Best long-range walkie talkies

Top pick: Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio. It's built for real backcountry use — 2 watts of transmit power, a claimed 35+ mile max range and 3–5 days on a charge, so it keeps working on a multi-day trip without a power bank. The trade-off is that it's the most expensive of the bunch and comes as a pair.

Who the others suit:

• Midland GXT1000VP4 — the all-rounder for most people: waterproof, plenty of channels, well reviewed, and easy to hand to the whole family.
• Cobra RX385 — best value for casual use; 40 channels and a long claimed range, with a big pool of owner ratings.
• Motorola Talkabout T475 Extreme — good if you want weather channels and a rugged, well-known brand.
• Rocky Talkie Expedition — the lighter, simpler Rocky Talkie if you don't need the Mountain's power.
• BTECH GMRS-PRO — for tinkerers who want GMRS power and a fully waterproof body (a GMRS licence is required in the US).
• Midland T51VP3 X-Talker — a cheap starter pair for short outings.

One caveat: "miles" ratings are line-of-sight best cases. In woods or hills, expect a fraction of that — real range comes from power and a good antenna, which is why the Rocky Talkie and GMRS radios pull ahead.