Best Waterproof Walkie Talkies: 8 Top Walkie Talkies For Kayakers

Have you ever thought about what the actual communication between a group of paddlers looks like to a bystander? A bunch of people sitting in tiny plastic boats and yelling at each other while trying to regroup. That’s how. 

Let me ask you something: 

Was that really the look you were going for? 

Yeah, I didn’t think so. I’d say it’s about time you added a pair of walkie-talkies to your kayaking gear checklist – and luckily for you, I have quite a few suggestions. 

So, keep scrolling for more info on the best waterproof walkie-talkies!

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Choosing A Waterproof Walkie Talkie: Features To Consider

As with any other gear you’d consider bringing on a paddling trip, it’s vital to ask a few questions first. My point is, knowing what you need from that equipment is the single most important factor here. 

So, what do you need your walkie-talkie for? 

If you’re going on a group fishing trip and want to stay in touch with other anglers, you probably don’t need all the bells and whistles. Sure, you want it to be durable – but it’s not like you’ll need a military-grade walkie-talkie to get around. 

But if you’re going kayak touring or multi-day camping and know that you may need to communicate with motorboats, local authorities, and the like, you have to be a lot more deliberate about your choices.

So, before we go down into the rabbit hole that is the walkie-talkie market, let’s talk about some basics first! 

What’s The Difference Between UHF And VHF? 

Let’s get the acronyms out of the way so that I can explain the differences between the two the best I can: 

UHF stands for Ultra High Frequency – while VHF stands for Very High Frequency. 

And that already gives you a few clues. 

You see, the UHF two-way radios (a.k.a. walkie-talkies) broadcast their signal between 300 MHz to 3 GHz. This range implies they can broadcast through obstacles like walls, buildings, and the like. And because of this, they’re usually used indoors, rather than out in nature. 

The VHF radios broadcast between 30 MHz and 300 MHz – and, as such, are the better option for outdoor usage. If you and your paddling group won’t have any man-made obstacles in your way, the VHF walkie-talkies will do the job just fine. 

So, which is better, UHF or VHF walkie-talkies?

Well, that depends. For the sake of providing a straight answer – there’s no straight answer. Sorry about that, but there are just too many factors involved! 

How many people do you need on a single channel? How long of a paddling trip are you taking? How much battery power do you think you’ll need? 

You get where I’m going with this. 

I know, I know – “no straight answer” is a bit of a bummer. But I’m here to show you how to look for the right equipment, not tell you exactly what to buy.  

UHF talkies can come at a higher price, though, so stick with VHF radios – unless you need the ultra-high frequency, that is.

Range: What’s The Longest Range For A Walkie Talkie?

That right here is an important thing to discuss when talking about walkie-talkies. 

The term “long-range” is often used for marketing the product. And range – just like everything else we’re talking about here – depends on several different factors. 

For starters, when you say “range,” are you counting obstacles? 

A specialized UHFwalkie-talkie that’s made to send signals through a 20 story building might not have the same range as a similarly priced VHF talkie. But does that mean that the higher-range models are better?

Well, no, obviously not. Again, it all depends on what you’re looking for here! 

Generally speaking, if you’re looking for a radio with a good range/quality ratio, you’ll be able to cover between 30 to 60-mile distances. 

Does VHF or UHF have a longer range?

When I give people all the information about the differences between the two types, they’ll often assume that VHF radios have a better range – but that’s not how it works. 

Yes, VHF walkie-talkies are often used for outdoor activities – but they’re not great if you have a lot of obstacles between you and your partner, though. 

On the flip side, UHF radio signals can travel through buildings – but also do great with threes, hills, and anything else you might encounter.

So, even though the two categories may cover the same ranges, the resulting signal they would produce when you start testing those lengths will be very different. 

Channels & Privacy Codes 

Once you buy the walkie-talkies, you might run into some complications when setting the entire group up on the same channel. The whole mystery of choosing a privacy code to go along with the channel can be pretty frustrating – if you don’t know what you’re doing, that is.

Don’t worry, though; it’s all pretty straightforward. 

Here’s how it works:

There’s a limited number of channels that you can use on your walkie-talkie – and it’s a number that the FCC sets. So, you and your friends can set your radios on channel 2, for example, and you’ll have no problems communicating. 

The problem arises if you run into another group on the same channel, though. 

That’s what privacy codes are for: 

If a signal’s sent on channel 2, for instance, without a privacy code to go along with it, anyone who’s tuned to the same channel would pick up on the signal. 

But, if you set your talkies to channel 3 with a privacy code 4, you’re isolating yourselves from the other signals found on the channel. 

Don’t confuse the privacy code with actual privacy, though. Anyone could still tune their radios to whatever channel and code they like. So, any walkie-talkie set on the same channel will pick up the transmission. 

NOAA Weather Alerts 

Speaking of your walkie-talkies picking up random transmissions while you’re out and about, the NOAA weather alerts are the only ones that you want to get picked up here.

NOAA’s weather alerts work together with the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Alert System to give you 24/7 access to weather-related information that could potentially save your life. 

Sure, smartphones can give you a good weather update – but what if you’re in a remote area, as sea kayakers often are, and don’t have cell service? You can see where I’m going with this. 

So, be sure to check if the walkie-talkies have access to different NOAA weather channels and include alerts. 

What About Emergency Features? 

Whether you’re going on a relaxing paddle or a dangerous whitewater kayaking adventure – and especially if you’re going sea kayaking – having the proper emergency features could save your or someone else’s life. 

Even if the situation isn’t that extreme, it sure helps to know that you have these options on your radio. So, yes, your walkie-talkie should come with an alarm feature.

What are your options? 

Let’s take a look at some basics:

• The Man Down feature is one of the most common additions. It automatically turns on the alarm if the radio is turned a certain way (after a short period, of course, your radio shouldn’t alert everyone every time you turn it the wrong way).

• The Lone Walker feature is meant to send out a warning if one of your group members has been inactive for an extended period. It comes in handy to know where everyone is, or at least that everyone is available on the channel. 

• All walkie-talkies must have an emergency button. It’s usually an orange button that you can press to send an emergency signal to all radio receivers within range.

• Having GPS is another standard feature that’s incredibly helpful in emergencies, and it’s usually paired with the Man Down and Lone Worker features. 

Those are merely the basics, though. However, once you start going up in the price ranges, the number of features can get a little crazy. 

But hey, you can never be too safe, right? 

Check The Radio’s Weight & Size 

My last piece of advice is not to get carried away with your walkie-talkie’s available features. Its size and weight should be a factor in your choice. 

Sure, it’s nice to have a bunch of buttons on your radio, and it might look cool – but simplicity is your friend in an emergency! Plus, you have to think about how and where you plan to fit in that kayak of yours – especially if you’re lugging around camping gear. 

Sometimes the most basic, compact, hand-held marine radios work the best – as long as they’re waterproof, of course. 

Do I Need A License For A Walkie Talkie?

If you want to buy a simple walkie-talkie so that you and your friends can stay in touch while out on the water, the chances are that you won’t need a license. But it’s important to remember that there is such a thing as a licensed two-way radio. 

These are usually higher-powered talkies that cover a wide range of frequencies and channels – GMRS waterproof radios, for example, which use the General Mobile Radio Service, a licensed radio service that uses frequencies between 462 and 467 MHz

License-free radios have a limited range of channels they can access, which proved to be more than enough for most users. The Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) – operating in the 151 – 154 MHz spectrum range – and Family Radio Service (FRS) are examples of these.

Because of this, my suggestion is to stick to the license-free walkie-talkies. But hey, if you feel you need to step up your game, most manufacturers will provide you with the information you’ll need to get your radio license. 

Best Waterproof Walkie Talkies – Reviewed & Rated 

Conclusion – What Is The Best Waterproof Walkie Talkie?

A good set of walkie-talkies is an essential piece of gear for anyone planning an extended trip to the wilderness – be it on foot or, in your case, in a kayak. When you’re out there, effective group communication becomes a crucial element of safety. 

As for the best waterproof walkie-talkies, you already know which one is my favorite – Motorola’s T600 Talkabout Radio. It’s capable of withstanding the rigors of harsh environments you will find yourself in as a paddler and features all the essentials for effective communication. 

That said, any of these waterproof radios will do the job – as long as you remember to consider the crucial factors, such as waterproof rating, range, battery life, channels, and privacy codes.