If you are a lover of nature, then you are not new to life outdoors; hiking, camping, hunting, etc. An outdoorsy person might be able to list a number of useful supplies when carrying out one or more of these activities depending on the nature.
But, a very important and useful tool when venturing into thick woods and dense forests is a walkie talkie. A walkie talkie is important because thick woods cut off sounds and voices, making it hard for you to hear your companions.
You might also think of calling them with your cell phone since you cannot hear them even if they scream at the top of their voice. Sadly, this may not be possible because it is very likely that mobile network is cut off in the woods, thereby making a cell phone useless.
Thus, the best walkie talkie for thick woods should be one with adequate range and excellent communication, resistance to wear and tear, as well as ease of use as you meander through the woods.
This article is a review of the 5 best walkie talkies for thick woods. However, before you make that purchase, there are a few factors to consider that will help you choose the most ideal product for you.
Best Two-Way Radios for Thick Woods: By Best Performing Feature
Buyer’s Guide: Critical Factors to be considered before you Select the Walkie Talkie for Thick woods
The walkie talkie market is filled with products that perform different functions. This is why there are certain critical factors that determine your choice of walkie talkie that will be majorly used in thick woods. Some of these factors include;
1. Range
The range of a walkie talkie is the distance it can go with clear communication. This is important when you are in thick woods, as trees can easily disrupt communication.
So, the further you go, the less likely you are able to reach out to your companions. But with a walkie talkie that packs enough range, this won’t be much of a problem.
Range is also important because of elevation. The terrain of thick woods range between hills and valleys. This is why it is important to get a walkie talkie with a range of at least 7 miles.
2. Audio Quality
It is quite unpleasant if you need to use a walkie talkie and experience static which prevents you from hearing what the receiver is saying.
The trees in woods provide an obstacle which might hinder communication, but this becomes worse when there is poor audio quality. It is very important to get a walkie talkie with the highest quality possible for use in thick woods.
3. Access to Weather Alerts
The weather in thick woods can be quite deceptive due to the dense foliage of the trees. This is why it is very important to have weather alerts on your fingertips, literally.
You do not want to plan a day in the woods when the weather forecast says it will be sunny and then get caught in a storm due to unpredictable weather.
Thanks to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA), it is possible to get weather alerts on your walkie talkie.
4. Battery life
Just like any other important gadget, the battery life of your walkie talkie can be very useful during emergencies. You do not want to be lost in the woods (which can happen to anybody by the way) with no way of contacting the “outside world”.
A good walkie talkie for thick woods should be able to last at least 14 hours without charging.
5. Accessories
In addition to battery life, the accessories of a walkie talkie for thick woods are also important. This is because there are limited places for charging your walkie talkie in the woods, and there might also be need to use your walkie talkie in hands-free mode.
This means that you might need a walkie talkie with a belt clip or hook (with hands-free function), and at least one extra battery for a long-lasting battery life.
Another useful accessory might be a flashlight or LCD Backlight function. This helps to light up your path as you walk through thick woods which might become dark faster than the day winds down.
6. Ease of use
No matter the functions a walkie talkie has, all of it might be worth nothing if it is not easy to use. When in thick woods, the last thing you want to do is struggle to hold a walkie talkie with an inconvenient size, design and poor grip.
Add this to a product that is not durable, and you might have a very counterproductive day in the woods. Beyond aesthetics (e.g. color), you should be on the lookout for products with durable material and functional design.
7. Price
Of course, price. Many walkie talkies for use in thick woods are affordable. However, you should not hesitate to go a little over budget to get the walkie talkie you want.
After all, no price is too much for a gadget that can save a life- literally. Nonetheless, you can’t buy a walkie talkie you cannot afford. Be sure to look out for the best deal without compromising quality.
Now that you can identify the factors that will influence your purchase of an ideal walkie talkie for thick woods, let’s move on to the top 5 walkie talkies for thick woods.
Top 5 Best Walkie Talkies for Thick woods
1. Retevis RT21 Walkie Talkies for Adults
Best Price
The Retevis RT21 Walkie Talkie for Adults is one of the most easy to use products especially in thick woods for hiking or camping. This product has a detachable antenna with an inbuilt port that allows you program other Retevis RT21 devices of your companions.
This two-way radio transmits with a 2.5 watt power at a range of up to 36 miles, which means that you can reach your buddies easily during the trip. You do not have to worry about communication as this radio has 22 channels with 121 privacy codes.
This means that you can communicate with your companions easily. This water resistant radio also has a belt clip, strap and professional acoustic earphones; making it very easy to use, even in hands-free mode.
Specifications of Retevis RT21 Walkie Talkies for Adults
- Voice activated hands-free mode (iVOX) with auto squelch function
- 1100mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery
- 36-mile range
- 22 channels with 121 privacy codes
- Detachable antenna
- Water resistant Feature
- Battery life of 14 hours.
Key Features of Retevis RT21 Walkie Talkies for Adults
- This product has a number of useful accessories.
- The range is quite wide.
- Lanyard, earphones, and a number of audio features for hands-free usage.
- It is very affordable.
- Can be used with other Retevis devices.
- Variety of channels for easy communication.
2. Uniden GMR5095-2CKHS Submersible Two Way Radio
Best Long Range Radio
This is one product that you should look at if you are going hunting in thick woods. Not only is this product durable, its range is quite commendable.
The Uniden GMR5095 radio has an impressive 50-mile range, ensuring that you remain within reach for as far as possible in a thick woods or dense forest especially if you need help to retrieve gears that you cannot carry alone.
If you are worried about the battery life, this product has a power boost function that ensures that the battery stays as long as is needed, up to 14 hours.
