The best wind-up radio
In a long power cut the mobile network can go down too, and a radio that needs no mains power is how you hear local news and official advice. For most kits the best all-rounder is the Roberts SolarDAB 99, with DAB, a torch and three ways to charge it; the Philips TAR3500, tested by Trusted Reviews, adds phone charging for less. Many wind-up radios sold out in late October after the government's emergency-kit campaign, so check stock.
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What to look for
- FM at least, ideally DAB too. Local BBC and commercial stations carry emergency updates on both.
- More than one way to power it: a hand crank, plus batteries or a solar panel.
- A torch saves carrying a second gadget.
- USB output to top up a phone is handy, but cranking a phone to full takes a long time. Treat it as an emergency trickle.
Four options
Prices and stock checked 4 November 2026. Specs are from the makers' and retailers' listings. The Yorkshire Post reported at least seven models sold out across four retailers over one weekend in late October.
Roberts SolarDAB 99 Most complete
DAB, DAB+ and FM. A rechargeable battery with three ways to recharge it: a built-in solar panel, the hand crank and USB-C. Also a torch, a reading light, an SOS beacon and a siren, and it's splash-resistant (IP55). Roberts doesn't say whether the USB-C port can charge a phone, so don't count on it.
Philips TAR3500 emergency radio Tested, charges a phone
AM and FM, charged by hand crank, solar panel, USB-C or AAA batteries, with a torch, an SOS siren and a power bank to top up a phone. Trusted Reviews tested it for a week and found "a single full charge lasted just over two days of continuous operation" and that a full battery gives a phone roughly one charge; it called it "a great option" for a 72-hour kit. No DAB, and it isn't fully waterproof. Reviewed at £49.99; we couldn't confirm a shop's price.
Roberts R9957S Simple and sturdy
AM and FM only, powered by AA batteries or the hand crank, with an emergency alert buzzer. No torch, no solar panel and no USB charging, so it's a radio and nothing else. The Yorkshire Post called it "a convincing alternative" for anyone who wants a straightforward radio from a long-established British maker.
IONOS Almere Emergency Wind Up Radio Budget
AM and FM radio, torch and USB charger, powered by solar, crank or USB. A low-cost option for basic radio and a torch. It was sold out at the retailer we checked, and a buyer says the UK version has no weather band despite the listing.
Back to the 72-hour kit checklist.