The 5 Best Emergency Weather Radios and Why You Need One

ProsFour ways to power itUp to 45 hours of battery on a full chargeBright Cree LED flashlight with SOS Morse-code beaconConsSolar panel won't recharge a dead batteryReliable reception and a loud alert system landed this at the top of our list for emergency weather radios. Like the other radios on this list, this is a portable, compact unit with high levels of weather resistance and durability, and a long-lasting, rechargeable 3,500 mAh battery.When the battery runs down, you can bring the radio back to life by turning the hand crank, no outlet required. It has a bright LED flashlight and auto-locks onto the strongest weather alert signal with the scanner.This model is rechargeable with a USB-to-AC wall outlet, and the battery can be charged to full capacity with solar panels or the hand crank. Fully charged, the battery can power the radio for up to 45 hours of use.The alert is loud when emergency messaging comes through your closest NOAA frequency. This is a great model to stash in a go-bag or your glove compartment, and it comes in several varieties, including a Pro model, with different battery power and features.Key SpecsPower SourceSolar, hand crank, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (6 AA batteries as backup)Weight1.46 lbs.Dimensions8.0 x 3.4 x 2.4 in.ProsUpdated model has stronger battery than beforeOne minute of cranking can power light for over 20 minutesConsNo low-battery indicatorWhile most emergency radios won’t break the bank, this one is an especially good deal thanks to the feature-packed, compact design that can easily compete with pricier models. Even with the low price and somewhat confusing Amazon listing name, it has strong connectivity and durability, and reliably receives emergency weather forecasts from NOAA and updates from AM/FM stations. It has a 4000mAh battery equipped with a USB port to keep your phone charged, the hand crank is ergonomic, and it comes with a loud siren for instant alerts.We love the versatile ways this radio can be recharged either in a wall outlet via the USB port or via the hand crank, and it powers up quickly on a sunny day with the solar panels. The included LED light is bright enough to read by and doesn’t drain the battery quickly, and it charges fully in a wall outlet in four hours.Key SpecsPower SourceBattery, solar, hand crank, ACWeight10.9 ozDimensions6.2 x 3 x 2 in.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsBright LED lightDigital thermometer and humidity readout Rechargeable battery charges quickly ConsBattery life isn’t as long as in other modelsThis is the most advanced model from Kaito’s Voyager line, and can be used as a daily radio as well as an emergency backup. Power options include an AC adapter, a rechargeable battery, AAA batteries, solar panels, or hand-crank.The solar panels flip 180 degrees to maximize solar charging capabilities, and it fully charges in 4 hours via solar and less than 2 hours in an AC wall unit. Activating the solar panel allows the radio to play, even with a dead internal battery and no AC power source. This is the most industrial looking unit from our picks, but it comes packed with features, reliable frequency connectivity, and has a headphone jack to work as a wired speaker.Key SpecsPower SourceBattery, solar, hand crank, ACWeight1 lb. 4 oz.Dimensions9.5 x 5.5 x 2.5 in.ProsEasy dial to tuneBacklight easy to see in dim or bright lightConsMore limited reception than other models This durable little model is even smaller than C Crane’s previous compact radios, and runs on two AA batteries for up to 80 hours. Keep in mind the battery life is dependent on volume level and whether or not you’re using speakers or earbuds (headphones will get you up to 100 hours of battery life), and it’s never a bad idea to keep spare batteries on hand. This radio has a lot of bang for its tiny size, with five memory buttons and the access to dozens of AM and FM stations. You can receive NOAA weather broadcasts and set the alerts for multiple hour intervals based on conditions and zone. The readout is simple and easy to see in dim light or bright daylight, and it’s passed plenty of drop tests (both on purpose and accidental).Key SpecsPower SourceBatteryWeight3.8 ozDimensions4.25 x 2.5 x 1 in.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsSelect from more than 50 alert optionsLoud alert systemConsNo backup hand crank option This is not the same as an outdoor-ready, crank-arm capable radio. Rather, think of it like a smoke detector alarm or CO2 detector, albeit one that relies on AC power with a battery backup. It sits there quietly until there’s an alert, and you have three different ways to be alerted: flashing lights, voice alert, or a loud (90 decibels, to be exact) siren.With a digital readout, this weather radio is styled like an alarm clock with powerful weather-alert capabilities. It’s simple to use and set up, and scans the seven NOAA frequencies until it finds the one with the strongest signal. Additionally, it can lock onto Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) frequencies, which can send you weather alerts based on your county.It’s also capable of receiving all Emergency Alert System (EAS) warnings, which are text and audio alerts localized to your area. If you truly want to be prepared for weather events, it’s not a bad idea to have this model in your house along with a backup hand-crank radio in your go-bag.Maggie Slepian is a full-time freelance writer in the outdoor industry and has tested gear professionally for almost ten years—she is an avid backpacker, trail runner, bikepacker, and horseback rider and has thru-hiked thousands of miles on the Appalachian, Colorado, and Ouachita trails, along with backcountry travel on terrain including coastal trails, the desert, and high alpine peaks. Maggie has written for New York Magazine, Huffington Post, REI, and Outside. She is a columnist with Backpacker Magazine and is the co-founder of BackpackingRoutes.com. Contact her at MaggieSlepian.com.