The best emergency radios of 2024, tested and compared

It might be one of the market’s most expensive desktop weather radios, but the Midland WR400 is the company’s top-end model and the best weather radio. We own the WR400: it does much more than alert you to severe weather. It also includes an alarm clock and can tune into AM and FM radio stations. If an alert comes through while listening to an AM or FM station, the WR300 automatically switches to the weather radio broadcast, allowing you to hear it. There’s even a USB port to charge a device.

The Midland WR400 is Public Alert certified, meaning it can receive the standard SAME alerts and newer ones, including non-weather alerts. A large, easy-to-read display tells you the warning so you can react accordingly. The WR400 depends on 4 AA batteries for emergency power, but battery life will be an issue during long-term power outages (see our emergency radio options further down this guide).

To our understanding, the Midland WR120B is the company’s best-selling model. If you can’t afford the WR300, you can still find a radio that supports all the features we think are critical, including SAME technology in the Midland WR120. It’s also Public Alert certified.

It’s not as easy to use as the WR300, but with some extra work, you should be able to set up the alerts for your location. It even features a built-in clock with an alarm and snooze so you can wake up to the latest weather report each morning. The biggest issue with the WR120B is that there is no battery backup, so when the power’s out, the radio doesn’t work. 

Sangean isn’t a well-known name in the US market but is better known overseas. Their shortwave radios are high quality, and the CL-100 SAME weather radio is no exception. The radio is Public Alert certified, which means it meets specific requirements (full SAME support is one) to warn of severe weather adequately. While the radio is bulky, the CL-100’s design hasn’t changed much in the two decades (yes, you read that right) it’s been out.

Verified purchasers report that the alarm is loud and the overall performance of the radio is good. However, the battery backup doesn’t last as long as the Midland radios, which scored higher in our tests. However, the overall quality of this radio is excellent, with 70% of ratings on Amazon five stars.

The Midland ER10VP looks like an emergency radio, but it’s more like a weather radio since it requires 3 ‘AAA’ batteries and has no hand crank. The biggest feature is its size, which is meant to fit in your pocket. We could see this being useful for outdoor activities especially. While the Midland ER10VP doesn’t support SAME alerts, it automatically turns on when an alert is detected. Also included is an AM/FM radio and a flashlight.

Outside of Midland, we think there aren’t many other brands that deserve a “best” rating. However, Eton makes an excellent camping radio that includes the weather radio bands and SAME technology — in a radio that never needs its batteries replaced, thanks to solar power and an internal rechargeable battery.

If you spend much time in the Great Outdoors, the solar-powered Eton Sidekick is for you. You can charge it using the hand crank or the integrated solar panel. Other features include a bright LED flashlight, a red emergency beacon & huge ambient light with a dimmer. There are even USB ports to charge your devices.

The Midland ER310 is perfect for areas with frequent power outages due to severe weather. It features a hand crank and solar panels with a 2600mAh internal battery. The included USB port is great for charging a device (like the phone pictured above).

While the Midland ER310 does not include SAME technology, it does have the same scan and alert function when on standby. The radio monitors all seven channels for weather alerts and automatically signals when a warning is broadcast on the strongest frequency. In addition to the weather, AM and FM bands are supported, including a USB port to charge your devices, a LED flashlight, and even a dog whistle.

Think of the ER210 as the ER310’s “younger brother.” It’s smaller and a bit sleeker, but also cheaper. But in exchange for a more affordable price, you’re getting a significantly smaller battery, which might be a pain as it will require much more cranking to keep it charged.

The Eton American Red Cross FRX 3+ Emergency Radio is a rebranded Eton radio. It is very similar to the Sidekick. However, it lacks Bluetooth connectivity, SAME support and doesn’t have the large light found on the backside of the Sidekick (an antenna replaces it). However, other features, like the 2600mAh rechargeable battery and flashlight. And it’s also considerably cheaper — and you’re supporting the American Red Cross.

There are a lot of Midland look-alikes on Amazon, but few of them are worth buying. This Mesqool Emergency Radio is one of them. With a 5000 mAh battery, it has a higher capacity than either Midland radio. Another neat feature is the capability to power the radio either via hand crank and the internal battery, but also 3 ‘AAA’ batteries which can be used as a backup. Oh, and it works on AC power too.

While the Mesqool is cheap, we’re always cautious of off-brands due to often unclear or difficult-to-contact support and warranty. That doesn’t seem to be the issue here, and our tests and Amazon reviews (66% of which are five stars) make this a contender.