The Best Walkie-Talkies of 2024 | GearJunkie Tested

From multi-pitch climbing commands to calling your drop in the backcountry, the best walkie-talkies can be the difference between a good copy and a garbled transmission. After surveying the field and winnowing down to the most promising, we’ve gathered and tested 11 of the best walkies available.

We field-tested these handhelds over months of multi-sport use, challenging them while rafting the rivers of the Pacific Northwest, hiking across Joshua Tree National Park, and hailing our ride while heli-skiing in the Canadian Rockies. We tested the overall range across both desert basins and tight backcountry trees and ran batteries dead flat to figure total power consumption.

When the dust settled, the following squawk-boxes were left standing as the most worthy of the bunch, and range from our top pick the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio to the budget-friendly Midland X-Talker T51VP3. We’ve also got small units to check on your kiddos and even radios that require a license to operate fully. Read on for our review to help you hone in on the best for your use.

If you’re looking at getting your first set of walkie-talkies, consider checking out our in-depth Buyer’s Guide and Comparison Chart sections, which get into the radio nitty gritty. And for any lingering questions on relative value, the Price & Value section has got you covered. Copy that?

Editor’s Note: We updated our Walkie Talkie guide on September 24, 2024, to add an updated Price & Value section, as well as further elaborate on our testing regimen and history.

In a crowded and sometimes confusing universe of handheld communicators, few were able to cut through the static and distill down the “walkie-talkie” like the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio ($110). These radios are capital T tough, and have gone all-in on making a unit that is easy to use — whether you’re 10 pitches up, or closing in on camp for the night.

As relatively simple devices, walkie-talkies are subject to tech bloat — piling on features that no one will use or care about. Thankfully, the Mountain Radio suffers from none of this. Specced out with the full range of FRS frequencies, the button set-up on these radios is simple, and an LED screen doles out all the info you need to know.

Wrapped up in that thermoplastic shell, it’s tough to put a ding in the Mountain Radio (though we tried). The inclusion of a molded-in and fully rated carabiner for a carry-system tells you that this walkie is here for business, and the included leash keeps you from accidentally flinging this radio from your portaledge.

When our climbing editor took these walkies to Alaska for two subsequent Alaskan ice climbing trips, he found 70-meter long pitches to be an easy lift for the Mountain Radio, and during range testing across the broken landscape of Joshua Tree National Park, these radios were third only to the higher powered Rocky Talkie 5W and Baofeng BF-F8HP — maintaining more clarity while transmitting 4-miles around thousand-ton boulder piles.

The spartan functionalities won’t be for everyone — we particularly missed the ability to receive NOAA weather frequencies. And while its older sibling, the 5W Rocky Talkie, is fully IP67 waterproof, the Mountain Radio is only IP56 splashproof — though the optional handheld mic is willing and able to undergo full submersion.

Even still, as an all-arounder, the Mountain Radio far outperforms bubble-pack radios, and met every challenge we put it to without a hint of guff. If in doubt, just snag this one — you won’t regret it.

For such a small radio, the Midland X-Talker T51VP3 ($50) radios held surprisingly tough in our worst-case scenario range tests, and at just $50 for a pair, are a downright steal for anyone looking to snag a set on the cheap.

Midland has chops as a brand, and while the larger GXT1000 was one of the higher performers in our testing, these little apples don’t fall far from the tree. Easily fitting into your palm, the X-Talker T51s take up little real estate, and we appreciated that while using them for climbing commands and trekking far where bulkier radios would have been a pain.

Transmission distance is about middle of the pack, with diminishing quality at around the 3-mile mark in our torture test, and 4 miles in our best-case scenario. The smaller overall antenna likely plays a role here, so don’t plan on a booming transmission range. For closer communications, however, we found little fault with these radios and they provided good clarity throughout.

These walkies are dual fuel, taking both standard AAA cells as well as the included 700 mAh rechargeable battery packs. Our testers appreciated that the radios can be charged on both the included bases, as well as through a micro-USB port on the side of the units — slick. While overall battery life won’t be the most impressive (these are the smallest radios in our testing) we could squeeze out a full day of use.

At $50 for a set of two, the X-Talker T51VP3 supports a number of features that even more expensive radios leave off, such as NOAA weather tuning, on-device USB charging, and voice activation (VOX). For the money, it’s tough to do much better than this.

