The radio tunes into AM/FM radio and weather bands via a backlit analog tuner. This means a 12-pack of batteries will keep it going for 10 days straight in an emergency situation. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever need to use those options, as this radio will run for a whopping 60 hours on three AA batteries. And 90 seconds of cranking will get you up to 30 minutes of listening time. Eight hours in the sun powers the battery for 4-6 hours. The low price on this option provides a great entry into the emergency radio world with a mixed focus on both weather and creature comforts.Īt under half a pound, the CC Solar Observer survival radio ($80) is a top pick for hiking and travel, making it one of the best emergency radios we tested.īeing one of the lightest on our list doesn’t mean it’s a lightweight when it comes to power, though. You may want those batteries handy because that solar panel isn’t as powerful as we’d appreciate. If the 2,000 mAh battery of the RunningSnail NOAA Weather Radio runs out, it can be replaced with three AAA batteries, powered up via a solar panel (albeit slowly), or manually charged with the crank arm. This can provide a lot of comfort during an emergency. We love the table lamp feature, which functions as an LED reading light and lights up dark rooms efficiently when the power goes out. The LED flashlight brightens up dark areas, and the USB port lets you charge smartphones and other small devices. When the weather does hit, an SOS alarm with a flashing red light lets others know that you need help. Plus, it can be set to alert you to severe weather, hurricanes, and tornadoes in your area. The radio tunes in to all of the NOAA weather stations and AM/FM radio. This RunningSnail Solar Crank NOAA Weather Radio provides a wide range of emergency features for $46 MSRP. It would be hard to find an emergency radio that provides more bang for your buck. Also, the loop on the end makes it easy to fix onto a backpack and lets the solar panel soak up the sun during a hike.Įven if the ER210 doesn’t contain a dog whistle for that extra level of shrill emergency sound, it has enough features to keep you engaged and learning. With several power options and additional features that can help in an emergency, we think the ER210 is the best emergency radio available today.

The 130-lumen LED light has an SOS strobe to call for help in emergency situations. We especially like the attention to small details, like the SOS emergency flashlight. The large backlit LCD display can show the radio station, time, and weather channels. You can also set it to alert you to severe weather risks in your area. And it has a handy auto-scan that will find the best weather channel signal for your location. This radio receives the standard AM/FM signals as well as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) channels. The wealth of features and usability puts this one at the top of our list. And when that runs out, it can be recharged via a hand crank or direct sunlight with its solar panel. The lightweight, ergonomic ER210’s ($50) 2,000 mAh battery offers 25 hours of continuous use. Best Home Station Radio: Midland WR120 NOAA Weather Alert Radio.Best Compact Emergency Radio: FosPower Emergency Solar Hand Crank Radio.Most Versatile Emergency Radio: Midland ER310 E+READY Emergency Crank Weather Radio.Most Durable Emergency Radio: Kaito KA500 Voyager Emergency Radio.Runner-Up Emergency Radio: C.Crane CC Solar Observer.Best Budget Emergency Radio: RunningSnail Solar Crank NOAA Weather Radio.Best Overall Emergency Radio: Midland ER210 E+READY Compact Emergency Crank WX Radio.Or, scroll through to see all of our recommended buys, and jump to the category you’re looking for:Įditor’s Note: We updated our Emergency Radios guide on March 27, 2024, to add the Eton Odyssey - an all-band powerhouse of a radio - as well as the Baofeng BF-F8HP, a popular scanner for those deeper into the radio scene. To learn more about emergency radios and what makes them tick, consult our comprehensive buyer’s guide, comparison chart, and FAQ sections. We rounded up a variety of radios that run on batteries, solar energy, and hand cranks to help you find the best emergency radio for every situation.

Whether dealing with a blizzard, tornado, or any unforeseen event, you may need to be able to keep it charged for days on end. One of the most critical features of a trustworthy emergency radio is the ability to keep it running no matter what. But if a storm knocks out the power grid, our everyday tech isn’t enough.įrom the cellar to the storm shelter to the mountains, we carefully tested and researched an array of products, narrowing down the best emergency radios of 2024 for a wide range of needs. These days, we use our smartphones, computers, and TVs to keep us aware of what’s going on around us.

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