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Need a set of walkie talkies? Our experts dove down the rabbit hole, researching over 50 top models before buying and testing 11 of the best. We tested them in the field and the lab for weeks to sort out their relative strengths and weaknesses. We clipped them to our packs in the high Sierra and for a week-long winter camping trip and Katahdin ascent in Maine. We measured their range and clarity from peak to valley and across rolling and forested terrain, tried them out in Nor'easters and Sierra snow storms, and drained their batteries in the lab and out camping in below-freezing temps. From superbly simple radios to fully-featured, waterproof models, our in-depth review will help you find the right radio for your next adventure.
Whether you're trying to complete your backpacking gear list or heading into the backcountry for skiing, being able to communicate is key. Our expert team of athletes and guides have also tested the best handheld GPS units for backcountry navigation and the best satellite messengers for sending out an SOS call or tracking progress on the trail.
Editor's Note: We updated this review to include details regarding our range testing on October 23, 2023.
Weight: 6.7 oz. | Dimensions (LxWxH): 2.5" x 1.6" x 6.5"
REASONS TO BUY
Streamlined
Solid range and impressive clarity
Rechargeable with good battery life
Rugged and weather-resistant
REASONS TO AVOID
No weather channels
Lower volume range
The Rocky Talkie radios were quiet contenders that slowly and steadily beat out the competition, performing impressively across the board. We started our most recent testing round by heading straight into the backcountry for a five-day winter camping trip. The Rockys distinguished themselves with crisp communication even when multiple units were clustered in a group, cutting through the interference that many other models struggled with. We also noticed these radios required less frequent charges in below-freezing temperatures thanks to their rechargeable lithium batteries. And most importantly, their range is comparable to the best Family Radio Service (FRS) options we tested in both peak-to-valley and rolling terrain scenarios. It doesn't hurt that they're sturdy, compact, and water-resistant with a rock-solid carabiner attachment point.
Our main complaint is that these radios don't provide access to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather monitoring channels. Having access to this information when you're out of cell range can be critical in the backcountry. You pick up a less expensive spare radio for this purpose, but we'd expect weather access from a radio at this price point. A lesser complaint is that even the highest volume setting can be hard to hear if there is significant background noise, like heavy winds or a sled full of gear sliding across the snow. You need to keep the unit close to your ear. Rocky does offer a secondary, waterproof mic attachment that's smaller and would be easier to clip closer to your ear. It could help. Still, in most conditions, we find ourselves reaching for this simple, sturdy unit more than any other in the test.
Weight: 3.9 oz. | Dimensions (LxWxH): 2" x 1" x 5.5"
REASONS TO BUY
Simple, light, great battery life
Low price
NOAA weather channels
Has some water resistance
More features than most in its price range
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited range
If you're on the hunt for a straightforward and affordable two-way radio, the Midland X-Talker T10 gets the job done. It's lightweight and compact, fitting easily in a daypack or even a standard pocket, with a battery life that's among the best we tested. Unlike most walkie-talkies at this price point, the T10 is water-resistant. It survived a water hose shower and a rainy adventure in our tests. The X-Talker T10's rugged case and antenna design lead us to believe they can withstand use and abuse. The clip that will hold the radio onto a backpack's shoulder strap isn't the best, but it works.
The X-Talker T10 has a limited range compared to the best options in the test, which is common among the smaller, less expensive units we've reviewed. It maxed out at one mile in our line-of-sight range tests. When we tested it with undulating terrain and obstructions, the range dropped to about three-quarters of a mile. The other radios we tested in this price range posted similar results, and the T10 outperformed them overall. This is not the radio we recommend when reliable communication is critical. But, if you need a simple and inexpensive option that anyone can learn to use quickly, this is an excellent option.
Weight: 11 oz. | Dimensions (LxWxH): 2.5" x 1" x 6.5" (Body), 2.25" x 1" x 3.25"(Microphone)
REASONS TO BUY
Easy to use
Impressive range
Long battery life and rechargeable
Handles snow and light precipitation well
Preset channel dial
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Size and heft
The Backcountry Access BC Link 2.0 is built for outdoor enthusiasts and excels at its intended task. Backcountry Access keeps things simple but includes enough extra features to help you adjust to almost any condition. The main body of the radio stashes nicely in a backpack, and the extended smart mic works wonderfully with a sturdy clip and an ergonomic design. The BC Link 2.0 displayed an impressive range across steep landscapes and during a blizzard, and the rechargeable batteries have a generously long life (though not the longest in the test). The radio also stands up well to dust and water, staving off any signs of wear after returning from several trips in harsh mountain conditions. One of our favorite features offered by this model is the dial on the microphone unit that allows you to change channels without even looking at it – even with gloves on.
