Snow is magical, every time. Despite the damage and discomfort, it can cause, many people still look forward to winter. The beauty of snowflakes falling, the hot chocolate that warms you up in cold weather and other extras all add to the ethereal feel that winter brings.
However, there are some downsides to winter; sudden snow storms that create a pile of snow that can get so high sometimes with people and property buried underneath. Another downside is the slippery feel of the roads, which can cause accidents (road and domestic accidents inclusive).
This is the reason why snow plowing is important. Whether you are plowing snow as an individual, with your neighbors or using a snow plowing company, it is important to have a communication device handy.
This is because anything can happen, especially in the middle of a storm. However undesirable it is, accidents can also happen during snow plowing. A mobile phone can be used when snow plowing, but it is not advisable for a number of reasons.
For starters, weather conditions can adversely affect network, leading to loss of cell reception. This means you will not be able to contact anyone around in case of an emergency.
Many snow plowing companies understand the emergencies that come with the job, so they usually have a radio system installed in their trucks.
However, these gadgets are not detachable in case you are outside the vehicle and need to talk to a colleague. This is why a walkie talkie is your best bet for seamless communication when plowing snow.
The best walkie talkie for snow plowing should be waterproof (because snow is basically water in solid form), have a clear enough audio transmission and other features for easy use.
This article reviews a number of walkie talkies that can be used for snow plowing. But before we proceed, there are certain factors you need to know that make up a good walkie talkie.
Top 5 Two-Way Radios for Plowing Snow: By Best Feature
Buyer’s Guide: Critical Factors to be considered before you Select the Walkie Talkie for Plowing Snow
The factors that determine the ideal walkie talkie for plowing snow include:
1. Waterproof
There is obviously no use if you are going to buy a walkie talkie that falls inside snow or a melting point and stops functioning because it is not waterproof. This is why it is very important that you buy a product that is waterproof.
Some walkie talkies not only have waterproof specification, but are also submersible for some minutes. A good walkie talkie for plowing snow should be submersible for up to a minimum of 5 minutes.
2. Audio Quality
The audio quality of a walkie talkie depends on the kind of frequency and signal of transmission. However, if you are caught in a storm, you will most likely experience a drop in audio quality if your walkie talkie uses analog transmission.
A good walkie talkie for snow plowing should use digital transmissions and should have a wide number of channels for smooth communication.
3. Range
Most times, the range of a walkie talkie is affected by obstruction caused by buildings. This means that the farther you go, the higher the chances that the range will reduce.
This needs to be critically considered as you might need to call for help when plowing snow. A good walkie talkie for cold weather should have considerably long range, covering several miles.
4. Access to Weather Alerts
Getting caught in a sudden snow storm is not only frustrating; it is very dangerous. This is why you should get a walkie talkie with weather alerts from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA) so that you can stay informed about weather changes as often as possible.
5. Functionality
You will most likely be wearing thick gloves when plowing snow to keep your hands warm and prevent injury. This automatically makes it a little difficult to hold a walkie talkie and press the buttons.
This is why you should get a walkie talkie that is easy to hold, with large, functional buttons that can be pressed easily.
6. Accessories
A very functional walkie talkie gives an advantage, but when there are accessories like belt clips, ear phones, built-in flashlight and extra batteries, you would enjoy using your walkie talkie even more.
Many accessories that walkie talkies have enable them to be used in hands-free mode, making it easy for you to use your hands to plow snow quicker. Another accessory of importance is the screen and button backlight.
Most times, snowy weather means foggy weather, which makes it difficult to see some objects. You may need to use the backlight (or flashlight) in some situations.
7. Battery life
Unless you are going to plow snow with a power outlet close by, there is no need to get a walkie talkie that will not last in terms of battery life. A good walkie talkie for plowing snow should be able to work for 10 hours uninterrupted.
You might not know it, but a good battery life might just be the feature that will save a life during snow plowing.
We didn’t include price because many of the walkie talkies for snow plowing are very affordable. Now that we have mentioned the factors that will determine your choice of a walkie talkie, let us show you our pick of the best walkie talkies for plowing snow.
