If you’ve ever been to a Music Festival, like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, you’ll agree with me that the noise is almost deafening. Music festivals are loud! Still, you find individuals usually in uniforms coordinating affairs and ensuring everything goes according to plan.
Even security guards are usually on standby at different points. How do you think they communicate in the midst of all the noise? If you’re observant, you must’ve seen a few of them speak into a walkie talkie or a mouthpiece connected to a radio.
Imagine organising a music festival half as big as Coachella. You certainly need everyone to be at the top of their game. The guards must be alert and able to communicate with one another, especially when they need reinforcements to take care of a situation.
The ushers, sound engineers and other members of crew, and even those attending to guests must be able to communicate. You can’t achieve all these without effective walkie talkies for music festivals.
Designed for the purpose, you’ll be able to speak remotely to all members of your team with just a push of the button. But with many fakes out there, how do you choose a brand that gets the job done? We’ll show you how with the factors below.
Top 5 Best Two-Way Radios for Concerts: By Best Feature
Buyer Guide: Factors to Consider before Buying a Walkie Talkie for Music Festivals
1. Audio Clarity/Noise Filtering
Take a moment to remember how loud the last festival you attended was. Music roaring through huge speakers, crowds screaming at the top of their voices and just the general hysteria.
If you must use a walkie talkie during a music festival, it has to be a radio with the best audio quality possible. Also, you should ensure you get a walkie talkie that is compatible with noise cancelling headsets to enhance performance.
2. Weight/Size
Size is a very important factor when it comes to choosing a walkie talkie. Nobody wants to drag a radio along at a festival. Imagine a security guard needs to go arrest a situation and has to drag a heavy or ‘too large’ walkie talkie along.
That’s not something anyone wants. It’s important to select a walkie talkie that is portable enough to conceal and light enough to move around with.
3. Battery Life
You can’t overlook the place of a great battery pack when it comes to Two-Way radios, and more so during a music Festival. How would you feel if your battery runs down just when you have a technical problem and need to contact the control room?
Things can go awry really quickly if you get it wrong from the beginning. Ensure you have a walkie talkie that will give you at least 8 hours of talk time without dying out. We don’t expect a music festival to run for more than 8 hours, do we?
4. Design/Build
If there is anything we’ve learnt about gadgets; it is that you need them tough and durable. Before you select a walkie talkie, ask yourself if it can resist impact or if it is sturdy enough to survive a drop.
Music festivals are not just loud; they’re also rowdy and crowded with lots of different people trying to get a good spot and view. Accidents can happen. They can even be spills or splashes of water or other liquid substances coming in contact with your radio.
Don’t be deceived by flashy names and brands; check out reviews like this one for all the information you need.
5. Channels
The performance of your walkie talkie also largely depends on how many channels it can connect to. Music festivals are usually staged in the urban cities; we can only imagine how many other radios are working at the same time.
Be sure you have access to as many channels as possible to ensure you and your team will always find one to communicate over. This gives you much more freedom and flexibility and limits the possibility of other signals interfering with yours.
6. Location
This is another important component you must consider. The location of the event, indoor or outdoor, should determine what frequency band you should go for.
While VHF travel farther, UHF frequencies are able to penetrate through walls. If your musical festival will be done indoors, a UHF radio is your best choice. Otherwise, a VHF would do.
Top 5 Best Walkie Talkies for Music Festivals
There are several brands and products out there for you to choose from. This process can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing. We have simplified that process for you by narrowing down your search to five (5) of the best walkie talkies for music festivals and concerts, based on the qualities you should look out for. Here they are;
1. Motorola Professional CLS1410 5-Mile Two-Way Radio
Best for: Value for Money
We fell in love with this radio the first time we saw it. it is as amazing on the outside as it is on the inside. We can talk about the matchless audio quality, beautiful design, long-lasting battery life and great coverage.
One thing that makes the Motorola CLS1410 walkie talkie a favourite for music festivals is its VibraCall Alert feature which gives you the power to alert your team even in the midst of the noise. For a truly effective organization and coordination of musical concerts, this two-way radio is one way to go.
Specifications of Motorola Professional CLS1410 5-Mile Two-Way Radio
- 56 Business-Exclusive frequencies
- VOX for advanced voice activation
- VibraCall Alert feature
- Keypad lock to avoid unintentional commands.
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- 83 digital/38 analog private lines
- UHF Radio
Pros and Cons of Motorola Professional CLS1410 5-Mile Two-Way Radio
Pros:
- Long battery life up to 18 hours.
- Private lines block interference.
- Added feature of 121 interference eliminator codes.
- Ability to send and receive discreet information through VibraCall Alert, despite external crowd.
- Lightweight for easy carry.
- Great for indoor and outdoor events
Cons:
- Quite pricey.
2. Ansoko Long-Range Walkie Talkies
Best for: Price
This is a set of 4 radios that is already getting so much rave among events planners and organisers. If you’re running on a budget and you just don’t have the money to throw around, this is a good product to invest in.
After all, you’ll get much of the same effectiveness, performance and features you’ll find in higher-priced two-way radios. At a dimension of 4.5 x 2.4 x 1.3 inches, this is arguably one of the smallest walkie talkies on the market.
