The 5 best Walkie Talkies for Preppers

The DeWalt DXFRS300 is a heavy-duty walkie-talkie meant to survive drops and accidental shocks. It is an essential feature to have if you’re looking for a device to use when calamities and disasters happen. With its VOX functionality, you don’t have to use both hands when operating the device. It is ideal if you’re preserving energy or you’re in an unfortunate situation.

When thinking about emergency scenarios, you need a device that could last for hours or even a day. DeWalt DXFRS300 can operate up to 18 hours and has an extended run-time that can add battery life of up to 12 hours through its power saver functionality. Such a feature is essential if you’re dealing with a life or death situation, where every second of communication counts.

Despite having the ability to withstand drops from a certain height, the DeWalt DXFRS300 is almost impossible to let go unintentionally with its anti-slip design. Moreover, this device features a great range of 250,000 feet but still might be affected by the terrain and obstacles around you.

Specifications

Pros of the DeWalt DXFRS300

Main Plus:
The DeWalt DXFRS300 is a good buy for people considering getting a backup walkie-talkie since you never have to pay any licenses and subscriptions upfront. It has excellent range, excellent volume control and could easily be replaced or repaired with its lifetime warranty. It has a range of 250,000 feet, which is consistent despite having changes in environments or even if you’re in rough terrain.

Cons of the DeWalt DXFRS300

It’s easy to call the Midland T51VP3 the jack-of-all-trades in this comparison article for its overwhelming features that are also useful. I’ll start with its unique dual power system, where you can swap between three triple A batteries and NiMH ones which are rechargeable power sources. It would allow you to have spare power options that may be handy when disasters spark out of nowhere.

Knowing everything about the weather is also crucial for anyone’s survivability—good thing the Midland T51VP3 is equipped with channels powered by NOAA Weather Alert. The feed is from the National Weather Service station, so you’ll know that all the information you can get is accurate and helpful. With its eVOX functionality, anyone may use the device through voice detection.

Midland T51VP3 is also crafted to resist some water damage. The device also has a handy feature called automatic channel scan, where you’ll instantly know what channels are occupied. It has 22 channels in total and is inside the range of 462 MHz – 467 MHz, and it is divided into a variety of FRS and GMRS channels and some shared by both types. These channels function in a range of 28 miles, not impressive but more than average.

Specifications

Pros of the Midland T51VP3

Main Plus:
This walkie is packed with many features that I can personally say that this is an excellent buy. It has a decent and compact build, and it features a bright yellow color that would help anyone standing out in emergencies. The Midland T51VP3 is capable of going in silent mode, and you’ll never be disappointed with its power consumption since it does its own thing to save some to last for a long time.

Cons of the Midland T51VP3

Motorola T402 is small but terrible. With its bulky and straightforward design, you’ll know that this walkie-talkie is made to save you from emergencies. As a prepper, I must have a device that could be held with no effort, and it’s easy to say that this device impressed me on that criteria. Not to mention that it also has a bright yellow color, which is an essential aspect as it certainly aids if you’re operating in a dark environment.

A built-in rechargeable battery initially powers the Motorola T402. In case of blackouts and unfortunate situations, you may swap them out with three double-A batteries that can be easily carried around. You can say that Motorola built this for preppers because of its installed flashlight that can light up even the darkest parts of any environment. Another feature that backs up this claim is its IP54 standard water resistance, making sure that the device will still function in case of calamities like flash floods and intense raining should happen.

Lastly, I would like to point out its range, reaching up to 35 miles. It has 22 channels; 11 dedicated for weather updates, and seven are for NOAA reports.

Specifications

Pros of the Motorola T402

Main Plus:
Motorola outdid themselves when it comes to the design of this particular model. It has an antenna, and anyone can quickly locate the device with its bright colors. It’s also a perfect walkie-talkie to get for emergencies because of its built-in flashlight and ability to submerge underwater and still function. Lastly, you can get all of these features at a very affordable price, and the best part is you never have to buy another one after years or even decades since this product’s lifespan is phenomenal.

Cons of the Motorola T402

Retevis is a well-known manufacturer of walkie-talkies, and most of their models have been performing well so far. One that caught my attention is the RT29 variant that looks very durable thanks to its high-quality materials. The device has a total of 16 available channels that you may choose from.

What makes it an excellent pick for preppers is its ability to switch in different power outputs. You can select from low, medium, or higher depending on how much of the walkie-talkie you’ll be using. It has rechargeable Li-On batteries that are rated at 3200 mAH. Such high numbers only mean that it can last for a long time, which is confirmed on their website as the model can go on for 30 hours of constant use and 250 hours when it’s on rest mode.

In terms of emergencies, you’ll never worry about communication as Retevis RT29 is revealed to reach a range of up to 10 miles. With its squelch feature, you’ll never be bothered by loud noises ruining your communication with someone. Lastly, I’d like to point out that the RT29 variant is a tiny device that can easily fit in the palm of your hands.

Specifications

Pros of the Retevis RT29

Main Plus:
Despite looking very basic, the Retevis RT29 is a capable device that is also comfortable to use and handy. It’s small, but its resistance to dust and even water is enough compensation, especially if you plan on using this device in emergencies. Retevis also ensured that their buyers would get the most out of their money, so they made it customizable without being too aggressive.

Cons of the Retevis RT29

Cobra CXY800 looks a lot cuter when compared to its name. However, this particular design is a perfect pick for people who are constantly preparing and those who are into survival. It has an antenna that sticks out, long enough to reach ranges up to 35 miles. Like most two-way radios in the market, this one is crafted with performance and safety in mind. It can go up to 18 hours before needing a recharge, which is an ample amount of time if you’re waiting to be rescued, or you’re stuck somewhere.

Preppers would also like Cobra’s CXY800 because of its NOAA integration. It is responsible for every weather forecast delivered to your device. When specific environmental changes are significant, for instance, when a storm is imminent, a feature like this could come in handy. The CXY800 model also comes with fifty pre-set channels. You don’t even have to worry about bringing the device underwater since it’s water-resistant.

Specifications

Pros of the Cobra CXY800

Main Plus:
Cobra CXY800 is a tiny yet portable device that thrives in the harshest and unexpected situations. With so many built-in channels and a power-saving option, you’ll never worry about being stranded or lost since you can easily communicate with someone very close. This model can also send weather alerts now and then, which is crucial for monitoring weather-related disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes.

Cons of the Cobra CXY800