Our main gripe with this radio is its heft. It's the largest and heaviest model in the test, mainly because it includes a radio and a separate microphone attached by a cord. It's best to have a bag or large pocket to carry the main radio and something to clip the microphone to — we recommend the shoulder strap of a backpack. (We appreciate that this setup makes the Link 2.0 one of the easiest models to hear). While the unit does seem sturdy, we've scratched the display on one of our units, and the small plastic hook that levers the cord connection in place seems like an obvious weak point. We avoid it by detaching the mic as rarely as possible. Overall we think this is an excellent option if you're already carrying a pack and don't mind the extra bulk and expense.
Weight: 8.4oz. | Dimensions (LxWxH): 2.5" x 1.5" x 7.5"
REASONS TO BUY
Water-resistant
Floats
Solid range
Weather alerts
REASONS TO AVOID
Pricey
Large and heavy
The Motorola T600 is a solid choice for anyone who wants a radio for water-based activities. It boasts the best waterproof rating of the bunch and backs up its manufacturer's claims beautifully. We placed it under a meter of water for half an hour, and it survived unscathed. And luckily, it's unlikely that you'll ever accidentally repeat this test because the T600 floats. The walkie talkie also performs well in our unobstructed range test. It maintained communication for 6 miles along a super straight, flat road, making it ideal for a long-distance conversation on the water.
This radio's main selling point is its waterproof housing making it an easy choice for a sea kayaker or paddleboarder. You'll pay for it though, and the extra protection adds heft and bulk. If you don't expect to drop your radio in the water and need one that can withstand the odd slash or light rain shower, most of the options we tested will work. Many are smaller, lighter, and less expensive. If you spend all your time on the water and don't want to worry about sinking a radio, we recommend the T600.
Weight: 7.8 oz. | Dimensions (LxWxH): 2" x 1.25" x 10.25"
REASONS TO BUY
Exceptional range
Feature-laden
Battery life
Provides weather updates
REASONS TO AVOID
Big learning curve
Requires specific license(s) to operate
This General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radio is the most capable and fully featured radio we've tested. Still, it requires a ham radio operator license to use legally in the US. If you have or are willing to get the license, the BaoFeng BF-F8HP may become your favorite portable two-way radio. Using a longer antenna and 8 watts of power instead of 2, the BF-F8HP has two to three times the range of the other radios in the test. It transmits further and works better in hilly terrain and foul weather. Its rechargeable battery life is also among the best tested. You can purchase multiple accessories for this radio, including a cable that will let you program it with your computer instead of futzing with the unit itself.
With great power comes responsibility. You must understand local regulations every time you use a GMRS radio to avoid fines or penalties. For example, where we tested the BF-F8HP in California, only licensed amateur radio operators can use it and only on amateur radio bands. You must walk a tightrope between taking advantage of this unit's extensive power and programmability and staying within legal guidelines to avoid breaking FCC rules. If you're not prepared to put in the time to learn how to properly use the radio and earn the license, this isn't the right one for you. This radio is for technically inclined users who are willing to get licensed to get the best range and flexibility for their specific needs.
When it comes to range and clarity, the capabilities of the Baofeng BF-F8HP are simply unmatched. That's why it requires a license to operate in the US.
Credit: William Gray Grandy
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We extensively tested these walkies talkies against five key performance metrics.
Why Trust GearLab
After carefully researching more than 50 walkie-talkies, we selected 10 models to purchase and test. We put these radios through the paces, spending over 200 hours in the field on hikes, ski trips, bike rides, and paddles. They survived hot, dusty trails, freezing temperatures, and the bottom of soggy, wet backpacks.
We scrutinized their settings before looking at the manual and afterward to judge how easy they are to use, doused them with water, and submerged those that claimed to be waterproof. We tested their ranges on flat and undulating terrain and from mountain tops to valley base camps. In Sierra snowstorms and New England nor'easters, our testers ventured out to brave the weather and assess performance in inclement weather. We then conducted days of 24 hours of tedious battery testing and size and weight measurements in the lab. We used them with winter gloves, dirty hands, tired eyes, and worn-out brains to see which ones were easiest to use. In short, we were thorough.
