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Original poster

Anyone planning on buying a wind up FM radio?

281 replies

Kepler22B · 23/10/2026 08:33

As part of the Be Ready campaign https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwd094x57p32o

households are advised to have basic supplies in, in case of any disruption. Which brings us inline to quite a few other countries. Most is pretty normal and easy to get or we have in already.

Except for a wind up FM radio. I don’t have one of those. But I do love a gadget. Anyone have a wind up radio or planning on buying one?

Wes Streeting walks in front of the Downing Street building facade carrying a binder that says 'Secretary of State for Defence' on the front, in September.

Streeting: Prepare for supply chain disruption from cyber or climate emergencies

The defence secretary says the UK needs to be ready for scenarios including impact to essential supply chains.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwd094x57p32o

OP posts:
AutumnLoverButNotYet · Yesterday 19:26

Tumbler2121 · 23/10/2026 08:45

I’ve bought one that also has a torch and works as a power pack charger, bought one for each of my daughters too

Do you have a link to the ones you bought?

Have you tried using the windup function to see how much radio time you get with it?

I need to buy one, but I'm being really indecisive and have currently got about 10 in my Amazon basket🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

Rituelec · Yesterday 18:55

Hyroplate · 23/10/2026 08:40

No, but I did think I must check the one in the kitchen also runs on batteries, and make sure I have a reasonable stock of batteries for that and torches.

I always keep enough food and medicines in so that we'd be OK if we couldn't get to the shop for a week or so. I have some bottled water in the garage, but am considering some large camping water canisters.

I can't really think of a good way of covering cooking and heating without spending £££ on stuff that will, hopefully, never be used.

I am considering an electric fire in case there are problems with the gas.

I'm no prepper, I think if things get beyond needing supplies for more than a couple of days, the civil unrest will be such that you'll need the means to defend your stash too, and I'm not up for that, I just hope it's over quickly.

Same. Society cracks up within 24hrs. I dont wanna hang around for people to turn on each other.

I have supplies for power cuts and health but thats it.

Cant get my medication anyway as nhs dont let me stockpile.

FroggyThroat · Yesterday 17:50

There are some really good tips here. I’ve got huge water butts. Didn’t think about how I could use them in the house. Could even have an outdoor shower with the hose if needed.

Good tip about the car radio.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Radio
FroggyThroat · Yesterday 17:48

If you can, grow some of your own stuff. I’ve got 3 tomato plants and I didn’t need to buy any all summer.

Nourishinghandcream · Yesterday 17:33

RedRiverShore6 · Yesterday 16:47

If it happens imminently the 3 water butts are nice and full for the loo

Same here.👍
Got 400L at the mo but just increased that to 900L so the rain has come at the right time.☔

RedRiverShore6 · Yesterday 16:47

If it happens imminently the 3 water butts are nice and full for the loo

Nolongera · Yesterday 16:42

Constantrunner · 23/10/2026 23:54

How much water per person should we store?

I think how much wine should we store?

Water falls out of the sky. It's doing it now. Muchly so.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · Yesterday 16:22

We used to have wind up torches from a holiday at a very basic S African safari camp - no electricity, etc. They worked very well but I don’t even have a clue whether we’ve still got them.

InveterateWineDrinker · Yesterday 12:28

Here I was, merrily thinking that GB News Radio was 'wind up radio'.

EasternStandard · Yesterday 10:56

No but we have a battery operated one which I assume will last three days. If it’s needed for a long time then we’re all in trouble anyway.

Saturdaysfairies · Yesterday 10:53

We brought one last year.

RedRiverShore6 · Yesterday 10:39

You can get something called bedbath wipes if there's not much water, DH uses them sometimes when he goes off in his car and sleeps in it for his hobbies if it's a distance away

JLou08 · Yesterday 08:16

No. I have a car. If we're only supposed to prep for 3 days surely the car radio would suffice?

Sgtmajormummy · Yesterday 07:31

FGS so much panic!
If it’s for 3 days use the radio in your car, it barely uses any power.

If that’s too “Let them eat cake” you could dig out an old radio (mine’s in the garage for music while I potter) and buy some batteries. If you need months’ worth of batteries, there will be worse things to worry about…

During Covid, in my area which is high risk for earthquakes and floods, the (Italian) Civil Protection volunteers had loudspeakers on cars doing the rounds broadcasting official advice. It felt like Big Brother but that’s what they’d been preparing for and they did it full force!

