Even in this modern, hyper-connected era, basic walkie-talkies can be vital in situations when cell service fails.The easy, clear communication that these simple handheld radios provide can be critically important for activities like backwoods camping, rock climbing, hiking, skiing, and other adventures that take you far from the nearest cell tower.After 45 hours of researching basic walkie-talkies (not the industrial variety used by police, firefighters, and military) and many days spent testing them while hiking, camping, and otherwise removing myself from civilization, I’ve found walkie-talkies that are ideal for weekend outdoor adventurers, kids or beginners, people who want a little more flexibility, and those who need bulletproof communication in all circumstances.