Survival radio

This powerful emergency radio seriously calmed my anxiety about calamities, what with its jam-packed features, making it this review’s Editor’s Choice.

First off, just know that this isn’t the classic radio, as it doesn’t have an AM and FB feature. 

On the other hand…

…it’s the emergency radio that the Department of Homeland Security recommends as part of your emergency kit. 

This portable little radio with NOAA weather scan can scan through seven available weather bands and can automatically connect to the strongest one. It has an alert for every possible hazard there is, may it be weather or a bio-hazard. 

That said…

…you may have to set it up first before using it, of course. It proved to be an easy affair for us. You can set alerts for all kinds of hazards or just choose one. 

My mother-in-law was looking for an emergency radio that would alert her of incoming earthquakes, so I gave her this radio and set it up for earthquakes only, and everything’s good to go, and it actually worked how it should. 

This emergency radio’s alert is very loud., I’m telling you this now. It’s actually rated around 90 decibels, and it actually woke everyone in my medium-sized apartment one night. 

But aside from that, it gives you a 3-way alert setting. You can use an alarm on screen only if you don’t like the noise, a siren tone followed by emergency broadcasts or just the tone alert. 

Its interface is good, as well. It has an LED screen that’s actually big for its kind, as well as buttons for settings. 

The alert level indicators are also color-coded, which makes it easier to understand and use. The biggest button is weather snooze, which I like because it made using it very easy for the elders at home. 

Moreover…

…it also has an external emergency jack to which you can plug in external emergency devices such as a strobe light.

It comes with an AC adaptor so that you can plug it into the wall, but you can also use batteries for it. Regular Duracell AA batteries lasted for more than 7 days but lithium-ion batteries would last more. 

But what’s cooler…

…is the feature that lets you go back to past weather alerts that you’ve missed because every alert is stored in its memory.

It also has three languages: English, Spanish, and French. 

Looking to go smaller and lighter without losing features and capabilities? Then this review’s Best Value is your best bet with its number of features at an agreeable price. 

This Esky emergency radio is so tiny that it’s almost as small as my phone and can fit in my pocket. It comes in the bright colors red and yellow, which I like, so I won’t have to frantically look at them around the house when I misplace them. That also makes them easier to spot in the dark. 

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

A great point of this emergency radio is its 3-way charging feature. You can choose to recharge it using solar power, the hand crank, or just by using the charging cable that’s also provided in the package.  

Of course, we had to try all of them. 

Charging it through the cable, it took more or less than four hours for it to complete charging, which isn’t so bad. It’s just average. 

Hand cranking it was great, too. It’s actually impressive how two minutes of cranking it gave me five minutes of power for the radio! This is most useful if the power is completely out. You won’t need electricity or any power for it to recharge. Just the power of your own hands!

Moreover…

…solar power is pretty useful too. I like how I can just leave it sitting on the window while I do a project or a chore and let it be recharged by the sun. 

And that’s not all. It also has a flashlight with three LEDs and a brightness of 140 lumens, which is already too bright for our home. But I certainly won’t complain, especially if the power is out and a typhoon is raging outside. 

And, of course, who could forget about the radio? 

It has AM/FM and NOAA capabilities so that you can be updated about the weather and other news at all times.

There’s a reason why this orange-black multi-purpose emergency radio is being sworn by many users now. 

It doesn’t only has lots of extra features, but these features are designed so well that not all emergency radios have them together, making this FosPower emergency radio this review’s Top Pick. 

At first glance, yes, it doesn’t look like much. But I think that its slightly bright color is nice in the dark, although not very aesthetically pleasing in a room. 

It’s relatively small, but it has some weight to it, which I took as an indicator of sturdy quality and good spare parts. 

Like most emergency radios, it also has FM/AM and NOAA.

But that’s not all. 

Its reach was actually good. I took it with me for a fishing trip, as well as on the mountains, but it never once lost a reception. I think I went as far as 40 miles, and it was still able to get a reception and keep me updated. 

So that’s definitely a big, fat check for the radio, which is its primary feature. 

Aside from that, it also has two lights. 

You’ve read that right. 

The first one is the reading light. It doesn’t have an on/off function, but hold up. It’s on a flippy cover that’s connected to the solar panel. If you don’t want to use the reading light, just flip it close. 

We all thought that was a very clever design that helped in making the radio less complicated. 

It also has a flashlight that’s very bright, as well, especially if you’re using it indoors. 

In addition to that…

…it also has a 3-way charging feature. You can charge it with a USB cable (not included), solar panel, or the good old hand crank. 

Solar panel, if you must know, took me days. For real. Although, it wasn’t entirely unexpected, as the panel was a bit small. 

Cranking it by hand also took time compared to the other survival radios with hand cranks. 

I think I had to hand-crank for about three to four hours to have a reasonable amount of power in it. 

Well, it’s good exercise for the arm, anyway. 

As for charging in the car, of course, it took less, and the battery lasted for about 20 hours, which is not so bad, although I wish there could have been a battery indicator so we’d know where we’re at. 

As mentioned earlier, it felt sturdy, and it is sturdy. 

