Introduction
If you’re a frequent skier like me, then having the best walkie talkies for skiing to ensure you can communicate with other members of your family or friends will be essential. With the reception of mobile phone services quite spotty/non-existent on mountain tops, unless you’re using a satellite phone, radios/walkie talkies are the best way to communicate with others. Radios are two-way devices that allow you to communicate with other people within a range at no cost. They are usually portable and handy so you can carry them for outdoor events like ski trips, hunting, and construction sites. They are extremely useful for alerting someone in case you are injured on the slope, separated from your group/family, lost or other emergencies.
However, finding the best walkie talkies for skiing on your next trip can be frustrating as there are a lot of fake brands and poor-quality products on the market. I’ve also gone through my fair share of unreputable radios while skiing, which is why I decided take a variety of good value brands with me to test them out.
The devices were tested for their range, ease of use, communication, battery lifespan, and water-resistance.
Top 5 Walkie Talkies for Skiing: Review
#1. Floureon Walkie Talkies
No products found.I enjoyed using this radio because of its clear sound transmission and long-range. The call quality ensures that you have the best communication even in long distances. Other features include:
- It provides access to 22 channels, PMR system, FRS and GMRS bands, so you never run out of a free channel to communicate on.
- The design is impeccable; it is made with environmentally friendly material and is compact. The front view is a backlit LCD so you can easily view the battery status and channel number. At the top of the handset is a built-in LED flashlight that can be used as an emergency torch at night.
- It supports distances up to 5km in open areas, however, obstructions like buildings, mountains and weather can affect quality communication. One way to solve this is by adjusting the power level to 1 watt.
- Lastly, the battery is strong and can last 3.5 hours of continuous use after a full charge. It will last 9 hours on standby.
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Floureon is an impressive walkie talkie, however, while using the device I noticed it was a little hard to navigate on. If you are buying for your kids or elderly ones, you may have to teach them how to change channels and successfully communicate with the radio.
Orange and black handsets are also available:
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#2. Arcshell Rechargeable Long-range Two-way Radios
The Arcshell walkie talkie is great for skiing as its 1500 mAh rechargable Li-ion battery will fully charge in about 2.5 hours.
- It also comes preset with 16 channels and auto-scan channel features for channel activity.
- It’s very intuitive to use, with simple channel selection and power/volume dials on the top – easy operation even with gloves on.
- The VOX function allows you to use the included earpieces to communicate handsfree [VOX stands for Voice Operated eXchanged – a means of voice activated transmission].
- The battery lasts for 8 – 96 hours and has a 2 watt transmit power. The maximum range is 5 miles and the device comes with individual charging docks.
- It’s water resistant and has a charging time of 2.5 hours. It also gives off an alert when the battery is low, so you know when to plug in before you next hit the slopes.
Arcshell is awesome for skiing as it is made of solid material that can withstand pressure and damage. However, you should ensure you buy the same brand with whomever you intend to communicate with as it might not communicate well with other types of radios. There is no LCD display – however, the controls are very simple to use. They come in packs of 2, 3, 4 or 6 radios so getting the same type for your group/family shouldn’t be a hassle.
There are blue and red variants:
- Small and convenient size;it easily fits on your hand;it measures 4.3 inches in height ;1 inch thick;2 inches in width;5.5 oz light-weighted;solid built; easy to operate for all ages;each radio has a removable belt clip; FCC ID: 2ARTCARAR
- 16 channels;each radio has identical frequency on each of the 16 channels out of the box;16 position mechanical rotary switch channel selector;when you turn the knob to change the channel,a synthesized voice will tell you the channel number
- Each radio comes with a 1500mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery and a charging dock; the charger comes with an AC wall-wart Type A plug and works in 110v-240v; it takes about 2.5 hours to fully charge; battery life is determined by transmit time;it lasts around 8 to 96 hours on a single charge depending on how much you transmit;you can charge the battery alone or charge the radio with battery installed; Arcshell AR-6 has a USB Type-C charging port now
#3. Ankreu Walkie Talkies
This device is exceptionally suited for skiing and has some amazing qualities. It’s compact and easy to carry around so your child can also use the walkie talkie.
