Cobra TrailBlazer 450 Walkie Talkies Review

About Cobra TrailBlazer 450 Walkie Talkies

• Weight: 1.45 lbs
• Power output: GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service)
• Battery type: Rechargeable via USB-C
• Battery life: 16 hours
• Waterproof: Yes, IP54
• VOX (Voice-activated Transmit): Yes
• Easy pairing mode: Yes
• Built-in NOAA weather receiver: Yes
• Emergency alert button: No
• Connectivity/integration: No app support

For $129, the Cobra TrailBlazer 450 long-range walkie-talkie radios are ideal for all kinds of recreational use, from camping, hiking, hunting, and off-roading to storm-chasing and snowmobiling. Using them for a family to stay in touch in a huge theme park is fine, too, of course.

They’re perfect for communicating with one other person, as two radios are in the box, but also for coordinating with multiple friends or family members with walkies, even if they’re on GMRS radios from other brands. These walkies are ideal for casual chitchatting, sharing waypoints, or calling for assistance if needed, even where there’s no cellular connectivity.

And sure, while some smartphones now work with satellites, they’re mostly reserved for emergency purposes and limited to quick messages opposed to staying in touch with others on an ongoing basis.

Featuring 2.5 watts of GMRS power and a removable antenna, the Cobra TrailBlazer 450 offers access to 30 channels, including its main 22 channels, plus an additional eight repeater channels, allowing you to connect through repeaters to extend your communication range when off the grid.

These small black-and-orange handheld radios also have features that help them stand out from others in this space.

How we tested

We tested the Cobra TrailBlazer 450 for a week in three types of areas outside of Toronto, Canada: urban, suburban, and rural. We first unboxed them and charged them up via the USB-C cables. The antennas easily screw on, and within a few minutes of the walkies switching to the same channel, they were reviewed in a variety of scenarios and at various distances.

First, we assessed the home environment to determine if there was any interference with multiple wireless devices on different floors. Then we tested them while walking a Bernese Mountain Dog we’re sitting for, while the second TrailBlazer 450 was back at home.

The most aggressive test was while ATVing at a friend’s cottage, nearly 3 hours north of Toronto—and at one point in the rain—to see how the handsets held up. The TrailBlazer 450 boasts an IP54 rating, which means it can withstand dust and some moderate rain and splashes, but not full immersion in water.

All features of the TrailBlazer 450 were evaluated, as you’ll read about in the next section. Not tested for this review were some optional accessories, like a charging dock (to make juicing up the battery easier) and an optional wired headset plugged into the side, which is sold separately.

What we like

It delivers great performance and range

It doesn’t matter how many bells and whistles a radio has if it doesn’t perform well as a two-way radio. The TrailBlazer’s call quality and range—allegedly up to 36 miles—were excellent, overall.

These radios feature more than 2 watts of power, removable antenna options, and repeater capability (integrated into the handsets), which can extend range when connected to GMRS repeaters in your area.

Communicating between the TrailBlazer 450 handsets was loud and clear, for the most part, with little static/hiss. More on this in the following section.

They are easy to use and have a long battery life

Comfortable to hold and easy to use, these radios let you easily switch to different bands/frequencies and access the menu to enable other features, such as four programmable channel banks. Unlike some other radios, you’ll have access to NOAA weather alerts for safety and access to NOAA weather channels, too.

Battery life is very impressive, lasting up to 12 hours, which is shy of the “up to 16 hours” but makes sense if you consider I occasionally used the flashlight and screen light.

They boast handy extras

Worth noting are a few features found on the Cobra TrailBlazer 450, including detachable belt clips (on by default), a flashlight that illuminates a bright white LED from the bottom of the walkie, and a light-up LCD display (press the red button to illuminate the screen).

You can also press the “Call” button to ring other radios on the same channel, and then press the standard “Talk” button on the side when communicating back and forth.

These walkie-talkies also let you connect a wired headset via a small port (with protective cover) at the top right-hand side of the radio, should you prefer to be hands-free.

What we don’t like

We encountered some limitations in distance and clarity

If you use walkie-talkies already, you know that the environment you’re in will impact range and call quality. While Cobra says they operate “up to 36 miles,” that would perhaps be true in the most ideal conditions.

However, real-world performance is less ambitious but still impressive – about 4 or 5 miles in open terrain, about 1 mile in a thick forest, and about half a mile in suburban neighborhoods with lots of buildings, cars, and such.

Again, range will vary based on terrain and obstacles, and weather conditions, too.

Price feels too high

Considering you can buy a pair of long-range brand-name radios with rechargeable batteries for under $60 (including a Midland model with charging docks), spending twice that on the Cobra TrailBlazer 450 feels a little hard to justify.

Sure, the range, quality, and features of this Cobra pair are exceptional, but just know there are other “bang for the buck” options out there, especially if you don’t need anything too powerful. Another temptingly affordable solution is the Wishouse Walkie Talkies 4-Pack for just $60.

We wish Cobra would include a charging dock with the TrailBlazer 450, especially for its $129 price tag.

Warranty

The Cobra TrailBlazer 450 comes with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty.

What Owners Are Saying About

Verified buyer reviews are generally positive, citing clear communication, solid range, and rugged construction. People also love the NOAA weather alerts.

A small concern popped up about the face screen, which seems to be easy to scuff.

Should you buy the Cobra TrailBlazer 450 Walkie Talkies

Yes

If the price isn’t an obstacle and you don’t need anything with better weather durability (like the IP67-resistant model), Cobra—a leading name in the radio space—delivers the goods with the Cobra TrailBlazer 450 (available at Amazon for $129.95) .

Between its easy setup and exceptional performance, long battery life, and handy extras (NOAA access, flashlight, and rechargeable batteries among them), you won’t be disappointed with the TrailBlazer 450, especially if you need something with greater range and multiple channels (with repeater support) to use in the wild.

Our Expert

Marc Saltzman is a prolific tech expert with one simple goal: to “break down geek speak into street speak.” For the past 30-plus years (yikes), Marc has been a freelance journalist for dozens of publications and currently contributes to many prominent outlets such as Reviewed.com, USA TODAY, Reader’s Digest, Yahoo/AOL, Costco Connection magazine, AARP, and Postmedia. Marc is also a 17-time author (including “Apple Watch For Dummies”); a regular on several TV shows as a tech expert and analyst; and host of the syndicated Tech It Out radio show and podcast. Marc specializes in consumer electronics, interactive entertainment, smart home tech, automotive innovations, and future trends.