Science Mad! digital walkie talkies
Best: Overall
Rating: 9/10
Compact and lightweight, these Science Mad! walkie talkies really pack a punch for their size and were a huge hit with all of our child testers (and the grown-ups, too!). With just five buttons to contend with, our five-year-old got to grips with these in minutes and was even able to explain to our youngest tester how to use them.
The sound quality is great, offering a clear, static-free reception even when outside. These walkie talkies claim to work up 3km apart in an open area, and we were very impressed that they stood up to their claim when we split up on a family walk to really put them through their paces (the belt clips came in handy here, too). This was on a clear day – without any wind or rain to battle with – and we’re not sure the signal would have stretched quite so far with less-than-perfect conditions. That said, it’s unlikely children would be using these at such a distance very often.
Great for camping trips, thanks to the decent, built-in LED torch, these walkie talkies are ideal for trips away as well as fun games at home. There are three channels to switch between, as well as a button to send a ringing alert to the other walkie talkie to let someone know you want to talk to them. We found this feature handy to track down one half of the set when it inevitably went missing around the house, although you are relying on the walkie talkie to be turned on for this to work.
Although there’s no volume control, the walkie talkies are loud and clear, so it’s not really an issue. Well, apart from when your child sends through an ear-splitting ringing alert from their bedroom at four in the morning “just to say hello”…