Best Emergency Radio in 2023

Sangean MMR-88

Introducing the first emergency radio on our top list, the Sangean MMR-88. This sturdy little radio is not only built like a tank, but it’s also surprisingly lightweight and compact, and it even comes with a carabiner so you can clip it somewhere handy.

It also comes with some nice extra features, and we especially like that it comes with a 4 LED reading lamp as well as a 1W LED flashlight. The flashlight itself is multipurpose – set it to high, low, blinking, and even SOS morse code if you need to! There’s an emergency buzzer too, in case you end up in a situation where you need to attract attention.

Having enough battery to see you through an emergency situation is essential, which is why we love the 90-minute auto-off feature that saves you power. And even if you do run out of juice, you can use the hand-crank or solar panel to recharge, so you’ll never get caught off guard. And this goes for your phone and other gadgets too, as this emergency radio doubles up as a power bank.

It tunes in to all seven NOAA channels as well as AM and FM, and it has 19 preset stations so you don’t have to waste time tuning, and you’ll get alerts when bad weather is heading your way.

Our only complaint with this emergency weather radio is the battery size – the 850mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable battery is a little the small size – but other than that, this radio is an absolute winner.

Kaito KA500

Here is one of our absolute favorites, the Kaito KA500. The reason we love this emergency weather radio so much is that you can charge it in six, yes that’s right six, different ways.

If you’re at home, you can use a USB charger or wall adaptor and, when you’re on the go, you can make use of a rechargeable battery, a hand crank, solar panel, or AA batteries. And you can use these to charge your phone too, which can be super handy. This really does give you that peace of mind that you’ll be able to get a signal if an emergency arises.

On top of that, this emergency radio has coverage of AM/FM radio stations and the NOAA weather channels are already plugged in. And if you set the radio to ‘alert mode’, you’ll get 24/7 weather updates. Oh, and don’t worry if you go off-grid, you’ll still have a signal thanks to the telescopic antenna that extends to an impressive 14.5 inches.

As well as a reading lamp and flashlight, you can also use this emergency radio to generate a red SOS beacon to signal rescuers in the dark. It also comes in a lovely range of colors.

Our only complaints are that this radio isn’t fully waterproof and the solar panel is a little on the small side, so it’ll take a while to get a good charge. However, with all the other power sources, slow solar probably isn’t that big a deal.

Midland ER310

Midland is a big name in the world of radio communications, and it’s therefore not surprising that one of their products, the Midland ER310, made it into our list of the best emergency radios around.

This is an eco-friendly emergency radio thanks to its three methods of sustainable charging – hand crank, solar, and electric rechargeable – and it can also be powered by AA batteries as a backup. The battery life is awesome too, with a single charge lasting up to 32 hours. You’ll also know when you’re running low thanks to the battery level indicator.

The emergency flashlight is pretty nifty and can be used to signal morse code. You can also set it to high (130 lumens) if you want to attract attention, but if you’re worried about charge you can select a low power mode. Another more creative way you can attract attention is to make use of the in-built ultrasonic dog whistle, a feature that we love and rarely see elsewhere.

Like the other models we’ve looked at, this emergency weather radio taps into AM/FM and all NOAA channels. It also has an alarm to signal when extreme weather is heading your way.

Unfortunately, the grip on the crank can get a little uncomfortable, so perhaps leave this charging option until last. Our major complaint is that this radio isn’t claimed to have any water resistance, so it’s probably best to keep it indoors or in a dry bag. Overall though, this is a well-thought-out emergency weather radio that we’d trust to get us safely through some unsettling situations.

Eton American Red Cross

Eton is another brand that has been producing radios for a while and has managed to build itself a solid reputation, and from what we’ve seen of the Eton American Red Cross, it’s easy to see why.

This radio receives all 7 NOAA Weather bands as well as digital AM/FM radio, and the alert functions make you aware of any emergency weather updates. It can also be used as a power bank, has a pretty powerful flashlight, and can emit a red flashing beacon.

This is a hand crank emergency radio but it also comes with solar panels as alternative power sources. The hand crank can be a little slow, so many prefer to use the panels.

However,  the solar panels are actually located on the handle, so they might be prone to breaking and on top of that, you won’t get a solar charge while cranking. They will still give you some juice in an emergency, but maybe consider taking some batteries along with you just in case.

Unfortunately, the internal battery is pretty small at 300mAh but, overall, this is a simple emergency radio that covers all the basics. It’s solid and durable and you won’t have to buy yourself another radio any time soon.