It’s so easy to grab and use, you can move everywhere with it without any hassle. If you’re organizing a music festival, your team should love this walkie talkie.
Specifications of Ansoko Long-Range Walkie Talkies
- UHF Tuner technology.
- 16 pre-set channels.
- 4 all-black gadgets with orange buttons on the side.
- LED light for night-time use.
- VOX Capability.
- 2-Watt transmission power
- More than 4 miles in range
- Belt clips and hand straps available.
Pros and Cons of Ansoko Long-Range Walkie Talkies
Pros:
- UHF band prone to less interference.
- Budget-friendly.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Great sound quality.
- 18-month warranty.
- Quite durable.
- Great for outdoor and indoor concerts.
Cons:
- Not very impressive range.
3. Motorola On-Site RDV5100 10-Channel Walkie Talkie
Best for: Audio Clarity
There’s a lot to say about the Motorola On-Site Walkie Talkie. As part of Motorola’s RDX series, you can already tell how powerful this one is. Packed with as much as 5 watts, the audio clarity and signal strength remain enviable in the industry.
Staying on top of your game is an important part of staging musical events. One important component of that is having the best walkie talkie for music festivals.
With incredible features and amazing USPs, this two-way radio stands tall among competitors, giving you real value for money.
Specifications of Motorola On-Site RDV5100 Walkie Talkie
- 27 VHF Frequencies
- Tri-color LED indicator
- 5-watt power output
- Rated IP54/55 Standard
- 10 channels
- VOX powered with three sensitivity levels.
- Lithium-ion batteries included
- Weighs 1.7 pounds
Pros and Cons of Motorola On-Site RDV5100 Walkie Talkie
Pros:
- Up to 22 hours battery life.
- Multiple Voice-inversion scramble settings for cancelling interruptions and eavesdropping.
- 121 analog and digital interference eliminator codes.
- Exceptional voice quality tested by military standards.
- Water resistant for up to 30-minutes exposure.
- Dust resistant up to six hours of exposure.
- Features 18 shocks.
Cons:
- Quite pricey.
4. Retevis RT68 Walkie Talkies
Best for: Design/Size/Weight
Talk about a rugged design, built to suit the rigors of everyday life and Retevis RT68 is sure to come up. This Rechargeable Two-Way radio comes 6 in a pack and is known for its small “palm” size as much as it is for its performance.
It is this design that makes it a great addition to our list of best walkie talkies for music festivals. The radio is extremely easy to use. Don’t let the size deceive you though; this gadget is truly big on performance.
Specifications of Retevis RT68 Walkie Talkies
- 1200 mAh battery
- 0-9 level noise reduction feature.
- FRS Frequency that requires no license.
- VOX feature for hands-free voice-activated communication.
- Comes with belt clip
- 16 channels
- Earpiece included
- Also includes knob protection against damage from impact.
Pros and Cons of Retevis RT68 Walkie Talkies
Pros:
- Very sturdy and durable.
- One of the most portable radios on the market.
- Great audio quality.
- Extremely budget-friendly.
- Hands-free function for convenience.
- Large buttons easy to press even with gloves on.
- Can cover a range up to 15 miles.
Cons:
- Might require better batteries.
5. Midland 50-Channel Waterproof GMRS Radio
Best for: Range/Channels
Midland is a trusted name in the communications industry. They are one of the leading producers of two-way radios with proven global repute. This time, they come with a truly efficient walkie talkie for music festivals.
Depending on the size of the location, you may need walkie talkies that can cover several miles, especially with likely interruptions considered.
Although you’ll require a license to use its GMRS service, you will get good value for your investment. Several amazing features abound that make this two way radio a preferred choice.
Specifications of Midland 50-Channel Waterproof GMRS Radio
- 50 channels
- 142 privacy codes
- NOAA Weather Alerts
- Emergency alarm system
- Includes a belt clip
- Mic Jack/external speaker feature.
- 36-mile range.
Pros and Cons of Midland 50-Channel Waterproof GMRS Radio
Pros:
- Multiple channels to enhance connection.
- Wide range/coverage
- JIS4 Waterproof feature for enhanced protection.
- Comes with a Call and Vibrate Alert feature.
- Able to scan up to 10 available weather channels.
- Rechargeable battery packs.
Cons:
- Service requires license.
Comparison of Top 5 Best Walkie Talkies for Music Festivals
| Motorola Professional CLS1410 | Ansoko Long-Range Walkie Talkies | Motorola On-Site RDV5100 | Retevis RT68 Walkie Talkies | Midland 50-Channel Waterproof GMRS Radio | |
| Range | 5 miles | 4 miles | 16 miles | 15 miles | 36 miles |
| Channels | 4 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 50 |
| Battery Life | 18 hours | 12 hours | Up to 22 hours | Up to 8 hours | Up 12 hours |
| Audio boost | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Lightweight | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Final Words:
This review provides an insight into the best walkie talkies for Music Festivals and concerts. We’re sure you’ve made your choice already from this list. Whatever it is, you can be sure of performance, efficiency, and long-lasting satisfaction.