- It supports up to 5 miles range in open areas, and about 1.2 miles in closed areas such as towns and construction sites. This means if you’re skiing on a mountain top, communication can work as far as a 5-mile radius
- It comes preset with 22 channels and has 99 CTCSS privacy codes to block out other channels and communication.
- The layout of the device is simple. It has a clear LCD to view channel number, volume and signal status etc. and comes with a built-in flashlight for night use and emergencies.
- There is a large PTT button on the side of the radio for ease of use.
- What’s more, it can be powered with rechargeable batteries. The LCD also includes a battery level indicator – when it gets low, you’ll know to plug it into a power source. Each device uses 4 AAA alkaline or rechargeable batteries.
While the Ankreu is quite compact and easy to use, the batteries run out easily so you have to replace or recharge them. Thankfully, you can easily insert new ones when they run down so you do not have to wait for hours for the battery to be full before using them.
- 【Long Range Walkie Talkies】Support up to 5 miles communication range in open fields ( Please note adverse weather, closed metal environment, voyage and buildings will affect the range). Support 0.6~1.2 miles communication in built-up areas or obstructed conditions. Preset 22 FRS channels plus 99 set of CTCSS tones (privacy codes), provides an extensive frequency usage (up to 2178 combinations), License-FREE.
- 【Backlit LCD Screen&AAA Battery Powered】LCD display shows the battery power, channel number, volume, and signal status, etc. The built-in flashlight can be used for emergency situations at night. The walkie-talkie can be powered by both AAA Alkaline batteries and rechargeable batteries, provides you with the most flexibility. And it’s easy to switch out the batteries, long battery life. (4 AAA Batteries not included)
- 【More Functions】Voice Operated Transmit (VOX) supports the hands-free operation, Keypad Lock prevents unintended input. Call tones enable you to ring other radios before sending voice. Scan channel function can scan the active radio channels. Once an active channel is found, will stop automatically, provides stable transmission and clear sound. Monitor and subchannels feature included.
#4. Rivins RV-7 Walkie Talkies
Rivins RV-7 is a two-way radio device that is super-portable and effective on ski trips. It comes preset with 22 GMRS and FRS channels as well as 99 sets of CTCSS privacy codes. With these, you can easily block out other conversations when communicating on a channel.
- The radio also supports communication of up to 5 miles on open areas. Which means it will work effectively on ski areas.
- The design is sleek with a backlit LCD screen, speaker and a microphone. The sound from the speaker and the microphone ensures clear communication.
- The screen also displays battery status, volume, channel number, and signal status. There is a flashlight at the top for night use. or emergencies.
- Voice Operated eXchange (VOX) is enabled; allowing you to communicate handsfree when connected to the included headsets. The radio uses rechargeable batteries as well as replaceable AAA batteries.
While the Rivins RV-7 is great for two-way communication, the batteries do not last long and require constant charging. And overcharging the device can reduce its lifespan, a trick is to remove the battery when not in use and use the replaceable AAA batteries as much as possible. This way, your radio lasts long and operates smoothly.
The RV-7 comes in 3 colors: green, orange and black. They can also be purchased in packs of 2, 3, 4 or 6.
- 【Ultra-portable 2-way Radio】Upgraded Volume Knob, Preset 22 channels plus 99 set of CTCSS tones, provides an extensive frequency usage (up to 2178 combinations), License-FREE in the US.
- 【Wide Range & Easy Operation】UHF radios support up to 5 miles communication range in open fields, provide 0.6-1.2 miles communication in built-up areas. Walkie Talkies for adults in outdoor activities hiking camping road trip as well as for kids to keep in contact with parents.
- 【Built-in Backlit LCD Screen, Speaker & Mic】 LCD display shows you the battery status, channel number as well as the sub-tones, Volume level, and signal status, etc. Built-in flashlight for night use or emergency.
