A survival radio is a must-have when preparing for bad weather. Severe storms, wind, and ice can break utility poles and knock out the power for days, leaving you without a way to watch the local news to receive weather alerts or to communicate with others.
A survival radio will ensure that you have a way to receive local weather alerts and communicate with one another when the weather has knocked out the power lines and cell phone towers.
Today, we’re going to discuss the top 8 best survival radio models for you to choose from when choosing the best survival radio.
The Best Survival Radios – The Top 8 Models for Emergencies
1. Kaito KA500 6-Way Survival Radio
- 6-way powered portable emergency radio with hand crank generator, solar panel, compartment for 3 AA batteries (not included), 5V USB input, 5V AC/DC input with a wall power adapter (sold separately), built-in NiMH replaceable and rechargeable battery pack
- Comprehensive coverage of AM, FM, 2-band shortwave and 7 pre-programmed NOAA weather channels for entertainment, sports, talk-shows, breaking news around the world, and 24/7 real-time weather forecast (USA and Canada ONLY) with PEAS (Public Emergency Alert System)
- Works as an emergency mobile battery charger with built-in standard DC 5V USB output port for charging mobile devices, such as smart phones, GPS units, MP3 players, digital cameras, and etc. Other features include a 5-LED reading lamp, LED flashlight and a red LED S.O.S. beacon light
- Telescopic antenna extends up to 14.5″ for high sensitivity reception assisted by advanced semiconductor circuitry design and LED signal strength indicator for pin-point tuning accuracy, and built-in speaker delivers loud and crispy sound
- Made of strong premium impact-resistant and water-resistant ABS material, suitable for both indoors home/office use and outdoors recreational activities
The top pick on our list of best survival radios is this 6-way survival radio by Kaito. It has 6 different methods of powering the radio including a solar power panel, hand crank generator, AA batteries (requires 3 that are not included), 5V USB input, 5V AC/DC input with a wall power adapter (sold separately), and a built-in NiMH replaceable and rechargeable battery pack.
You can receive AM and FM radio channels as well as 7 different pre-programmed NOAA weather channels. There is also a Public Emergency Alert System to alert you about local threats.
One of the best features of this survival radio is the built-in 5V USB output port for charging various electronic devices. Because the power can go out and stay out for days, you won’t have a way to charge your cell phone. But with this survival radio, you can charge your cell phone even when there is no power.
2. FosPower Emergency Radio
- [2000MAH POWER BANK WILL KEEP DEVICES POWERED] FosPower’s emergency radio incorporates a 2000mAh power bank capable of providing emergency power to any small tablet or phone.
- [3 POWER SOURCES POWER WHEN YOU NEED IT] Use the emergency weather radio’s 3 power sources when you need a boost of power or need to recharge the radio. The radio’s crank lever and solar panel are both capable of regenerating enough power to keep the radio, lights, and SOS alarm ready to go when you need it most. AAA Batteries ensure you have power when not able to regenerate power.
- [2 LIGHT SOURCES ALWAYS POWERED] The emergency crank radio can also provide light. The 4 LED reading light and 1W flashlight provides enough output to keep you and your loved ones out of the dark in an emergency situation.
- [NOAA EMERGENCY WEATHER BROADCAST ACCESS] The radio will dependably receive up to the second emergency weather forecasts and emergency news broadcasts from NOAA and AM/FM stations.
- [LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY] Includes a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Please visit FosPower’s website for more information.
The FosPower emergency radio has 3 different power sources including a solar power panel, hand crank, and AAA batteries (not included). It also doubles as a flashlight to provide a light source when you lose power at night.
The emergency radio has both AM/FM frequencies and NOAA emergency broadcast alerts when there is a severe threat in the area.
If you need to charge your phone, there is a built-in 2000mAh power bank to connect your cell phone or tablet to charge.
3. RunningSnail Survival Radio
- A MUST-HAVE FOR THE EMERGENCY – This emergency weather radio not only dependably receive up to the newest emergency weather forecasts from NOAA and AM/FM stations to be well prepared advanced; Also, A 2000mAh large capacity battery can provide emergency power to any small tablet or phone, the brighter LED Flashlight and reading lamp could light up your darkness. The SOS Alarm, external antenna, comfortable hand crank, tap switch fit all your needs in emergency.
- 2000mAh EMERGENCY POWER BANK KEEP YOU ONLINE – Our emergency radio comes with a 2000mAh power bank, which works with most USB-powered devices. Enough emergency power for all-important calls to your family, the emergency services, or for contacting assistance in emergency situations. You will never lose contact with the outside world.
