What should you consider when buying a hand crank radio?

There are several types of hand crank radios, differing in their shapes and sizes. You may feel you can grab just about any such radio, but that is not the case. After going through thousands of hand crank radio reviews online, we have listed a few important things you need to consider before finalizing your choice:

• Consider the basics: For an emergency radio, you need one that will deliver the National Oceanic and Aeronautic Administration (= NOAA) alerts and other warnings. Consider the option of whether you would want to communicate with others as well. If so, look for a model that serves as a two-way radio as well.

• Look for standard notification logos: Look for the ‘public alert’ and ‘NOAA’ stickers on the radio. This will indicate that the radio is capable of receiving area-specific alerts, something that is immensely important during an emergency. These stickers also indicate the quality of the radio.

• Check for multiple power sources: It would be good to buy a hand crank radio that can be battery-operated as well as through external power from an AC/DC adapter.

• Look for additional features: Some of the best hand crank radios have additional features, such as the ability to charge your other devices, such as your phone. Some also feature a flashlight, solar panels for extra charging or if the batteries die out, or are programmable, with the ability to store multiple stations.