Best 2025 PMR Radios?

[Danceswithhelicopters]

I had an old pair of Motorolas which in my memory had a couple of K's range.


I borrowed these and vehicle to vehicle prob no more than 500M. It's this the make and model or have things changed?

Any recommendations on what's best out there in 2025?

 

[Broch]

My experience, of any of the license free PMR radios, is that they are useless inside vehicles. They are barely OK on the motorbikes for more than a 500 metres.

The licenced radios (£50 for 5 years last time I paid) are much better.

 

[ONE]

It's really out of fashion, but IMO if you're looking for short range handheld outdoor comms, you can do a lot worse than CB. Most modern handhelds give you 4W without licence and with comparatively little regulation. Almost nobody still uses the UK allocation, so there are no, or at least very few, idiots to contend with. External antennas are an option (if not always a great idea) and you can fit compatible units directly to a vehicle if that's helpful.

 

[Damascus]

Baofeng BF-W31 Waterproof PMR, used them for couple of years, easy 1+ mile range, depending on terrain (I do have a full ham licence, before the nay sayers) all round simple radio to use.