If you live in an area with harsh weather, spend a lot of time outdoors, or you’re awaiting the zombie apocalypse than this list of the top emergency weather radios is for you. Each one on our list has one or more unique features, but they ALL have 3 essential features for emergency and survival situations in the modern era:
- NOAA 24/7 weather service and alerts capabilities.
- USB output for charging cell phones, USB lights, and other portable electronic devices.
- The built-in ability to be charged on or off the grid, and in more ways than one.
Best Emergency Weather Radios
Eton Sidekick FRX5
Best All-Around
The Eton Sidekick’s crank design is our favorite out of all the emergency weather radios we reviewed. It also has the best lighting setup. Besides the bright LED flashlight and red emergency beacon, the Sidekick features a HUGE light panel with a built-in dimmer. Round it off with a 2,600 mAh battery to charge your mobile devices and you can see why this is our favorite Emergency Weather Radio.
Key Features:
- 2,600 mAh battery
- Digital tuner receives AM/FM & NOAA
- S.A.M.E. alerts
- Charge by solar, crank, or microUSB
- USB output for charging mobile devices
- LED flashlight & red emergency beacon
- Huge ambient light panel with dimmer
- Bluetooth streaming
- Glow-in-the-dark locator
- Water-resistant
- AUX input
- Headphone jack
- Alarm clock
RunningSnail MD-097
Best Battery Life
The RunningSnail MD-097 Emergency Weather Radio is one of our favorites mainly because of the HUGE 4,000mAh built-in battery. Also, if you get tired of cranking and it’s cloudy outside, the option to power it with 3 AAA batteries is a nice feature.
Key Features:
- 4,000 mAh battery
- Digital tuner receives AM/FM & NOAA
- Charge by solar, crank, or microUSB
- USB output for charging mobile devices
- Option to power with 3 AAA batteries
- Dedicated SOS button for alarm and flashing light
- 100 lumen LED flashlight
- Water-resistant
- AUX input
Kaito Voyager Max KA900
Most Features
The Kaito Voyager Max is the Cadillac of portable emergency weather radios. With all of the outputs and inputs you might need, there’s even a microSD card slot for up to 32GB of MP3’s and Bluetooth connectivity for streaming! Plus, it all sounds good on the dual stereo speakers.
With the typical AM/FM and NOAA tuning, the additional shortwave radio capabilities make the Voyager Max the most valuable emergency weather radio in survival mode.
Key Features:
- 2,000 mAh battery
- Digital tuner receives AM/FM, NOAA, & shortwave
- Charge by solar, crank, microUSB, or AC adapter
- USB output for charging mobile devices
- MicroSD card slot supports up to a 32GB card
- MP3 Player
- Dual Stereo Speakers
- Built-in microphone for voice recording
- LED flashlight & flip-up 5-LED reading light
- Headphone jack
- AUX input
- Alarm clock
FosPower Portable Radio
Best On-A-Budget
The FosPower Emergency Weather Radio is simple yet effective. For the old-school radiophiles, the analog tuner is a nice touch for greater durability and efficiency. Our other favorite features include the IPX3 water-resistance and the focus-adjustable flashlight.
Key Features:
- 2,000 mAh battery
- Analog tuner receives AM/FM & NOAA
- Charge by solar, crank, or microUSB
- USB output for charging mobile devices
- Option to power with 3 AAA batteries
- LED flashlight & flip-up reading light
- Limited lifetime warranty
- IPX3 water-resistant
- Includes carabiner for easy attachment to backpacks, tents, and more