The Backcountry Access BC Link 2.0 ($190) has an earned keep in the world of backcountry skiing, and after a season or so of use both inbounds and out, we’re liable to agree. Comprised of a base unit and handheld mic/speaker combo, the BC Link is meant to be used primarily shoulder-mounted, with the radio body tucked away in your ski pack.

This configuration is excellent for ski touring, and makes for quick and easy prompts. All day-to-day configuration is done through the hand mic, which manages both speaker volume and channel selection. A burly alligator clip on the back of this mic holds fast to pack straps.

BCA goes with a unique choice here in offering six labeled channels, which often include a privacy tone and seem to be chosen based on the most commonly used in ski user groups (the classic 4-20 only confirms this for us). You can modify these channels, but know that everyone using these radios will have to do the same to ensure communications go through.

The integral hand mic does have some downsides, the largest of which is that the radio body itself can’t be used solo as it lacks a mic or speaker. We also have heard from ski partners that the volume and channel dials can bump out of place while riding, leading to missed communications when they could be critical.

The transmission range on the BC Link 2.0 wasn’t stellar in our testing — eking out a 3-mile range in the best-case scenario and losing the thread at around mile 2.5 in the desert. While these results aren’t on par with the best radios we tested, we find that the specific use case of backcountry skiing doesn’t demand extraordinary distances, and skiing in close pitches is typical.

Compared to the Mountain Lab Scout 2W and Oxbow Renegade X, it’s downright tough to parse which radio is best for the backcountry ski/sledneck crowd, but we’re comfortable with the following: If you spend more time on your snow machine than on foot, the Oxbow is the go-to.

For those who want occasional handheld radio ability — the Scout. And if your radio will live in your backcountry pack all season, it’s tough to go wrong with the BC Link 2.0.

While a handful of other walkies in our line-up are waterproof, it’s tough to do better than the Cobra ACXT1035R FLT ($120) before jumping up to a full-on marine VHF radio. This unit is not only IP67 waterproof, but adds on water-savvy functionality such as a “burp” feature that can clear water from the speaker grill if the handheld does go in the drink, and — it floats.

About the highest-end walkie-talkie from Cobra, these handhelds get the full suite of tech, including a tri-watch (monitors three separate channels at once), NOAA weather frequencies, and a unique ‘Rewind-Say-Again’ function that replays the transmission you most recently received. Pretty slick, if you ask us.

We used the Cobras to scout a desert cayoneering run in Joshua Tree, where water immersion was mandatory, and they performed excellently — the integrated LED light even came in clutch for fiddling with an anchor deep in the canyon.

The $120 entry fee is a bit much compared to the rest of our recommended walkies, but when you consider that you get two radios for the price, these Cobra radios are downright affordable. Our only other quibble is that the radio is a bit chunky in the hand, which is likely due to ensuring it’s buoyant enough to float. Thankfully the weight doesn’t track, and these walkies are fairly light.

If you’re padding more whitewater than blue, the Rocky Talkie 5W radio may be more up your alley — our creek freaks were all over these radios for scouting heavy water, and praised their bungee tethers and alligator clips for the rough stuff. But for a lightweight option that floats and sports water-savvy functionality, the ACXT1035R FLT is where it’s at.

Bumping up majorly in functionality, but only asking a little more from its operator, the Rocky Talkie 5-Watt Radio ($180) is a GMRS walkie-talkie that takes everything we loved about the Mountain Radio and juices it up — piling on a full 5W of power and swaddling the whole thing in a waterproof shell. This is your radio for poor-weather exploits.

As a GMRS (that’s ‘General Mobile Radio Service’) radio, you’ll need to obtain a license from the FCC to operate this walkie, but for only $35 and good for 10 years, it’s a low bar to clear to jump up to a much higher level of communications. GMRS radios operate across the same frequencies as FRS radios, but have access to more than double the output, meaning your transmissions go further.

With a larger footprint than the original Rocky Talkie, the 5W version has more room to play with, adding in a larger 1,800 mAh battery, NOAA weather frequency reception, and an IP67 waterproof build that mates with an optional handheld mic through an M3-style connector. These upgrades undoubtedly make this a more capable radio.

