I purchased the Eton Emergency Radio on 31 January 2011 from Amazon.com for $30 which included free shipping. I've had the product in my Go Bag since. That bag has seen close to 650 miles of hiking, rain exposure (inside the pack during rain) and an all around beating inside that bag. 10 months later finds it still fully functional.
The speaker is tinny, but clear, there is a head phone jack if you're looking for a bit better sound quality. The weather band comes in clear in both Payette, Idaho and Providence, Rhode Island. There is a tune light that does an adequate job of helping you fine tune the radio.
As for battery life, it's been rock solid going several hours after a good cranking. The solar charge is passive, and while I wouldn't rely on that alone to power the radio, it's a nice bonus.
Finally, perhaps the best feature, the USB out to power other devices. While you have to be continually cranking the handle to get a continual charge, it is more than enough power after 5-10 minutes to get out several text messages. During a real emergency that may be the best way to get information in and out regardless.
Overall impression of the Eton Radio, solid construction, rock solid value.
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Etón American Red Cross ARCFR160R Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger (Red)
