A walkie talkie (more formally known as a handheld transceiver, or HT) is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald L. Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, and engineering teams at Motorola. Similar designs were created for other armed forces, and after the war, walkie-talkies spread to public safety and eventually commercial and jobsite work.

But, over the years, with the advancements of technology, walkie talkies have often times been overlooked as a necessity in today’s world. I, personally, think everyone in every household should have a set.

present day walkieWhether you’re going camping, hiking, or maybe fishing having a way to communicate with others in your group is one of the most important things to consider when packing for your trip. People often think bringing their cell phones with an external battery or wireless charger will do the trick for the day or weekend trip. But, not always…

using walkieCell phones are great and some can even last for a whole weekend on one charge. They also have a lot of awesome features, including some really cool walkie talkie type apps but, let’s face it – cell phones can lose signal, especially in the woods. Then what? You have no way of communicating with your group if you become separated. Constant communication within your group is crucial. Knowing each other’s locations at all times is important. Accidents can happen and if they do, you need to be able to communicate back to your group to seek immediate medical attention.

kids with walkiesWalkie Talkies are easy to use and I’ll admit, they’re pretty cool to carry. The kiddos will even enjoy them! I mean, what kid (and some adults – like myself) wouldn’t want to carry a walkie talkie? Not to mention, they’re super easy to use!