Best Emergency Radio On The Market

Last Updated on May 3, 2023 by Lisa Vargas

Communication in survival situations is vital.  The hard part is knowing what features to look for that will make it the best emergency radio. Below we will look at some of the best emergency radios on the market and determine which one is the winner.

What Are The Best Emergency Radios?

The best emergency radios that we found are:

• FosPower Emergency  Solar Hand Crank Portable Radio
• American Red Cross Emergency NOAA
• Kaito KA500 5-way Powered Solar Power, Dynamo Crank, Wind Up Emergency Radio
• Midland – ER310, Emergency Crank Weather AM/FM Radio
• Sangean MMR-88 AM/FM/Weather+Alert Emergency Radio
• IRonsnow IS-388 Solar Hand Crank Emergency

Below, we will dive further into each one in detail and what makes each of them unique. But first let’s look at a few other tips for choosing an emergency radio.

What Is Considered An Emergency Radio?

An emergency radio is a radio receiver that is used when there is no power or connection to civilization and is primarily built to run on solar power or rechargeable batteries since there isn’t any other source.

These emergency radios are essentially designed for AM and FM radio signals as well as to check the weather.  Because of their ability to adapt to chaotic situations where no power is available, many preppers wonder what the best emergency radio is on the market today.

How To Choose The Best Emergency Radio On The Market

There are so many different features that come along with emergency radios, that it can be a little intimidating when trying to choose the correct one.  On top of that, they seem to come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors.

But let’s look at some basic features that really matter in an emergency radio:

• Allows you to get alerts from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Look for the “Public Alert” and the “NOAA NWR All Hazards” Logo
• Make sure the radio offers Specific Alert Messaging Encoding (SAME)
• Make sure the radio has multiple power sources like batteries and solar, and even an AC adapter. 
• Take into account other factors you want to customize to your situation.  For example, some radios are water-resistant, come with flashlights, solar panel, battery packs, etc.

Best Emergency Radio Buying Guide:  Manufacturers

Manufactures tend to influence a lot of consumer’s buying decisions.  This is why they spend millions of dollars on marketing and branding their names.  From Calloway golf clubs to Nike, there is so much packed into a brand and most people keep going back over and over because of the superior quality that accompanies that brand.

But what happens when you’ve never bought an emergency radio before?  After all, that’s probably why you are reading this article. You are looking for some guidance and information on the best emergency radio on the market.

With that said, let’s take a closer look at some of the manufacturers of these emergency radios.

Midland – Based in Kansas City, Midland Radio Corporation has been around for over 50 years and providing its customers with superior quality of two-way and emergency radios. They originally introduced the CB radio and the 14-channel FRS radio technology to the market as well, and span across the globe.

FosPower – FosPower has been around since 2014, and focuses on providing solutions to the electronic issues of today’s consumer. 

Not only does FosPower make emergency radios, but they also manufacture products such as cables, chargers, home audio, and video, and security accessories. 

Kaito –  Kaito is based in Montclair, CA and claims to be the first company to integrated solar panels into the radio DP976 in 1998.  They have incredible radio quality and even supply the US government with the KA505 model which has become the model for superior quality.

Kaito specializes in other items such as power supply, PA & microphones, test instruments, and much more. 

Sangean – Sangean has been around since 1974 and its headquarters is based in New Taipei City, Taiwan.  They also have offices in Santa Fe Springs, CA, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong.  

They’ve won multiple awards in design, sound, and imaging and are a household name in Taiwan.  They are known for their expertise in manufacturing using their tightly controlled manufacturing processes. 

They produce several different types of devices such as clock radios, blue-tooth speakers, internet radios, shower radios, and much more. 

iRonSnow – Founded in 2015, iRonsnow makes several different models of emergency radios.  Their mission is solid as they started their company with the goal in mind to help people in disaster situations. 

Through hard work and dedication, they helped over 300,000 since their inception to get through the hard times using their emergency radios. 

Best Emergency Radio Buying Guide:  Specifications

There are several different options to choose from when it comes to choosing the best emergency radio on the market for your situation.  Some of you may want something for everyday use, and others may live in high tornado or hurricane areas, where you need to be prepared with emergency radios to keep on top of what’s going on during a power outage.

Many of you will also be using an emergency radio to include as part of your emergency preparedness kits and bugout bags.  You will want to look for radios that have several different methods of charging, have some durability, allow you to tune in comfortably to AM/FM radio channels, and most importantly the NOAA weather channel.

Additional features can include SOS alerts, alarms clocks, reading lights, flashlights, headphone jacks for private listening and good portability.

We tried to find a few for you to look at that cover all of these aspects and have at least a 4-star rating on Amazon.  So feel free to look below at some ideas, and then we will reveal our winner at the end!

FosPower Emergency Solar Hand Crank Portable Radio

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The FosPower emergency hand-crank radio is a popular radio due to its rubberized shell and IPX3 water resistance rating. It’s a great addition to a bugout bag as it’s nice and compact. Along with having four power sources, it has an incredible siren and red light, which not all emergency radios have. 

