Tech

7 Best Weatherproof Walkie Talkies 2024

Best Weatherproof Walkie Talkies

Walkie-talkies, also known as two-way radios, are communication devices that allow you to keep in touch with other group members during your outdoor venture. While they operate more like mobile phones, their transmission covers a shorter distance range. Unlike cellular handsets, walkie-talkies do not attract any cellular communication charges. These gadgets are an excellent option in areas that are out of mobile network coverage. They are indispensable tools for people who decide to go hiking or venture into other winter outdoor pastimes.

  Price Name Our score
Motorola Talkabout T460 Two-Way Radio Weatherproof Walkie Talkies 4.6
Motorola Talkabout T400 Rechargeable Two-Way Radio Pair  4.7
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COBRA CXT1045R-FLT-CAMO 37 Mi Waterproof Floating Walkie Talkies 4.5
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Retevis RT27 Walkie Talkies FRS Radio License-Free 2 Way Radio  4.9
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Midland – GXT1000VP4, 50 Channel, 36 Mile Range Walkie Talkie 4.4
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Midland – LXT630VP3, 36 Channel FRS – Up to 30 Mile Range Walkie Talkie 4.0
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Motorola T600 Talkabout Radio, 2 Pack 4.6

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Walkie-talkies come with different waterproof ratings depending on the conditions you intend to use them in. These ratings, usually indicated by JS or IP followed by a number, fall under the following categories and this should be indicated on the walkie-talkie by the manufacturer.

  • Weather resistant. You will find the weather resistance rating in walkie-talkies for cold weather. This means that a walkie-talkie has a protection from damp or cold conditions.
  • Weatherproof. Weatherproof walkie-talkies are resistant to extreme weather elements but not to water.
  • Water resistant. This means that the radio is resistant to water when exposed to it but not when immersed in it.
  • Waterproof. Waterproof walkie-talkies are completely protected from damage by water and can hold up in heavy rainfall situations or immersion in water without getting damaged. Most ski walkie talkies come with a waterproof rating.

 

Buying Guide

Several features factor in when you consider buying the best walkie talkie for your intended use. These features include:

 

The range

This refers to the distance within which your radio can transmit waves. Some powerful walkie talkies can communicate over a long range but will need to have strong battery power. Most devices cover a distance range of up to 35 miles depending on the level of obstruction.

 

Battery and battery life

First things first, what can your walkie-talkie do besides communication? Some walkie talkies have additional features like the Vibracall which when turned on will most likely consume battery charge. Consider carrying spare alkaline batteries as most walkie talkies come with dual charging options.

 

Extra features

These features will set apart walkie-talkies based on their capabilities. Some gadgets come with functions like VOX which enable you to operate your gadget handsfree, vibracall that lets your radio ring silently on vibration, squelch which lets you reduce background noise, and the rewind function for replaying missed calls.

 

Tough construction

Overall, your radio should be built to last. This means it needs to have a tough exterior so that it doesn’t get damaged with the usual dropping.

 

NOAA weather channels access

Having access to NOAA channels lets you subscribe to weather alerts so that you are aware of inclement weather. You will also be informed of safety recommendations regarding the same.

 

Ability to float

For sea ventures, a floating walkie-talkie will come in handy. In the event that they drop in water, it will be easy to retrieve them. Some come with brightly colored exteriors for easy visibility.


 

Best Weatherproof Walkie Talkies 2024

We rounded up 7 top of the range weatherproof walkie-talkies. Check out the features that make them stand out.

 

1. Motorola Talkabout T460 Two-Way Radio Weatherproof  Walkie Talkies

The 4-pack Motorola Talkabout T460 two-way radio features an IP54 design meaning that it is not completely waterproof but will hold out well against weather elements like dust particles, snow, and splashing water. It comes with 22 channels each with 121 privacy codes. With this, you can take advantage of weather channels and sign up for real-time weather alerts so that you are empowered with information as you venture out. The inbuilt LED flashlight is a great addition for the poor-lit emergency scenarios or in the absence of power.

