The Ultimate Guide to CB Radios: Top Picks for 2024

From fishnet dresses to boyfriend blush, the top summer trends are reviving our wardrobes and vanities this season. So why would we neglect our communication devices? Like the standout runway fashion that is now touching down on the streets, the 2024 CB radio trends will imbue your daily drives and long-haul journeys with a fresh reset.

From New York to Paris, CB radios have played a key role in themes of countless recent collections. Case in point: In February in Manhattan, Uniden's Grant CB radio was a “nod to the concept of making the everyday sublime—even a trip to the grocery store,” the show notes said. The momentum of statement CB radios remained strong through Paris Fashion Week. With their Fall/Winter 2024 collections, both young designer brands such as Radioddity and heritage houses like Cobra gave us archetypes of drivers who embraced CB radios with abandon, asking: Why not? Why not clip a President Randy FCC2 to the dashboard of your truck, à la Chanel? Or wrap a Radioddity CB27 around your leather boot, as displayed at Burberry?

The teeming supply of CB radios has magnified the transformative power of communication in a vehicle and made the case for enjoying it every day. From compact handheld models primed for emergency use to feature-rich mobile units that embrace a professional spirit, here are the seven top CB radio trends to enjoy this year.

1. Classic Revival

From Uniden to President, designers fostered their own crops of perennials and posies for Fall/Winter ’24. Uniden’s signature Grant CB radios blossomed in durability, reliability, and modifiability—you name it—while President showcased cascading features like automatic noise limiter and effective noise blanker. At Radioddity, crisp 1960s-inspired designs were adorned with plots of modern functionalities, which captured a midcentury modern spirit, similar to this vintage Uniden model available on Amazon.

Whether you’re enchanted by radios dripping with classic designs or charmed by modern functionalities, plenty of models are primed for picking this month. Poised for a Rolodex of breezy drives and long hauls, the classic shapes can add a tinge of nostalgia to your communication setup.

Click Here to Buy this Product: Uniden Grant CB Radio

2. Compact Powerhouses

If the runways are any indication, compact powerhouses will take on new meaning come winter. After all, why search for a bulky unit when you can wear all the power you need on your dashboard? