5 Reasons You Need a Backcountry Radio & Why It Should Be a Rocky Talkie

Do you carry a backcountry radio? We will give you 5 reasons you should carry a walkie talkie backpacking, climbing, hiking, or skiing and our review of 5 reasons we chose Rocky Talkies.

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[OutsideChronicles]

Do you carry a walkie talkie in the backcountry? Have you had to use it for an emergency?

[UrbanSurvivor]

I did a range test with 8 different FRS radios and found the Rocky Talkies performed best. Got about 2.7 miles range in a dense urban environment!

[richmondmarketingsystems]

Wow. Great review Mike! I am now convinced I need a backcountry radio. And now I know which ones I will buy! Awesome that they sent you a couple. It has crossed my mind a few times in the past that radios would be a good idea. Thanks for reminding and convincing me!

[lightspeed]

I just want to thank you for the reviews you did regarding products that allow a person to not slip and fall on ice. I found your narrative to be intelligent, concise and really important to an individual who is not a hiker or mountaineer….your review helped me make an informed decision to purchase the Hillsound Trail Crampon product for my waterproof muck boots.
While I am from southern IN, we do get frequent
bouts of freezing rain and I
have to access my backyard multiple times per day, everyday….and you made my chores possible for me to accomplish without 5:39 falling! THANK YOU! Deb C

[NickFrom]

Rocky Talkie:
Pros:
1. Rugged
2. Battery life. This is good but let's be realistic here. Most radios in standby mode (receive) get good battery life.
3. No license needed
4. Gives you local group communications that can save your life.
Cons:
1. Price. There are other well built radios that are lot cheaper. Still I like the looks of the rocky.
2. Range. Range on uhf radios is always limited in anything other than extremely favorable conditions (like mountain peak to mountain peak). The idea that a Rocky Talkie will make the range they claim is extremely optimistic.
3. Concept. Keep in mind the scenario here is to reach out to those people nearby for help. ONLY those people nearby, and frankly quite near in most cases. If you are looking for a bit more security you would want to look at something like an eperb, garmin inreach or something of that nature. I use both radios and inreach and just use what matches my current scenario.

Honestly, for $35 you can get a gmrs license that lasts 10 years and applies to everyone in your family. Thats pretty cheap. If you can afford an expensive radio like the rocky talkie, you can afford the license. With gmrs you get a radio that will talk with frs radios like the rocky talkie, as well as other gmrs radios. The advantage of gmrs is primarily that frs is very limited output power (max 2 w). Gmrs handhelds will be 5w and mobile units can go to 50. You can also use repeaters with gmrs, though thats not really a backcountry scenario. If I were putting money down I would go gmrs for sure since it will do so much more and can be used as an emergency radio at home. Connect to your local repeater and in times of emergency you can possibly talk with others and gather important info.

Side note: Rocky talkie, like many other radio manufacturers refers to the talk codes as "Privacy" codes. They are not private at all. Don't fall for the marketing bs. What happens is you broadcast in the open not matter what and anyone on that frequency can hear you. The privacy codes add a sub audible tone that allows your radio to filter out everyone else so you don't hear them. This makes it so only those using your tone will hear each other, cutting out the chatter of others. The typical scenario is your group sets up a particular tone/code and unless others outside your group do the same then you won't hear them, but they WILL hear you. So, there is NO privacy, it is only a filter to not hear others.

[soaroutdoors]

Rocky Talkie’s saved me from bailing on Gothics w you after forgetting my snowshoes🤦‍♂️. I estimate our range of separation that day at 2-3miles in heavily wooded area. Great product and I bring them on every group hike. Might start carrying one solo

[fiskz]

Great video and a good reason to bring back the Ham wilderness protocol. Essentially check in every four hours and listen for anyone requesting help.

[TheAdventureHeads]

Another use case comes to mind 5 years ago during the Winter -35 F day ascend for Marshall when Keith split off the group. Walkie Talkie or similar communications would have minimized significant anxiety and allowed Keith to ask questions about unsure trail junctions.

[Hikecdt]

I have one and am planning on using it for part of my CDT thru hike. Starts this Apr ‘23.

[animagix]

I have two of these for camping. Just ordered the new gmrs units. Solid performers.

[brianfromtheambar]

Thanks for the info. Looking for a radio to put into my go-bag when travelling to the Caribbean. Intended use is for outbound emergency calls should I get sidelined by natural disaster (hurricane, storm surge, earthquake), and manage to stay dry. But it will also be with me when packing into the Canadian wilderness in all 4 seasons.

[donalderickson-siww]

yes I carry a walkie talkie in the back country IT is a rugged radio 45 watt radio

[paul]

Great and simple review to the point. I had a question, will this connect to other radios like Motorola t470 etc.?

[jeffreycarman]

I have thought about getting a hand-held HAM radio (and getting certified for its use. That way I could potentially communicate with other people in the backcountry. Clearly, when backpacking with a group of several hikers having this radio would really help.

[jdlnz]

What marine radio do you recommend for kayaking?

[TheAdventureHeads]

Gothics was epic mostly because we all worked together to overcome adversity and get everyone to the summit. Also Communications is crucial and wonder how communications with SAR compares between Rocky Talkie and Garmin inReach mini.

[donalderickson-siww]

OK boys and girls I will be opening up all the toy radios all family service radio 's have a range of two miles if you are at
uncle jo's farm a little farther becouse less garbage houses building s on that noat I was one block from my house
and could not talk to the other radio becoue ther was an extra building in the way so reasion why thay all run on 1/2 watt
that is the limit by the f.c.c rules i am on G M R S with license and repeters on towers all around town we have 6
all towend to gether I do 6 citys in to countys be cous there linke to gether no you know no the hole story from
W R X N 824 G M R S station

[greggoldman]

A $20 unit with a string and beener attached for $120? Cool looking, but no thanks! I’ll keep the $100 in my wallet for post adventure beverages!