If the world goes down a dark and bleak spiral, the people of the future are going to ask: “What’s a radio?” But not if we have anything to say about it. With the rise and domination of Smartphones and streaming media, radio is becoming less and less relevant to the people of today. Or so it seems.

You see, 2-Way and CB radios are still relevant to the average person as much as it might not seem like it is. Why? Well a radio can communicate with another person from a distance.

But so can a Smartphone…

You can contact emergency services in case of an emergency.

But so can a Smartphone!

You can quickly find out information about storms and other hazardous weather.

There’s an app for that!

This is all true. But let me ask you this, how long does the battery last on your cell phone? How many times have you dropped a call or found yourself in an area where your data doesn’t work? How many times have you had to ask “Can you hear me now,” because of the static in the poor connection? Ahhh…. Starting to make some more sense now?

Here’s the deal, cell phone companies don’t like to put towers up in places like mountains, or the middle of nowhere or in the middle of the ocean because it would cost more money to them than its worth (and possibly because they want to inconvenience us). If you’re someone who likes to hike, climb, boat or explore abandoned places, it’s a very good possibility that your phone isn’t going to work very well in those places and doing those things.  Do you want to rely on your cell phone if you get your arm caught in a rock like the guy from 127 Hours? Didn’t think so.

If only I had a 2-way radiooooo!!!!!!

Radios are designed to be used in that kind of environment, your phone isn’t. Not to mention, if you’re biking and hiking, or on a boat, do you really want to risk dropping and breaking your phone or losing it in the water? A radio is like an insurance policy for your cell phone; small investment, big payoff.

A cell phone might be good for a 3 hour tour... But not for 3 year long TV series

Plus, you get some cool features like the one touch NOAA broadcast. With the push of one button you get access to the emergency weather station and can find out if you need get your skipper back to shore because a storm. If only Gilligan and his crew had one…

And, the Cobra CXR925 has a Rewind-Say-Again feature that will record the last 20 seconds of a transmission so you can play it back. Never miss an important detail again.

And think about this, if you’re tailgating, it’s lame to have to call someone in the car ahead of you, wait for them to answer and then try to hear them over your Hands Free kit because you shouldn’t be talking on the phone while driving, and then have a conversation. Just press a button on your radio and start talking. Simple. And have you tried making a phone call at an amusement park with all the screaming kids and roller coaster noises in the background? It’s something out of a nightmare. A radio is meant for noisy environments so you know you’ll hear the other person.

So, still think they’re irrelevant? If so then you let me know how it goes trying to dial the nearest coast guard or ranger station when you get stranded in the ocean or on top of a mountain. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so why take a chance that you don’t have to take? Be prepared all the time, every time with a 2-way radio.