Built for the most rugged adventures you’ve ever dreamed of taking, the Motorola Talkabout MS350 radios were engineered to be high performance, ultra durable and waterproof. Perfect for camping, hunting, kayaking, trekking, skiing, and… well, you get the point… just about anything where communication is necessary. The Motorola Talkabout MS350 radios are more than just your standard run of the mill walkie talkie radios. Though they do come standard with some pretty incredible features such as 11 weather channels, a 23 hour battery life, 22 talk channels with 121 privacy codes and much more! Recently we were given the opportunity by our buddies at Motorola to fully test and review the MS350’s battery life, 35 mile talk range and rugged capabilities. Today, after more than a month of testing we’re prepared to share our results with you!
Key Features:
- 35 mile range
- Waterproof (IP-67)
- 22 channels + 8 repeater channels, each with
- 121 privacy codes
- 23 hr battery life
- PTT Power boost
- VibraCall vibrating alert
- QT (Quiet Talk) interruption filter
- Built-in flashlight
- 11 Weather channels (7 NOAA) with alert feature
- 10 Call tones
- Advanced priority scan
- Extra large buttons for glove operation
- Radio Dimensions: 8.36”H x 2.4”W x 1.5”D
- Radio Weight w/o Batteries: 0.39 lb.
– The Review –
Design:
(9 out of 10) At first glance these radios don’t look like anything out of the ordinary. Sure, they’re bright yellow and have a slew of buttons, but how different could they be from your typical 2-way radios? Well, the answer is A LOT! While the Talkabout MS350 may look simplistic it’s truly jam packed with technology and protection. We heavily tested its advertised 35 mile talk range and quickly found that it’s no lie. Although when traveling between high country to low areas you may find some discrepancies in range as we did. On flat open land the radios easily reach their 35 mile range with the use of the PTT (push to talk) power boost button (high frequency). For close range communications the low frequency PTT button works excellent. We were also impress with the NOAA alerts and 11 weather stations which come in very handy in scenarios when no TV or FM/AM radios are available. Other features we absolutely fell in love with were the built-in flashlight, which is bright and easy to forget is about because of its seamless integration as well as the VibraCall which is very handy in quite situations like hunting.
Battery Life:
(8 out of 10) On a single charge (aprox. 3 hrs) with medium/moderate use we found that Talkabout MS350 will operate without failure for up to 7 hours using the included rechargeable battery pack. With light use we noticed the battery life extended to 9 hours and with heavy use the battery was only good for 6 hours. If you find yourself using the power boost button often for long range conversations be prepared for your battery life to be cut in half! All in all we were still quite impressed with the unit’s battery life. Knowing the battery life of your radios is important. You don’t want to be caught with a dead battery when you find yourself needing it most! When operated with three AA batteries in place of the battery pack we noticed a substantial boost in talk time. Our testing found that with a brand new set of AA batteries the radios will run for close to 24 hours with moderate use.
Audio Quality:
(9 out of 10) Don’t get us wrong, we’re not talking about cell phone quality audio here, but in the realm of 2-way radios the Talkabout MS350’s are pretty darn good. The speakers are quite small, but are able to produce quite loud voices and alerts when needed. The only time we experienced any fuzziness or static was during times of low battery and when testing the maximum talk range.
Waterproofing:
(10 out of 10) These bad boys are waterproofed to the max with an industry leading IP67 rating. We washed the mud them off in the sink, left them out in the rain over night and even threw them in the lake and they still work just like they’re new today. TIP: if you need to replace the batteries make sure to tightly screw the battery cover back into place. This is the radio’s biggest weak point when it comes to waterproofingDurability:
(10 out of 10) Not only are the Motorola Talkabout MS350’s waterproof and dust-proof, but they even appear to be bombproof! We gave these radios all we had in the abuse department over the past month and a half and they came away with little more than a few minor scratches and dings, but overall no real damage was evident. They were simply built to last!
Value:
(9 out of 10) Priced at just less than $100 for the pair with included rechargeable batteries and a charging station, we found these radios to be an exceptional value. When you factor in the extreme waterproofing and rugged durability these radios were engineered with it’s easy to come to the conclusion that these radios will likely be your last!
The Bottom Line:
If you are an avid outdoors man or woman who trusts cell phone towers and their service just about as far as you can throw them, yet need a trusty mode of communication while whitewater rafting, camping in the back country or slicing up the slopes this winter we highly recommend you check out the Motorola Talkabout MS350 tw0-way radios for your next adventure. They’re ultra rugged, waterproof and even float if dropped into the drink! With weather alerts, an integrated flashlight and up to 35 miles of talk range, these radios are the ultimate companion for any adventure no matter the conditions.Buy Now: $99 or go to: Motorola.com
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