. Follow this handy guide to find out which is the best one for your next trip.
Tips for Choosing a Walkie Talkie for Outdoors
Range
This is incredibly important because if you can’t get clear messages across to your fellow survivalists, the radio is pretty much useless. Most of the time, the manufacturer will state the range of their walkies and how far they’re supposed to reach. However, be aware that this range is when conditions are good, it’s probably not an accurate estimate in a real life survival situation.
Functionality
Next you need to think about which functions you want your new radios to have. If you know you’re going to be in an area where it’s difficult to charge your device, look for ones that have power saving modes. This means the radio will switch to power saving mode when no communication has happened for a while, prolonging the battery life.
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If you’re going to be in noisy areas, you may not hear your radio when you receive transmissions. A device that vibrates when you receive communication will prove invaluable. VOX functionality will allow you to talk into the device hands-free. The walkie talkie recognizes when you start talking and allows you to send transmissions without having to use any of the button controls.
Overall Design
When shopping for your new two-way radios, take into account the design and how the radio is built. Check the weight, if you’re going on a long hike or a week-long camping trip, you don’t want to be bogged down with a ridiculously heavy device.
The battery life is also an important consideration. Look for radios that have good battery longevity, the last thing you need out in the backcountry is a device that’s constantly needing to be charged. Most walkies only require AAA batteries and many also come with rechargeable battery packs.
Although you don’t have to bankrupt yourself to get a good radio, don’t make the mistake of going for the cheapest one possible. You’ll usually find that the very cheap ones are aimed at kids. Despite their grown up appearance, these toys will not serve you well in a survival scenario!
To be able to stand up to extreme weather conditions, your radio needs to be tough with a rugged exterior. Water resistance is essential, considering the weather can be extremely unpredictable. If you’re going somewhere very dry you may want to consider one that’s dustproof as well. I found a good option from thewalkietalkguide.com, who specialise in two-way radio communication.
Latest Outdoor Walkie Talkies
Last update on 2025-01-13 / Affiliate links / As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Midland LXT630VP3
Be seen with these yellow walkie talkies from Midland. With their bright yellow design, you’ll be highly visible with these devices. Boasting a minimum range of 30 miles, this could be even longer in clearer and more open spaces.
The exclusive Midland Weather Scan technology will scan through up to 10 different weather band channels and will send you an alert to warn you of upcoming severe weather, helping you to be prepared. With these devices you have two charging options, they’ll take either AAA batteries or you can use the included battery pack, which is also fully rechargeable.
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Midland - LXT600VP3 Long Range Walkie Talkie - FRS Two-Way Small Business Radio Rechargeable... |
Last update on 2025-01-12 / Affiliate links / As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Featuring 22 channels and 14 extra privacy channels so you can keep other conversations out. They’re waterproof and you’ll benefit from crystal clear communication with easy to use buttons to operate them.
Midland has been designing and producing high quality communication equipment for over 50 years, so you can be sure you’ll be getting a reliable set of devices for your outdoor trip.
2. Cobra RX680
Next we have these two way radios from Cobra. With their long range of up to a whopping 38 miles, you’ll be glad to have these devices with you when you’re exploring the backcountry. They also have 2662 possible channel combinations and the 121 privacy codes help prevent interference or others listening to your conversations.
Don’t worry about the weather either, these great little devices are waterproof and dustproof. With their IP54 waterproof rating, they’ll be able to keep up with you on your adventure! Be prepared for potentially severe weather with the NOAA Weather and Alert technology.
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Cobra RX680 Waterproof Walkie Talkies - Rechargeable, 60 Preset Channels, Long Range 38-Mile Two-Way... | $99.95 |
Last update on 2025-01-12 / Affiliate links / As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
With an impressive 18 hour battery time, you won’t have to worry about charging your radio every few hours. If you’re out in the wilderness, you may find that you have to send out an alert for help even if you have your hands full. The clever VOX voice activated transmission recognizes your voice and sends a message without you needing to press any of the buttons.
3. Midland GXT1000VP4
Engineered to provide incredibly reliable communication at the press of a button, these midland walkie talkie radios feature 22 channels each and an impressive 28 extra privacy code channels. You can also select different power settings to save on battery.
With the JIS4 Waterproof Protection, you don’t have to worry about your devices being damaged by water splashes. Boasting a 36 mile range, this becomes even longer in open or clearer areas.
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Midland GXT1000VP4 - 50 Channel GMRS Two-Way Radio - Long Range Walkie Talkie with 142 Privacy... | $79.99 |
Last update on 2025-01-12 / Affiliate links / As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
To prevent unwanted listeners or interference with other conversations, the devices provide you with up to 3124 privacy codes. The NOAA Weather and Alert system will notify you of severe weather risks with an alarm, so you’ll always be prepared.
You’ll get two rechargeable battery packs and lots of other accessories, including belt clips, boom mic headsets and lots more. They even come with an instruction manual, so you’ll know exactly how to operate your new radios.
Read more – check out these articles to stay safe on your next outdoor trip:
