Midland ER300 is an emergency device supplied with AM/FM receiver, principally designed for emergency and safety situations, where keeping in contact is crucial; but ER300 is also an excellent solution for a daily use, for all outdoor activities, camping or in general in leisure time. The changing climate has made extreme weather events more frequent and more severe, the most recent example being the devastating snowstorm and extreme cold that ravaged Texas in February 2021. After letting each weather radio recharge, we brought them all into a windowless room (in this case, a bathroom) to see how much light they produced. Its solar panel was also able to charge the radio enough after an hour in direct sunlight to provide full functionality, and filled the battery to 1/3 after six hours. Like the Midland ER310, the RunningSnail MD-090P also has one of the rare hand generators that work as advertised: One minute of cranking produces enough energy for 30 minutes of light or six minutes of radio.

On top of that, the flashlight was noticeably less powerful, offering only about 20% of the brightness of our top pick’s light. It’s also more durable against water and drops, and it’s more convenient and comfortable to carry, than most other emergency radios we tested. Power grids can go out, cell towers can go down, phone batteries can die, and in fast-moving weather events, up-to-date information can give you time to get to safety. The Midland ER310 comes with a large, easy-to-read backlit LCD screen, and the built-in flashlight produces an impressive 25 foot-candles of light output on its highest setting—it’s two to three times more powerful than the flashlights on almost all the other models we tested, except those of the Midland ER210 and the RunningSnail MD-090P, which were slightly brighter. Using the Light Meter iPhone app, we measured both the lux and the foot-candles the flashlights produced.Emergency situations are usually messy, so you’ll likely end up dropping your radio or getting it wet in inclement weather. While testing we even had one come through, which ended up being a small-craft advisory for our local bay. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Hand Cranks – A hand crank is fairly standard on most emergency radios, and similar to the solar panels, I simply compared how well the hand crank-powered each device. Smaller and lighter radios will have 850-1,000 mAh, which will provide enough for shorter emergencies or camping trips when used sparingly.

I simply left them outside to see how quick they could charge and evaluated who’s battery charge went up the most. Like our other picks, it’s reliably resistant against tumbles and water, and it offers USB charging and a headphone jack, as well. The NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from National Weather Service offices across the country.For anyone looking to get additional accessories or to use their radio for outings like a camping trip, multiple radios have features like Bluetooth and charging capabilities to make it a great device for the backcountry as well.

We have more than a century-long history of evaluating products, and we’re now bringing that expertise to online reviews. The only drawback we’ve found other than the small battery life is that it doesn’t take standard disposable batteries. Even when we placed the models outside, the ER310 made it painfully clear that there was some kind of emergency. To get a feel for a radio’s most basic feature, I tested the radios in town as well as in the mountains to see how strong of a signal I could receive. Re-insert the battery pack and AA batteries (if desired), then using the hand crank, crank the radio at a good pace for 90 seconds and try the radio function.Although none of them are as bright as the flashlight on the Midland ER310 (16 foot-candles, as opposed to 25), they also offer more functionality. With the same-looking solar panel as the Sidekick, the FRX3+ also didn’t generate a charge very quickly, but unlike the Sidekick, the charge was enough for the intended job of this being just a radio to alert you during severe weather. Thanks to a large, bright, backlit LCD screen I was able to maneuver through the different bands and frequencies without any trouble, and the clear, helpful instruction manual provided any extra assistance I needed. While all the radios in our lineup feature NOAA Weather Alert reception, the WR210 takes it one step further with S. The ER310 is well-built, with a sturdy, high-quality feel, and the textured body makes it comfortable to pick up and maintain a good grip on while carrying around.