#5. Ansoko Long Range Walkie Talkies
The Ansoko is a handheld radio with 2 watt power output and a frequency of 400-470MHz. This ensures that communication is clear up at least 3 miles in crowded areas. For a large open space like a ski resort, you should be able to communicate at a distance of up to 5 miles.
- The handset also comes with an earpiece for wireless communication and increases ease of use.
- It is preset with 50 CTCSS tones as well as 105 DCS codes so you can block out other conversations on a channel and ensure conversations are private.
- The device is built with solid material that can withstand pressure so it does not damage easily.
- The total number of channels is 16, which is more than enough on a group skiing trip. The device also auto-scans for new channels and activity when you power on the radio.
- Other accessories included with the walkie talkie are; built-in flashlight for night use, VOX and voice prompt for easy accessibility, one tap SOS button to send notifications when in danger.
- Similar to the Arcshell, the Ansoko is powered by a 1500 mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery – this has the advantage of easy charging and long standby and talk times.
While the Ansoko is a great option for ski trips you should consider buying an extra earpiece or headset for your trip. The earpiece that comes with the device tends to break easily from mishandling.
- 2 Watt Programmable Handheld Radios Frequency Range 400-470MHz Up to 3 Miles Reception (*Varies from different working environments), with Earpieces
- Long Range, 16 Channel Memory, Easy to Use, Built-in 50 CTCSS Tones/105 DCS Codes
- Ultra Portalbe and Solid Built, Long Time Battery Duration (Up to 24 hours Typical Use)
Factors to Consider when a buying walkie talkie for skiing
Knowing the right kind of walkie talkie to buy comes with experience. That means you would have had to go through a lot of bad ones before discovering the best walkie talkies for skiing. Below, I have outlined the factors to watch out for before buying a new walkie talkie for your ski trip. Consider these factors before your purchase to ensure you buy the best walkie talkies for skiing.
- Range – I cannot stress how important it is that you buy a walkie talkie that allows you to communicate over a distance of at least 3 miles. On ski trips, trees, high mountains, trees and buildings can act as obstructions that lower the range of your radio device. You should, therefore go for a radio that can communicate over a distance of at least a 5 miles. You should find the range specification on the packaging of the walkie-talkie or the specification tab of an online store. One way to improve distance is to adjust the power level of the device (watts).
- Battery – This is another essential factor to look out for. Walkie talkies either come with built-in batteries that are rechargeable or standard removable batteries (which can be rechargeable or disposable). For walkie-talkies with a built-in rechargeable battery (usually a Li-ion), you will recharge them when the battery is low by plugging into a power source via a USB cable or using a charging base. This means that you will have to wait for the battery to be charged before going back on the slopes, and having no access to your radio – Li-ion batteries tend to last longer than standard AA or AAA alkaline ones. Standard batteries can be replaced when the battery is low. You can also carry extra batteries along on your trip. Make sure they have a standby of at least 8 to get you through the whole day.
- Accessories – Belt clips or earpieces? When on a ski trip both of these accessories are important. The belt clip will allow you to hook your device to your belt or trousers enabling you to ski comfortably and without restrictions. Connecting an earpiece or headset also means you do not have to touch or hold your radio before communication. This works really well on VOX enabled walkie talkies.
- Weather Alert and Emergency features – A storm or heavy snow is not uncommon during a ski trip! Having a radio that informs you of severe weather updates is a great facility, especially if you ski in remote locations. Most radios also have a one-click SOS button that sends a siren sound as notification to people on the same frequency as you are on.
- Water-resistant – Lastly, the best walkie talkies for skiing should at least be splashproof to prevent damage to your device. Some radios are also waterproof with either an IP67 or IP68 waterproof rating. These types of radio can withstand damage if submerged in water for 30 minutes. If you are unsure of the water-proof rating look for devices made of thick material as they are less likely to get damaged easily.