I wanted to show the size of these little emergency radios. They are quite small and can be part of your emergency kit or bug out bag.

I have mine stored in a safe place on the shelf and always make sure it’s charged and ready to go just in case. Make sure yo have plenty of AAA batteries if that’s what you intend to use to keep it charged.

This is a great little radio that fits anywhere conveniently and is great if you are on a budget. It’s very reliable if you find yourself without power for a few days in a natural disaster.  I personally have this radio and love it. You can see in the image below the size of these emergency radios.

This emergency radio received 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, and they’ve got a really nice limited lifetime warranty that comes with it.  These types of radios fit nicely in a bug out vehicle since they are light and convenient to carry.

Primary Features

• 2000mAh power bank
• AAA batteries, a solar panel, and a crank lever
• 2 LED light sources
• NOAA Weather radio
• AM/FM channels
• Limited time warranty
• Siren for distress calls
• Reading light

Specifications

• Frequency Range: AM:520-1710KHz,
• FM:87-108MHz, WB:162.400-162.550MHz
• Product Dimensions: 6.2×2.9×2.1 inches (157x74x53mm)
• Weight: 10.9oz (310g)
• Power Consumption: 2W (MAX)
• Working Voltage: 2.7-4.2V
• Power Source: 2000mAh / 3.7V Li-ion
• Waterproof Level: IPX-3
• LED Flashlight: 1W / 20LM
• Batteries: AAA 1.5V LR03 (Not Included)

Pros

• Loud emergency siren and flashing red light
• Great value for the options and features
• Reading light
• Compact and light weight

Cons

• Can’t listen to the radio privately because there is no earphone jack.
• No ability to turn off light when charging radio using solar panels. 

You can pick up the FosPower Emergency Solar Hand Crank Portable Radio here.

American Red Cross Emergency NOAA Weather Radio 

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The Red Cross is synonymous with safety and preparedness in all disaster situations.  This nice little emergency radio is no different and includes an integrated LED flashlight, USB port for charging smartphones, mini-USB cable, and a built-in solar panel for supplemental power.  With 4.2 stars out of 5, this emergency radio is sure to be a top contender. 

Primary Features

• Receives AM/FM (digital radio)
• Receives all 7 NOAA/Environment Canada Weather bands
• Alert function broadcasts in emergency weather alerts
• Hand turbine and solar power charging in emergencies
• USB smartphone charge with 2600mAh battery
• Long-lasting LED flashlight
• One red LED flashing beacon

Specifications

• Dimensions:  5 ¾ Height x 7”Wide x 2 ⅔ Deep
• Weight: 1 ¼ pounds
• Phone Charging: 500mA
• Internal Battery: 500 mAh

Pros

• Great sound quality and channel reception
• Very durable and long battery life
• Very bright light when fully charged

Cons

• No S.A.M.E available
• No bluetooth 

You can pick up the American Red Cross Emergency Radio here.

Kaito KA500 5-way Powered Solar Power, Dynamo Crank, Wind Up Emergency Radio

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Kaito has proudly supplied millions of radios and lanterns to the State Department, the United States Army, the United Nations, American Red Cross and other government agencies and NGOs for their humanitarian relief efforts.

This emergency radio has received 4.5 stars out of 5, and has increased in quality since its 2012 model.  . As a fantastic addition to your prepping and emergency gear, it offers different methods to power up including an AC/DC adapter (sold separately), a built-in rechargeable battery that can be charged by the optional AC adapter, hand cranking or a USB power source, and the patented flip-up 180-degree adjustable solar panel provides power for the radio even when no battery is installed. 

This nice, easy to cart around emergency radio is great for backpacking, camping, emergency preparedness, and as an everyday household radio

Primary Features

 6-way powered radio

• AA battery: 3 of each (not included)
• Hand-crank dynamo generator
• Solar panel
• NiMH rechargeable battery pack
• 5V mini USB
• AC/DC wall adapter/charger (not included)

Great safety features including

• USB mobile phone charger for both iOS and Android devices
• LED Flashlight
• Red LED SOS beacon light
• 5-LED reading lamp

Specifications

• Headset jack socket: 3.5 mm
• Sensitivity:
• FM<10uV
• MW<1mV/m
• SW < 30uV
• Dimensions: 8.25 X 5 X 2.25
• Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Rechargeable Battery: 3.6V / 600 mAh NiMH

Pros

• Strong crank power
• User manual is better than most

Cons

• Reading lamp not as strong as others

You can pick up the Kaito KA500 Emergency Radio here.

Midland – ER310, Emergency Crank Weather AM/FM Radio

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Midland is known for its high-quality radio production and the ER310 is no exception. It has three different ways to charge the radio specifically including its hand crank, rechargeable battery or solar panel, like most models.  The rechargeable battery will keep your radio going for up to 32 hours.  

With a cool ultrasonic dog whistle feature that’s not found on all models of emergency radio, it helps to aid in the search and rescue of people during storm situations. 

It can recharge any of the external devices that you might need such as a smartphone, but take note that it takes about 6 hours for the solar panels to recharge the emergency radio first, in order to recharge your smartphones.  

