7 Best Survival Walkie Talkies For Preppers And Emergency Bags

However well prepared you are for an outdoor adventure, accidents can happen and it’s important to be able to call for help. Being able to communicate in the event of an emergency could save your life. 

Survival walkie talkies are essential in cases of emergencies. You can use them to tune into specific channels and receive vital information such as weather warnings which are especially important when you are outdoors.

Making this simple purchase will help ensure your own safety and the safety of others. Without a survival walkie talkie you will not be able to make contact with other members of your team, park rangers or people in the surrounding area who may be able to offer help. 

There are lots of survival walkie talkies on the market that are cheap, easy to use and compact enough to easily fit into a bug out bag or a get home bag. To help you make your decision on the best walkie talkie to buy, we’ve researched and rounded up the best walkie talkies on the market. Let’s get started.

1. Midland Long Range Walkie Talkie

These two way radios feature a camouflage pattern making them easy to distinguish from others, and ideal for hunting. In addition, they have 5 animal call alerts as well as a Vibrate Only feature if you need to ensure there’s no sound. 

With 50 GMRS channels, you can also access privacy codes to block other conversations. 

The walkie talkie features a 36 mile range depending on the openness of the area and obstructions, and you’ll get all the chargers, adaptors and battery packs included in your purchase.

2. Vozkom Walkie Talkies

These are durable walkie talkies that are well priced. They can be used in clear open spaces for up to 30 miles making them a good option for being out at sea and sailing. 

The Vozkom Walkie Talkies have a NOAA Weather Scan and Alert function which enables you to set them up to automatically scan weather band channels so that you’ll be updated on any weather events or warnings nearby.

3. Ham Radio Walkie Talkie 

This walkie talkie is great for hiking and expeditions with a reliable 12 hour battery life at the minimum. 

With many accessories included, you won’t have to worry about buying extra compatible parts to use with this model and there are changeable antennas to allow you to use different modes.

4. Topsung Rechargeable Walkie Talkies

These walkie talkies are available in a variety of colors which can be useful if you want different team members to be able to easily identify their own walkie talkie. You can also choose from a 4 pack or a 6 pack so they’re the perfect option for groups prepping to go hiking or exploring.

Able to support more advanced technologies, the Topsung Walkie Talkies also has USB charging cables which are compatible with all micro USB charging points (such as laptops and power banks).

5. Retevis RT29 Two Way Radios

These survival walkie talkies have high gain antennas which can enhance signal transmissions and reception range. 

The body design of the two way radios is durable,dust proof and drop proof, making them ideal for activities such as hiking, camping and cross country skiing trips.

6. SAMCOM Two Way Radio

These two way radios have dual PTT (Push to Talk) allowing you to quickly and easily make direct communication with members on the same channel. 

The radios come with accessories including an ear piece, belt clip and dock charger. 

Having these in a bug out bag to use in an emergency can give you peace of mind that you’ll be able to instantly make contact with others and ask for help.

7. Motorola Solutions T480 Walkie Talkie

Rated as IP54 Weatherproof, this is a survival walkie talkie that you can take out in extreme conditions. It’s compact and easy to fit into a bug out bag or a get home bag. 

There’s a built-in flash light for navigating your way in the dark. This walkie talkie also has a micro USB charging port.

Comparison Table

In Depth Buyers Guide 

Before you purchase your survival walkie talkies, always make sure that you focus on the key factors you’re looking for. You don’t want to end up wasting money buying a two way radio that simply isn’t suitable for your needs. 

Weatherproof

It can be easy to confuse a weather resistant and waterproof device. Not all walkie talkies will be able to withstand extreme weather conditions so it’s important to identify whether you need a waterproof or weather resistant model.

If you just want an emergency survival walkie talkie for unexpected power outages when you can’t use a cell phone, you can opt for a ‘water resistant’ walkie talkie.

If you’re planning to take your two way radio out on expeditions where you may need to use it in extreme conditions, look for one that is fully waterproof and will still function if dropped from a height, or exposed to dusty conditions. 

Range

It’s important to consider the type of surroundings you expect to use your survival walkie talkies in. If you’re planning to mainly use them when you are on the sea or out sailing, you won’t need to worry about obstacles such as trees or buildings  and can expect your radio to reach its full range. 

There is a huge variety of different ranges available with different models of survival walkie talkies and these can differ from just a few feet, to up to 30 miles. 

Many people get frustrated when their walkie talkies don’t perform to their fully stated range but keep in mind this may be due to obstructions and interference. It’s important to take this into account when determining which walkie talkie will best suit your needs. 

Battery Life

On average the battery in a two way radio should last between 18 months and 2 years. This will depend heavily on how much you use the walkie talkies and the quality of the battery that you use. 

Generally the batteries in survival walkie talkies are either AA batteries or Lithium Ion batteries. Going with a rechargeable lithium option can be more expensive to begin with but it’s often an investment that preppers are glad to have made long term as it means they can rely on it to function effectively for 10-20 years. 

Can I contact authorities for help using a walkie talkie?

Yes. The best way to contact authorities for help using a walkie talkie will depend on exactly where you are. 

If you are in a national park or in an area with designated rangers, you may be able to find out a channel in advance that is specifically designed for people to use when they need help. 

Alternatively, you may be trapped or in an emergency situation but unsure of who to call. In these situations, you can use your walkie talkie’s frequency scan function which will search for nearby signals. You can then request an urgent appeal for help. 

How can you save battery on a walkie talkie?

One of the biggest issues for rescuers when they’re responding to an emergency call from a walkie talkie is losing contact with the person in distress. This is usually due to a walkie talkie losing battery power. 

In order to prevent this from happening, make sure you use the power saving feature on your walkie talkie. Almost all walkie talkies will have an option to select either Low, Medium or High Power Modes so be sure to make use of this. 

Going for a survival walkie talkie that has a low battery alert system is also useful as it means that you’ll be aware of when you’re starting to lose power and may be able to actively save your battery power. 

Conclusion

To sum it up, survival walkie talkies are a worthwhile investment that all preppers should consider for their homes, bug out bags and get home bags. 

Choosing the right survival walkie talkie will depend on what you want it to do, how you want to use it and how much you want to spend. 

Ready to get the best walkie talkie for your expeditions? All of the products listed in the review above are available below:  

• Midland Long Range Walkie Talkie
• Vozkom Walkie Talkies
• Ham Radio Walkie Talkie 
• Topsung Rechargeable Walkie Talkies
• Retevis RT29 Two Way Radios
• SAMCOM Two Way Radio
• Motorola Solutions T480 Walkie Talkie