This radio is drop-proof and water-resistant, which we were able to prove after taking it out on several outdoor trips. 

This Aiworth emergency radio is very much like the Top Pick, with a few more features. 

It has not just three but four ways to charge. You can opt to use AAA batteries, charging with the cable provided, hand crank, or solar power. 

In addition to that…

…its power also lasts for a longer period of time. 

Hand-cranking it for a minute gave us full five minutes of radio and a half an hour if you’re using the flashlight only. As for solar charging, leaving it out on the sun or half a day also let us use it for almost half a day with the radio and more so with the flashlight. 

It also has an SOS alert, and it’s loud as heck, Fortunately, we haven’t had a situation where we have to use it yet. But if you’re packing up an emergency kit, it’s nice to have this. 

And that’s not all. 

It’s not just an SOS alert, but SOS lights, as well, making it perfect for disaster preparedness. It’s so dependable that I bought two more for our children to keep near their beds.

As for the radio, it has AM/FM and NOAA, which supplied us with up-to-date news for four days of black-out after a hurricane. The reception is clear, and we didn’t have single trouble with it. 

The power bank was good, as well. I was able to fully charge an iPhone and for the next load, two android phones. Now, that’s not too bad. 

But aside from that…

…one feature I’ve seen that other emergency radios don’t have is the headphone jack. 

Yes, you’ve read that right. 

It’s not very necessary, but it’s still a nice feature to have. 

And speaking of nice…

…this little guy even has a built-in bottle opener, so this can also be useful for camping parties or a tailgate dinner.

Looking for something that’s far from fussy with nothing but a good straightforward design to get you through tough days?

We loved this red-black Midland survival radio mainly because of that!

The catch is it doesn’t have other charging options like most of the best emergency radios on this list. It only uses AAA batteries. But then, some users are still all for the classic and basic functions that almost never go wrong. So if you’re one of them, then you’ll like this little guy.

What’s cooler…

…this radio comes ready with batteries, so you don’t have to go out to buy some. This is especially convenient when you’re in the middle of a disaster or any emergency situation. 

On the other hand, be sure to stock up on batteries, as well, so you can immidiately recharge if you run out of power. 

And speaking of batteries…

…its power lasted us almost a month in alert standby mode. But if it’s turned on all the time and in low volume, it’ll be a few days. 

Not bad!

It can also connect to AM/FM and NOAA weather channels. You can also let it connect to the strongest reception there is. 

Its reception can go as far as 50 miles from the station, which is already impressive in itself. 

Its flashlight is also one of the best ones among the emergency radios here. It’s not just a basic flashlight because it has high, low, and even SOS strobe mode settings, which you can use if you’re stranded and waiting for help. 

Other nice extra features we liked are the digital clock and the headphone jack. Although they also contribute in consuming energy from the batteries, it’s still a great touch.

Looking for a survival radio that can give you more than NOAA weather alerts?

Well, this Daring Snail radio also has that, in addition to the good SOS features that it also offers. 

We love its green exterior, which is sufficiently bright enough to see even in the dark. 

The curious thing is…

…it wasn’t tagged as waterproof, but after accidentally leaving it by the window in severe weather and getting soaked up, it still worked fine. 

Seriously.

Like most best emergency radios, this little guy also has 4-charging options. You can recharge it with a USB cable, AAA batteries, hand-cranking, or solar power. 

Hand-cranking was a decently easy affair as the hand crank wasn’t too stiff. But you’d need to have tough arms to charge it sufficiently. 

Here’s the catch:

According to the manual, it needs to be turned at around 130 to 150 revolutions per minute for five to ten minutes of radio time. For a full battery life, it needs to be hand cranked for about seven hours.

The good thing is, unlike other survival radios with a hand crank, this one has a light indicator to let you know that it’s indeed charging and your arm workout isn’t being put to waste. 

As for the solar panel, in all fairness, it’s delightfully wider than other radios. It’s easier to adjust, as well. But one thing you might want to remember is it’s not made to resurrect your fully drained radio back to life. It’s more like a tool to maintain your radio’s charge and keep it from being drained. 

Still a clever idea, we think. 

It also comes with a nice adapter for iPhones, which is a thoughtful touch. Although some users apparently have problems with charging an iPhone 8, it worked fine with everyone’s iPhones on camp. 

It charges for around four hours and can last up to 19 hours, which isn’t bad. 

Although it’s a bit pricier than most survival radios, its reception was noticeably very clear and strong, even during a hurricane. 

This funky emergency radio is more than just its cool retro look. The first details we’ve seen were enough to impress us. 

First off, let me just say how well-written the instructions are. I don’t look at the manusls very often, but I have to, because there are people who find manuals empirical. 

It’s straightforward, short, and very clear that even a teenage will be able to get it. 

In addition to that…

…this survival radio comes in five cool colors that are very easy to find in the dark. The exterior design is also something to be proud of. 

It has a bit of a weight in it, but not too much, which led me to assume that it’s a flimsy unit. But some of its components actually felt solid, while some really did feel flimsy (hello, hand crank). 

Aside from the NOAA weather stations, it can also connect to AM and FM radio stations, which is important to us if we’re to go through a few days without electricity. 