- 4 WAYS TO POWER KEEP YOU NEVER POWER OFF – The emergency crank radio with a 2000mAh built-in battery doesn’t only charge via USB Cable, you also could power the emergency radio by hand crank and solar panel to ensure that you can use the solar crank radio normally. AAA batteries, which are found in every household and easy to get, ensure you have power when not able to regenerate power. Never run out of electricity!
- 2 LIGHT SOURCES AND SOS ALARM – The emergency radio also could provide a 4 LED reading lamp and 1W LED flashlight. Whether walking at night or without power at home, we can provide you with the timeliest help, keep you and your loved ones out of the dark in an emergency situation. Also, the SOS function will allow you to make a loud siren sound and a flashing light, draw others’ attention as soon as possible to out of emergency.
- NO RISK FOR YOUR PURCHASE – Your voice drives us to be the best. We back our emergency weather radio with an 18-months Warranty! If you are not satisfied with this NOAA weather radio, we will provide the solution for you immediately as you contact us. And our customer service is here for you 24/7 for anything you need!
The RunningSnail survival radio has 4 different ways to store power for it to be used. It has a solar power panel, AAA batteries (not included), a hand crank generator, and a USB charging port. There is a built-in flashlight on one end of the radio to provide light when there is no power at night. You can also charge your cell phone or tablet with the built-in 2000mAh power bank.
You can receive AM/FM radio stations as well as NOAA weather radio alerts through the survival radio. If you need help and need to be located, the survival radio includes an SOS alarm that will sound so that rescuers can find you.
4. Midland ER210 Emergency Radio
- MULTIPLE POWER SOURCES – The ER210 features 3 sustainable power sources to recharge your radio: Solar Panel, Hand Crank, & the Rechargeable 2000 mAh Battery. SOLAR PANEL – Recharge the internal lithium ion battery with direct sunlight. HAND CRANK – Recharge the radio during a power outage or anytime away from a power source. RECHARGEABLE 2200 mAh BATTERY – The replaceable long life lithium ion battery provides up to 25 hours of radio operation.
- EMERGENCY FLASHLIGHT – The SOS FLASHLIGHT BEACON flashes Morse code in an emergency scenario and the Bright CREE LED (130 Lumens) can be used to signal for help. Select the Low brightness setting to conserve battery life or the High brightness setting for maximum illumination.
- NOAA WEATHER SCAN + ALERT – NOAA Weather Scan will automatically scan through 10 available weather (WX) band channels and locks onto the strongest weather channel to alert you of severe weather updates. NOAA Weather Alert will sound an alarm indicating that there is a risk of severe weather in your area.
- CHARGE EXTERNAL DEVICES – Quickly charge your portable devices (cell phones, tablets, etc.) using the USB charging cable (included).
- LARGE LCD DISPLAY – The LCD display is backlit and can show radio station, time, or weather channels.
When it comes to emergency radios, Midland is the best. They make quality survival products including a variety of weather and survival radios, and this is one of the best.
The ER210 emergency radio has 3 different power sources to provide power to the emergency radio. It has a hand crank, a solar power panel, and a rechargeable 2000 mAh battery. When fully charged, the 2000 mAh battery will provide approximately 32 hours of continuous use.
Like many of the other models on our list, there is a built-in USB charger and power bank that will charge your cell phone or tablet.
You can listen to AM and FM radio frequencies as well as receive NOAA weather alerts on the radio. It includes a flashlight for you to use at night when the power is out.
5. Esky Emergency Solar Power Radio
- 3 Charging Ways – No electricity? No worries. Thanks to its 3 charging methods, the crank radio is always ready to go! The powerful 1000mAh battery can be charged via a USB cable, the solar panel, or the hand crank.
- 1000mAh Phone Charger – A dead phone can be life threatening. Don’t let your phone die when you need it most! Simply plug your phone or other small electronics into the USB port of this hand crank radio for some extra juice.
- Durable Emergency Radio – Hurricanes, tornadoes, rainstorms, fires, and more-the Esky Weather Radios will keep your family safe through it all. The rugged design is both durable and water-resistant, and can withstand even the harshest of conditions.
- 3 LED Emergency Flashlight – Don’t let the dark get you down. The 3W built-in flashlight will cut through the blackness and maximize visibility.
- Portable Radio On The Go – This lightweight small radio is a hassle-free way to listen to important weather or news updates. Keep the NOAA weather radio in your trunk, your suitcase, or carry it by hand with the attached lanyard. It’s even small enough to fit in your pocket.
The Esky emergency solar power radio can receive power in 3 different ways. It can be powered by the built-in solar power panel, by using the hand crank, or by recharging the 1000mAh battery. For a basic survival radio, it’s one of the best you can choose.
