Review: Rocky Talkie Mountain Radios

You don’t realize how important good communication is on a climb—or any adventure, for that matter—until you're without it. For me, it happened halfway up a multi-pitch when the wind kicked up, rendering everything my boyfriend was yelling from the belay inaudible. No view of each other, just dead space and a few subtle rope tugs that maybe meant that I was on belay. After that, I made sure to get my hands on a pair of Rocky Talkies Mountain Radios.

Now these aren’t your old-school, toy-store walkies. They’re built for the mountains: simple, tough, and powerful. They deliver crisp audio, even with a granite wall in the way. With a range of 1-5 miles in rugged mountains or 35+ line-of-sight miles, you’ll stay connected even in the toughest of conditions. They’re made to take abuse, too. Ours have been banged against the wall, and they still look almost new. Battery life is solid, and the range is impressive for something so compact. Not to mention, these puppies are only 7.9 oz—well worth the carry for the convenience that they offer.

Available at rockytalkie.com; $220 for a pair.