Two-Way Radio Review

Surveying reviews of two-way radios

Two-way radios can be used in a variety of situations and are a useful alternative to cell phones, especially when camping and hiking or when otherwise out of cell-tower range. Not surprisingly then, we found the best current reviews for two-way radios at Field & Stream, Outside Online, and outdoor enthusiast forums and blogs. Owner-review sites are also a good place to find information.

Today's two-way radios are a far cry from the walkie-talkies of yesteryear. Smaller and more powerful, some now have range specifications that exceed 20 or even 30 miles. However, reports tell us that specifications and real-world use are not exactly the same, and sometimes not even in the ballpark.

A case in point is the Midland GXT1050VP4 (*Est. $70 per pair), which did well in one expert review and is generally well-regarded by nearly 50 users at Amazon.com. However, more than half of the customer reviews -- including the positive ones -- mention that the range is vastly overstated at 36 miles. Instead, many report a range of only a mile or two in wooded conditions and less still in urban settings. Some say that this issue is pervasive with two-way radios and are satisfied with the more modest range boost they say they get with the Midland GXT1050VP4. Others say that the overstated range is a deal-breaker and a letdown as the claimed range is the largest of any available two-way radio.