RoguePaddler

[doncee]

Anybody use these? They can be handy for short range use to stay in contact with someone else. Most of the time we use them while shopping, so it's a lot easier to communicate in different locations to find each other. Free talk time, too. Last weekend I went on a one-way 15 mile paddle, and my dad dropped me off at the put in. Since the road ran parallel to the lake, we'd contact each other occasionally by walkie talkie on the way to the take out. About 1 hour into the trip he calls me up and says he'd stopped to watch for a few minutes and then the car wouldn't start. This was just before I'd went behind an island, about 1 1/4 miles from his position. I bought my cell phone (he didn't have one) and called a relative, who shortly got him going again. I radioed back and said that help was on the way. He said to continue and 2 1/2 hours later met at the take out. So it had a good ending.
It's hard to find any reviews on walkie talkies, but I've had good luck with a pair of Cobra MicroTalk units for about 2 years. Buttons are fairly easy to use with gloves on and voice quality is decent for their small size. Battery run time is long. Keep in mind that range can vary a lot. Across open water, you'll get the advertised range. But any obstruction; buildings, terrain, a stand of trees or an island can greatly affect its range.
Don