Best Crank Radios for Emergency Preparedness
Crank Radio Reviews
Having a radio during an emergency is mandatory. You can hear important weather alerts, local news, and information on finding food and water, shelter, and medical assistance.
I spent so long shopping for "the best" emergency radio for my family I decided to share this knowledge with everyone, and hopefully save some time and effort for you. It was difficult to wade through hundreds of radios and eliminate the ones that didn't have the features I was looking for. It was still hard to choose once I had my final list of radios up for consideration.
These radios are not in any particular order. Every single radio on this page is excellent, has some great qualities and is worthy of your consideration. When shopping for an emergency or survival radio, be sure and clearly define what your needs and expectations are so you can choose the radio that will suit you best.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
What Do You Want Your Emergency Radio to Provide? - My Specs Were
- NOAA Weather Alerts, AM/FM
- Digital tuning
- Multiple ways to power the radio: batteries, power cord, hand crank, USB, and solar power
- USB micro charger port which can be used to charge a cellphone
- LED flashlight
- Portable and lightweight
Eton FRX3 Hand Turbine NOAA AM/FM Weather Alert Radio with Smartphone Charger - My Personal Pick
RADIO: AM/FM/NOAA with digital tuning.
POWER: Re-chargeable lithium battery, AAA batteries, hand crank, solar power, DC, or USB.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Glow in the dark locator, alarm, LED flashlight, red emergency LED light that flashes, headphone jack, alert function to automatically broadcast emergency alerts, auxiliary input.
SIZE: 6.9 x 5.8 x 2.6 inches, 14.9 ounces
Eton FRX3 Video Review
La Crosse Technology 810-106 NOAA Severe Weather Alert Radio
RADIO: AM/FM/NOAA with digital tuning.
POWER: Re-chargeable lithium battery, hand crank, solar power, or USB.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Blue back light on the digital display which will flash during a weather alert, headphone jack, telescoping antenna, LED flashlight, and a reinforced steel frame.
SIZE: 5.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 inches, .95 lbs
La Crosse Technology 810-106 Video Review
Ambient Weather WR-111An emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Digital Radio - Very lightweight
RADIO: AM/FM/NOAA with digital tuning.
POWER: Re-chargeable lithium battery, hand crank, solar power, DC, AC wall power, or USB.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Weather Alerts in standby mode both audio and visual, LED flashlight, telescoping antenna, wrist lanyard.
SIZE: 5.5 x 2 x 3 inches, .75 lbs
Ambient Weather WR-111A Video Review
Ambient Weather WR-333 Emergency Weather Alert Radio
RADIO: AM/FM/NOAA with digital tuning.
POWER: Re-chargeable lithium battery, AAA batteries, hand crank, solar power, DC (car charger) or USB.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Rubberized casing makes for good grip, flashlight, telescoping antenna, carabiner clip, and weather alerts in standby mode both audio and visual.
SIZE: 7.8 x 2 x 3.8 inches, less than 1 lbs
Ambient Weather WR-333 Emergency Weather Alert Radio Video Review
The person giving this review states the radio has a design flaw due to the fact that the USB mini port is located in the path of the hand crank, meaning you cannot crank while a phone or other device is being charged. However, this is not a flaw and should not affect your consideration of this radio. If in fact you plan to use the radio to charge a device, the hand cranking should be done first, and then the device plugged in. You should not crank while the device is plugged in.
Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 Digital Solar/Dynamo AM/FM/LW/SW & NOAA Weather Emergency Radio - Slightly larger than handheld
RADIO: AM/FM/SW/NOAA
POWER: This digital radio can be powered with a rechargeable battery, hand crank, solar power, AC wall power, USB, or AA batteries.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Calender, dual alarm, thermometer, humidity meter, reading light, adjustable solar panel, auxiliary input, and favorite station settings.
SIZE: 9.5 x 2.8 x 5.8 inches, 1 lbs
Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 Video Review
Kikkerland Dynamo Solar and Crank Emergency Radio - Simplistic
POWER: This radio is powered only be hand crank or solar power.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Headphone jack. This radio is green in every sense of the word. Accepting no power from a wall socket or batteries, it has minimal environmental impact.
SIZE: 3 x 2.2 x 3.2 inches, 7.2 ounces
Kikkerland Dynamo Solar and Crank Emergency Radio Video Review
Can YOU contribute to this page?
I welcome ideas.
If you know of (or have made) a video review of a radio in this article that you feel is superior to the current video review I am showcasing, leave a comment or send me a message letting me know. I will watch your video and may choose to update this page if I find it superior to my current video. Your video needs to clearly show the radio, all of its features, and demonstrate how different functions are used.
Do you feel another radio meets the specifications I have set for an emergency radio? Let me know, I will check it out and consider adding it if it is worthy.
Is the Radio You Want Sold Out?
Check eBay, you might find a used one in good condition and save some money too!
