Review: The Best Hand-Crank Radios of 2025
Published on July 7, 2025 by Jane Doe
When the power goes out and cell service is down, an emergency radio is your lifeline to the outside world. It provides critical updates from the National Weather Service (NWS) and local officials. But not all radios are created equal. We looked at power sources, durability, extra features, and price to find the best options for your go-bag.
What We Looked For
Our criteria for testing was simple. A good emergency radio must have:
- Multiple power sources (hand-crank, solar, battery)
- Access to NOAA weather bands
- A built-in flashlight
- The ability to charge a mobile device
Our Top Pick: The ReadyUp Solar Pro
After extensive testing, the ReadyUp Solar Pro came out on top. It's rugged, reliable, and has a powerful solar panel that kept it charged even on overcast days. The hand-crank is easy to turn, and a minute of cranking provided nearly 20 minutes of radio time.
You can find the ReadyUp Solar Pro on Amazon here. (This is a sample affiliate link).