Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Why We Love This Deal
With winter storms bringing outrageous winds and continuous snowfall across the country, we are once again reminded of the need for winter preparedness. Having a Midland Emergency Radio has long been the gold standard for emergency weather communications, but these radios cost about $60. If you’re just looking to check off a box on your emergency kit instead of going for premium, this Amazon offering that’s nearly a fifth of the price is the way to go.
The Echainstar Upgraded Emergency Solar Hand Crank Radio is just $13 and is the most affordable crank radio with NOAA access that I was able to find across the usual suspects of Amazon, Walmart, and REI. It’s not technically on sale, but $13 is the best price it has ever been offered at, historically selling for $15 or more.
Echainstar Upgraded Emergency Solar Hand Crank Radio, $13 on Amazon
What Shoppers Should Know
- Dimensions: 3.1″L x 5.9″W x 2.5″H
- NOAA Access: Yes
- Powered By: Solar, battery (USB rechargeable), crank
- Radio Bands: AM, FM
- Use Cases: NOAA weather radio for severe storms, hurricanes, and other weather issues, an emergency flashlight, and a source of power for small devices like phones.
While this radio has a little bit of everything, one of the main reasons to get it is easy access to NOAA radio. Since the radio has a hand crank, if you have bodily energy, you also have access to important weather radio from this $13 device.
Of course, you aren’t limited to the hand crank to charge this. There’s a small solar panel on the top of the less-than-a-foot-wide radio, as well as a USB port that makes keeping the radio charged simple.
The battery goes both ways, too—it can be used to keep your phone charged up in a pinch. There’s also a light on the front, and you can always use the radio as an FM/AM radio, too. On a full charge, the Echainstar can provide up to 12 hours of LED lighting or between 4 and 6 hours of radio time.
Related: Walmart Is Selling a $700 Portable Generator That ‘Runs Great’ for Only $280 Right Now
What Shoppers Are Saying
A user highlighted that “it’s compact and all the important safety features included are amazing.” This shopper actually noted that they purchased several of the low-cost radios and handed them out as gifts. Another shopper, delighted by the small size, mentioned that they always carry one in their bag when camping.
One common complaint about this radio is that the reception is not in that crystal clear zone that makes for excellent listening. However, as one shopper put it, it is “clear enough to understand for an emergency, which is exactly what this item was purchased for.”
The Echainstar Upgraded Emergency Solar Hand Crank Radio is $13, an amazing price as we’re facing winter weather yet again. If you’re targeting it as a low-cost, small-sized object to fill a slot in your emergency preparedness kit, it does just that. Always check out a new device’s functionality before braving an emergency with it.