Our walkie talkie testing is divided across five different metrics:
Range and Clarity (30% of overall score weighting)
Ease of Use (25% weighting)
Weather Resistance and Durability (15% weighting)
Battery Life (15% weighting)
Weight and Size (15% weighting)
Gray Grandy, one of our lead testers, uses radios professionally and recreationally all year long. From his winters professionally ski patrolling and backcountry skiing, he has been rumored to use the PTT button to talk in his sleep. He is known to offer unsolicited tirades on the importance of effective communication as a tool for safety and efficiency in high-risk environments. He is a SPRAT Level II rope access technician, an EMT, and holds a Professional Level Avalanche 1 certification and a California Explosives Blaster's license. Our other test lead, Clark Tate, is a certified Maine sea kayak guide who uses marine band radios for work and FRS radios to communicate with climbing and ski partners in the mountains.
On the technical aspects of these radios, GearLab experts Michelle Powell and David Wise lent their expertise as professional gear testers and writers. Michelle is experienced in developing electronic equipment tests, and David has maintained an active ham radio operator license for over a decade.
Range testing in a heavy Sierra Nevada snowstorm. We took these radios out in the conditions you go out in!
The Motorolla T600 is rated IP 67, which makes it waterproof up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.
The BCA Link is rated to take a spray of water and keep on talking, which is just what it did.
Analysis and Test Results
We chose an array of products that range from entry-level models that would be perfect for a family camping trip to top-tier models created for wilderness and backcountry ski guides or even licensed radio operators. We judge these walkie talkies based on their performance in the field and during quantitative lab testing.
All but one of the walkie-talkies we tested are family radio service (FRS) options, with a range that's limited by their 2-watt power limit. More powerful General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios can use up to 8 watts of power. To use them, you must earn a Federal Communication Commission (FCC) license to make sure you use the extra range wisely.
Value
There is a significant correlation between price and performance among the radios we tested, leading us to conclude that, for the most part, you get what you pay for.
The least expensive options – including the Cobra ACXT145, Midland X-Talker T10, and Radioddity FS-T2 – all have fewer useful features and a below-average range. On the other hand, they're small and affordable. If you don't need days of battery life, units that can withstand extreme weather, or need to communicate much further than a half mile, these could work. And a huge benefit of these radios is that they are sold in pairs, unlike some of the high-end walkie talkies, which are sold individually.
The X-Talker fit nicely in our hand and worked fairly well considering its small size and reasonable price.
Credit: Caroline Miller
As models increase in price, their range and clarity often increase as well. They also tend to be larger and heavier because they need more battery power to send those powerful transmissions. The Rocky Talkies, while expensive, are worth the investment for avid users based on the increased range, excellent clarity, ease of use, and impressive battery life. The Midland X-Talker T10 does a fair job of splitting the difference between the cost savings of the lower-end models and the functionality of the higher-end versions. The Midland X-Talker 36 also walks the line well.
The X-Talker 36 is a good looking middle ground between the small inexpensive models and the larger, powerful models for significantly more money.
Credit: William Grandy
Range and Clarity
Transmitting a clear message across a distance too far to yell across is, well, the whole point of a radio. The range and clarity metric is weighted accordingly. We tested these radios on long, straight stretches of roads in Nevada and Utah, where one person perched on a hill with the most powerful radio in our lineup. At the same time, the other drove away with the walkie talkies, testing transmissions along the way. The maximum distance for each model was pinned and then later transcribed to Google Earth to measure near precise distances. We also tested them over a tree-covered hill, from a mountain peak to a valley basecamp, and along rolling and forested terrain. During all of our testing, we took note of the clarity, whether it be in the desert, the country, or the snowy mountains.
Range
The one GMRS radio we tested, the BaoFeng BF-F8HP, unsurprisingly dusted the competition thanks to its higher power capabilities (up to 8 watts). In a straight line, over hills, and in good and bad weather, it was the most consistent and highest-performing radio in our tests. In our line-of-sight test, this model maxed out our testing site at more than 10 miles.
The BaoFeng BF-F8HP requires a Technician License issued by the FCC in the United States to operate at its highest power setting.
For FRS (consumer-grade walkie talkie) models, the Motorola Talkabout T801 was capable of transmissions up to nearly 8.7 miles in our line-of-sight test. However, it struggled with obstructions such as tree-covered hills, where we found its range was reduced to 1.6 miles.