Does anybody think they might drop leaflets from the sky?? They did in that Julia Robert’s film, where she ended up in an air-conditioned underground bunker, fully stocked and with a lifetime supply of DVDs. A prepper’s wet dream.

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · Yesterday 06:23

Kepler22B · 23/10/2026 08:33

As part of the Be Ready campaign https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwd094x57p32o

households are advised to have basic supplies in, in case of any disruption. Which brings us inline to quite a few other countries. Most is pretty normal and easy to get or we have in already.

Except for a wind up FM radio. I don’t have one of those. But I do love a gadget. Anyone have a wind up radio or planning on buying one?

I bought a couple a few years ago, but the trouble is I can't remember the safe place we stored them! I think that even my family thought I was mad at the time, but with Putin and Trump, and the Chinese and North Korea, etc I thought they might prove to be a good idea. I hope they don't, I hope my family never think, Wow mum/my wife was on the ball there. In reality, I'm not sure we would even get a chance to use them 🥺

Nothavingagoodvalentinesday · Yesterday 01:39

If the world is about to end, I’d rather not listen to a commentary.

Constantrunner · 23/10/2026 23:59

Wow. I now have ten litres for two people and thought that was a fair bit.

GentleSheep · 23/10/2026 23:57

Constantrunner · 23/10/2026 23:54

How much water per person should we store?

Well opinions vary but 2.5 - 3.0 L per person just for drinking alone, then add a few more litres for cooking/hygiene. That's for one day.

Constantrunner · 23/10/2026 23:54

How much water per person should we store?

Portakalkedi · 23/10/2026 22:44

In addition to drinking water I keep liquid detergent bottles when empty, rinse and fill with tap water and drop of bleach, to use for loo/ handwashing etc, as they're sturdy and have a built in handle.

godmum56 · 23/10/2026 22:31

GentleSheep · 23/10/2026 21:24

I do understand that many think this is an attempt at scaremongering by the government (especially after we've been through Covid) plus all the scandals that have gone on, so no need to be sorry about your outlook. Others will definitely share it.

It's not just the UK though, that is advising citizens to prepare. Many European countries have done this for years, we're only just dipping our toes into it now, which in my opinion is really a bit late, but better than not at all.

I think going into next summer we'll really see the impact of the fertilizer shortages, caused by the various wars, and there will be shortages of various foods or ingredients which will mean prices really go up a lot. Next year could be very uncomfortable for many. Of course it's up to you and I suspect you are better at survival than many of us who've been more comfortably off.

Show quote history

Also many of us have done this for years.

godmum56 · 23/10/2026 22:30

Itsthewoluff · 23/10/2026 21:49

Rye bread is long dated.

yes but ick!

RedRiverShore6 · 23/10/2026 22:28

Itsthewoluff · 23/10/2026 21:49

Rye bread is long dated.

Yes, so is the delicious M&S nutrition dense super seeded oaty sliced bread, I bought some recently with next March date.

Itsthewoluff · 23/10/2026 21:49

Rye bread is long dated.

GentleSheep · 23/10/2026 21:24

Undones · 23/10/2026 20:19

I was born poor raised poor still poor i can live and survive where others woulden`t .
Ive been in survival mood for 40 year im a pro.

Prepare britain for what, scaring familys and folk into buying stuff we wont use or even need.
We all know how the goverment love to feed crap to the news channels.

Sorry for my odd out look on it all.

Show quote history

I do understand that many think this is an attempt at scaremongering by the government (especially after we've been through Covid) plus all the scandals that have gone on, so no need to be sorry about your outlook. Others will definitely share it.

It's not just the UK though, that is advising citizens to prepare. Many European countries have done this for years, we're only just dipping our toes into it now, which in my opinion is really a bit late, but better than not at all.

I think going into next summer we'll really see the impact of the fertilizer shortages, caused by the various wars, and there will be shortages of various foods or ingredients which will mean prices really go up a lot. Next year could be very uncomfortable for many. Of course it's up to you and I suspect you are better at survival than many of us who've been more comfortably off.

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