This walkie talkie is powered by either the NiMH rechargeable batteries included in the package, that will give you up to 10 hours runtime or 3 AA batteries that will give you up to 26 hours runtime. The latter comes in handy when you need additional power during your trip. Charge the NiMH batteries using the micro-USB cable included in its package from a power outlet, a vehicle adaptor, or from a computer port.

The T460 walkie talkie is designed with an emergency alert button, Push-to-Talk function to help you extend your range of transmission, and the VibraCall feature so your talkie will vibrate rather than ring when you need discretion. The iVOX/VOX feature doubles up as a speakerphone so you can use your walkie talkie handsfree. Other impressive features in this walkie talkie include the quick channel scan option, 20 ringtone options, and a lock feature on your keypad to save your customized settings.  

 

2. Motorola Talkabout T400 Rechargeable Two-Way Radio Pair

The T400 walkie talkie also by Motorola comes in a pair. It features IP54 weatherproof rating for protection from all weather elements, a built-in flashlight to light your trail or area in poor light or emergency situations, and two power options. It can either be powered by the 2 NiMH rechargeable batteries for up to 8.5 hours runtime or with 3 AA alkaline batteries for 26 hours runtime.

Like other radios by Motorola, this one also comes with 22 channels each with 121 privacy codes. This feature lets you communicate with other FRS/MRS devices as long as they will be connected to the same channel as your device. The auto search feature enables you to quickly and easily search for and connect to channels within the network. To your advantage, this radio is enabled for NOAA weather channels that you can connect to and be updated with information on weather. This walkie talkie covers a transmission range of 35 miles and with the Push-to-Talk function on, you can extend this transmission range by simply increasing the transmitter power output.  

The T400 two-way radio lets you communicate handsfree thanks to the iVOX/VOX feature. Customize your caller ringtone using the different ringtones available.   

 

3. COBRA CXT1045R-FLT-CAMO 37 Mi Waterproof Floating Walkie Talkies

A waterproof walkie talkie is an indispensable tool to have if you are going into a wet or rainy environment. The CXT1045R 2-way walkie talkies come with an IPX7 rating for heavy splashing or rainy situations which makes them ideal for just any condition. Equipped with 22 channels each with 121 privacy codes, this Cobra walkie talkie has a huge range of channel combinations available, giving you access to a clear channel amidst other radios. This means you also have access to 10 NOAA weather channels to keep yourself updated with the latest information in weather so you are equipped in the event of storms, avalanches, or any other emergencies. It covers a 37-mile transmission range which compared to others, is quite impressive.  

This walkie talkie is designed to float in case it drops on water and the orange core along with the rubber grips incorporated in its design helps you retrieve it easily. It comes with a bright LED flashlight for use during your trip and can be powered either by the rechargeable NiMH batteries or 3 AA alkaline batteries. Finally, it is ready to use out of the box. The rewind-say-again feature allows you to replay missed calls and even records 20 seconds of your last radio conversation to serve as a reminder.

 

4. Retevis RT27 Walkie Talkies FRS Radio License-Free 2 Way Radio

Retevis RT27 is a 5-pack radios walkie-talkie. The most outstanding and perhaps very important feature in this walkie talkie is that it subscribes to US FCC regulations so you will not need any further licensing or regulations to comply with. Secondly, it comes ready to use right out of the box, no need to charge or program it.

It comes with 22 channels each with 210 privacy codes to give you access to a range of channel combinations and a clear transmission for your channels. The scan function lets you easily search for channels and connect with others in the same location while the VOX feature allows you to use your walkie-talkie handsfree and still reduce the background noise to a minimum. Quite impressively, this is among the few two-way radios that will give you privacy during your calls. It features the scramble function which encrypts your sound by garbling it so no one else can make out anything meaningful from the transmission while at the same time helping you to identify irrelevant calls. On the other hand, it produces quality sound for clear calls.  

