What to Look for When Buying a Walkie Talkie

If you’re looking to buy high-quality walkie talkies, you might be surprised by just how many different features, frequencies, ranges, and options there are to choose from.

It might seem tricky finding your perfect handheld walkie talkie amongst the hundreds of different options that range from products that are basically toys to heavy-duty tools trusted in dire situations. Most people shopping for a walkie talkie need something in between the two, something reliable, clear sound quality, and durable that will get the job done. Keep reading our walkie talkie buying guide to find the best option for you.

From Professional to Recreational Use and Everything in Between, Midland is Your Walkie Talkie Headquarters

Different Types of Walkie Talkies

Of all the two-way radios out there, most can be divided into two categories: business or consumer. Business radios include everything from the serious units adopted by the military or police to walkie talkies that keep workers connected on construction sites, in warehouses, or during field work. Walkie talkies for consumer use are the sort you’ll take hiking, on a family vacation, at a theme park, or hitting a music festival.

From there, you can see most other frequencies, features, and types of radio fall along those two categories. Business walkie talkies, for example, are more likely to be UHF (ultra high frequency) or VHF (very high frequency). The difference between those two designations is that ultra high frequency radios have a more penetrative signal that works better indoors or in urban settings. UHF walkie talkies are ideal for businesses that operate in cities, across campuses, and where workers are going in and out of doors all day.

VHF walkie talkies, on the other hand, are better in wide open spaces. They can cover longer distances with less drain on your battery if you’re in an area with few obstacles, like a meadow or a golf course or on the lake. They are more functional outdoors, or anywhere with a clear line of sight, like from one mountain peak to another, or between two vehicles off-roading.

What’s The Difference Between UHF/VHF and GMRS/FRS Walkie Talkies?

Below the high megahertz frequencies used by UHF and VHF walkie talkies are the frequencies used by GMRS and FRS walkie talkies. The later frequencies are what usually fall into the consumer category.

Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) operate on the same frequency and can communicate with one another. FRS is anything 2 Watts of power or under. Anything on this shared frequency that is over 2 Watts is GMRS. The maximum power for GMRS is 50 Watts, under law. 

GMRS does require licensing from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It's $35 and lasts 10 years. The license covers you and your entire immediate family, no test is required. For detailed instructions on how to secure your listen, read more here.

FRS is the best walkie talkie choice if you’re camping, keeping track of your family at the beach, or hanging out at an outdoor concert, because you don’t need to worry about spanning miles between ships or communicating with someone underground or in a concrete building. 

GMRS walkie talkies bring the power. These walkie talkies can go the distance. They're great for the farm, overlanding/off-road adventures, hunting in deep wooded areas, and other longer distances. While GMRS radios do require a license, they're incredibly easy to use. 

Other Walkie Talkie Features

Once you have your needs narrowed down to a particular frequency type, then you can start thinking about features based on what kind of activities you want to enjoy with your walkie talkie.

T10 X-Talker FRS Walkie Talkie 3-Pack Multi-Color - T10X3M

The T10X3M is a set of three multi-color FRS walkie talkies. They're great for kids because they're so easy to use and simple. 

T71 X-Talker FRS Walkie Talkie 2-Pack - T71VP3

These FRS walkie talkies kick things up a notch. While they also easy to use, they have upgraded features 

Those features include impressively long battery life, improved range, weather alert and scan technology. 

We consider the T71 walkie talkies the "big brother" of Midland's FRS walkie talkies. 

GXT3000 GMRS Walkie Takie 2-Pack - GXT3000VP4

With over 2 Watts of power, the GXT3000s are our go-to GMRS handheld walkie talkies. The GXT3000s are the first of Midland's repeater capable handhelds which means range can be significantly extended.  

They're most likely consumer-use handhelds, but they're built strong enough to be professional-grade walkie talkies. 

With a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, the GXT3000s have a battery life of up to 27 hours and can be rapid recharged within 4 hours with a USB-C cable. This is the fastest charge time in the GXT (GMRS) walkie talkie line. 

The added features don't stop here- the GXT3000s are also JIS-4 water resistant so they hold up to splashes and light rain.

For dark spaces, the GXT3000s are also equipped with LED flashlights to help users safely navigate their area. 

The GXT3000s are perfect for the farm, ranches, work sites, off-roading/overlanding, hiking, fishing, and hunting. 

GXT67 GMRS 5-Watt Walkie Talkie - GXT67PRO

This is the powerhouse of Midland's handheld walkie talkies. 

While the GXT67 PRO is incredibly easy to use, it can also be used for professional settings. 

It has 5 Watts of power, making it our most powerful walkie talkie. With added repeater capability, the GXT67 can go the distance. 

With an IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, it's heavy-duty. It'll perform, no matter what you throw its way. 

With 4 days of battery life and easy-to-use menu interface, this is a must-have GMRS walkie talkie. 

It's the perfect fit for serious outdoor adventurers, farmers and ranchers, those needing communication near water, and tough jobsites. 

Head over to our walkie talkie page to find the best handheld for you!

And if you're looking for business walkie talkies, we've got many different solutions for that too!