Retevis HA1G

The Retevis HA1G is built for the newly licensed GMRS or Technician-class operator who wants a waterproof field radio without committing serious money. It sits comfortably in the entry-level handheld category, and it knows its lane.

The IP67 rating is the headline spec here, meaning submersion to one metre for thirty minutes, which is genuinely useful for hiking, kayaking, or caught-in-the-rain scenarios where a lesser radio becomes a liability. CHIRP compatibility removes the usual pain of programming a budget Retevis, and the 2800mAh battery with USB-C input is a practical advantage on multi-day trips where wall outlets are scarce. The 250-channel memory and included GMRS repeater channel support give it more range extension capability than its price suggests.

Where the HA1G struggles is in overall feature depth and value density compared to similarly priced competitors; it scores poorly on both counts in our engine. TX power figures are unverified at this time, which is a meaningful gap for anyone trying to compare it on the spec sheet. Buy this if you need a waterproof, CHIRP-programmable starter radio for outdoor GMRS use. Pass if you want a workhorse HT with documented RF performance.