The 7 Best Emergency Radios for Storms, Outages and Go-Bags, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: The fullest feature list: all-band reception, Bluetooth, a hand crank and a flashlight.

The Odyssey is an all-band emergency radio with NOAA weather reception, Bluetooth, a hand crank and a multi-function flashlight. It sits in the $50 to $100 bracket, the highest price tier here, and Eton is a company that has focused on emergency radios for years.

It wins because it covers both jobs a storm radio needs to do. All-band reception means you can reach AM, FM and weather broadcasts, and Bluetooth lets it double as a small speaker for your phone's music or podcasts when the power is fine. The hand crank is the backup when everything else is empty. Extra features add complexity, so give yourself a rehearsal before an actual emergency.

Buy it if you want one radio for the go-bag, the car and the shelf. Skip it if you only want the cheapest weather alert.

Reception

All band, NOAA weather

Power

Hand crank

Wireless

Bluetooth

Light

Multi-function flashlight

Our verdict: Twin solar panels, a 12000mAh battery and both USB and USB-C charging.

The Raynic 12000mAh weather radio has two solar panels, a 12000mAh battery and both USB and USB-C charging. It lands in the $25 to $50 bracket, which is a lot of battery for the money.

It takes second place because capacity plus solar is the practical combination for a long outage. Twelve thousand milliamp-hours can top up a typical phone more than once, and the second panel helps recharge it when the sun is out. USB-C output is a real convenience as most modern phones use it. The tradeoff is that solar on a small radio is slow, so treat it as a trickle top-up, not a fast recharge, and keep the radio near a window.

Choose it if keeping phones alive is your priority. Skip it if you want Bluetooth or all-band reception.

Battery

12000mAh

Solar

Two panels

Charging

USB and USB-C

Type

Weather radio

Our verdict: NOAA alerts with a 19240mWh battery, solar and a hand crank for less.

The FosPower A6 is a NOAA weather radio with a 19240mWh battery, a solar panel and a hand crank. It also sits in the $25 to $50 bracket, below the Eton Odyssey.

Third place reflects a balance of price and power. Having both a crank and solar covers the two ways to make power without a socket, and a 19240mWh figure is roughly 5000mAh in phone-battery terms, so check how a listing converts units before comparing. It does not have the Odyssey's all-band range or Bluetooth, and a basic design means fewer extras to learn.

Buy it if you want a no-nonsense NOAA radio with two backup charging methods. Skip it if you want Bluetooth.

Battery

19240mWh

Charging

Solar and hand crank

Weather

NOAA

Price

$25 to $50

Our verdict: A hand turbine generator with a USB phone charger and an LED flashlight.

The FRX2 uses a hand turbine to generate power instead of a traditional crank, and it adds a USB smartphone charger and an LED flashlight. It falls in the $25 to $50 bracket and carries the American Red Cross name.

It ranks fourth because the turbine is a different mechanism, which some people find easier on the arm than a long crank. It still means physical work to make power, though, and a few minutes of effort yields a modest charge. The listing mentions no solar panel, so once you stop turning, there is no passive recharging.

Choose it if you like a branded, simple radio with a turbine. Skip it if you want solar charging.

Power

Hand turbine

Phone charging

USB smartphone charger

Light

LED flashlight

Price

$25 to $50

Our verdict: A 5000mAh radio with a phone charger and an SOS siren.

This Raynic radio has a 5000mAh battery, equal to 18500mWh in the listing, a cell phone charger and an SOS siren. It also falls in the $25 to $50 bracket.

It lands fifth because the capacity is smaller than the 12000mAh Raynic and the extras are fewer. The siren is its distinguishing feature: a loud alarm can help others find you if you are stuck or lost. It is a sensible entry-level radio for a go-bag, as long as you accept the smaller power reserve.

Buy it if you want a compact radio with an SOS alert. Skip it if you want a bigger battery.

Battery

5000mAh (18500mWh)

Phone charging

Yes

Alert

SOS siren

Price

$25 to $50

Our verdict: Bluetooth 5.4, a 14800mWh power bank and an IPX3 splash rating.

The FosPower D9 lists Bluetooth 5.4, a 14800mWh power bank and an IPX3 rating. It is in the $25 to $50 bracket. The IPX3 rating means it should handle light water spray from an angle, but it is not designed for submersion.

It ranks sixth because the emphasis is on everyday use, with Bluetooth for music and a power bank for devices, and less on the emergency basics. The listing does not specify crank or solar details in the information we reviewed, so check how the battery recharges before choosing it as a sole backup.

Choose it if you want a radio you will actually use daily. Skip it if you need a dependable crank backup.

Bluetooth

5.4

Battery

14800mWh power bank

Water rating

IPX3

Price

$25 to $50

Our verdict: A low-cost hand crank and solar radio with a 10000mAh battery.

This radio combines a hand crank and a solar panel with a 10000mAh battery, listed as 37000mWh. It sits in the $25 to $50 bracket, at the low end of it.

It finishes last because the listing is thin on details beyond the charging methods and capacity. Unbranded radios can vary in build, so check the return policy and read the feature list carefully. As an entry-level option, a crank, a panel and a decent battery is a respectable set of basics.

Buy it if you want the lowest-cost way to cover the fundamentals. Skip it if you want a known brand.

Battery

10000mAh (37000mWh)

Charging

Hand crank and solar

Type

Emergency radio

Price

$25 to $50