The 10 Best Hand Crank Radios
This wiki has been updated 19 times since it was first published in April of 2020. Whether used primarily to take on expeditions, on vacation, or as part of your household survival kit, a hand crank radio, with a built-in flashlight, solar charging capability, and automatic weather warnings, is a useful accessory that also has the potential to get you out of danger. Here we have ranked the best according to build quality, features, weather resistance, and value. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Kaito KA700
2. Zurio Emergency
3. Kaito KA580
Editor's Notes
April 10, 2020:
One of the most practical features of the hand crank radios in our ranking is the weather warnings that are triggered whenever potentially dangerous situations occur. These are issued by the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and they are especially useful for those who live in zones where earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and other extreme conditions are commonplace.
All the radios ranked here are highly portable, however, If you are looking for a truly pocket-sized model, then consider the Kaito KA580 or CrazyFire NOAA Weather Radio, which will slip into your jacket with ease. If you are looking for a slightly larger model to join you at the picnic table, in your RV, or at sea, then you might consider the iRonsnow IS-388, or the Kaito KA700. If portability isn’t such as issue, then a model such as the Ion iPA95 Survival Scout might be more appropriate, especially if high sound levels are an important factor.
One popular use for hand crank radios is as an addition to household survival kits. With climate change a very real threat to many people around the world, and in the wake of all the deadly hurricanes since the turn of the century, many people found that when the lights went out, a hand crank radio, with its LED illumination, solar and dynamo power, and regular automatic weather updates, provided an important link to the situation in the outside world and, in some cases, a better possibility of rescue.
4. Kaito KA500
5. Sharper Image Emergency
6. iRonsnow IS-388
7. CrazyFire NOAA Weather Radio
8. FosPower Emergency Solar
9. Mesquul Portable
10. 2020 Bonpro
Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.