Midland GXT1000VP4 2-Way Radios

These “walkie talkie” and their headsets are wonderful.

As a member of another website, I sometimes get the opportunity to test out products in exchange for a review.

The transmit audio was robust and loud.

Whisper mode was interesting, as it really amplified quiet "whispered". 

I got over 8 hours of use on a full charge, and they seemed to charge pretty fast on the desk charger. My main (minor) complaint is that you have to use the charging base with the proprietary adapter plugs, either the wall or car. It would be nice if you could charge the radios directly with a micro USB so there is one less charger to pack. 

Some glaring advantages over other brands: (1) They cost less; and (2) Once you figure them out they are an absolute no-brainer to use. They have the simplest buttons and menu/interface plus the nicest large display characters of any of the inexpensive radios I know of. Mastering these units takes maybe 15 minutes reading the manual. ***Read the manual 

The radios are durable and well built. Not surprising, since Midland has some great commercial equipment.

Overall during several of my different tests audio reproduction was good and accurate, and they didn't clip anyone's speech. Use of whisper mode with a headset dramatically improved reception, as it increased microphone sensitivity as well as gain. When I tested in on the water with my friend the receive volume was good, except in the noisier areas (as we’re going full bore out to our fishing location), like one would expect. However, with the headset, this problem is eliminated.