Midland’s “Emergency Ready” solution can help you prepare for tornados, fires, thunderstorms, floods, and earthquakes. 

With all of these nifty features, it’s no wonder why it has been given a 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon.  

Primary Features

• NOAA Weather Information 
• 3 power sources including hand crank, solar panels, and rechargeable 2600 mAh battery
• Charges devices through USB connection
• Flashlight with SOS strobe beacon
• Ultrasonic dog whistle
• AM/FM radio

Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 3 x 6.8 inches
• Item Weight: 1 pound

Pros

• One of the brighter flashlights in the group
• You can opt to use 6 AA batteries to charge if you want to
• Reception is good and clear on FM and WX channels

Cons

• Midland uses a proprietary plugin, so it must be charged using this plugin as opposed to a 18650 lithium battery.
• Lower quality reception on the AM frequency
• The supplied cord won’t fit an iPhone, but it will fit a Kindle

You can pick up the Midland ER310 here.

Sangean MMR-88 AM/FM/Weather+Alert Emergency Radio

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This Sangean MMR-88 AM/FM/ Weather + Alert Emergency Radio is one of the more rugged ones on our list. Coming in both red and yellow, this radio has awesome features for survival situations.  We especially love the LED Morse Code Flashlight feature.  

With 19 pre-set AM/FM channels, it makes it more convenient to find a channel that you enjoy quickly.  The emergency radio has a headphone jack so you can listen to the radio and drowned out the outside noise if you’re in a noisy storm situation.

Primary Features

• LED Morse Code Flashlight
• Three different charging methods including built-in hand crank, USB, or solar panels
• Built-in high-powered lithium-ion rechargeable battery
• Compatible with USB devices and media players
• Waterproof emergency radio
• Public Alert Certified Radio
• DSP Digital AM/FM/WX Tuner
• 19 Pre-sets (mixed AM/FM)
• Bright Backlit LCD display
• Adjustable LED flashlight (Hi, Low, Blinking, SOS Morse Code)
• Stereo headphone output
• Built-in speaker
• Built-in clock
• Emergency buzzer
• 4-level battery indication monitor
• 90-minute auto shut-off feature

Specifications

• Weight:  13.8 ounces
• Sangean MMR Radio Product Dimensions: 6 x 2.7 x 3.3 inches
• Item Model Number: MMR-88
• Batteries – 1 lithium-ion battery required
• DC Out (5V/0.3A) USB A port for charging mobile phone or MP3 device
• DC In (5V/0.5A) Micro 

Pros

• Relatively inexpensive protection plans for your emergency radio
• The rechargeable battery can be replaced
• Protected from getting damaged if you drop it by thick rubber protective caps
• Speakers are very good sounding for its size

Cons

• Does not come with an AC adapter
• Does not have S.A.M.E.
• Not the most powerful LED light compared to some others
• No alarm clock
• Battery size 18350 can be hard to find. (not typical compared to AA or D batteries)

You can pick up the Sangean MMR-88 AM/FM/Weather+Alert Emergency Radio here.

iRonsnow IS-388 Solar Hand Crank Emergency

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The Real NOAA Alert Weather Radio has been on Amazon since 2017 and has a 3.9-star rating out of 5.  

There is some consistent customer feedback such as how well the reception is, but at the same time, you might have some little issues like knobs falling off, as have happened. 

Primary Features

• Emergency Alarm Activation System
• Wide range of reception including AM/FM/SW1/SW2/7 NOAA Weather channels
• Supports Mirco SD Cards and can be played as an MP3 player.
• Large reading lamp
• Flashlight
• Power banks for iPhone
• Chargeable by hand crank, solar panel, USB port
• Works for about 50 hours fully charged

Specifications

• LED
• Flashlight: Bright 1 LED
• Reading Lamp: 11 LED
• Radio Frequency Range:
• AM: 520kHz – 1710kHz
• FM: 87.5MHz – 108.0MHz
• SW1: 3.20MHz – 8.00MHz
• SW2: 9.00MHz – 18.00MHz
• WB/NOAA: 162.400MHz – 162.550MHz (CH1-CH7)
• Power Source
• Solar Power: 0.5W
• Crank Dynamo Power: 2W
• Rechargeable Lithium Battery 3.7V/2300mAh
• AA Batteries: 3*1.5V(Not Included)

Pros

• Good music sound
• Bright flashlight
• Clear sounding NOAA channels
• Gets more than expected FM channels
• You can charge your cell phone from this radio

Cons

• No power source selection switch
• AM channels a little hard to hear
• The product manual is written very poorly and hard to read
• You cannot mute the weekly NOAA test

You can pick up the Real NOAA Alert Weather Radio By IRonSnow here.

Conclusion

After going through this list of emergency radios, we have chosen the best emergency radio on the market to be the Kaito KA500 Emergency Radio.  It’s got the best value for the money, with its 6-way power sources, offers 7 pre-programmed channels, comes with an LED flashlight and reading light, and is also water-resistant.

Feel free to browse around at some of the suggestions we’ve given, and find the one that seems the best fit for you and your situation.