Whether you had two cups attached to a string or spy-like walkie-talkies, we all have a childhood memory attached to talking into a portable device and feeling fascinated to hear the person on the other end.
Although methods of communication have since advanced with smartphones playing a massive part in our everyday lives, two-way radios are still essential in a survival situation, and finding the best survival two-way radio for you is fundamental.
Throughout this article, we will review five different survival two-way radios.
We will discuss their significance in the event of a disaster, how to use them, and which features you should focus on most.
We hope, by the end of reading the product reviews and the useful buyer’s guide, you’ll soon be able to obtain the best survival two-way radio that best suits you and your adventure.
Let’s meet the lineup!
Arcshell Rechargeable Two-Way Radios
Arcshell has designed a small and compact pair of radios that easily fit in your hand and can be stored conveniently in your bag or pocket.
The radio has a height of 4.5 inches, a width of 2.36 inches (with a thickness of 1.30 inches), and has soared in popularity due to their size.
Its frequency range is Ultra High, and has 16 pre-programmed channels – each radio has identical frequencies out of the box.
A synthesized voice will also tell you the channel number, which adds to the convenience.
Each radio comes with a 1500 mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery and a charging dock. You can either charge the battery alone or charge the radio with battery installed, adding choice to your routine.
It takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete a full charge, and like most radios, the battery life is determined by transmitting time.
The range this two-way radio provides is very dependant on terrain, and it offers a distance of up to 5-miles with no obstructions.
At a budget-friendly price, this two-way radio offers an impressive range and will entertain various environments and climates.
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Pros
- Affordable/Budget-friendly
- Ultra High Frequency
- Small and Lightweight
- Includes LED indicator
- Li-ion battery and charger included
Cons
- Durability has been questioned by some customers
- Range has been questioned by some customers
ANSIOVON Walkie Talkie Two-Way Radio
Ansiovon offers a rechargeable long-range two-way radio, at an affordable price, with this walkie talkie, and will be suited to various survival environments.
Each radio has a height of 4.5 inches and a width of 1.3 inches, making them small and compact.
With a weight of 150g, it’s also easy to carry either on your back or pocket, for quick and efficient use.
With a range of up to 6-miles, these radios offer ultra-high frequency.
Its higher potency entertains both indoor and outdoor environments while performing well when tackling various obstructions.
A synthesized voice will tell you what channel number you’re tuned into, out of its 16 featured channels – benefitting you for when multitasking is a struggle.
It includes an LED flashlight, which makes it even more of a fitting choice for a survivor.
If your flashlight isn’t charged and difficulty greets you during the nighttime, these radios will be sure to grant you with sight.
This two-way radio is at a budget-friendly price and can be easily obtained by survivalists of all backgrounds.
Don’t be fooled by the low price, as it isn’t an indication of a lack of durability.
This product’s longevity has made quite an impression with its consumers.
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Pros
- Ultra High Frequency
- Includes rechargeable Li-ion battery and charger
- A range of up to 6-miles
- Includes LED flashlight
- Affordable / Budget-friendly
Cons
- Some reports of unreliable battery / Low battery life
Retevis RT1 Walkie Talkies
These professional walkie-talkies are specifically signed for busy work environments where communication is fundamental, and therefore, will do wonders for you and your party during your encounters with the unknown.
It offers an almost all-day continuous use, with a standby time of 260 hours, supported by its 3000mAh battery.
These impressive rechargeable walkie talkies will have you covered for extensive amounts of time.
Like most two-way radios on the market, Retevis offer an ultra-high frequency which helps you in various climates.
However, like all two-way radios, it can be hindered depending on the environment and terrain.
It has a loudspeaker and the volume’s clarity has been compared to cell-phone quality.
Included are advanced voice companding and transmissions, which gives you clear sound to enjoy and improve communication between all parties.
The premium price could potentially burden your wallet, but it certainly will only take your survival experience to new highs.
This is a worthy contender and would be an excellent addition to your survival kit.
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Pros
- Ultra High Frequency
- Impressive working and standby times
- Durable
- Water-resistant
Cons
- Premium price can restrict potential customers
- Only sold as a pack of 5
SAMCOM 5 Watt 2-Way Radio
This SAMCOM two-way radio makes for a dependable walkie talkie for all purposes, and especially in a survival situation.
We are more inclined to use our cell phones these days, but this pair of radios proves why other mobile devices for communication are essential.
This ultra-high frequency two-way radio, with a wattage of 5, has an impressive range.
It also offers 20 channels, and with long antennas, it ensures you can talk freely with your family and friends, during various outdoor activities.
For darker environments, and during the nighttime, it has a backlit LCD display, which makes it easier to read channels, and improves communication between multiple parties.
It has an excellent battery life, with a working time of 12 hours and a standby time of 50 hours.
Its built-in 1500mAh rechargeable battery gives you plenty of power to use during long periods.
At a premium price, this product could turn off some potential customers who are on a budget.