The Motorola Talkabout T801 was one of the top performers in our line-of-sight test.
Credit: Ross Patton
The next best models for this portion of our assessment were the Rocky Talkie and the Motorola T600. In the line-of-sight test, they were able to transmit to 7.7 miles and 6 miles, respectively. Like the T801, this distance was drastically reduced to around 1.6 miles in varying topography.
Range tests put all of the radios head to head in real life radio calls. While none of them got anywhere near their claimed maximum range, clear winners did emerge.
Credit: Caroline Miller
The BCA Link 2.0, Midland X-Talker 36, Midland GXT1000VP4 were all able to transmit to just under 3 miles, while the remainder of the models in the test failed at under 2 miles.
Clarity
The Baofeng, once again, was the clear champion for this assessment. With 8 watts of power, this model emitted minimal static or fuzziness across our entire line-of-sight range and was the easiest to hear across snowy hills and forests.
With this extremely powerful BaoFeng model, you can transmit across much larger distances than most consumer-grade radios. However, with great power comes great complexity. A license is required to transmit with this model.
Credit: Caroline Miller
The only other clear standouts regarding clarity are the Rockie Talkie and the BCA Link 2.0. Both of these models displayed crystal-clear transmissions right up until their maximum range in the line-of-sight test and were among the top performers in the hilly forests. The Rockie Talkie did particularly well while traveling in groups, while the BCA had some of the clearest transmissions in the snow. The Motorola T801 has great clarity in short, unobstructed ranges but gets fuzzy at greater distances and does not do well with hills and trees.
On land, we think there are better options available. On water, though, the Motorola T600 is a great call.
The BC Link 2.0, Rocky Talkies, and Motorola T801 radios all communicated from this ridge to basecamp a mile away. But only the Rockys worked well when the group was clustered like this.
The BCA BC Link 2.0 performed admirably in a near white-out, beating out almost all of the competition in our storm range testing.
It's important to note that many manufacturers claim that their radios have much greater maximum ranges, like 30 miles. Make sure you read the fine print. Often these tests are conducted in optimal conditions, like from “peak to peak,” where there is nothing to interrupt the signal but air. In our real-world testing, none of the radios transmitted anywhere near their advertised ranges.
Ease of Use
You buy walkie talkies to make your life easier, not more frustrating, so we put great stock in how easy these radios are to use. We consider how difficult they are to set up and how intuitive they are to operate in the field. The BC Link 2.0 radios have a well-designed interface. We weren't able to find all the functions without the manual, but we got close, and we appreciate that it's easy to operate while wearing gloves.
The Link 2.0's extendable microphone has a large and easy to depress push to talk (PTT) button and lets you make calls, change channels, and adjust the volume quickly, usually without needing to unclip the radio. A dial on the mic allows you to set and toggle between six preset channels, which are labeled A-F. While we appreciate the convenience, the lock function, which keeps you from accidentally switching settings, doesn't freeze it. And we worried that we might jump channels unintentionally. Still, we consider the BC Link 2.0 to be a user-friendly and powerful little radio.
The streamlined Rocky Talkies don't have many buttons so they have multiple uses. Their clear labels make them relatively easy to navigate.
Credit: Clark Tate
The Rocky Talkies are another easy-to-use option. Their manual offers a one-page schematic explaining every button, and that's all we needed to have them up and running. While each button accesses multiple functions, they are well-labeled, and we find it easier to remember how to navigate this radio. The Rockys' bias towards simplicity has one serious downside — they don't provide access to NOAA weather channels, leaving you to closely watch the sky, rely on cell service, or pack a secondary radio receiver to monitor conditions.
The budget models are all relatively easy to operate since they lack any extra features. The Midland X-Talker and the Midland X-Talker 36 offer the most features in this price range. Both are capable of accessing NOAA weather channels, have keypad locks, and offer privacy codes to eliminate interference on any channel that you and your partner(s) are using. The other radios in this price range have some combination of these features, but not all.
The external microphone is a defining characteristic of the BCA Link 2.0 radio. It keeps all the basic adjustments and indicators at your fingertips. It fits nicely in hand and the orange rubber PTT button is easy to find without looking. Volume and privacy channels are easy to access and manipulate as well.