Top 5 Best Walkie Talkies for Plowing Snow
1. COBRA ACXT1035R FLT Floating Walkie Talkies
Value for Money
The brand name “Cobra” is no stranger to the manufacture of walkie talkies, and the ACXT1035R walkie talkie is proof. This product has quite a number of features that make it very convenient for use when plowing snow.
This product is water resistant and built up to IPX7 standard. Communication with colleagues during snowy weather will not be hampered as you are sure to get sterling audio quality, up to 37 miles.
Weather alerts from NOAA are indicated across the screen of this walkie talkie. In case you miss a radio call, you can rewind and play the call again up to 20 seconds.
In case of emergencies during snow plowing, there is a built-in LED/SOS flashlight. All these come at an affordable price.
Specifications of COBRA ACXT1035R FLT Floating Walkie Talkies
- Voice activated hands-free transmission
- 37-mile range
- VibrAlert Call function
- 15-hour battery life.
- 22 channels with 121 privacy codes
- Rewind-Say-Again feature
- IPX7 Waterproof standard.
Pros and Cons of COBRA ACXT1035R FLT Floating Walkie Talkies
Pros:
- Rubber grips for easy handling.
- VOX transmission for hands-free use.
- Long range for easy communication over distance.
- VibrAlert allows you receive calls smoothly.
- Highly waterproof.
- Rewind-Say-Again feature ensures that you always stay in touch with colleagues.
Cons:
- The audio quality fluctuates easily.
2. DEWALT DXFRS300 Heavy Duty Walkie Talkies
Best for Durability
DeWALT DXFRS300 walkie talkie combines efficiency with design to give you a product of high quality. This product is built for use with gloves, and is made according to IP67 standard.
This means that it is submersible for up to 30 minutes if it drops in water up to a depth of 1m. This makes sense if what you want to do is plow snow.
It provides a high level of audio quality even up to a range of 10 miles in open space which helps you communicate easily with friends and colleagues. You have access to 22 channels with 142 privacy codes.
You will be informed of weather updates from time to time as it also provides NOAA alerts. This product also comes in attractive colors.
Specifications of DEWALT DXFRS300 Heavy Duty Walkie Talkies
- 10-mile range
- IP67 Weatherproof design.
- 22 channels with 142 privacy codes
- Shock resistant material with anti-slip design.
- UHF/FM digital frequencies.
- Access to NOAA weather alerts.
- Built-in LED Flashlight and Key lock.
Pros and Cons of DEWALT DXFRS300 Heavy Duty Walkie Talkies
Pros:
- This product has an attractive design and color.
- Power saver mode to prolong battery life.
- License-free high quality frequencies.
- Roger beep tone ensure clarity of conversations.
- Weather updates for maximum safety.
- Limited Lifetime warranty.
Cons:
- The range reduces drastically with obstruction.
3. Motorola Talkabout T400 Rechargeable Two-Way Radio Pair
Best Price
This product is synonymous with quality on a budget. Made to weatherproof specifications, you have nothing to worry about when plowing snow.
You have access to NOAA weather channels and in case of poor audio transmission, you can use the Push-to-talk boost feature. The design of this product also makes it very easy to hold.
Communication with the Motorola T400 is made easy with access to NOAA weather channels and allows you communicate with other devices on the same transmission frequency.
You have access to 22 channels, each with 121 privacy codes. The transmission range of this product is 35 miles, and it has 2 NiMH rechargeable batteries, with 3AA alkaline batteries that ensure that you can use this product for up to 9 hours non-stop.
Specifications of Motorola Talkabout T400 Rechargeable Two-Way Radios
- IP54 Weatherproof standard.
- 35-mile transmission
- 22 channels
- Intelligent Voice Exchange mode (iVOX/VOX)
- Push to Talk (PTT) Power Boost
- 10 NOAA weather channels.
