Radios that keep you informed through a power cut.
Wind up and solar radios, portable DAB radios and licence-free PMR446 walkie talkies, compared on the specs that matter when the power goes off. Every store we show delivers to the UK.
- Wind up & solarKaito KA5009.0 / 10
- Battery DABRoberts Revival RD709.0 / 10
- PMR446Motorola Talkabout T82 Extreme8.7 / 10
Shortlists
Best wind up radios in the UK
All 19 ranked
Shortwave and NOAA alert radio with five power options including AA batteries and AC adapter.
Best portable DAB radios for power cuts
All 18 ranked
Wooden-cabinet Revival DAB+ and FM radio with Bluetooth and a carry handle.
Best PMR446 walkie talkies in the UK
All 17 ranked
Weatherproof IPX4 Motorola pair with emergency button, torch and a carry case in the box.
Works without the grid
Hand crank, solar, batteries. We list how each radio keeps running when the outlets go dead.
Ranked on specs, not commission
The order comes from features, tester picks and how many people search for a model. Our method is public.
Stores that deliver to you
We show only the stores that ship to your country, so you never land on a shop that cannot deliver.
Sources for every claim
Specs come from the maker. Where a figure is a claim by the maker, we say so.
Questions people ask
Frequently asked questions
What is a wind up radio?
A wind up radio charges its own battery when you turn a crank, so it keeps working in a power cut. Most also charge from a small solar panel or USB, and many have a torch and a USB port that can top up a phone.
Is a DAB radio useful in a power cut?
Only if it runs on batteries. A portable DAB radio with AA batteries or a built-in battery keeps working when the mains is off. A wind up radio is the backup for when those batteries run flat.
Which walkie talkies are legal in the UK?
PMR446 walkie talkies are licence-free in the UK and Ireland. They transmit at up to 0.5 watts on 16 channels around 446 MHz. GMRS and FRS radios sold in the US are not legal to use there.
Do I still need a radio if I have a phone?
A phone needs a charged battery and a working network, and both can fail in a long power cut. A wind up or battery radio keeps you informed through local radio without either. The National Risk Register 2026 lists cyber attacks on electricity infrastructure and telecommunications as risks and says AI can make them faster. The register adds that Britain has never experienced a nationwide loss of power and that the likelihood of one is low.
How does RadioShortlist make money?
Some store links are affiliate links. If you buy after clicking one, the store may pay us a commission. Your price does not change. Commissions are not part of how we rank radios.
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something after clicking one, the store may pay us a commission. The price stays the same for you, and commissions do not decide which emergency radios we recommend.