Credit: Gray Grandy
Some of the more difficult radios to use offer a ton of tempting features, but they take time and focus to unlock. The Motorola Talkabout T801 is an example. It offers loads of features, including a compatible Motorola Talkabout app. The app links the radios to your phones, letting you text and share locations between friends. The radios will also scan channels for you, vibrate to alert you to a call, work hands-free with a voice activation (VOX) feature, sends calls in low power and high power mode to help you save batteries when possible, and provides weather information. All of those offerings take time to find, and, ultimately, this radio's lack of clarity and more limited range kept us from recommending it.
The X-Talker has a complete set of features (that many other price-friendly models don't) without sacrificing relative simplicity. Basic operation requires little to no learning curve, and utilizing more in-depth features takes just a minute with the manual.
Credit: Gray Grandy
The BaoFeng BF-F8HP takes complexity to another level. After you get that ham operator license to use it legally, you've got to learn how to use it. The radio has so many settings that it takes time, internet research, and patience to decipher. One of our testers created a cheat sheet for himself and his backcountry companions (including licensed operators) to avoid pressing the wrong buttons and rendering the radios inoperable. It's easier to set up if you link it to your computer, but that requires buying an additional cord.
We do like how easy the power/volume knob is to use and the A/B button that allows us to quickly toggle between two channels. The screen display is informative, and once you get the hang of the settings menu, it is less of a bear to use. This is not a radio you can grab and learn on the go, even if you're familiar with walkie-talkies.
The BF-F8HP had a nice solid casing and a good display that lights up when you need it. Of all models we tested, it is the most complex and requires a greater understanding to utilize and operate.
Credit: Gray Grandy
Weather Resistance and Durability
We used these radios in a range of stormy weather but only tested waterproof qualities directly (i.e., by spraying them down with a hose or submersion) when a manufacturer claimed that the unit is waterproof or water resistant. Since Motorola claims that the T600 is waterproof to a depth of one meter, we left it under 3 feet of water for half an hour. It emerged unscathed. Not all of the walkie talkies advertise weather resistance, but those that do live up to the manufacturers' claims in our tests.
The Rocky Talkies and BC Link 2.0 are rated to IP56, which means that they should withstand a high-pressure stream of water from any direction. They both survived the test. The Midland radios are water-resistant but offer no warranty support for water damage, and Midland doesn't define the extent of their resistance. Both of them handled light precipitation during our tests, though the X-Talker 36 did show condensation under its screen.
An IP56 rating means the BCA Link 2.0 is comfortable in dust and with water.
Credit: Caroline Miller
Most of us are buying walkie talkies for outdoor adventures, which are hard on equipment. We expect these radios will be dropped onto rocks at some point and shoved into tight backpacks with dirty socks regularly. They need to be able to take it since radio failure can cause critical logistical and safety issues. We took the radios along on our adventures for months to expose them to a range of environments and abuse and scoured customer reviews to uncover any common problems that we didn't encounter in-field testing. All the radios made it through testing without any components breaking, but some have obvious weak points or show more wear and tear than the rest.
While Midland will not support a warranty claim for water damage, their claim that the X-Talker is water-resistant was upheld when we got it wet in our tests.
Credit: Gray Grandy
The simple and compact Rocky Talkies has little to break, and we expect it to live up to its rough-and-tumble reputation. The radios with more water resistance also feel more robust. The Motorola T600 and T801 both seem burly enough to survive a lot of knocking around. The BC Link 2.0 is also sturdy. The antenna feels stout and inspires confidence. The only possible weak point we can see is the plastic hook at the top of the cord connection port. It's easy to put pressure on it to leverage the cord in place, and we could see it failing.
Only the Midland X-Talker 36 gave us serious pause. It arrived with a dysfunctional microphone/earphone. We couldn't get it to work after many attempts and multiple earphone models. Whether or not this feature is important to you, its immediate failure may indicate poor quality control.
The T600 in in its natural habitat with a PFD and water shoes.
Credit: Gray Grandy
Battery Life
A radio with dead batteries is useless weight. To prevent this, we systematically tested the battery life of each model in the field, in cold weather, and in the lab, making two minutes of calls every hour until the battery wore out. This walkie talkie will likely last even longer in standby mode or when sending fewer transmissions.
In our tests, the Motorola Talkabout T801 and Rocky Talkies had the longest battery life when used in their low-power mode. This gives them less transmission strength but should work fine when your team is within a mile of each other. When these radios are used in high power mode, they transmit further and run out of batteries faster, taking about as long to run dry as the BCA BC Link 2.0. All of them lasted over 24 hours.