This walkie talkie is waterproof and can still function even after being immersed in water up to 3 feet for as long as 30 minutes. This radio has 22 channels, with access to NOAA weather alerts. This product also has useful accessories, which include a built in flashlight and earphones.
Specifications of Uniden GMR5095-2CKHS Submersible Two Way Radio
- USB powered charging cradle for fast charging between use
- 50-mile range
- Access to 10 NOAA Weather Channels
- 22 channels with 142 privacy codes
- Power boost feature
- JIS7 Waterproof Feature
- 14-hour battery life
Key Features of Uniden GMR5095-2CKHS Submersible Two Way Radio
- This product has a long range.
- Has LED flashlight and earphones for convenience.
- Provides access to NOAA Weather alerts for updates
- Power boost function helps to preserve the battery life when in use.
- It is waterproof.
- You can charge this product on the go.
3. Motorola MS350R 35-Mile Talkabout Waterproof 2-Way Radio
Best for Durability
Hikers and Travelers would love this product. The Motorola MS350R gives a whole new definition to durability especially for use in uneven terrains like thick woods.
This radio functions at an above average range of 36 miles, and has up to 30 channels each with 121 privacy codes. This waterproof radio also ensures that you can navigate your way through thick woods when hiking up a trail with its LED flashlight and access to NOAA weather alerts.
It also has a Push to Talk (PTT) button with voice activated function (iVOX) that guarantees top notch audio quality in hands-free mode. The MS350R can last up to 16 hours with its rechargeable NiMH battery and 3 AA batteries.
Specifications of Motorola MS350R
- 36-mile range
- Access to NOAA Weather updates
- 30 channels with 121 privacy codes
- IP67 Waterproof Feature
- NiMH rechargeable battery and 3 AA batteries
- FRS/GMRS audio transmission
- Battery life of up to 16 hours.
- Adequate accessories; belt clips, dual charger, adapter, etc.,
Key Features of Motorola MS350R
- The range of this product is quite long.
- Large number of channels.
- Access to NOAA Weather alerts.
- Durable design.
- Good audio quality.
- The battery life of this product is long.
4. Motorola Talkabout T800
Best for Audio Quality
Whether you are going on a hunt or you are just hiking in the woods, the Motorola Talkabout T800 is a good choice. This product is a combination of technology, sleek design and top notch audio quality.
With this product, you do not need to worry about communication in the woods. This very modern radio works entirely on Bluetooth, transmitting audio as far as 35 miles with its 2-Watt transmission.
With the talkabout app, you can share your location with your team (during hunting or hiking in thick woods). You can also send messages with the Motorola Talkabout radio.
This radio offers access to 11 NOAA weather alerts, with 22 channels and up to 2,662 combinations. This product also comes with rechargeable NiMH battery and 3 AA batteries.
Venturing into the wild has never been more fun. There are so many reasons why this is one of the best walkie talkies for thick woods, and a few of them are already mentioned above.
Specifications of Motorola Talkabout T800
- 35-mile range
- Access to 11 NOAA Weather Channels
- 22 channels with 121 privacy codes
- IPX4 Waterproof Feature
- NiMH rechargeable battery and 3 AA batteries
- Bluetooth data exchange.
- 2-Watt power transmission.
Key Features of Motorola Talkabout T800
- This product has excellent audio quality.
- Waterproof feature.
- Access to NOAA Weather alerts.
- Silent mode for private communication.
- The battery life of this product is quite long (and has replaceable batteries).
- Attractive design.
5. Cobra ACXT1035R FLT CAMO Walkie Talkies
Value for Money
The manufacturers of this product fused Price, Audio quality, durability, waterproof advantages and other excellent features to create a product that is specially designed for any kind of activity (either simple or extreme) in thick woods.
The Cobra ACXT1035R FLT radio has a long range of 37 miles, providing access to 22 channels with up to 2,662 combinations. You also have access to NOAA weather alerts.
This product has a floating tree design, making it a very sleek yet waterproof product. You do not have to worry about audio quality and the voice exchange feature of this product makes it easy for you to use it hands-free.
If you do go on that adventure in the thick woods, you’ve got no worries on how much talk time you’ll get. This product has a long-lasting battery life with 1 NiMH rechargeable battery or 6 AA batteries.
Specifications of Cobra ACXT1035R FLT CAMO Walkie Talkies
- 37-mile range
- Access to 11 NOAA Weather Alerts
- 22 channels with 121 privacy codes
- IPX7 Waterproof Feature
- NiMH rechargeable battery and 6 AA batteries
- 36-hour battery life
- iVOX hands-free function
Key Features of Cobra ACXT1035R FLT CAMO Walkie Talkies
- This product is very affordable.
- Weather resistant and waterproof feature.
- Access to NOAA Weather alerts.
- Rewind technology for easy communication.
- Long battery life.
- Long range of communication
Comparison of Top 5 Walkie Talkies for Thick Woods
| Range | Weather Alerts | Channels | Battery Life | Accessories | |
| Retevis RT21 | 36 miles | No | 22 | 12 hours | Yes |
| Uniden GMR5095-2CKHS | 50 miles | Yes | 22 | 14 hours | Yes |
| Motorola MS350R | 36 miles | Yes | 30 | 16 hours | Yes |
| Motorola Talkabout T800 | 35 miles | Yes | 22 | 14 hours | Yes |
| Cobra ACXT1035R FLT | 37 miles | Yes | 22 | 36 hours | Yes |
Final Words:
Our overall favorite on this list is the Cobra ACXT1035R FLT because it is affordable, durable, has a sleek design, and comes with adequate protection and top-notch audio quality. Do not hesitate to make your findings on this product so that you can make an informed purchase. Truth is, the other products listed above are very suitable for use in thick woods as well. Now that you know how to choose the best walkie talkie for thick woods, go ahead and make that purchase.
