Mountains are glorious, and one cannot stay much far from them these days, especially for those who are into thrilling activities. The mountain-based activities are fun yet adventurous and risky too. Mountaineers face a lot of challenges during hiking. There needs to be a way of communication to give updates to each other. In case of any emergency, one can connect with the other partners.
Cell phones are the best way to communicate in today’s times, but on mountains, cell phones are useless. The mobile phones use signals to connect two people, which are not available at the higher altitudes. For mountains, good quality walkie-talkies are used. There are many available on the market. If you ever plan on going towards the mountains, don’t forget to grab yourself a walkie-talkie.
In this blog post, we have gathered a list of the top 5 walkie-talkies. Without further ado, let’s go!
Top 5 Walkie Talkies of 2024
When in the mountains, one needs to have a walkie-talkie. But how to know which ones are the best and what one should look for when purchasing one? The walkie-talkies mentioned below will help you find the right one to clear your confusion. So let’s go.
1. Motorola T801
Motorola never fails to inspire us with its innovations and reinventions. The company holds a specific name and fame on the market. This time, it introduces us to the Motorola T801, an easy device to carry on mountains and helps in the communication process. It provides great mileage and has a range of 35 miles and a data range of 20 miles. Moreover, its signals never drop at higher altitudes.
The structure of the walkie-talkie is sturdy and nice. You’ll find it of great use when traveling atop the mountains. The charging of this walkie-talkie lasts long and has good battery life. You can even charge it through a power bank. Other than that, it comes with an emergency button on it, which, when pressed, informs your partner that you’re in an emergency and need help.
One should never miss carrying such an incredible device in the mountains. In addition, the Motorola T801 has built-in Bluetooth and an earphone jack at the top. The Bluetooth option makes communication easier, while the earphone jack allows you to connect your headset with it.
Pros
- It has an emergency location sharing option
- Built-in Bluetooth
- Convenient to communicate
- It even works during the rain
Cons
- Average battery life
- The range is less than the claimed one
2. Motorola T631
Another amazing walkie-talkie on the list we have is from Motorola, which is the T631. Its 35 miles long coverage makes it best to use on thrilling adventures. At the same time, its charging lasts for 9 hours, and if you want more good results, you can use it with triple-A batteries. It’ll be more useful for you at night as it comes with a torch. But, don’t use the torch for too long as it quickly consumes the charging.
Furthermore, this walkie-talkie is waterproof and has a rigid yet durable structure. Spending every penny on it will be worth it. You’ll know its features and functionalities best when you use it yourself. It also has an emergency button, just like T801, which allows users to inform others when in trouble.
To sum it up, it’s a great product with excellent features. Even if you mistakenly drop it somewhere in the water, it will stay on the surface water with its face up. There’s another feature called the Push-to-talk button, which is used to increase the range of talking. So, if you have any plans of going towards the mountains, do not forget to take this beauty along.
Pros
- It’s handy and easy to carry.
- Comes with a torch.
- It’s waterproof
- Highly durable
Cons
- Harsh weather may drop the range
- It’s a bit expensive
3. Midland GXT1050VP4
This walkie-talkie is an exceptional product. You’ll know it’s worth it only if you use it for the mountains. It works best in the open spaces and its charging lasts for a max of 4 hours in one go which is less than the other walkie-talkies. Moreover, it can give a range of about 36 miles and keep the charging better, and you can use double A batteries with it.
To talk about the structure and look of this walkie-talkie, it’s perfect. Due to its lightweight, it’s easy to carry and is waterproof. It’ll work perfectly during the rain too. Even if it drowns in water, it will still work. If you ever plan to spend some time in the mountains, don’t forget to take this walkie-talkie by Midland with you.
With all the amazing specs and features, it’s easily available on the market. Lastly, this walkie-talkie doesn’t make noises like other ones. So, you won’t face any issues while communicating with your partner at the other end.
Pros
- Best communication range
- This walkie talkie is waterproof
- It has several unique features
- High-quality design
Cons
- It charges slowly
- Any obstruction may disturb the communication range.
4. DeWalt DXFRS300
The Dewalts never fail to inspire the audience. The DXFRS300 by Dewalt is a beauty and comes as a set of 6. It is best for outdoor activities. Mostly, it is used on construction sites or in the mountains. When out with friends for a few days on the mountain, don’t forget to take this buddy with you. Don’t worry about carrying this walkie-talkie; and it fits easily into the pocket.
On the other hand, its range can go up to 250,000 sq. ft with a power output of 1 watt. Also, a 1000 mAH battery powers these devices, and it would have been much better if one could use disposable batteries for it. With quality features, there is one more good thing about them, i-e, they are waterproof and won’t have trouble communicating during rain or harsh weather.