The Rocky Talkies did an impressive job of holding their charge during a weeklong winter camping trip.
Credit: Jacob Holmes
Of these three, the Talkabout T801 lasted several hours longer than the Rocky Talkies in low power, but they both lasted nearly a day and a half. The Rocky Talkies required less frequent charging on our winter camping trip, making them the best choice for cold climates, thanks to their rechargeable lithium batteries.
The battery life indicators on the Rocky Talkies and BC Link 2.0 were accurate during testing, altering us that the units would soon run out of power. In contrast, the T801 rapidly dropped from three bars to none, making it harder to gauge how much power you have left.
The walkie-talkies we examined use either lithium-ion, NiMH, or alkaline batteries, or a combination of rechargeable and alkaline batteries.
We like the ability to charge the Cobra with a micro USB cord.
Credit: Gray Grandy
Notably, the Midland X-Talker T10 performed nearly as well as the BC Link 2.0. Unfortunately, its battery indicator fluctuates constantly. It's more confusing than useful, displaying strong battery life in standby mode but dropping with every transmission. The BaoFeng BF-F8HP posted respectable results (over 17 hours) considering its higher power use. Its large lithium-ion battery does its job well.
The waterproof T600 had a nice rubber seal around the battery compartment, and could take regular AA batteries in place of the supplied battery pack. The battery compartment door was held firmly in place with two screws.
The lithium ion battery pack on the BF-F8HP clipped firmly in and was easy to remove. While you can't use regular batteries in this radio, you can buy extra Li-ion battery packs so one can be charging while one is in use.
Only the Midland X-Talker and Motorola Talkabout are not rechargeable. Our testers prefer models that can be recharged since batteries can be expensive. Of the rechargeable options, only the Rocky Talkies, BC Link 2.0, Radioddity, X-Talker 36, and Cobra ACXT145 come with an included charging cable. You have to find cables for the rest.
Perhaps best of all, the Motorola T810 and T600, Cobra, and Midland GXT run on batteries and can be recharged. This offers a lot of flexibility if you're traveling in the backcountry and need to maintain a charge.
The BC Link 2.0 radio is a great option if you're wearing a backpack.
Credit: Clark Tate
Weight and Size
We measured each radio's dimensions and weight, then noted how they felt to carry around in real life. We learned that shape and weight distribution make a difference. Three of the radios, the Cobra, Midland X-Talker T10, and the Radioddity FS-T2, are the smallest and lightest (3.1 oz to 4 oz) options in the test. It's easy to forget that we're carrying them even during light and fast activities like climbing or trail running, but they have limited range.
The Midland X-Talker 36 is slightly larger, weighing 5 ounces, and offers a significantly improved range. If you're looking for a light and powerful option, this one is a good bet. The Rocky Talkies are another option to consider. They weigh 6.7 ounces and have one of the best ranges of the FRS options in the test. That said, the manufacturer claims that it did not include the option to connect the Rockys to NOAA weather channels to save on weight. We'd rather carry a few extra ounces and have access to weather updates.
The T100 is small enough to bring climbing and not weigh us down.
Credit: Gray Grandy
The Midland GXT, Motorola T801, and Baofeng all weigh 7 ounces and change; we don't find them prohibitively heavy. The Baofeng packs much more power in that little package, however. The waterproof casing that protects the Motorola T600 adds more weight, but only a little. It weighs in at 8.4 ounces.
The compact Rocky Talkies are easy to forget about in the field.
Credit: Jake Holmes
At 11 ounces, The BCA BC Link 2.0 is the heftiest of the bunch in both size and weight, mainly due to its two-piece design. Since it splits the weight between the mic and the receiver, you don't notice the weight, especially if you're carrying a pack. The external microphone is small and comfortable on your backpack shoulder strap. The radio's body fits in the smaller pockets of any backpack or even in a jacket pocket. Yes, it is bigger and heavier than the rest, but we never noticed the weight.
Whichever radio you ultimately reach for, we hope this review helps you arrive at the best purchase decision for your needs.
Credit: Caroline Miller
Conclusion
Good radios can be important additions to your backcountry kit. Effective communication can avoid frustration and keep your team safe. To be helpful though, they have to stand up to the rigors of long days and harsh environments. We hope the rigorous tests our team of professional and recreational radio users performed will help you decide which ones are worth their weight and expense for your next outing.
