CCO45ACP,

First I think you should determine your requirements a bit more, as there are a number of options:

FRS (Family Radio Service) radios - typically found at Walmart or wherever. Shortest range and fewest options of the choices, in general, but they do NOT require any licensing to operate. Also a limited number of frequencies.

GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) - not hard to find, and a slight step up in price. Typically has a bit more range, clear signal, and a few more options in terms of frequency use. However, these require an FCC license ($70 for your immediate family for ten years).

HAM (Amateur Radio) - the rabbit hole of communications, but gives you the most options. Even at the "starting" level you can access far more frequency bands, meaning potentially far greater range. Depending on your location local exam coordinators run anywhere from free to about $50 for a typical license session; this is good for ten years, but does require an exam and is per individual. Radios run from the ubiquitous Baofeng UV-5R for about $25 up to several hundred dollar multi-band high end versions.

From your base description and uses, I would look at GMRS first unless the license thing is really an issue, then I'd look at FRS. Just accept that either is more apt to be line-of-sight in terms of range, particularly in the mountains.

Thanks Smb and Scot,

I may pick-up some cheap FRS radios to experiment with...

That said "mission creep" is starting to set in and I'm thinking about going the Baofeng/Ham route. None of my adult kids have landline phones. In the day, the landline system seemed more durable than the cell network is now. Overseas, I experienced times when after an incident, it was impossible to get a cell call through. Natural disasters seem hard on cell towers.

So...in addition to backpacking, around the property, road trip convoy use, a Baofeng would seem to allow comms with kids that live relatively near but far out of line of sight or GMRS range. Now just have to get them to take and pass the HAM test (along with me).

Unfortunetly the FCC has not done a good job in this area with defining clear lines when it comes to licensing in my opinion. So most of the channels in the FRS & GMRS frequencies are the same and within the same frequency band. The license issue comes into play when you transmit above 2 watts. Thats also why some folks got into trouble with the Baofeng radios. As well as the frequencies that are outside the "band plan" that are available on those radios. So basically you "have or had" a HAM radio that could transmit a higher power on the FRS frequencies. Baofengs also tend to have a little "bleed over" outside the set TX frequency. Thats why radio snobs don't like them. I guess I'm in the "radio nerd" category so...Personally, I do like them and have a few.... You can get them on amazon. Like Scott said be AWARE of what frequency and power you are transmitting at. If you want to just run & gun hasstle free I would look at the motorola talkabout radios or Midland GXT series. They have a 3 or 4 pack available I beleive....I have had pretty good luck with them while hunting and in pretty heavily wooded areas. They can be either recharged or take AA batteries as well. Remember though the TX/RX is subjective to line of sight. So when they say "35 mile range"!!.... In the woods or mountains you may be down to 5 miles depending on the density of cover. Hope this helps