What is the Best Handheld VHF Marine Radio?

Choosing which handheld marine VHF radio is the best for you can be a tricky task, especially with so many options and a wealth of information available nowadays. In this blog post, we’ll look at the best handheld vhf marine radios – from budget bargains, to the very best that money can buy. 

Want to browse our entire range of VHF marine radios? Whether you’re looking for the best handheld VHF marine radio in the UK, want to invest in a fixed VHF radio or are looking for a replacement antenna, we’ve got you covered!

But what makes a good marine VHF radio? 

The core features you will see repeated a lot in this blog are battery life, waterproof capability, weight and, ultimately, value for money – as these are what we look for the most when browsing for the best VHF radio ourselves.

#1 Icom IC-M25 Floating Waterproof Handheld VHF Radio

Specifications:
Name: Icom IC-M25 Floating Waterproof Handheld VHF Radio.
Dimensions: 56 x 134 x 30mm.
Weight: 220g.
Price: £159.95 (was £179.99).

Why has it made the list?
Icom IC-M25 offers outstanding value for money, with an array of features including favourite channel, dual/tri-watch, a 4-step battery life indicator, flashing beacon and status icons – all encased in a slim, lightweight frame that weighs just 220 grams. Furthermore, as you can see by the title, the marine VHF radio floats, making it a strong contender for the title of ‘best handheld VHF marine radio in the UK’!

Our Top 5 Favourite Features:
11 hour battery life with fast charging via USB cable.
AquaQuake draining function, which removes water from the speaker grill.
IPX7 waterproof protection.
Instant access to Channel 16 or programmable call channel.
Water-activated flashing beacon that works even if the power is off.

#2 Cobra HH150 Floating Waterproof Handheld VHF Marine Radio

Specifications:
Name: Cobra HH150 Floating Waterproof Handheld VHF Marine Radio.
Dimensions: 116 x 68 x 31mm.
Weight: 227g.
Price: £89.99.

Why has it made the list?
Perfect for recreational use or as a portable backup on larger vessels, the radio offers IPX7 waterproof protection, a signal strength meter, audio and visual alerts, plus multiple power outputs for short and long range communication – all for under £100, making it an absolute bargain. When we’re looking at our best VHF handheld marine radio reviews, affordability is one of the top things we take into consideration, which is why the Cobra HH150 makes the list!

Our Top 5 Favourite Features:
Fully submersible to IPX7 standards.
Illuminated LCD display and keys.
Low, medium and high output power options.
Signal strength indicator.
User friendly interface.

#3 Icom IC-M94DE Floating Waterproof VHF Marine Radio with DSC & AIS Receiver

Specifications:
Name: Icom IC-M94DE Floating Waterproof VHF Marine Radio with DSC & AIS Receiver.
Dimensions: 60.9 x 145.8 x 43.8mm.
Weight: 357g.
Price: £329.95 (was £389.99).

Why has it made the list?
From budget, to (arguably) the best handheld VHF marine radio with DSC. M94DE is the world’s first handheld VHF marine radio that allows you to receive information that has been broadcasted by other AIS equipped vessels. The marine VHF radio has a navigation function that allows you to choose up to 50 fishing spots or destinations that can be used as waypoints – the radio will then guide you to them from your location.

The Icom IC-M94DE also has DSC which means that it can transmit digital information, not just voice transmissions! Its top of the range features undoubtedly make it one of our top choices for the ‘best handheld DSC VHF radio’ award!

Our Top 5 Favourite Features:
10 hours operating time.
Active noise cancelling technology.
Built in AIS receiver, plus DSC and GPS.
Class leading 1500mw audio output.
IPX7 Submersible.

#4 Cobra HH350 Floating Waterproof Handheld VHF Marine Radio

Name Cobra HH350 Floating Waterproof Handheld VHF Marine Radio.
Dimensions:  121 x 67 x 53mm.
Weight: 272g.
Price: £119.99 (was £130.00).

Why has it made the list?
In our opinion, this is one of the best value for money VHF radios money can buy. The handheld VHF radio has a huge range of features including a noise cancelling microphone, signal strength meter, illuminated LCD display and floating design – all for under £120.00.

Our Top 5 Favourite Features:
8-16 hour battery life.
Floating design that makes retrieval easy should the radio be dropped into the water.
IPX7 waterproof.
Instant access to channel 16 in emergency situations.

#5 Icom IC-M37E Floating Waterproof Handheld VHF Radio

Specifications:
Name: Icom IC-M37E Floating Waterproof Handheld VHF Radio.
Dimensions: 59.7 x 140.5 x 38.7mm.
Weight: 293g.
Price: £229.95 (was £262.49).

Why has it made the list?
One of Icom’s latest marine VHF radios, IC-M37E has a simple design that’s comfortable to hold, with a user-intuitive interface that ensures the radio easy to use. Suitable for leisure and commercial users alike, the handheld radio has an operating time of over 12 hours, plus powerful 700mw audio output for clear communication throughout its operation.

Our Top 5 Favourite Features:
12 hour operating life.
Buoyant, with a red flashing LED light that aids retrieval.
Channel history function that stores the last five channels used for easy recall at the press of a single key.
IPX7 submersible construction.
Simple, intuitive design.

Pirates Cave Provide Quality Handheld VHF Marine Radios

Selecting our five nominations for the title of ‘best VHF handheld marine radio’ was not an easy task, given the exceptional amount of radios available. The five marine VHF radios chosen stood out to us because of the core features mentioned at the beginning of this blog (value for money, battery life, waterproof capability and weight).

If you have any further questions about the handheld VHF marine radios mentioned, or any of our other marine radios for sale – whether that be fixed or handheld, do not hesitate to get in touch. Whether you’re looking for a new VHF marine radio antenna or buying guide to help you decide your next radio, we’re here to support you! Our highly experienced team have extensive marine backgrounds, so can guide you to the best handheld vhf marine radio, based on your requirements. Call us on 01634 295 233, email [email protected] or visit our Rochester store – open 7 days a week!

Whilst you’re here, why not check out our extensive range of marine electronics? From navigation equipment, to marine audio systems, to chartplotters and fishfinders – you name it, we stock it. And if we haven’t got it in stock, we’ll speak to our vast network of suppliers to get it to you as quickly as possible!