The 4 Best Wind Up Radios for Emergency and Outdoor Use in 2021

A wind up radio is a kind of device that everyone should have. You can use it in emergency situations such as power outage, storm, or some other type of crisis. A manually-powered radio will let you find out all the information about the thing that caused power to go off.

Another scenario when you can put a wind up radio to use is when you go out camping. Batteries can run away quickly, generators are smelly and loud, so using your own hands as a source of energy for the radio will bring you and your camping buddies some fun.

And we’re not yet done talking about all the great things that come with hand crank radios. Many of these gadgets are much more than simple radios. Instead, they come with many additional features, including a flashlight, alarm clock, mobile phone charger, and so on. Obviously, owning such a multi-functional device would definitely be an awesome thing. So, why not get one? After all, wind up radios aren’t very expensive. And you can find some really good products that will serve you well for a long time.

Picking The Best Emergency Hand Crank Radios

You probably wouldn’t make a bad choice if you decided to buy any kind of wind up radio. Most of these devices are built to last. However, why settle for the rest when you can get the best? And you can get them at pretty reasonable prices.

The best thing is that you don’t need to spend too much time looking for them. We’ve already done the hard work for you. Here are some wind up radios that we believe are the best you can find on today’s market.

1. Kaito KA500 Radio (powered with solar power and wind up dynamo) with flashlight, reading lamp and cellphone charger

Here’s a radio that comes with a hand-crank generator, as well as an option for batteries. You can also power this device with electricity, considering that it also has a 5V AC/DC input. And there’s even a 5V USB input on the radio.

You can use this radio to listen to AM, FM, 2-band shortwave programs, as well as 7 pre-programmed NOAA channels that will provide you with the info about weather. This makes this wind up radio suitable not only for entertainment but also for getting around in the outdoors.

This device also comes with a flashlight, which is another reason why it’s popular among campers. The flashlight can turn to a reading lamp easily, if you want to get yourself to sleep with a book. There’s also a mobile phone charger, which makes Kaito KA500 Voyager your ideal ally in emergency situations such as power outage, for instance.

2. RunningSnail Hand Crank AM/FM NOAA Radio with LED flashlight and 1000mAh Power Bank for cellphone charging

First of all, this hand crank radio is pretty affordable. Actually, it’s the cheapest wind up radio on our list. But being cheap does not mean it’s cheaply made. On the contrary, RunningSnail Hand Crank Radio is a very good choice for those who want a reliable device that’s going to serve them for a long time.

Of course, it’s not just about the quality and durability, but the features it comes with as well. And now that we’re on the subject of features, this radio comes with a hand crank, but also a USB charging port, and solar charging panel.

Its rechargeable battery has a capacity of 1000 mAh, which you can use as a power bank to charge your smartphone or tablet.

3. Eton NSP101WXGR AM / FM / NOAA Wind Up Radio With Solar Battery, Smartphone Charger, Digital Tuner

This radio comes with an 800 mAh lithium battery which you can charge by using the hand crank.

You can do the same by using USB or by leaving it on the sun and letting its solar panel take care of the battery charging.

The radio will enable you to choose from a wide specter of different channels including the NOAA weather channels, which will warn you if there’s a storm coming your way.

Apart from a radio, this device also comes with an LED flashlight, a smartphone charger, and a sturdy case that’s almost unbreakable.

4. Greadio Hand Crank Radio with Portable Power Bank, Flashlight and Lamp for Reading

It comes with a large-capacity battery, which you can power using a hand crank, but also via a USB or AC power cord.

On top of that, there’s also an option for solar charging, as well as a compartment for 3 AAA batteries.

When fully charged, the battery can provide you with half a day of non-stop radio play. It can also power the LED flashlight, and serve as a power bank for your smartphone.

When it comes to radio, you can choose from a wide range of different AM and FM channels, as well as receive weather alerts from 7 different NOAA weather channels, each of which were pre-recorded by the manufacturer.

Wrapping It Up

A wind up radio is a device that you definitely need to own; after all, you never know when an emergency might come your way. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst is what we advise you to do, especially because these types of devices are pretty affordable. As you’ve seen in our reviews, most of them come with pretty attractive price tags.

And they also come with many additional features that you’re guaranteed to find useful. Each of the four wind up radios we reviewed can be used as a power bank for charging your smartphone. Depending on your mobile phone, some of these devices can charge its battery fully.

Another useful feature is the LED flashlight which can come pretty handy when there’s a power outage or when you’re in the outdoors. And, of course, there’s the radio. You can use to listen to entertaining FM or AM channels, but also to stay informed about the weather though NOAA weather alerts. All of this makes wind up radios a great choice for emergencies, but also for camping trips and other outdoor activities.