REASONS TO BUY
Incredible battery life
Excellent range
Top tier durability
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavier than some
Expensive
Requires an FCC license
Rocky Talkie 5 Watt Review
A hearty radio that can handle a river or a snowstorm without breaking a sweat
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ July 9, 2024
RELATED: The Best Walkie Talkies of 2025
Our Verdict
The Rocky Talkie 5 Watt is a GMRS radio that can handle an adventurous life, from being submerged in a river to getting battered by a blizzard. Once you pay for the test-free $35 FCC license, you can enjoy 22 channels, 8 repeater channels, 121 privacy codes, NOAA weather channels, and dual channel monitoring. We greatly appreciated the range of this 5 watt radio, with the additional power allowing for further transmissions than other models in treed or hilly terrain. This isn't the smallest or lightest radio out there and we also discovered it doesn't always have the best clarity, but many won't mind these minor setbacks. If you're looking for a high-powered radio with top-tier durability, this is an option worthy of your consideration.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Rocky Talkie 5 Watt boasts top scores in multiple metrics, making it a contender for a wide array of shoppers demanding more from their radio. After a week-long ski expedition in Alaska, we didn't have to recharge this radio even once, making it one of the best options for battery life we've ever seen. When considering its IP67 rating, which means it's dustproof and is fully submersible to 1 meter, this durable and highly capable radio is truly an achievement from Rocky Talkie.
We spent weeks with the 5 watt, pushing it in several outdoors settings.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Range and Clarity
In minor obstructions, this radio offered transmission distances of up to 5.1 miles and a 1.4-mile range in major obstructions. In additional field testing, we found exceptional range when there was a clear line of sight, communicating over 20 miles.
The only setback here for the 5 Watt was its clarity, which was diminished fairly quickly once it reached the middle of its range or further.
The range of the 5 watt was excellent, particularly in obstructed scenarios.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Ease of Use
The 5 Watt rated lower for ease of use, though this is mostly due to the licensing process needed to utilize any GMRS radio in the US. This model is a GMRS radio, so it requires a $35 license from the FCC. Fortunately, this doesn't include a test. This license is good for ten years and is also good for your immediate family. We strongly recommend conducting thorough research and diligence to always make sure your radio use is FCC-compliant.
Outside of this licensing process, this radio is incredibly user-friendly, with the included cheat sheet from Rocky Talkie offering a simple and effective way to learn both the simple and more advanced features of the 5 Watt. After a brief orientation to this radio, we were able to utilize this option to its fullest capacity, whether accessing NOAA weather channels or a repeater. The plastic rim protecting the mic button is effective, and accidental mic presses are minimal. The included steel clip was also among the most effective pack/belt attachments we've seen yet.
We greatly appreciated the friendly design of the 5 Watt, from the protected mic button to the features navigation.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Weather Resistance and Durability
This is the metric where the Rockie Talkie 5 Watt truly shines, coming in at the top.
With an IP67 rating, the 5 Watt is both dustproof and can be submerged in water up to 1 meter. After confirming the 1-meter submersible claim, we spent weeks with this radio, including some particularly nasty storms in Alaska, and this radio's performance was unwavering. When dragging this radio around in the arid deserts of the western US, it got dropped and drug through the sand dozens of times, operating the same afterward as if nothing happened. The included steel pack/belt clip was rugged, especially when compared to other models with flimsy plastic clips. Our end-of-the-day take — this is one seriously tough walkie talkie that won't let you down when your adventures get rowdy.
This radio was dropped, kicked, dunked in 1 meter of water, and still worked as well as it did out of the box.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Battery Life
Battery life is one of the strongest components of the 5 Watt. Simply put, this radio takes a very long time to drain its battery, and we never even had to recharge it on a week-long expedition in Alaska, though we were turning it off at night.
In our more quantitative testing, the 5 Watt had 205 minutes of transit time on a high-powered channel, though this may vary greatly in the future depending on temperatures and whether or not you're leaving your radio on in perpetuity for a trip. With such a large battery, it required a lengthy 6 hours and 1 minute to recharge fully.
We used this radio for several back-to-back days without having to recharge it.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Weight and Size
This isn't the lightest or smallest radio, which is to be expected when considering it has more power and features than other options.
At 9.44 oz, this is one of the heavier radios we tested, though this fortunately comes with added durability and features. The profile of this radio is very manageable and easily fits on our pack strap or belts, and for many, the few extra ounces will be worth it to have a higher-powered radio.
This isn't the lightest radio, but it offers performance that's arguably worth its weight.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Should You Buy the Rocky Talkie 5 Watt Radio?
The 5 Watt radio is both durable and capable, though the increase in performance also comes at an increase in price. Fortunately, we feel that this Rocky Talkie still offers exceptional value, with a phenomenal battery life and robust construction ensuring your handheld radio is dependable.
What Other Walkie Talkies Should You Consider?
The Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio is the smaller, more packable sibling to the 5 Watt, and it is an FRS radio, so no licensing is required from the FCC. Another durable radio worth looking into is the Motorola T600, which also offers an IP67 rating and even floats in water. Notably, the T600 also comes in at a much lower price than the 5 Watt, offering an excellent, less expensive alternative.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Rocky Talkie 5 Watt versus top competing products:
—Zach Lovell
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