A quality emergency radio is a very essential part of any bug out bag or emergency gear. The primary purpose of an emergency hand crank radio is to keep you informed of any severe weather alerts or other emergency scenarios that might be going on in your general vicinity. These radios receive the latest information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, better known as the NOAA, and can let you about many different weather conditions, such as severe storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, wild fires and more.
Along with the weather, you will also hear any viable emergency information that does not otherwise fall into the weather category. Emergencies such as Amber Alerts, chemical spills, biological attacks and terrorist strikes all make the list of emergencies to be broadcast about and this will give you time to act up that information.
We know that not all emergencies radios are alike, so we want to make sure you get the best emergency crank radios that will fit your needs. In order to pick the one that best suits your needs, you will need to have a little more information about their features.
What is the Best Emergency Hand Crank Radio?
That said, we have put together this list of the best emergency radios and some of their different attributes. Hopefully, it will help you to make a better informed decision as to which one should be yours.
Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 Digital NOAA Emergency Radio Review
The Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 Digital NOAA Emergency Radio is another dynamo on our list. The radio bands include AM, FM, LW and NOAA weather so that you will be able to receive all weather reports, emergency information and hazard alerts.
The Kaito emergency crank radio can be charged via AC/DC adapter, three AA batteries, a built-in rechargeable NiMH battery pack, hand cranking or by making use of the 180 degree adjustable solar panel, which will power this device even if no batteries are installed.
This radio also features four tuning methods for your convenience, including manual, direct digital entry, ATS and memory tuning with 335 memory channels for easy access to virtually any station you need. Other great features that set the Kaito apart are the calendar, alarm clock with dual settings and sleep timer, thermostat and humidity reading meter.
iRonsnow IS-088 Dynamo Solar Hand Crank Emergency Radio Review
The second item we will look at is the iRonsnow IS-088 Dynamo Solar Hand Crank Emergency Radio. This compact survival radio packs in many features for its small size, as iRonsnow is known for its focus on making emergency equipment.
Of course, for its primary usage, you have access to AM/FM NOAA weather radio and emergency alerts, for the latest in need to know information. This unit also has a powerful 3 LED flashlight for low or no light situations and works as a cell phone charger as well.
There are three powering options for this device including self-charge via hand crank mechanism, solar charging and an external recharge power option. One minute of hand crank time will result in five minutes of radio play time, 30 minutes of continuous torchlight or five minutes of cell phone talk time.
The DC recharge method works by connecting a mini USB cable to a computer or laptop. Since you can charge it virtually anywhere, it will give you and your party the peace of mind you need for dire times. This radio comes with a retractable antenna, a wrist lanyard, USB converter and a DC cable.
Kaito KA500 5-Way Solar Powered Emergency Weather Alert Radio Review
Next, we have the Kaito KA500 5-Way Solar Powered Emergency Weather Alert Radio. This emergency survival radio features a built in rechargeable NiMH battery back that offers strong current and voltage as well as a high quality brushless generator.
To charge it, you have a few different options. There is the solar panel power, so that under direct sunlight, it will power the radio with no problems at all. The panel is also designed to tilt to match the sun’s position so that the radio can receive the maximum rays from the sun for the entire length of the day.
Three AA batteries will also power the radio for maximum reception when you need it the most, and you can also charge the device by hooking it directly to a computer or laptop with the USB cable. It also features a hand crank options in that 120 turns per minute will soon bring the unit to full operating power.
In addition to the AM/FM NOAA weather and emergency alert transmission, you can also make use of the built in white 5-LED flashlight with a red LED blinking light that can be used for an emergency alert.
Epica Digital Solar and Hand crank Emergency Radio Review
Next up is the Epica Digital Solar and Hand crank Emergency Radio. Epica offers a lot in this compact model radio, including a three-band radio that allows you to listen to AM, FM or NOAA VHF weather and emergency frequencies.
The 3-LED built in flashlight gives you peace of mind should the power go out, or to use in the evening or at night. It will also act as a mobile phone charge. With three ways to charge the unit, you will not have to worry about being stuck with a dead radio, as you can utilize sunlight to charge with the solar panel, you can manually hand crank the device, or you and plug it directly in to a power source. With the handy backlit feature, the digital liquid crystal display means that you will see everything clearly, no matter when you need it.
The Epica emergency weather radio assures you that two minutes of hand cranking will give you a full twenty minutes of power. Not only is this radio exactly what you need without many frills that you do not, it is also constructed of durable materials that will surely be able to take the rigors of day-in and day-out use. This radio is also water resistant and holds a nice strong charge between uses, so you never have to worry.
Safe-T-Proof Solar and Hand Crank Emergency Radio Review
Finally, we have the Safe-T-Proof Solar and Hand Crank Emergency Radio.This radio packs a whole lot into its flashlight shaped package. Absolutely no batteries are necessary as charging methods include making use of solar power from the sun or choosing to manually hand crank the device.
The built in AM/FM radio means that you will have access to all the basic emergency and weather alerts for your areas. The Safe-T-Proof is also equipped with a built in flashlight that also serves as a blinker as well as a loud siren alarm that can either fend off would-be attackers or alert others to your location.
In addition to being a hand crank emergency radio, emergency weather system, flashlight and emergency blinker, you can also use this radio to charge your cell phones and other small electronics, including iPhones.
My Vote for Best Hand Crank Emergency Radio
Of these top five emergency radios that we have looked over, my top pick for personal favorite is going to be the Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 emergency radio.
This radio has everything you could possibly need in an emergency survival radio at your fingertips. Not only is it and AM, FM, LW and SW receiver, it will also give you all the NOAA weather channels that not all competitors radios will do.
Having that real time alert system can definitely mean the difference between being able to act on the emergency information or not. Having five ways to power this device is another feature that really makes this radio worthwhile, as you will not have to worry about being let down due to a need for charging. The main selling feature for this radio, however, are the little extras that can mean so much.
A calendar lets you keep up with the days, an alarm clock is a great addition especially with the sleep timer, and you can monitor the temperature as well as the level of humidity around you. All of these come together to make an excellent piece of emergency equipment.