How to choose your VHF radio?
- Size: if you are kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, or if you want your VHF to never leave the pocket of your life jacket, compactness and weight are your #1 criteria. A VHF that is too heavy will end up being forgotten in the cabin.
The Navicom RT440 (ultra-light, only 179g) or the Standard Horizon HX40 (a mini pocket format). They are completely unobtrusive during maneuvers.
- Safety: accidents happen quickly. If your VHF falls into the water, it needs to float, and you also need to be able to find it, especially at night or in waves.
The Plastimo SX350 and the Icom IC-M25 are designed to float. The Icom goes even further: it includes a red flashing light (Float’n Flash) that activates automatically upon contact with water, even if the device is turned off, to allow you to spot it immediately.
- Power: depending on whether you are heading out for a 2-hour trip or a multi-day cruise, the charging method is crucial.
Favor models equipped with USB charging. The Plastimo SX350 (via USB-C), the Navicom RT440, or the Icom IC-M25 (via Micro-USB) recharge as easily as a smartphone. You can plug them into an external battery (powerbank), a solar panel, or the onboard cigarette lighter.
The Navicom RT440 offers excellent battery life of about 12 hours in standard use.
- Audio performance and waterproofing: wind, waves, and engine noise put equipment to a tough test. You must be able to hear and be heard, even in heavy weather.
All our portable models (Icom, Standard Horizon, Navicom) transmit at the maximum authorized power of 5 to 6 Watts, ensuring optimal range. For difficult conditions, Icom technologies (such as vibrating water out of the speaker) provide exceptional audio clarity.
- Price: count on between €120 and €300 for a serious portable VHF model.
While some models may be sold below the €100 mark, they generally do not ensure sufficient reliability for safety equipment, especially those sold on well-known platforms at particularly low prices, which should prompt you to be cautious either regarding the nature of the product when it comes to safety gear, or regarding the reliability of the merchant site.