We find that both the Mountain Radio and 5 Watt Radio are great options for skiing & snowboarding, so the optimal radio for you will depend on your preferences.

Both radios have phenomenal battery life and cold performance. The biggest trade-off is between the radio's size and range. The Mountain Radio is compact and lighter for uphill skins and is also license-free. The 5 Watt Radio is a bit larger and requires a GMRS license but is worth considering if you are frequently far away from your partner and prefer to optimize range.

Watch our range comparison video here.

Both of our radios are compatible with their own unique Waterproof Hand Mic. This optional accessory, especially popular with backcountry skiers, allows you to put your radio in your pack and keep your comms compact and stable on your shoulder. If you wear your beacon in a chest harness, this also keeps your radio farther away to avoid electronic interference. To be safe, we recommend keeping your beacon 8 inches away from your radio when it's in transmit mode, and 20 inches away when in receive mode.

The Dual-Channel Monitoring feature available on our 5 Watt Radio can be useful for backcountry skiing. This feature allows you to easily chat on a private channel with your group and monitor / transmit on a shared community channel (these channels are becoming more common in popular backcountry zones).

We find that both the Mountain Radio and 5 Watt Radio are great options for mountain biking, so the optimal radio for you will depend on your preferences. If you often spread out with your riding buddies, the 5 Watt Radio's power may give you extra the range you need to stay in communication. If you're hoping to keep things light and simple, the Mountain Radio could be the best option for you.

Watch our range comparison video here.

We find that both the Mountain Radioand 5 Watt Radio are great options for mountaineers, so the optimal radio for you will depend on your preferences. The Mountain Radio with its compact design and cold resistant battery has passed the test on big mountains across the world, from Denali to Everest. You can expect 1 to 5 miles of range in mountainous terrain with the Mountain Radio, and over 25 miles when line of sight is maintained.

The 5 Watt Radio's extra power will add a bit more range by enabling your signal to bounce around more mountain obstacles. This can be handy in certain camp-to-camp communication scenarios in the world of expedition style mountaineering. It also includes extra capabilities like dual-channel monitoring, access to GMRS repeaters, and NOAA weather channels that you may find useful depending on your objectives.

Watch our range comparison video here.

For watersports, our team recommends the 5 Watt Radio due to its enhanced waterproofing. Each radio is tested to IP67 waterproofing standards (1 meter submersion) and includes a water-shedding design for quick communication in white water. The radio's max GMRS power also enables the signal to bounce a bit further in challenging terrain for extra range. Watch our range comparison video here.

The 5 Watt Radio's steel gator clip (360° rotation) + backup spiral leash provides a secure and versatile attachment for many watersports. When using the radio in demanding whitewater, we recommend considering our Locking Carabiner Attachment option. This will secure the radio and avoid the risk of any accidental clipping which can occur with non-locking carabiners.

If you prefer using an FRS radio instead of a GMRS, consider pairing our Mountain Radio (IP56 splashproof) with our Waterproof Hand Mic. This allows you to keep the radio in a drybag, which is effective in less demanding water situations where total submersion of the drybag is unlikely.

For Hunting & Fishing, our team typically recommends the 5 Watt Radio due to its extended range and IP67 waterproof rating. The radio outputs the maximum power for a GMRS radio (5 Watts) which gives a helpful boost to range, especially when in dense forests and rolling hills. Watch our range comparison video here.

For silent comms while hunting, disable all beeps on our radios by holding down the PTT button while powering on the radio. The "bell" icon will disappear on the screen. Repeat this process to turn the TX beep back on.

For overlanding, we typically recommend our 5 Watt Radio although it can depend on your preferences and usage. If you’re using the radio for rig-to-rig communication, the 5 Watt Radio is the best option due to its increased range. Since the 5 Watt is a GMRS radio, it also allows you to swap out the antenna and connect to a roof or hood-mounted antenna. The 5 Watt Radio can also be used with our Dash Mount (coming soon).

The Mountain Radio is worth considering if you already have a powerful mobile car radio and are primarily using the radio for spotting and around camp. In this case, the simple, rugged, lightweight design of the Mountain Radio could be a great fit.

Watch our range comparison video here.

For motorsports like snowmobiling and dirt biking, we typically recommend our 5 Watt Radio due to its increased range. The radio comes standard with our Steel Gator Clip (360° rotation) that keeps the radio secure right on your pack or jacket. Both the 5 Watt and Mountain Radio have loud speakers to be heard over your engine, although the 5 Watt Radio is slightly louder. Both radios are compatible with headsets and our Waterproof Hand Mics.

For canyoneering, we recommend the 5 Watt Radio due to its IP67 waterproof rating (1 meter submersion). Clip the radio to your backpack or wetsuit using the radio's 360° steel gator clip, or swap to our Ultralight or Locking carabiner attachments if you prefer clipping the radio to your harness.

If you primarily target dry canyons, you could consider the Mountain Radio with its compact and streamlined design.