Emergency radios, what kind are the best?

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I assume you mean AM/FM emergency radio possibly with SW (short wave) and emergency weather alerts? Possibly with features such as solar, crank, or phone charging? I could recommend a couple I have come to trust and have tested them myself.

This is the Grundig M400, (FM/AM/SW) small and portable, fits in the palm of your hand and won't weigh you down:


Overall performance: Very useful for backpacking and hiking, and runs on two AAA batteries. The tuning leaves a bit to be desired, but it works well enough for the money.

Grundig: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B4PJ524/?tag=survivalmonke-20
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Kaito KA500 with AM/FM/SW NOAA Weather Alert, Solar,Wind Up, Dynamo Crank, Flashlight, Cellphone Charger

Overall performance: It's decent, and I would say better than most out there. The solar isn't the best, but it does work, only not as well as some will expect. The crank function does work, but it isn't built like a military radio, so don't abuse it. The tuning is pretty decent, and there's ample reception. If you are buying this radio strictly to charge a cellphone, I wouldn't recommend it. For a fairly light radio which picks up SW, it's a solid buy. You can also use standard batteries in this if you prefer not to use the rechargeable battery pack, or you can use your own rechargeable batteries to replace the pack it comes with. It is rugged enough to work when you need it and is far better than many gimmick radios I have tried.

KAITO: Amazon.com: Kaito KA500 5-way Powered Emergency AM/FM/SW NOAA Weather Alert Radio with Solar,Wind Up,Dynamo Crank,Flashlight and Reading Lamp, Cellphone Charger,Color Black: Electronics

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I also recommend an external antenna to increase reception: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00066Z9XG/?tag=survivalmonke-20

I would not skip the SW function, it's highly useful since AM/FM frequencies can be compromised in an emergency with Federal Emergency guidelines in place, making them pretty much useless. But, it's your decision to make. The most pertinent related threads I will link, and there are more related threads on this subject at the bottom of the page:

Solar/crank powered radio | Page 2 | Survival Forums
Crank Radio - Recommendations? | Survival Forums
AM/FM radio plans? | Survival Forums