While we loved the Mountain Radio for drier sports like rock climbing and hiking, the 5-Watt excels in sports such as backcountry skiing, paddling, and mountaineering, and we put the added range to use. In our best-case scenario testing, these radios were able to be heard up to 9 miles away. These radios also now come with a second longer antenna, and the ability to change these out is unique to GMRS radios.

Obviously, the price tag of $180 (that’s $15 more than last we checked) per radio stings a bit, but compared to other GMRS radios on the market, this is about the going rate. With the rugged build and accessory hand mic available, this radio more than tips the scales.

If you need something a bit cheaper, however, the Midland GXT1000 is a GMRS rig that’ll get your signal out (though not to repeaters, however, as it doesn’t support duplex functionality).

Don’t let the need for a license spook you — after using the 5-Watt Radio on Alaska ice climbing trips, Colorado elk hunts, and Pacific Northwest packrafting runs, we’re confident it’s worth it.

Fair warning: The Baofeng BF-F8HP ($65) has no easy learning curve, nor is it a radio that can be used without becoming an amateur radio operator — but for those who want to open up a whole different universe of ability for outdoors comms, this is the radio to step up to.

As an amateur radio, an FCC license is the only way to legally operate this radio, but the advanced ability the BF-F8HP offers up is well worth it. At 8 W of max output, this radio far and away outperformed every other walkie-talkie in our testing, and that’s only in radio-to-radio (or simplex) mode. Because these radios can access repeater towers (ground-based antennas that amplify your signal), your range can instead be measured in hundreds of miles.

Menu navigation isn’t as streamlined as other amateur radios such as ICOM or Yaseu, and some second-party companies even sell laminated cheat sheets to get you through the labyrinth. It usually takes our senior tester about a day of using this radio again before it all comes back. Baofeng does sell a programming cord for use with this radio, and we highly recommend purchasing that with your handheld for far easier setup.

Technically a dual-band radio, the BF-F8HP operates on both the VHF and UHF frequencies, as well as tossing in an AM/FM radio receiver. The dirty secret with these radios is that while they can operate on the FRS frequencies, they aren’t FCC-certified as such, and we can’t recommend that you use them that way.

But used correctly, you could even communicate worldwide with these radios and the right know-how. Know that battery life at the full-tilt 8W output won’t last as long as the lower power outputs (1 and 5 watts), so meter your usage to just enough to get your signal out.

While there’s some legwork to do to use the BF-F8HP, serious radio users shouldn’t be dissuaded by the need to pass the test (our licensed tester memorized the question pool in eighth grade, and promises you can, too). In serious situations, a radio like this can communicate with SAR helicopters, call out of deep backcountry outposts, and will always have more juice than FRS and GMRS radios.

Like the Rocky Talkie 5-Watt, the Midland GXT1000 ($90) is a GMRS radio, but we again find the performance on this walkie-talkie well worth the licensing hassle. Performing just behind the 5-Watt in all of our range tests, these radios stretch your transmission abilities and host several features that make them competitive.

At $45 per radio, the GXT1000 is actually one of the more affordable in our line-up, and for the money you get a good bit for it. The radio supports all of the typical GMRS channels, and a unique ‘group mode’ that allows you to send transmissions to single parties as opposed to the entire frequency. This is a bit challenging to use, but handy nonetheless.

This radio isn’t the toughest in terms of durability and is only rated as JIS-4 splash-resistant. Safe to safe, this one is best kept dry. However, our hiking and backpacking testing with it proved it to hold up well in dry conditions, and we wouldn’t stress much if we got caught in a passing shower with it.

Unfortunately, while the GXT1000 is a GMRS radio it isn’t set up to be used with GMRS repeaters, which limits the functionality of going with such a radio. While few may actually take the time to use them, repeaters can greatly boost your signal output, and leaving off the ability feels like an oversight. For this reason, we tend to recommend the Rocky Talkie over the Midland for most folks.

Only a few functional differences separate this from the Rocky Talkie 5-Watt, however, and if the more traditional style and button layout is more to your liking, the GXT1000 might be the GMRS radio for you.

Right off the bat, we’ll say that this radio gives the BCA Link 2.0 a run for its money every day of the week, and there are even a few circumstances we actually prefer the Mountain Lab Gear Scout 2W Radio ($149). For anyone looking for a walkie-talkie to use while backcountry skiing, this radio is one to strongly consider.

