Do you love hiking on the weekends? Do you spend a lot of time in the backcountry? Well, if yes is your answer, then you should probably consider investing in the best walkie talkie for hiking. This portable communication device will help you to stay connected with partners and family. Make sure that not a single person will get lost.
Apart from that, good walkies talkies for hiking are also able to work in places with no network coverage at all. It certainly helps if you happen to be hiking in rough or remote places. So, this post will reveal some alternatives to a walkie talkie for hiking that you can get on the market. We’ll also provide a number of useful tips on choosing two-way radios that suit your needs. Sounds great? Well, get ready, because we are about to begin!
How to Choose the Best Walkie Talkie for Hiking
Deciding on the best walkie talkie for hiking can be a fairly complex task. Apart from coming in various types and models, two-way radios are also available at different price ranges. So, how do you find one that really fits your budget and needs?
Well, don’t worry folks. Here we’ve done a little research on that. As a result, we’ve come to the conclusion that there are at least three factors to consider when choosing good walkie talkies for hiking. Keep reading to discover more detailed explanations.
Channels
The more channels the best walkie talkie for hiking offers, the better. That means you’ll have more options for communicating. Especially if you’re at a popular climbing spot. Chances are, there’ll be lots of people using two-way radios. In this kind of scenario, a large selection of channels will ensure every group member can transmit the message smoothly.
Battery Life
In case you’re wondering, no, you won’t find any charging points in the middle of the woods. So, make sure you get good walkie talkies for hiking with decent usage time. See if it can last at least 6-10 hours. Otherwise, check whether the walkie talkie has a battery saver feature or not.
Water Resistance
You know what they say, right? Yes, mountains are unpredictable. This is why it is important for you to get good walkie talkies for hiking that have water resistance capabilities. In case of heavy rain, you don’t have to worry about possible malfunctions. Therefore, make sure that the two-way radio you get is well made and has a good rating.
What is The Best Walkie Talkie for the Mountains?
Most climbers prefer to use two-way radios from Midland or Motorola. Mostly because they offer decent audio quality over a fairly remote range. And you’ll be glad to know that some of their products were featured on this list.
Do 2-Way Radios Work in the Mountains?
Yes, of course. In fact, two-way radios actually work best in elevated areas with less obstruction. So, you can certainly understand why walkie talkies are the preferred communication option for most climbers.
Is a GMRS License Worth It?
Well, it all depends on your budget and needs. A five-year license from the FCC will cost you around 70 bucks. After that, you can use a variety of repeaters that are currently available on the market, without worrying about breaking any laws. So do the math, see if it fits your budget, and deserves to be earned.
Midland LXT600VP3
13
Whether you’re hiking, hunting or camping, the Midland LXT600VP3 will be a great solution for your outdoor communications. Compared to other similar products, this two-way radio has a superior range. It’s capable of transmitting a clear audio signal up to 30 miles away. Stay connected with all members of your group, even if you move at different paces!
Being the best walkie talkie for hiking, Midland LXT600VP3 is also equipped with a weather scan feature. It’ll give you the latest updates on storm conditions. In this way, you can be prepared for nature to suddenly become unfriendly.
What We Love
A cool walkie talkie with a great range
Pros:
- 30-miles range
- Dual-power
- NOAA weather streams
- 36 FRS channels
Cons:
- It’s quite pricey
Buy on:
Motorola T605 Talkabout Two Way Radio
12
Motorola is definitely not a strange name to veteran hikers. The US-based brand has produced several good walkies talkies for camping in the last few decades. The Motorola T605 Talkabout Two Way Radio is one of them. This communication device is designed to work under extreme conditions. It comes with an IP67 rating, which means it’s completely waterproof.
Apart from that, the T605 also has a built-in LED flashlight to help increase your vision when the sun is already down. And for easy communication, there’s a single button dedicated to the PTT function. Lastly, as you’d expect from a walkie talkie for hiking, this gadget comes with a USB charging option.
What We Love
Built to work in rough conditions
Pros:
- 23 channels
- IP67 waterproof
- 35-miles range
- NOAA alerts
Cons:
- The belt clip is hard to remove
Buy on:
Uniden SX507 Long Range Walkie Talkie (CU)
11
Any mountain trip will become memorable if you take the Uniden SX507 Long Range Walkie Talkie with you. This fantastic communication device offers access to no less than 22 FRS and GMRS channels. Plus, it also supports crystal-clear communication up to the 50-mile range!