RunningSnail MD-088P

The RunningSnail MD-088P radio is a great bit of emergency equipment and features several upgrades from the previous models (which were already very good!).

Like all the emergency radios we’ve looked at so far, this one doubles up as a power bank, but it now has an even more powerful 2000mah Li-ion battery. Although that will give you plenty of charges, you can always top up your battery levels using the hand crank or solar power. And you’ll know when this is necessary thanks to the battery level indicator.

We like that the panels have been conveniently placed on the top of the emergency radio to maximize the amount of sunlight they can capture – an important factor for a radio this compact. Although we love that it comes with an SOS alarm, it has been known to get stuck from time to time, which isn’t very pleasant.

With a large flashlight for its small size, and the ability to pick up AM/FM and NOAA broadcasts, there isn’t much more you could ask for at such an affordable price. Oh, and it comes with a 1-year warranty too.

Crane CC Pocket

Introducing the most portable of our featured emergency radios… the Crane CC Pocket. As the name suggests, this is a super-compact pocket-sized option that even comes with a removable clip belt so you can keep it close to your hand. It won’t be a drag either, seeing as it weighs an incredibly light 0.25 lbs.

It picks up the usual AM/FM and NOAA channels, and is surprisingly sensitive for its size, although one drawback is a lack of an in-built antenna. We like that there are five presets too, so you can easily tune in to those all-important weather alerts.

One thing we don’t like about this emergency radio is that it relies on a single power source, AA batteries. Having said that, however, the battery life is excellent and they’ll keep you going for up to 75 hours.

You can also disable the display to save yourself some power, and the sleep timer means you won’t waste juice while you’re snoozing. And you don’t have to worry about oversleeping either, thanks to the in-built alarm clock.

There’s no flashlight included in this, but if all you’re after is a simple and portable device for tuning in to those weather updates, then you can’t go wrong with this.

FOS Power

The FOS Power emergency radio is certainly one of the more stylish emergency radio options out there, but that’s not all we like about it.

The radio is powered not only by a rechargeable battery, but you can also use solar, the crank, and AA batteries if you’re in a pickle. All this power goes into not only the radio that picks up AM/FM and NOAA stations but also into the light sources – a reading light and a flashlight.

It also doubles up as a 2000mAh power bank, so you’ll be able to use your phone in an emergency if you need it. One minor gripe is that you won’t get any weather alerts in your area, so make sure you keep your wits about you and tune in if you see any signs of conditions changing.

It also packs a super loud SOS alarm that’ll be sure to attract attention when you’re in need. Although it is water-resistant rather than waterproof, it can take more of a spray than lots of similar models thanks to proper seals on the openings and knobs.

This emergency radio has all the essentials, looks good and, on top of that, it’s very reasonably priced and comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Esky Emergency Radio

The Esky Emergency Radio is a great portable option for staying aware of any weather alerts.

Made of durable, water-resistant plastic, this emergency radio can handle being knocked around a little bit, so you can chuck it in your bag without worrying too much. In case you run out of juice after charging it at home, it can also be charged via a solar panel.

The solar panels may not be the biggest, but that goes hand-in-hand with a radio this small, and we don’t think 10-12 hours for a full solar charge is too bad. Plus there’s the hand crank after all. Similarly, the knobs can be a little on the fiddly side, but again that’s almost inevitable on a super-compact model.

The flashlight on this is nice and bright, with 140 lumens of power behind it, and the radio doubles up as a power bank too. Overall, we think this is a great little emergency radio that will stand the test of time and, at this price, is an absolute steal.

Wayl Emergency Weather Radio

Last, but by no means least, on our list is the Wayl Emergency Weather Radio. This radio is packed full of high-end features, such as a 4000 mAh rechargeable battery – much larger than most batteries in this price range. It can also be powered with disposable batteries, solar power, or crank.

And the hand crank is one of the best we’ve seen, with one minute of cranking provides 30 minutes of light and up to 20 minutes of radio – perfect if you get caught off guard.

Not only does this weather radio receive AM/FM and NOAA channels, but you can also play your own music via mp3 or USB – neat huh? There’s an SOS alarm too, in case you need to attract attention.

The flashlight is pretty bright with 100 lumens of light behind it, and we love that you can angle the reading light so you won’t find yourself in an awkward position. As for the other radios mentioned, this one doubles up as a power bank so you can be sure to have your phone charged when you need it most.

One minor gripe is that you won’t get any weather alerts if anything is coming your way, so be sure to keep an eye on the sky. Other than that, this is a quality piece of equipment with some well-thought-out features.