Reception was excellent, and we never heard any static noise, ever. 

But that’s not all. 

It also comes with a light and an SOS light, and a siren. However, I believe the SOS light could be a bit brighter, it’s a little weak compared to other radio SOS lights I’ve used. 

Oh, and it can also charge using its built-in solar panel, hand crank, or USB cable. You can also use AA batteries if you’re not a fan of constant recharging. 

When the rechargeable battery is fully charged, it can go on for six to seven hours. 

It also has a headphone jack if you prefer private listening, as well as a wrist strap to secure it when you’re holding it. 

Now, this one is intense. And by that, I mean excellent. If you want fool-proof severe weather alerts along with features that won’t let you down in the hardest of times, we greatly recommend this little guy. 

It’s smaller than I expected, though. But if you’re getting this for outdoor trips, then it should be an advantage. 

It has seven preset bands and includes AM and FM, so you don’t only get to have updated weather alerts but entertainment whenever you need it, as well. 

How about the reception?

We used it in a campground by a mountain, and the reception was still excellent, albeit the need to search for the perfect location to put the radio in. 

Aside from the radio, the highlight of this unit is its SOS features. 

It can ring a loud siren alarm with each weather alert, followe by a red flashing light! 

Didn’t I tell you it’s a bit too intense?

Of course, different users look at it differently. If you don’t like a loud noise coming from your survival radio that can disturb the neighborhood, then you may find the alarm a bit annoying. 

But if we’re talking about survival situations…

…a loud siren is never too bad, and an SOS light, especially when you’re trying to get noticed by rescuers after being stuck somewhere. 

But that’s not all. This radio and SOS combo also has lights. Yes, lights. 

Aside from a flashlight, it also has a reading light that’s located under the solar panel. You flip the solar panel, and the reading light will turn on. What’s cool is the reading lamp has two brightness levels, something not all radio lights have. 

In addition to this…

…this survival radio also has 5-way charging options. Heck, yes, all five of them. 

You can use its rechargeable battery, hand crank, solar panel, AC power, or with AAA batteries. 

Although it has AC charging capabilities, there’s no AC adaptor included, so you’ll have to get one if you want to charge by AC. 

Another thing…

…the rechargeable battery is built-in. Again, that could be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on the user’s preference. 

On the positive side, you won’t have to constantly buy and replace it. But then, it won’t be removable if anything goes wrong. 

Anyway, it’s still cool that there are four more charging options aside from the rechargeable battery, so we still think it’s a steal. 

Looking a bit like the previous survival radio, this one has its ups and downs, but we still took it because its large-capacity battery was impressive, as well as some of the extra features. 

Yes, its rechargeable battery has a larger capacity than most survival radios at 5000 mAh. 

And the good thing is the rechargeable battery is removable, so you can definitely replace it when you need to. 

Out of the box, it sure felt a bit flimsy and lighter than most, which led us to assume that it’s indeed flimsy. 

Although you might want to be extra careful so you won’t drop it, it’s well-made nonetheless. The crank didn’t feel loose and fragile, and the knobs were smooth. 

This little citrusy guy has A/M, shortwave radio, and even NOAA weather channels. The reception was good, but it still depends on your location. There were locations where we really struggled to get one. 

Finding a channel can also be a bit of a struggle. One wrong turn, and it can be lost. 

On the other hand…

…it has very bright lights. The first one is a flashlight with a brightness that’s enough to be used as a lamp on a campsite. The light just filled our whole room. 

The other one is a reading light that’s also underneath the solar panel, very much like most survival radions’ designs. It’s also quite bright for a reading light, which is good when the power is out at home. 

And speaking of that, it also has a good SOS function that follows the Morse code, and it comes with a flashing red light. However, we just found the SOS button a bit too awkward, being so close to the light buttons. 

Suffice to say, we’ve had more than one instance when we accidentally pushed the SOS button and sent panic to the whole house (and nearby home!).

It can also be used as a power bank, and the cooler thing is, it was able to charge our phones very fast. Much faster than others, actually.

This looker of a radio has the American Red Cross seal of approval, so you know it can be depended on. 

Were we disappointed?

Hardly so. Just look at the exterior and the construction alone. It may look silly to some, but its design made it easy for us to hold or even grab it in case of emergency. 

And that’s not all. 

It’s also slimmer than other survival radios, so it was able to fit in my bugout bag impressively well, just sliding in between my things like it was nothing!

In case you might be wondering, yes, it can stand on its own, too, despite its slim design. It actually has rubber feet, so it can stand on your desk without slipping. 

It has a digital display, which is another plus. But the cooler thing is, it also glows, so it’s easy to find when the power suddenly goes out. 

Like most survival radios, it can also connect to an NOAA weather radio, as well as AM and FM stations. There were locations in which the sound and reception were crystal clear and where it was kind of grainy. But it never cut out on us, and it’s an emergency radio, so no big deal. 

It also has a flashlight, as well as a flashing beacon for emergency situations. 

It can be charged in three ways, solar panels, a hand crank, or batteries. Although hand-cranking took more time than usual, it certainly worked and helped us somehow.