No matter how extreme your outdoor activities are, Uniden SX507 will be your best walkie talkie for hiking. It has a JIS7 rating, meaning it can run well for up to 30 minutes at three meters below the water level. As for the weather warning system, Uniden has NOAA alerts to notify you in case of sudden climate change.
What We Love
Great for some extreme hikes
Pros:
- Durable
- NOAA alerts
- 50-miles range
- 22 FRS / GMRS channels
Cons:
- The quality of the speakers could be better
Buy on:
Motorola MS350R 35-Mile Talkabout 2-Way Radio (404)
10
Whenever you’re planning on walking in the backcountry, the Motorola MS350R is a must-have for your carry-on list. This walkie talkie set is dubbed by many as one of the best alternatives to long-distance communication, especially in an outdoor activity. They offer access to no less than 22 channels and have a range of up to 35-miles away.
Carrying a two-way radio around can be quite a hassle. But with the MS350R, you won’t experience that. That’s because this walkie talkie for camping has an excellent and ergonomic design. It really is easy to grip and light. Apart from that, other features worth mentioning include a Ni-Mh battery, FRS/GMRS bands, and 8 hours of usage time.
What We Love
A great device for any backcountry adventure
Pros:
- 35-miles range
- Easy to carry around
- 8 hours of use time
- FRS / GMRS bands
Cons:
- It’s not completely waterproof
Buy on:
Retevis H-777S 2-Way Radio Walkie Talkies
9
Retevis H-777S 2-Way Radio Walkie Talkies is a fairly popular product among outdoor enthusiasts. Most of them love the fact that it supports UHF 400 to 475 MHz, which also makes it an ideal communication device for hunting. And to make sure you can find a free slot for all your talks, this radio has no less than 22 channels.
As for construction, we would say that the Retevis H-777S is pretty solid and tough. The manufacturer even claims this gadget can withstand drop and exposure to various elements. Furthermore, as you might expect from the best walkie talkie for camping, Retevis features an LCD screen that’s highly visible under low light conditions.
What We Love
Great for climbing, ideal for hunting
Pros:
- Great battery life
- Built-in LED flashlight
- UHF 400 to 475 MHz
- 22 channels
Cons:
- The antenna is less sturdy
Buy on:
Midland T71VP3 Walkie Talkie
8
The Midland T71VP3 is all about toughness. This walkie talkie set comes with exceptional water-resistant capabilities. Additionally, it’s claimed to be capable of delivering crystal-clear audio up to a distance of 38 miles. And based on some of the reviews we’ve read, this best walkie talkie for camping has both a satisfying transmission and reception.
For those planning on doing long hikes, the Midland T71VP3 will be great as this walkie talkie promises up to 15 hours of usage time. Apart from that, it also has NOAA weather alerts, which will keep you updated with the surrounding climatic conditions. Last but not least, this device is also one of the cheapest, license-free walkie talkies you can get on the market today.
What We Love
A powerful walkie talkie, with decent reception and transmission
Pros:
- Tough construction
- 38-miles range
- Crystal clear audio
- Water-resistant
Cons:
- Limited channel support
Buy on:
Uniden GMR5095 (404)
7
With a 50-mile range, the Uniden GMR5095 GMRS/FRS is an impressive two-way radio. Furthermore, it’s packed with a power booster feature, which allows you to get the best usage time. This is a very useful additional function, especially considering the fact that the GMR5095 ‘only’ has 10 hours of battery life. That’s much lower than most of the similar products on this list.
As for the channels, there are a total of 22 options to choose from. Seven of them are FRS channels. But remember, you won’t get too good a range when using FRS mode. And just as you’d expect from a walkie talkie for hiking, the GRM5095 also has 142 codes to keep your communications private.
What We Love
The battery booster feature allows you to have a better battery life
Pros:
- Great range
- JIS7 waterproof
- Able to float on water
- Battery booster
Cons:
- It’s not that great when used in FRS mode
Buy on:
Kenwood ProTalk TK-3402U16P (404)
6
At first glance, you might think that the Kenwood ProTalk TK-3402U16P isn’t that different from a regular two-way radio. But make no mistake, this isn’t your usual best walkie talkie for hiking. In fact, this fantastic device is built with military/professional standards in mind.
Unlike similar products on this list, Kenwood ProTalk is a UHF radio. In other words, it can transmit more than just FRS and GMRS signals. You might be disappointed to know that this device only has 16 channels. But remember, it has 90 different frequencies that can be assigned to each of those channels. Great!