Composed of a base unit and handheld mic, the Scout works in much the same way, tucking away the radio itself while operating remotely. While the BCA Link 2.0 hand mic is feature-rich, the Mountain Lab version is pretty spartan and only supports a push-to-talk button.

This might be a boon to those annoyed with the occasional channel change on BCA radios, but it does mean you’ll have to rifle around for the radio should you need to migrate frequencies during your ski tour.

That said, you can use the Scout radio on its own, which, in our opinion, makes up for the hassle. This versatility means you can choose to go handheld or not, and that can be a benefit when you decide to ditch packs for a quick side mission.

Rounding out the Scout is NOAA weather reception, a built-in flashlight (with water-activated flashing), and a speaker that is just dang loud — one of the loudest in our review. This is especially handy when toggling on the SOS function, which transmits an alert on your current frequency as well as audibly from the radio.

In terms of issues with the Scout, we found little, though we could be convinced to complain about the extended boot time turning on the radio (noticeably longer than others we tested). The radio is also among those that shield switching the channel behind a ‘menu’ button press, which while we understand is better for accidental changes, takes a minute to get to.

If your backcountry radio needs change often, the Scout 2W Radio can be a good option. We tend to think that the BCA Link 2.0 is a better all-around option for most folks, but the ability to go with just the radio or add on the handheld mic will make the difference between this and the BCA for many.

Simplified for more all-around use compared to its base+hand mic cousin, the Backcountry Access BC Link Mini ($100) is easy to use with large glove-friendly buttons, and has a number of smart mounting options that make this radio keen for plenty of activities even outside skiing.

The smaller form factor was undoubtedly appreciated by our testers, and the rubberized exterior is reminiscent of the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio — taking bumps and bruises with no problem. A dial on the top of the radio functions to both turn it on and as the volume cranks — a multi-functionality that keeps clutter down.

One of the unique choices on the Link Mini is that it constantly operates in a dual monitoring mode, with channel A and channel B receiving simultaneously. Typically, this feature can be handy for checking in on two separate groups, but because you’re unable to mute the second channel, erroneous transmissions can overlap until you pivot to another channel. Annoying, to say the least.

Mounting options on the Link Mini, however, are anything but, and range from a standard belt clip to a special webbing clip that interfaces with pack webbing for a super low-profile fit. We typically aren’t stoked on loose holding belt clips, so this option was refreshing.

Tucking away a middle-of-the-road 1800 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery, we were able to get decent run time out of the Link Mini, and while the range wasn’t the best we don’t weigh this heavily against the Mini, as skiing communications is typically pretty tight.

If you’re already invested in the BCA radio universe, the BC Link Mini is a great option for bulking out a fleet of radios. It’s also a great little handheld for skiing.

Sledders, this is your radio. The Oxbow Renegade X ($180) is dialed in down to the snow-shedding speaker cover, and has a handful of other smart features that make it ideal for communicating with other snowmobilers or even while backcountry skiing.

The big deal on this walkie-talkie is the Bluetooth integration, which allows you to tap in a helmet headset for audio in and out and connect the optional wireless handlebar button to trigger the push-to-talk functionality. We feared that this would be finicky, but Oxbow has obviously done their homework here, and connections are simple to make.

Riding on your shoulder strap, the Renegade X is ready for all-day riding, and the included shoulder strap mount is burly in every sense of the word (there are literally blunted teeth keeping this in place). Adding to that is the ‘FrogzSkin’ membrane covering the speaker on the radio, which prevents snow and ice from accumulating. Smart.

When testing this radio in British Columbia’s Selkirk Range while heli-skiing this winter, the Oxbow came in loud and clear as we coordinated with our ski guide for additional laps. The choice to go lithium-ion with the battery was smart to fend off drop-off in the cold, and our testers had no problem getting a full weekend of use out of the Renegade. You can even snag another battery for just $36.

While the Renegade X is meant to ride on your pack straps, we did wish more than once for a remote hand mic set-up similar to the Rocky Talkie 5-Watt or BCA Link 2.0. The small footprint of the radio means it tucks into jacket pockets easily enough, however, and the pros far outweigh the cons on the snow-ready walkie.

While the Motorola Talkabout T600 ($130) didn’t score the highest in our testing, it still has plenty going for it, and as a fully waterproof (and floating) radio, there are plenty of uses we can drum up.

An excellent alternative to the Cobra ACXT1035R FLT, the T600 hits many of the same water-friendly metrics, including an IP67 waterproof rating, a floating design, and even something the Cobra doesn’t offer: a water-activated flashlight that comes on should your radio take a dive.

In our testing, transmission range wasn’t the hottest on these radios, with the best case being 4 miles and the worst case being 2 to 3. The reason is found deep in the user manual for the radios: the T600 only transmits at 1.5 W on high, not the maximum 2 W allowed on the FRS band. While this seems small, the real-world performance laid bare how important that half a watt is.

The included rechargeable battery pack is only 800 mAh, which was the smallest in our testing. Thankfully, the T600 will also run on AA batteries, which bumps up operating time from around 8 hours to almost a full day. For most, even a good 8 hours is enough when you aren’t far from a charger, but another radio may better fit the bill for extended trips.

We tested these radios by loaning them to a local trail crew, who used them to manage communications across a few miles of work site and while felling trees — no small ask. Across the board, they reported clear transmissions and little static, even in denser brush. For $65 per radio, the Talkabout T600 is one of the more affordable options in our lineup, and while we think the Midland X-Talker is a better budget radio for most, these are still a great value.

If you’ve had a walkie-talkie or two, you’re probably familiar with the almost comical ranges they purport to achieve, and it’s this type of fluff we aimed to cut through in our testing. As little pieces of tech, walkies can tuck a lot of functionality under the hood, and unraveling all that took us to reaches of radio-nerdery we aren’t sure we can return from now.

For our initial slate of walkie-talkie testing, we researched and identified 11 of the most popular radios with leading specifications and feature sets. We aimed to capture the broadest selection of the market and focused our efforts mainly on FRS radios, with a few GMRS radios thrown in for comparison, as well as a true handheld amateur radio to see what the big dogs can do.

The best walkie-talkies on the market are tools, not toys, and our testing aimed to challenge their performance in both best- and worst-case scenarios. To test overall range and transmission clarity, we transmitted across both the broad lowlands of Puget Sound and the tortured landscape of Joshua Tree National Park. Our testing in Washington yielded a test with all things going for the radios, while our challenge down south cranked the dial and went for broke on difficulty.

We also use these radios just as they were designed for: short- and long-distance comms. From deep Alaskan ice hunting to class 4 rapids in the Pacific Northwest, we totted these radios out into the sticks and used them to keep in contact with our partners. Each has the scratches to prove it, and each one earned its spot in our lineup. As new walkies hit the market, we’ll fold them into our coverage and test them all the same.

As modern electronics, there’s also a lot we glean from our in-house bench testing, which often yields surprising insights into these radios. We tested these radios on their battery life, running them all flat and noting total operating times, and challenged them to operate right out of the freezer and after baking in the sun all afternoon.

A good drop test is also another essential in our testing, where each radio is subjected to a fall from a handheld height and judged on its ability to, well, not break. Finally, water resistance was tested with the help of the garden hose, where we sprayed these radios down from multiple angles to ensure they lived up to their claimed ratings.

Our walkie-talkie testing is led by Nick Belcaster, a licensed amateur radio operator and multi-sport enthusiast from the Pacific Northwest. His radio usage spans from calling off-belay on long alpine multi-pitch climbs to hailing other radio enthusiasts on peaks in the Cascades (he’s even talked to the astronauts on the Space Station).

In a previous role, he has managed fleets of handheld radios for a national mountain guiding operation, and programmed handhelds for hailing bushplanes on Denali. His expertise is compounded by a team of multisport GearJunkies who took to the four corners to test these radios on backpacking, climbing, paddling, and even heli-skiing trips.

Editorial Director Sean McCoy places a high value on radios that can keep up in the cold, which is essential when he’s tracking elk in the alpine of Colorado. His gear testing history stretches back more than 20 years, and in that time, he’s honed a good understanding of what flies for backcountry communication.

Transmission clarity on circuitous rock and ice routes is the primary concern of Editor Seiji Ishii, who uses walkie-talkies to keep in contact when putting down first ascents on far-flung routes in Alaska.

