If you’ve used a freeplay radio you’ll be impressed by Eton’s offerings in our experience they are at least as twice as efficient meaning less winding to get the device active.

The Eton FR 350 offers almost everything you might need. It’s a wind up radio  of course multi-channel SW/AM/FM and just 30 seconds of winding gets you enough power to listen to the latest broadcasts. As It’s an emergency radio – it comes with an extremely loud siren, and a Red high visibility flashing  LED (it’s a bit like the white LED but it’s bright red…. and flashing). It even comes with a cell phone charger socket, and a variety of adaptors just in case the cellphone network is still available.

Of course, in any emergency situation it would be great if you had more than just a wind up signal light, siren, or multi-channel radio. Here’s where the very latest Eton FR-1000 comes into play..

The Eton FR 1000 incorporates GMRS (general mobile radio system) and includes alerts such as weather reports. The range on the 2-way radio is said to be up to 2 miles. It has an LCD display, alarm clock and external speaker and micrphone sockets as well as cell charger sockets like the FR 350 but almost $100 extra, for the luxury of 2-way radio and the LCD screen. Perfect when calling for help.

The FR 1000 is available from many US suppliers such as Campmor.com but so far we haven’t seen a UK supplier. It’s younger brother the Eton FR-350 is available from Ethicalsuperstore in the UK for £37.99