What We Love
A rugged and reliable professional-grade walkie talkie
Pros:
- Great battery life
- Programmable frequency
- MIL-STD environmental resistance
- 7-miles range
Cons:
- It comes at a steep price
Buy on:
Cobra ACXT1035R
5
Cobra ACXT1035R will be perfect if you’re following a hiking trail that passes through rivers or lots of open water. That’s because this two-way radio has excellent waterproof capabilities. Apart from that, it’s also designed to float, in case you accidentally drop it into a waterway or lake.
In case you go somewhere unpredictable, the Cobra ACXT1035R has a built-in NOAA weather receiver. It’ll bring you all the latest updates regarding the weather and climate conditions around. So if you’re planning to hike in a rough area, this is the best walkie talkie for hiking worth considering.
What We Love
Great durability, comes with waterproof capabilities
Pros:
- Audio rewind
- Waterproof
- Tough construction
- NOAA weather receiver
Cons:
- The speakers aren’t loud enough
Buy on:
Backcountry Access BCA Link 2.0 Radio (404)
4
If you spend a lot of your time in the woods or mountains, BC Link Backcountry 2.0 is a must-have device on your list. This walkie talkie is specifically designed to provide smooth two-way communication for hikers, adventurers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Therefore, it’s not surprising that this product can provide up to 80 hours of usage time.
Recognized by many as the best walkie talkie for hiking, Backcountry BC Link 2.0 carries a power of up to 2 watts. This allows you to get crystal-clear audio quality from miles away. Another feature we like about this cool walkie talkie is that it’s compatible with almost all similar devices in its class. Awesome!
What We Love
Provides smooth communication in the mountains
Pros:
- 80 hours of battery life
- 2 watts of power
- Clear audio
- Trusted brand
Cons:
- It has an annoying cord and mic
Buy on:
Midland T77VP5 X-Talker Walkie Talkie
3
The fantastic package is perhaps an apt phrase to describe the Midland T77VP5 X-Talker Walkie Talkie. Coming in a truly great bundle, this set provides everything you need for a memorable outdoor adventure. There are a handy charging station and power adapters. In addition, Midland includes a carrying case that’s truly rugged and tough.
As for the walkie talkie itself, it offers full access to NOAA broadcasts, letting you get all the latest weather updates. And just as you’d expect from a walkie talkie for hiking, the T77VP5 also features a hands-free eVox feature. In other words, you can still communicate smoothly, even if you don’t actually hold the device.
More walkie-talkie recommendations you say? Well, lucky you guys we have lots of them! For those with kids at home, check out our list of the 13 best walkie talkies for kids. And for those planning to hit the slopes this weekend, check out our 13 best walkie talkies for skiing.
What We Love
It comes with an extraordinary package
Pros:
- Charging station
- Power adapters
- The carrying case is sturdy
- Access to NOAA broadcasts
- eVox hands-free
Cons:
- The range is drastically reduced in hilly areas
Buy on:
Motorola Talkabout T800 Walkie Talkie
2
The Motorola T800 is truly an amazing piece of technology. Even the most veteran hikers will be amazed by this tiny device. First of all, this two-way radio has a solid range up to 35 miles away. Next, it provides a more than decent battery life. And lastly, this portable communication device comes with a fantastic design that makes it completely safe from water, dust, and dirt.
But wait, that’s not all. Thanks to the embedded Bluetooth technology, the T800 has an excellent ability to communicate with the Motorola Talkabout smartphone application. This means you’ll be able to track locations as well as send themed messages, all without network service!
What We Love
A cool mountain walkie talkie with lots of magnificent features
Pros:
- 35-mile range
- Decent battery life
- Safe from water, dirt, and dust
- Bluetooth
Cons:
- The Bluetooth connection could be better
Buy on:
Bellsouth T388 (404)
1
The Bellsouth T388 would be a great option if you’re planning to hike with the whole family. This walkie talkie carries a simple design and doesn’t require a steep learning curve. As for the range, you’ll get decent audio quality between 3-5 miles. While it’s not the best, it should be more than adequate for some beginner tracks.
Apart from that, you’ll also get great features like an automatic channel scanner, multiple channels, LCD display, built-in flashlight, and power indicator. In other words, everything that makes this device deserves to be called the best walkie talkie for hiking! Make sure to check it out if you can.
And in case you’re planning to take your family somewhere outdoor this week, you may want to check out our recommendations for the 13 best pop-up tents for camping. But if you’re looking for something more compact, our post on the 13 best backpacking tents will help.
What We Love
Simple design, easy to operate
Pros:
- Up to a 5-mile range
- Easy to operate
- Light
- Power indicator
Cons:
- Nothing, as far as we know
Buy on: