Midland GXT1000VP4

The Midland GXT1000VP4 is a top outdoor walkie talkie with its durable and water resistant design. If in the mountains or woods without clear line of sight, the effective range is about 1 mile over FRS frequencies and even farther over GMRS, and if an emergency situation arises, an emergency siren can alert your group and help them find you.

Pros: This Midland walkie talkie model offers up to 50 channels, more than any other unit we reviewed. All 50 channels can utilize both GMRS and FRS frequencies, both of which performed exceptionally up to 1.5 miles. However, FRS frequencies became less reliable past that distance. This walkie talk comes with emergency features including NOAA weather alerts, push alerts for severe weather and automatic local channel scanning, and an SOS siren sends a loud distress signal if needed.

Cons: Testers saw a significant decrease in message transmission success via FRS frequencies over 1.5 miles. This model is not fully waterproof.

Bottom Line: The Midland GXT1000VP4 is a decent walkie talkie, but is limited by its poor signal clarity across distances over 1.5 miles.

Best for: Communication over moderate distances; road trips and family camping

Key Attribute: Emergency Options