In addition, the quality of this walkie-talkie is high-end. It’s made of anti-slip material, which will prevent the product from falling off your hand. So, if you are going towards the mountains with cell phones, you’re doing the wrong thing. Go, grab the DeWalt DXFRS300 and enjoy your trip.
Pros
- Easy to carry
- The charging lasts long
- Considerable range
- Convenient to use
Cons
- Due to flaws in the design, the antenna can break
5. Retevis RT29
The bossy look of this walkie-talkie speaks a lot. It’s one of the best ways of communication ever in the mountains. The creator of this walkie-talkie hasn’t exactly mentioned its range, but you’ll know it once you use it. This product has some good reviews. Use it only in open spaces. Also, it’s easy to operate and comes with a guide, so you don’t face any issues while using it.
The cherry on top is easy to carry and comes with a strap and clip. There will be no falling chances of the walkie-talkie. Other than that, it’s waterproof and best to use in harsh weather. Regardless of whatever happens, its signals won’t drop. If you have any plans for outdoor activities or traverse the mountains, go for the RT29 by Retevis.
Another good thing about it is that it comes with a VOX technology, i-e, you won’t have to touch it to operate it. The concerning thing about this walkie-talkie is that you can’t use alkaline batteries. You’ll need to charge it again and again. Besides the charging factor, it’s a good product for thrilling adventures.
Pros
- Light on pocket
- It’s very handy
- It can resist water and dust
- Good battery life
Cons
- It is a bit expensive
- The disposable batteries do not support it
Choosing the Best Walkie Talkie For the Mountains: the Buying Guide
Although smartphones are the talk of the town these days, one can not miss carrying a walkie-talkie to hilly areas. However, walkie-talkies are not expensive as compared to smartphones. But when it’s about spending Money on a product, everyone wants to grab the best one. To help you make your purchase, here’s what you need to consider first.
1. Durability
Whether it be a cell phone or any product, you want it to be durable whenever you purchase it. The same goes for a walkie-talkie. Choose according to the type of activities for which you want it. Before you purchase, ensure that the product is water and dust-resistant. Ensure it has a good battery life and can work in harsh weather. If you overlook these factors, you may have a bad experience and waste your Money.
2. Battery Life
What do you do first when you buy an electronic charging device? Check its battery life. That’s what you should do for the walkie-talkies too. Some walkie-talkies can accommodate disposable batteries for they provide backup in emergencies. At the same time, some don’t allow disposable batteries. Other than that, many good walkie-talkies charging last for 10 hours and sometimes even for a day. So, when choosing one for outdoor activities, make sure it can fit disposable batteries and gives a good power backup.
3. Range
When it comes to range, that’s not a problem. The walkie-talkies are made for use in outdoor spaces or activities. You can take them to the mountains and communicate with your team. However, any good walkie-talkie provides a range of 30 miles. That’d be enough for a person to contact his team. The trees and various obstacles in the mountains may create hurdles and drop the range. So, to buy the right one, test its range first and then go for it.
4. Emergency Alerts
Nowadays, just like phones, even walkie-talkies have built-in weather emergency alerts. Phones are useless in the mountains. So, you’ll need something to keep you updated regarding the weather conditions. To tackle this issue, make sure you buy the one with an emergency feature.
5. Structure & Design
A walkie-talkie’s strong, sturdy, and robust structure is all one wants. Also, it should have a shiny color so that one can spot them in the dark. In addition, some walkie-talkies come with a built-in torch as well. Its purpose is to be used during any emergency. Lastly, the making material of the product should be anti-slip so that you can get its strong grip in various situations. If a walkie-talkie comes with a strap and a clip, even better.
6. Hand-free Feature
Some walkie-talkies have options for hands-free communications. The ones having VOX or IVOX written on them are the ones you should consider if looking for a hands-free feature. They will help you reach your message to others even if you don’t touch the product.
Final Thoughts
Although smartphones are the need of the hour, indeed, during outdoor activities, far away from the city, somewhere in the mountains, your phones will be useless. That’s where you will need walkie-talkies to communicate and stay in touch with your friends. There are many walkie-talkies available on the market. According to the discussion above, you’ll have ease in finding the right one for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do walkie-talkies work in the mountains?
Yes, they are designed to work in the mountains. They work best on the top of the mountain. The signals won’t drop atop the mountain while they may differ from valley to valley.
Q. Which walkie-talkie has the best range?
The top pick is Motorola T801, and Midland has the best ranges. You can blindly trust them in terms of providing the furthest range.
Q. Do they have safety features?
The walkie-talkies today come with a safety button present on them. Its purpose is to inform others during an emergency. Furthermore, it comes with a weather emergency feature that updates on the harsh condition of the weather.
Q. Which walkie talkie is less expensive?
The ones listed above are light on pocket. You can choose according to your budget.