Without looking under the hood, it can be tough to tell what you’re really getting with a walkie-talkie — many look the part but perform wildly different from their counterparts. And when bringing them along on high-stakes adventures, that can actually matter.

But with some know-how, your next set of walkies will not only last longer, but will also operate more dependably and keep you keyed in on the important things. Consider the following when choosing your next radio, as well as what exactly your backcountry communication needs are. We also have guides on the Best Satellite Messengers and even the Best Satellite Phones, should you really need to get the message out.

Overwhelmingly, most people, most of the time, are best served by a Family Radio Service, or FRS, radio. Carved out of the radio band plan in the 90s, this segment of the airwaves is offered up as license-free and available to any and all who wish to jump on and gab. The 462 and 467 MHz range is channelized, meaning channel 1 on your radio is the same as everyone else’s.

With the exception of the Rocky Talkie 5-Watt Radio, Midland GXT100, and the Baofeng BF-F8HP, all of the walkies in our testing are FRS band radios with 22 channels to choose from. Channels 1-7 and 15-22 transmit at 2 watts of output, while the middle frequencies are limited to 0.5 watts.

GMRS, or General Mobile Radio Service, radios are the next step up in ability and operate on the same 22 channels that FRS radios do, as well as eight additional channels between these. The biggest difference between the two is the operating power, which can be as high as 50 watts on a GMRS radio but is more typically 5 watts.

Because of this added power, you’ll be able to beam further afield with a GMRS radio, but will also need an FCC license to do so. Luckily, there’s no test to complete, and the $35 fee is good for 10 years — and extends to family members. A radio like the Rocky Talkie 5-Watt will outperform an FRS radio any day of the week.

Finally, amateur or ‘ham’ radios make use of a different slice of the radio waves, and require a license and call sign to operate legally. Only the Baofeng BF-F8HP in our testing qualifies as this type of radio, but the abilities you gain access to are well worth it for some. At 8-watts maximum power, a radio like this is working with a lot more engine to get your signal out. This is the radio our lead tester, Nick Belcaster, uses when traveling deep in the backcountry.

Best thought of as an added lock and key, privacy codes allow radio operators to cut down on cross traffic, and can be very effective when used in an area where many are using walkie-talkies. These come in two different flavors, though you most often won’t see them identified as such, and more often will be denoted as privacy codes, interference eliminator codes, or subcodes.

CTCSS codes are sub-audible tones that piggyback on the transmissions from your radio, and if any radio listening is also listening for that specific code, it’ll allow the transmission through. There are 38 commonly used CTCSS codes, and adding one to your frequency choice not only applies the tone to your transmissions, but also adds a filter to your receiver to listen for the same code.

DCS codes are a little different, and transmit a digital bitstream that accomplishes the same function as CTCSS codes. As we mentioned earlier, many FRS radios dumb down this information, and many simply change from CTCSS to DCS between the 38th and 39th privacy codes. Functionally, there is little difference in choosing either.

It’s important to note that the ‘privacy’ offered by privacy codes only extends to those who don’t stumble upon your unique combination of frequency and code, and that those who aren’t using a privacy code but the same frequency will still be able to hear your transmissions.

First things first, let’s settle something here: The max ranges given for most radios are going to be the best-case scenario possible — from mountain top to mountain top. With nothing deflecting or impeding the signal, even lowly walkie-talkies can beam across 20-30-mile expanses.

The reality of actual use, however, can be markedly different, and depend on a number of different factors. The first is out of our control, and that is terrain. Trees, mountains, and especially hills and depressions all have a strong impact on transmission range (even strong solar flares can impact some radios). The best option for combatting this is to get as prominent as you’re able to. Even a hundred vertical feet can make a tangible difference.

The second major factor affecting range is equipment, and luckily we do have control over some of this. First off, choosing the appropriate radio for the job will get you far. FRS radios are good for short to mid-range distances, GMRS radios for solid mid-ranges, and amateur radios for long-range transmissions.

Transmitting with the maximum allowed output for your radio will also significantly boost your signal. On FRS radios, that’s 0.5 W or 2 W, depending on the channel. GMRS radios can output up to 50 W but typically top out at around five on handheld radios. Some radios, like the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio, will display whether or not the channel you are using is a high or low transmission power channel, which can make it easy.

In our own testing, we aimed to look at the best- and worst-case scenarios to get the full picture. To test the full transmission distance we could squeeze out of these radios, we conducted range testing along an open county road in flat country, ensuring nothing was limiting these walkies.

For a better idea of real-world results, we also tested among the boulder piles of Joshua Tree National Park, where results were greatly foreshortened.

While using a walkie-talkie doesn’t require much of the etiquette of amateur radio (or the fun slang of CB), there are some handy tips for making your transmissions count the first time.

First off, choose a channel that doesn’t already have traffic. For close-quarters comms, you’re probably fine going with one of the 0.5-watt channels in the middle of the FRS band (8-14), but if range is going to be an issue, stick with the full-power channels of 1-7 or 15-22.

Consider if a privacy code would help cut down on cross-talk, and if a specific channel is warranted: Some localities are experimenting with standardizing recommended channels for different recreation zones.

Then, practice a radio check. This entails putting a small distance between users and checking for a good copy. Doing this before it counts is a surefire way to hedge against mishaps when your buddy thought you said channel 4 instead of 5.

Because some radios have some latency when transmitting, pause for a moment or two before beginning to speak. This will ensure your full message isn’t cut short. Some radios tag on a transmission tone at the end of any message, meaning your recipient should know when you’re done talking and they’re clear to respond.

If transmissions aren’t coming through the clearest, consider using the following language to ensure your message is understood:

When transmissions are especially garbled, relay important words in a phonetic alphabet like the NATO alphabet at a slow pace and ask for confirmation.

Your walkie-talkie is only as good as long as it has a charge, and there can be a pretty big spread in battery capacities, as well as discharge rates. The smallest battery in our testing was the 800 mAH rechargeable found in the Motorola T600, which we found averaged around 8 hours of casual use before needing to be recharged.

Above that was the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio (1,550 mAh), Oxbow Renegade (1,700 mAh), Midland X-Talker TV51 and GXT1000 (1,700 mAh), and Rocky Talkie 5-Watt (1,800 mAh). All of these radios put out a respectable amount of playtime, averaging around a day to two of usage.

Rocky Talkie must use some special battery-conserving tech, as they both outlasted even some of the larger battery radios, including the BCA Link Mini (1,800 mAh) and Baofeng BF-F8HP (2,000 mAh). Beyond that, the BCA Link 2.0 stretches the life to up to a claimed 80 hours, followed by the Mountain Lab Scout (2,500 mAh) and Cobra ACXT1035R FLT (3,000 mAh) — both supremely long-lasting radios.

We reserved a special place for radios that can operate with either a rechargeable battery pack or traditional batteries — as this is an excellent way to squeeze even more time out of your radio. The Cobra ACX, Mountain Lab Scout, Midland GXT1000 and X-Talker, Motorola T600, and Baofeng BF-F8HP (with optional battery pack) can all do this, and, for example, the Motorola T600 can squeeze out 8 hours on rechargeables, but 23 on AA batteries.

For those rechargeable radios, we gave preference for those that incorporated a forward-thinking USB-C charging port over the dated Micro-USB. Battery life indicators across the walkies ranged from simple three-bar icons to the percentages that flash during boot-up on both the Rocky Talkies. If you’re planning on being remote and off the cord for an extended period of time, it’s not a bad bet to take along a portable power bank to keep your walkies topped off.

As outdoor equipment, you better believe we put these radios through the wringer, and rightfully so: a walkie-talkie that can’t handle being used outside isn’t worth much.

Any radio that claimed to be IP-rated as waterproof got both the hose and the whitewater treatment, being doused in both a steady stream of water while buttons were being pushed, as well as being strapped to our PFDs and run through a gauntlet of rapids.

The Rocky Talkie 5-Watt, Cobra ACXT1035R FLT, Mountain Lab Scout, and Motorola T600 all claim IP67 waterproofing with immersion in 3 feet of water up to 30 minutes, so we chucked them in a bucket to prove it.

Some radios, like the Rocky Talkie Mountain and 5-Watt, offer an optional handheld mic that is fully waterproof, meaning you can tuck the base unit away from the elements and use the radio without concern. Other radios aren’t quite waterproof, like the IP56 splashproof Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio or Oxbow Renegade X, which will take light precip, but no dunking.

