Disclaimer: Best Radios UK is audience supported. If you buy via links on here we may get a small commission. This doesn’t impact the price you pay & lets us keep the site free.
A wind-up radio is a handy gadget to have when you’re a long way from a power socket.
These radios are popular with outdoorsy people including hikers, campers, anglers and gardeners. They are also a good way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on batteries.
Wind-up radios feature a hand crank that you turn to charge the radio. Most of these radios can also be charged using other methods such as with a solar panel or via a USB cable.
Many wind-up radios double up as torches and/or alarm clocks, and some can even be used to charge your mobile phone. This makes them very useful in emergency situations or when you’re travelling in a remote location.
There are lots of wind-up radios available, but which is the best?
We’ve looked at all of the options and picked out 6 of the most highly rated wind-up radios.
Best Wind-Up Radios
1. Degen DE13 Crank Solar Radio
The Degen DE13 is an exceptionally versatile radio that would be very useful in emergency situations. In addition to analogue radio it also features a torch, flashlight and alarm siren, and it can even be used to charge a mobile phone.
Features
- SW/MW/FM radio
- Torch
- Alarm siren
- Multiple powering methods: Hand crank, solar panel, USB, 3 x AAA batteries
- Mobile phone charging
Dimensions: 13.3 x 6.2 x 4.7 cm
Weight: 256 g
Pros
- Lots of useful features for emergency situations
- Feels robust
- Good amount of volume, especially when using the alarm
Cons
- Battery cover is flimsy
- Not very efficient at charging a phone
- Instructions manual isn’t very clear
Summary
This is a great radio to have on hand in case of emergencies. It’s very versatile and would be useful when camping or hiking.
One of the best things about this radio is that you can use it to resuscitate your phone when the battery dies, though you’d have to wind the hand crank for a very long time to fully charge it.
Read our full review of the Degen DE13 here.
2. Duronic Hybrid Radio
The Duronic Hybrid Radio is a versatile and compact wind-up radio that comes with a built-in flashlight, a solar panel and an alarm clock.
It comes with a USB cable, so you don’t need to rely fully on the hand crank and solar panel. Winding this radio for 1 minute will give about 15 minutes of radio play time.
Features
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- Alarm clock
- Extendable aerial
- Built-in 300mAh, 2.4V battery
- Solar charging
- LED torch
Dimensions: 13 x 7.3 x 4.1 cm
Weight: 203 g
Pros
- Three charging options: Wind-up, solar, USB cable
- Easy to tune in compared to most wind-up radios
- Good value for money
Cons
- Needs winding up frequently
- Solar panel is ineffective in cloudy weather
- Not very durable
Summary
This is one of the best-performing wind-up radios available and offers great features for the price.
Like most wind-up radios, it needs winding up frequently and doesn’t feel especially durable, but overall it compares very well against the competition.
Read our full review of the Duronic Hybrid Radio here.
3. iGadgitz Xtra Wind Up Radio
The iGadgitz Xtra is a simple and inexpensive wind-up radio that offers 7 hours of play time on a full charge.
In addition to winding the hand crank, you can also charge it with a USB cable or with the solar panel on the top of the radio. There’s also a headphone socket for private listening.
Features
- AM/FM radio
- Can be charged by hand crank, solar or USB
- Extendable aerial
- Headphone jack
Dimensions: 13 x 7 x 4 cm
Weight: 203 g
Pros
- Good value for money
- Feels robust
- Small and light
Cons
- Tuning can be fiddly
Summary
The iGadgitz Xtra is very compact and light, so it’s easy to take with you when camping or travelling.
It doesn’t have as many features as some alternatives such as the Degen DE13 reviewed above, but it’s cheap and is a good choice if you just want a basic wind-up radio.
Read our full review of the iGadgitz Xtra here.
4. Greadio Wind Up Radio
This brightly coloured wind-up radio from Greadio offers several charging methods as well as a powerful flashlight for camping or power cuts. This is quite a versatile little radio that also lets you charge a phone via a micro USB cable. When fully charged, this radio gives you 16-20 hours of light or 8-10 hours of radio.
Features
- AM/FM radio
- Can be powered by hand crank or solar panel
- SOS alarm
- LED flashlight
- Can charge phones and other devices using a micro USB cable (included)
- Built-in rechargeable Lithium battery
Pros
- Compact design—good or travelling
- Can charge a phone with it
- Easy to find thanks to the bright red design
- Bright torch
Cons
- Solar charging might be temperamental
- Sound can be quite quiet
Summary
This radio offers pretty much everything you could ask for in a wind-up radio for camping or emergencies. It has a phone charger, torch and alarm, and can be powered by solar as well as the hand crank. The only downfall is the sound quality, as it might not be at the highest standard for the price.
5. Duronic Apex
The Duronic Apex is currently one of the most popular wind-up radios available in the UK. It has a winding arm as well as a solar panel for charging the built-in battery and can also be charged via a USB cable.
Features
- AM/FM radio
- 3 charging options: hand crank, solar, USB
- Headphone/earphone socket
- Telescopic aerial
- Digital display
- Alarm
- Torch
Dimensions: 15 x 7.5 x 5.5 cm
Weight: 381 g
Pros
- Compact and light
- Good amount of volume for the size
- Bright flashlight
Cons
- Feels quite flimsy
- Fiddly to tune in
Summary
This wind-up radio offers great value for money and is a very useful gadget to have when camping, hiking or gardening. It doesn’t feel especially sturdy and can be fiddly to tune in, but these are common issues with portable AM/FM radios in this price range.
Read our full review of the Duronic Apex here.
6. FORNORM Emergency Hand Crank Radio
The FORNORM Emergency Hand Crank Radio offers several powering methods: solar panel, hand crank, USB cable and AAA batteries. It’s available in either red or green. This is one of the newest products on this list, having been first released in 2018.
Features
- AM/FM radio
- 2000mAh power bank for charging a phone or other device via a USB cable
- LED flashlight
- Reading lamp
- IPX3 water resistance (splash-proof)
Pros
- Small, compact design
- Lots of features
- Can charge other devices via USB
- Solar panel works well
- Useful bright torch
Cons
- Pricier than some of the alternatives
Summary
The FORNORM Emergency Hand Crank Radio is a useful gadget to have while camping. It can be charged in several ways and lets you charge other devices such as mobile phones via a USB cable.
It’s a bit more expensive than some of the alternatives reviewed here but could be worth it if you want something with lots of features.