For Rocky Talkie co-founders Bryce Jones and Alex Page, the idea for their rugged outdoor radio came directly from their own outdoor adventuring experiences. Avid climbers and backcountry skiers, the pair was particularly struck during a trip to Moab to climb desert towers, noting the power and confidence that reliable communication instilled in them to both feel more safe and to gain more from their experience.
“I think that we all generally have the expectation that things will go as planned on an adventure,” Bryce says. “But I often find that even when my partners and I plan on staying close together, we find ourselves apart. Our primary mission with Rocky Talkie is to improve backcountry communication and allow people to easily stay connected while pushing their limits outdoors.”
Originally drawn to Colorado as an avid snowboarder growing up, Bryce moved to Denver in 2015. It was along the Front Range that he further delved into the outdoor activities that the region proffered, with weeknights finding him exploring local climbing crags and weekends finding him venturing out to more distant locales. These experiences gave Bryce and Alex—who are also best friends since youth—the firsthand, practical knowledge of what they needed in a backcountry radio.
“The main thing that makes the Rocky Talkie unique is that it is primarily inspired and designed based on our experiences in the backcountry,” Bryce says. “We had a good idea from the beginning what the performance was that we required for our adventures, so we focused on making a radio that met all of those needs.”
Usability, durability and practicality are key features of Rocky Talkie radios. Some of the unique elements that bring these principles into reality? An advanced thermoplastic covering that protects the radio from impacts and scrapes. A shatterproof LED screen. Full-strength, ultralight Mammut carabiners in lieu of plastic clips. A simple, user-friendly interface. Reliable range. Key when using Rocky Talkies during Colorado winters, the radios also include impressive battery life and cold-weather usability, with Bryce noting that they can operate down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rocky Talkies are designed for all manner of outdoor recreation, from climbing and backcountry skiing to ice climbing, downhill skiing, hiking and other mountain explorations. Bryce notes that Rocky Talkie customers have continued to find additional applications for their ultra-durable radios as well, such as on construction sites and in property services like chimney cleaning.
Giving back to mountain communities by supporting volunteer search and rescue teams is also foundational to the Rocky Talkie mission. This year, the company is partnering with the American Alpine Club to offer the 2021 Rocky Talkie Search & Rescue Award, which will present $25,000 in funding to four search and rescue teams. Moving forward, Bryce notes that the company is likewise focusing on spreading the word about their radios and providing the best possible experience to their customers.
“We still see enormous potential for radios in the backcountry, and we are doing our best to educate outdoor enthusiasts on how to best leverage the technology,” Bryce says. “From here, we plan to continue innovating in the backcountry radio space.”