It is extremely functional, allowing you to listen to both AM and FM radio frequencies, as well as receive 7 different NOAA weather radio stations. You can also power your phone or tablet using the built-in power bank.
Finally, it has a built-in flashlight to make it multi-functional at night when the power is out.
6. Midland WR120B NOAA Emergency Weather Radio
- Public-alert certified monitor receives 7 NOAA channels with flood, tornado, thunderstorm, and other warnings
- SAME alert programming sounds an alert only when specific counties are threatened
- 25-county memory system; 90 dB siren, voice alert, and flashing LED warning systems
- Uses three AA alkaline batteries for emergency power back-up in the event of power outage
- Built-in clock with alarm and snooze; measures 6.0 x 1.5 x 5.0 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty
When it comes to weather radios, the Midland WR120B is our top pick. It has an extremely loud alert that will sound when there is a new weather watch or warning in your area. You can snooze the weather alert to turn it off while keeping the radio on so that you don’t miss any future weather alerts.
There is no added function of a flashlight or built-in USB charger to charge your electronic devices, but it’s the perfect weather radio when you need to stay weather-aware.
7. Mesqool 5-Way Survival Radio
- 7 Pre-Configured NOAA Weather Alerts Stations & Solid Reception on AM/FM/Shortwave Radio – You can switch from AM/FM/Shortwave radio to NOAA weather band to get the daily forecast quickly by rotating the knob instead of tuning up and down the dial.7 programmed NOAA weather Channels bring alerts right to keep you up to speed when there is severe weather advisory in your area.𝗙𝗠 𝗔𝗠 𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼 gets good reception as well as shortwave stations even with the antenna down.
- 5000 Replaceable/Rechargeable Li-ion Battery & 5 Power Sources – This weather radio comes with 5000 large-capacity rechargeable battery ensure your cellphone will be fully charged in emergency.5 power options,never worry it power off anytime.when the built-in battery is power off,it will be charged by the backup power sources include winding up handle,solar crank or micro USB input connection or 3 pcs AAA battery.
- Handy Bright Camping Flashlight & LED Reading Lamp – When power failure in the emergency,wind up hand crank to work as a handy LED flashlight Lantern to light up in full darkness to keep you safe.flip up the solar panel to become a reading lamp with built in 6 bright LEDs to illuminate your way to the bedroom at night,as well as a must-have for 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 & 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.
- 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 & Loud SOS Alarm – Your Cellphone will never power off even blackout and internal Li-ion Battery outages,hand crank continuously genarate power to recharge the built-in battery and connect the included usb output charging cable for cellphone charging.allow you to make a phone call for help or get in touch with your family in emergency.The red SOS flashing beacon which is morse code and loud enough to attract the attention of would be rescuers.
- 3.5mm Headphone Jack,Package include Compass & Nylon Wrist Strap & Carabiner Clip for Easy Carry – It is updated with 3.5mm headphone jack to provide personal listening without disturbing others.Extra compass attached to strap is very helpful to show you orientation when you get lost outside.the strip is adjustable to carry,and you can also attach the clip to your backpack for your convenience outside.we seller provide one-year warranty,reach us by support email address if you have any question.
The Mesqool 5-way survival radio is another great survival radio that we made sure to include on our list. It has 5 different ways of receiving and storing power. It has a solar power panel, a hand crank, AAA batteries (not included), a micro USB connector, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
What we like most about this survival radio and why we made sure to include it on our list is because it has an extra powerful power bank (5000 mAh) that will charge more than one cell phone at a time. This is great for those times when you and another family member have both lost power to your phones and need to recharge them.
You can listen to AM/FM radio stations as well as receive NOAA weather alerts. When you need a light source, there is a built-in flashlight.
For survival, it includes a compass and an SOS alert if you are ever in an emergency and need to be located.
8. Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio
- receives all 7 noaa weather channels & reports
- 19 random preset stations
- dc out（5v / 0.3a）usb a type socket for charging mobile phone or mp3 player. dc in（5v / 0.5a）micro usb b type socket for charging
- powered by handcrank dynamo/solar panel/dc input. public alert-certified weather radio
- micro usb-b input to recharge lithium battery
The last survival radio on our list is the Sangean MMR-88 emergency radio. It has 3 different power sources that will provide power to the emergency radio. It has a solar power panel, a hand crank, and a USB port for charging.
Like many of the other options on our list, it also has a power bank that will provide power to a cell phone or tablet using a USB charging cable.
It has a digital face that will tell you what radio station you’re on, and it also provides NOAA weather alerts for your area.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! These are the top 8 models for choosing the best survival radio for emergencies. If you don’t have a survival radio, this is your sign that you need to choose one.