However, these high-quality radios are durable and will be a great investment in the long-term.
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Pros
- Ultra High Frequency
- Excellent working and standby times
- Incldues 20 channels
- Multiple radios bought as a pack - up to 19
Cons
- Premium price can restrict some potential customers
Baofeng Rechargeable Two-Way Radio
This Baofeng rechargeable two-way radio, for its price and the shortage of features, is acceptable.
Known for its ease of use, to get started with these radios, all you need to do is turn the two walkie talkies to the same channel and then press the talk button; then, you can start communicating.
It is powered by 1500mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery for long time use, helping you during long days of difficulty and essential teamwork to achieve greater success in your survival experience.
It has a built-in LED light that helps you move around and communicate with other parties in the night, enhancing your survival ability during darker situations without the struggle.
These radios are not water-resistant, which restricts the environments you can use them without faults occurring.
Again, familiarize yourself with your adventure’s location and weather patterns.
We recommend either investing in coverage to protect the radios from water damage or only using them in dry climates.
At an affordable price, these radios do their job of providing clear communication with a range of up to 3-miles. A one year warranty is included for this item.
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Pros
- Built-in LED Flashlight
- Affordable/Budget-friendly price
Cons
- Not water-resistant
What to Consider
Including a set of radios to your survival kit is a recommended addition, but if you are new to two-way radios and don’t know how to use them, they will be of little use to you and fellow survivalists.
Luckily for you, two-way radios are easy to use and don’t require rigorous research, you ultimately need to know the adventure you’re about to embark on and what features will best entertain your experience.
This buyer’s guide will inform you of what to consider when on the hunt for a two-way radio to improve communication throughout your outside encounters.
Frequency
Radios, two-way or not, either use Very High Frequency or Ultra High Frequency.
A VHF radio is an excellent choice for the outdoors because they tend to stay closer to the ground and have the ability to travel through open areas successfully.
UHF radio will entertain both indoor and outdoor environments, because of their higher potency and have a more impressive performance when traveling through various obstructions.
The type of frequency you choose will depend on the environment, your adventure will take place in, and if you have an open space or swarmed with obstacles that can hinder communication.
Range
Most manufacturers will exaggerate the range on their two-way radios product packaging; this is crucial to know before you make up your mind.
These exaggerations don’t lack authenticity; instead are they hope for the performance of the product to exceed customer expectations.
Generally, the range in which your radios will be capable will be reliable for a distance of at least two miles.
However, various obstructions and weather conditions can cause communication barriers. You should consider the weather you’ll most likely encounter before making any purchases.
Configuration
Just like frequency, there are two primary configurations of radios – Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS).
The former is a low-power unit which transmits around 14 channels altogether, including approximately seven channels FRS channels and seven shared channels.
The latter, which is highly powered, is usually favored for outdoor activities, and often have a total of 22 channels.
Size and Weight
The size and weight of the two-way radios are vital to consider because you don’t want them to burden your on-the-run performance.
It is best to find radios that are lighter and compact and can be packed away quickly and stored in your pocket.
If you have multiple items in your survival kit, you’ll want each piece to be easy to carry so you can have as much with you to ready you for various difficulties.
Excess baggage is a no-go if you want to be a successful survivor.
Wattage
The higher the wattage translates to a better ability to transmit over a long distance. An FRS radio is known for having a shorter range than GMRS, and use less power. Whereas GMRS radios transmit over a longer distance, which is something to emphasize.
Purpose
One of the first things you should consider is the purpose of consuming a two-way radio, as radios with different features are best suited to specific environments.
For example, in a camping setting, you may prefer a pair of radios with a two-mile range. However, for you survivors out there, you will probably be more inclined to go for a two-way radio that works well for a more extended range.
Price
The price will vary based on the product’s brand and manufacturers. We will point out that you can get high-quality radios at both a high price and one that entertains your budget – quality doesn’t always equate to a higher rate.
Your focus should be on the quality of the product and not the attached price.
Sometimes, however, a higher rate can result in high-duty outcomes with a longer lifespan and a generous warranty.
Our Pick
Recap
Communication is vital when it comes to working as a team in a survival situation, and so two-way radios play a significant part in your survival kit.
When smartphones started to conquer our lives, we began to neglect other forms of mobile communication.
After assessing these top 5 two-way radios, we have a winner. That winner is the ANSIOVON Walkie Talkie Two-Way Radio.
This two-way radio has what it takes to not only help you survive but also thrive, all while having exceptional communication.
This budget-friendly two-way radio, with an Ultra-high Frequency and an impressive range of up to 6-miles, has turned our heads, and hopefully, it turns yours too.
Its featured LED flashlight improves communication during the night time and doesn’t restrict your experience in any way.
However, all of the two-way radios featured on our list are deserving of the title Best Two-Way Radio, and ultimately it comes down to what sort of adventure you are about to embark on.
Thanks for reading! Please leave your feedback in the comment section below.
From all of the Survival Front team, Happy Prepping!
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