The 7 Best VHF Handheld radios (2023 reviews)

We consider a vhf handheld radio to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your purposes from all the best available products in market today.

Our review process: Show/Hide

Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: Cobra VHF Marine Radio READ REVIEW

Best For cigar: Buy: Uniden Great Radio READ REVIEW

Best For Marine VHF Radio: Buy: Uniden VHF Handheld Radio READ REVIEW

Best For hunting: Buy: Standard Great Radio READ REVIEW

Best For Small boat: Buy: Standard Horizon VHF Handheld Radio READ REVIEW

Best For kayak: Buy: Cobra VHF Handheld Radio READ REVIEW

Best Small Radio: Buy: Standard VHF Handheld Radio READ REVIEW

Best Overall: Cobra VHF Marine Radio

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The look and feel of this radios are consistent with the high quality we're used to from the rest of Cobra's lineup. This floating radio has an orange core for higher visibility and is easy to retrieve if dropped overboard. It works great, light weight and stays on channel when turning on and off. It fits very well into a pocket or small bin/storage area. The connection for the speaker/mic is a screw in connection. It's small enough you can fasten it to a life jacket when sailing, in case you fall off the boat or something.

It has a floating design and orange core makes retrieving your radio easy if dropped overboard, and meeting jis7 (ipx7) standards allows your radio to be submersed for 30 minutes at one meter deep.

• Terrain will greatly effect your max distance
• Good for emergency and light use
• Delivers what they promise

Best For cigar: Uniden Great Radio

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The uniden great radio might be a relatively new release, but it's still nothing short of impressive this year. It is a waterproof handheld 2-way vhf marine radio. It features a floating design, and is submersible for up to 30 minutes at five feet at five feet. It comes preprogrammed with noaa weather channels. It has the ability to monitor Dual or Triple Channels including 9 and 16 along with Weather Alert channel. It comes with a holder for aa batteries which can replace the lithium one. The Range is adequate if you have clear sight with limited obstacles like islands and trees.

Battery life is phenomenal and the reception is very good. This is for boat usage, so it would come with a DC (cigarette adapter) charger.

• Has great range and battery life
• Simple and necessary radio for all boats
• Easy to read instructions are included
• Come in very handy during small storms that come up

Best For Marine VHF Radio: Uniden VHF Handheld Radio

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention uniden vhf handheld radio for daily purpose. It includes a 12 volt car charger, and 4 rechargeable 950mah aaa batteries. It's just the right size to strap to a life-jacket and fits nicely in the hand. It features to keep its profile small. It doesn't include an AC charger, but it's meant for use on your boat, so the standard car charger is great.

There is no charging cradle for this unit, but it does come with the needed cigarette cord. It comes with lithium aaa rechargables but the only charger supplies is a cigarette lighter plug, there is no a/c plug or usb. The battery charge lasts for several days.

• Reception is clear & conversation is clear
• Good investment for long term

Best For hunting: Standard Great Radio

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Next on the list, we've got yet another radio that manages to win our hearts. It's the standard great radio and it's widely considered as radio that has the most suitable features. The range on VHF frequency depends mostly on height and unobstructed view of antennas. It can be used by the radio to remain the same wherever you go. The HX210’s design provides a better seal with respect to water damage and the battery capacity is higher. The Reception is clear, squelch and volume are quick and crisp, and there is a clip plus lanyard to put on your life jacket or belt. It can see even better at night.

It's quick and easy to do so with the HX.

• Feels solid, rugged, and well designed
• Excellent back up to the dash mounted vfh
• Battery life is greater than four hours
• Has a good range and volume

Best For Small boat: Standard Horizon VHF Handheld Radio

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It allows standard horizon handheld vhfradios to be mounted in a convenient place on a sailboat. The bracket mounts to a flat surface. It’s designed tosecure all standard horizon handheld vhfradios to a bulkhead. The radio drops into place by allowing the clip on the back of the radio to slide into the top of the bracket and drop down into the bracket. It’s perfectly with the standard horizon hx.

• Easy to clip in and out
• Works perfect and holding up well
• Lot of satisfied buyers

Best For kayak: Cobra VHF Handheld Radio

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If you often find yourself scrambling for appropriate and satisfactory radio, cobra vhf handheld radio should be your first option for buying. This is a high frequency VHF Marine radio designed for use with boats. It allows AAC style batteries additionally works really well as a radio. It will work with any other VHF Marine Band radio. This model does come with a drop in charger that has mounting holes for securing the charger inside the cabin of a boat. It is good in direct sunlight, which is a plus.

This radio is small, with a large, readable screen that can fit in a pocket. It comes in clear and the two methods of charging make this a very useable compact handheld. It is perfect for kayak or boating.

• You can hook up your phone to play music to answer phone calls
• Beat range and sound quality out there
• Much more range than the five watt in the mountains

Best Small Radio: Standard VHF Handheld Radio

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The standard vhf handheld radio's material feels more premium than its price would suggest. This radio featured here is a comfortable, natural fit in your hand with its slim construction. It features smooth and easy. The High resolution dot matrix display makes navigating the radios many features smooth and easy. It includes frequent and repetitive speaking and listening over the course of 3-4 ship movements of about 1 to 2 hours each. They have to have the buoyancy to float.

• Great vhf's with long lasting battery
• Marine and 40 commercial lmr vhf (dealer programmable) channel capability
• Operates on either 1watt for short distances or 5 watt for long range