Durability is also a function of impact resistance, and our climbing editor has literally bashed FRS radios to pieces during some ascents. Rubberized cases like on the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio soak up damage like this, and included tethers keep fumbles from becoming full-blown falls.

Environmental factors such as temperature can also impact long-term performance, with a distinct difference between lithium-ion batteries and nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH cells are more susceptible to temperature swings). For example, the lithium-ion powered Oxbow Renegade X lasts a good bit longer at low temperatures than the Cobra ACXT1035R FLT, even though they have the same battery capacity.

As with most things, you get what you pay for when it comes to walkie-talkies. Thankfully, a proliferation of cheap tech has made even budget walkies perfectly serviceable for day-to-day use, but there are a few things to keep in mind as the price goes up.

Budget walkie-talkies, such as the Midland X-Talker T51 and GXT1000, typically slide in around $25-40 per radio and are sold in two packs, meaning you’re already set up for team communications. These radios often won’t be as physically durable (both lack waterproof ratings), but even these radios come fleshed out with a number of features, such as VOX and dual frequency monitoring.

The Baofeng BF-F8HP is a bit of an outlier in this range, as it’s a much higher-powered and featured radio for $65, but you’ll have to deal with a less user-friendly interface. Moving up from here, mid-tier radios such as the Cobra ACXT1035R FLT ($60 per), Motorola T600 ($65 per), BCA Link Mini ($99 per), and Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio ($110 per) get you a more robust radio, often with a full waterproof rating and more features such as NOAA weather reception.

Premium radios, such as the Mountain Lab Scout ($150 per), Rocky Talkie 5-Watt ($165), Oxbow Renegade X ($180 per), and BCA Link 2.0 ($190 per), offer the full suite of functionalities. These can include integrated hand mics, Bluetooth integration, or full 5W power outputs.

Typically, these radios are specialized with some purpose in mind, and we recommend considering them if that’s what you plan on doing the most with them. However, it’s important to keep in mind that a specialized radio won’t do everything as well as a more general radio, which you typically find in the mid-tier range.

While there’s much to be said about many walkie-talkie brands, it’s tough to deny when 2x of our award winner spots are taken by the same brand. Rocky Talkie radios regularly performed better than any other radio in our testing, and jam in almost all of the functionality we’re after in a great walkie-talkie (the exclusion of VOX is puzzling, but we’ll live without).

More of the old guard of radio manufacturers, Midland continues to make high-quality FRS and GMRS radios such as the X-Talker and GXT1000 lines, and Motorola, too, has a number of high-quality radios it’d be hard to go wrong with.

When talking about range, power output is almost always the most important factor when it comes to things we can control. If you’re looking at a far reach, be sure to use the FRS channels that allow for the full 2 W: 1-7 and 15-22.

Know that even some FRS radios won’t operate at the legal maximum they can — a good example being the Motorola T600, which puts out 1.5 W on high.

In our own testing, the Baofeng BF-F8HP rightfully trounced the competition, though it was hardly a fair fight. The 8W maximum output is far above any FRS walkie-talkie. Behind this were the GMRS radios, which put out 5 W, and the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio — the farthest-reaching FRS handheld.

While every walkie-talkie is a two-way radio, not every two-way radio is a walkie-talkie. The term walkie-talkie typically refers to FRS and GMRS handheld radios, which are limited to their respective bands and power outputs.

Two-way radios, on the other hand, can encompass a broad array of communicators, from handheld 10-watt amateur radios to full base-station radios that require a tower-mounted antenna. The portable nature of walkie-talkies is another distinguishing feature.

When buying a walkie-talkie, a good first step is considering what you’ll be using the radio for. For casually checking in on hiking partners, a simple weather-resistant FRS radio will work excellently. For more exposed activities such as backcountry skiing or paddling, going with a waterproof radio should be a top-priority.

If you’re looking to transmit far or in complex terrain, consider bumping up to a GMRS radio, which opens up a higher transmission power, but will need a simple license to operate. And if pure power and capability are what you’re after, a true amateur radio will pull no punches and get messages out that other walkie-talkies only dream of.

On any FRS walkie-talkie, the strongest channels are going to be the ones that are allowed the full 2 watts of output for the band. These are channels 1-7 and 15-22. Channels 8-14 can only transmit a maximum of 0.5 W.

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