The RT27 walkie-talkie is powered by rechargeable batteries with 1100mAh capacity which allows you to go up to 12 hours on a full charge. It is lightweight and pretty portable thanks to its compact design. Overall, it is built with very durable hardware, you can have it for several years to come.

 

5. Midland – GXT1000VP4, 50 Channel, 36 Mile Range Walkie Talkie

This 2-pack 2-way radios by Midland is rated JIS4 meaning that it is splash resistant. It goes a step further than other walkie-talkies to feature 50 GMRS channels auto-searchable with the scan function. With 142 privacy codes, you have access to up to 3,124 channel options for clear transmission within 36-mile transmission range, this is agreeably the best long range walkie talkie and the best two-way radios for mountains. These include 10 NOAA weather channels along with the weather alerts feature which sets off an alarm in the event of extreme risky weather in your location. Its eVOX hands-free call function comes with 9 levels of sensitivity for use in a wide range of environments.

The GTX1000VP4 two-way radio comes with two power options. The rechargeable battery which provides up to 11 hours of runtime on a full charge and 4 AA alkaline batteries mostly as a standby power option. Other impressive features in this walkie talkie is the SOS siren alert function which allows you to send out distress signals, the whisper function which lets you to communicate in low tones and still be heard, the ‘direct/group call’ function which enables you to call one or more members of the group without alerting the rest, as well as 10 call alerts to help you distinguish calls from different group members using different ringtones.

This walkie talkie is designed with a bright LCD backlight display for easy reading in any light condition and features both silent operations and vibrate functions for silent operation. Finally, it gives you the option of locking your gadget with the keypad lock, monitors two channels at a time with the dual watch feature, and still monitor any activity with the monitor function.

Overall, this is a high-end walkie-talkie with incredible features

 

6. Midland – LXT630VP3, 36 Channel FRS 30 Mile Range Walkie Talkie

The LXT630VP3 is another water resistant walkie-talkie from Midland that falls a little below the GTX1000VP4 model in features. It features 36 FRS channels with 121 privacy codes and a scan feature to search the channels over a 30-mile transmission range. It also has access to 10 NOAA weather channels with alerts for risky weather situations. Just like the GTX1000VP4, it comes with both silent and vibrates features for silent operation along with the squelch feature to muff up background noise during a call. It features eVOX hands-free call feature with only three sensitivity levels. Something unique about this unit is that it is has been designed with a bright yellow plate on its front part to provide visibility.

It comes with dual power options. The rechargeable battery or 3 AAA alkaline batteries and will take 12 hours to fully charge. It comes with 5 call alerts to help you distinguish different group member’s calls and a roger beep tone to mark the end of a call.

 

7. Motorola T600 Talkabout Radio, 2 Pack

Motorola T600 walkie talkie comes with an IP67 waterproof rating which that it is fully protected from dust and can be immersed under 15 cm – 1-meter deep water up to 30 minutes without being damaged. It comes with 22 channels and 121 privacy codes to give you access to 2,662 channel combinations for clear transmission within a 35-mile transmission range placing it among the best long-range two-way radios. You also have access to 11 NOAA weather channels and high-risk situation alerts.                     

Other impressive features in this 2-way radio include the VibraCall feature for silent ringing with vibration alert, a locking keypad to protect your customized settings, built-in dual-light LED flashlight along with a water-activated flashlight, and a low battery alert function. It features an easy-retrieve design with bright green color at its front to enhance visibility.

 

Conclusion

Walkie talkies are definitely handy outdoor gadgets whose importance cannot be underestimated. Because these gadgets come with a range of features, a good walkie talkie should be built to last and have access to a good number of channels including NOAA weather channels over a wide range. Be sure to check its waterproof rating so that you get the right gadget for the condition you expect to encounter.

The walkie talkies we have reviewed here are among the best and are highly rated. We hope that the information we have offered will help you land a good walkie talkie for your needs.

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