- Built-in LED Flashlight
Pros and Cons of Motorola Talkabout T400 Rechargeable Two-Way Radios Pros:
- Attractive design and colors.
- Long range.
- Quiet Talk Interruption Filter improves the audio quality.
- Quick auto-search function.
- Dual power option
- Compatible with other FRS devices.
Cons:
- The battery life of this product is quite low.
4. Cobra RX680 2 Watt Rugged Walkie Talkies
Best for All Weather
This product is built specifically for use in snowy weather and on water. The Cobra RX680 is magnificent for its incredible range and weatherproof qualities that gives it an edge among several other brands.
The IP54 rating is an international standard that assures of its protection against damage arising from exposure to water or dust. It is a rechargeable Two-Way radio with durable battery life that will keep you ploughing the snow for as long as you want.
What’s more, snow ploughing can be dangerous, especially if you have no idea what’s coming. The NOAA weather channels and alert will keep you updated and prepared for any change in weather.
Specifications of Cobra RX680 2 Watt Rugged Walkie Talkies
- 18-hour battery life
- 38-mile range
- 2662 channel combinations and 121 privacy codes
- VOX transmission with auto squelch function
- Package has 2 radios
- Micro-USB doc charger
Pros and Cons of Cobra RX680 2 Watt Rugged Walkie Talkies
Pros:
- This product is water resistant.
- It is also dust resistant.
- License free transmission for most channels.
- Weather channel scan feature.
- Lightweight and portable design.
- Incredible battery power.
Cons:
- No sufficient accessories.
5. GOCOM Adult Walkie Talkies FRS Two Way Radios
Easy to Use
Merely looking at this product, you will agree with its functionality. This product has sizeable buttons that can be used when wearing gloves. It is water resistant, and can be easily held.
The GOCOM adult walkie talkie also comes with a micro USB cable that makes it very easy to charge. With this product, you have access to 22 channels. You also have access to NOAA weather alerts.
The Voice Exchange (VOX) transmission makes it easy to use this product hands-free. This product also has an impressive battery life up to 75 hours of standby time.
Specifications of GOCOM Adult Walkie Talkies FRS Two Way Radios
- 32-mile range
- 11 NOAA Weather Channels
- Access to 22 channels
- IPX4 Waterproof Feature
- 75-hour battery life
- Push-to-talk (PTT) button for extra functionality
- 2-port charging dock with 3 AA batteries
Pros and Cons of GOCOM Adult Walkie Talkies FRS Two Way Radios
Pros:
- IPX4 waterproof ensures clear audio quality.
- Provides access to NOAA Weather alerts
- Has LED flashlight and earphones for convenience.
- Voice activated transmission (VOX) with auto-squelch function for hands-free use.
- PTT button ensures secure conversations.
- Comes with seat charger, earphones and other accessories for ease of use.
Cons:
- For the features it has, the range it quite small.
Comparison of Top 5 Walkie Talkies for Plowing Snow
| Range | Weather Alerts | Channels | Battery Life | Earphones | |
| COBRA ACXT1035R FLT Floating Walkie Talkies | 37 miles | Yes | 22 | 15 hours | Yes |
| DEWALT DXFRS300 1 Watt Heavy Duty Walkie Talkies | 10 miles | Yes | 22 | 12 hours | Yes |
| Motorola Talkabout T400 Rechargeable Two-Way Radio Pair | 35 miles | Yes | 22 | 9 hours | Yes |
| Cobra RX680 Snow Weather Resistant Walkie Talkie | 38 miles | No | 60 | 18 hours | No |
| GOCOM Adult Walkie Talkies FRS Two Way Radios | 32 miles | Yes | 22 | 75 hours | Yes |
Final Words:
Based on the products we listed out, we would advise that you buy the COBRA ACXT1035R FLT Floating Walkie Talkies because it meets most of the factors highlighted above in terms of range, number of channels, design, and audio quality. You should check out other reviews on each product before buying as this will help you make the best choice. The other products are highly recommended for use when plowing snow. When you make that choice, you will definitely enjoy using the walkie talkie.
