4 Best Walkie Talkies for the Mountains
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It happens to every hiker, biker, skier, or trekker eventually – you look up and have no idea where the rest of your party could be. It doesn’t matter what kind of outdoor activity you’re partaking in; if you’re split up from your group and have no idea how to contact them, the result is potentially catastrophic.
One way to avoid this sensation of being lost and alone in the middle of the wilderness is to outfit every person in your group with a two-way radio or walkie-talkie.Â
When you’re heading out to the great outdoors, you need to be prepared with the highest quality gear on the market. Before you learn about the details of the four best walkie talkies for the mountains, you should understand which situations they apply.
Walkie Talkies for Every Situation
You can find a wide range of situations in which you would find the addition of a two-way radio helpful. It can be in the icy climes of Denali or the dense forests of the Teton Range; if you’re out of contact with your adventuring party, you’re in trouble.Â
The main reason for having a walkie-talkie on your next backcountry excursion is to get back in contact with any lost members of your group. If you’re going into the woods for a while, you’ll still want to prepare yourself with a satellite phone for emergencies. However, here are some specific conditions in which you’ll want a walkie-talkie.
Backcountry SkiingÂ
When you’re whipping down the trails with a bunch of your buddies, you don’t want to have to stop at every junction and take out your cell phone, which may or may not get service. With a two-way-radio in everyone’s pack, you’ll never be out of contact with your mates, even when you’re carving down a black diamond.
Mountain Climbing
When you’re in the middle of a climb, you’ve got no wiggle room. You need an easy and convenient way to keep in contact, even when you’re scaling the rock out of sight from your climbing party.
Spelunking
A walkie-talkie system is most helpful in a scenario with little to no light, and dark certainly describes the sport of spelunking. When you’re in a cave with little visibility, you need to rely more on your other senses and your gear, which is why you need a two-way radio to stay connected.
An excellent tip for any outdoor activity is to clip your walkie-talkie outside of your pack or jacket and use a small speaker mic for easy access. Here are four models to consider if you’re in the market to buy the best walkie-talkies for the mountains.
LXT118 Walkie-Talkie
Put easy communication in the palm of your hands with the affordable and convenient LXT118, retailing at $24.99. Water-resistant, this durable walkie-talkie works with voice activation for hands-free situations and additionally gets NOAA weather alerts.
X-Talker T71VP3 Two-Way Radio
With extra-long battery life and an astonishing frequency range, the X-Talker T71VP3 radios are the best addition to your expedition gear. A 38-mile range helps you stay connected, even off the grid, and the battery lasts up to 15 hours. You get all this for under $100.
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GXT1000VP4 Two-Way GMRS Radio
With X-Treme Range Technology, the GXT1000VP4 is a powerful, long-lasting two-way radio that also keeps you apprised of weather conditions in your area. It has over 50 channels to choose from and is a top seller all over the country for $89.
LXT600VP3 Two-Way Radio
With easy button access and a 30-mile range, the LXT600VP3 radios are a fantastic choice for your next adventure. It features 22 primary channels with 14 bonus channels to round out the selection, and these walkie-talkies have Weather Scan Technology and NOAA alerts. They’re still affordable at $69.
The Final Say
If you’re someone who likes to get off the grid but still wants to stay connected to the folks you’re traveling with, a two-radio is an ideal choice. With weather alert systems, broad ranges, and long-lasting batteries, adding a two-way radio to your arsenal is one of the best gear decisions you’ll make.
