What's the best handheld radio these days?

I bought a very good-CHEAP!!! set of flaoting Uniden VHF marine radios for my first kayak vhf's...they worked great but one radio kept dying and would appear charged and ready to go...then cut out on whoever was using it...sent it back 10$ shipping twice and got it back only to have the same radio fail..(marked it with a sharpie to be sure)...that said the one good one is top notch ,works great still,same orig battery and performs just as good in the bay as my 220$ standard horizon...in simple press to talk uses...

the radio they sent me to replace the one i kept sending was their next model up$$$

never buy one...does not float...had nobs for on off on top-that the vest rubs and changes-and only comes with car cigarette charger

just wanted to review some cheaper ones for the record

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Uniden-MHS-050-One-Pair-Of-Floating-Hand-Held-VHF-/231279131958?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35d94f7d36


cheap uniden pair with charger base mhs050-2 ...great deal if they stay working

more expensive uniden MHS75---junk...sounds like your talking through a wall to me--even close otw it is almost useless

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIDEN-HANDHELD-MHS75-WATERPROOF-TWO-WAY-VHF-MARINE-RADIO-/121419022437?pt=US_Marine_Aircraft_Radios&hash=item1c45234065

below is the letter from uniden sending me a replacement (after tons of calls and e-mails and being on hold etc)that did not float (never thought to ask)and is now gone in 3 trips when it popped off my friends vest this Ssunday, near shore, on the way in---before it was lost we had spent the day asking him to "please repeat" as you could barely hear him...for like 80-100$  total B.S

I just ordered the  MHS-050-2  cheapos to have loaners again...live and learn

Good Day Craig,
It’s come to my understanding and attention that you have a set of VHF radios that you have returned for service now twice to our repair department.Sro 1983249 & Sro 1986418
Due to the model in which you have purchased MHS050-2 and it being a discontinued model we would like to offer to replace the unit with a single hand held unit Model MHS75.

 
 

Thanks for starting this thread - very helpful!

I also found this very helpful & am off to buy some pool noodles & a radio this AM.
Bill

I want a VHF that also acts as a Radio. I like to listen to the NFL on sunday's while I fish.
That's my biggest thing. lol

The first time I fired up the one my wife got me all I could pick up was morning tv talkshow w food frying in the background

I want a VHF that also acts as a Radio. I like to listen to the NFL on sunday's while I fish.
That's my biggest thing. lol

  http://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=85&encProdID=71726205E5C6EC181DE69A09BC8877EA&DivisionID=3&isArchived=0

https://www.sevenseaselectronics.com/Products/Standard_Horizon/Radios/HX471S/HX471S.html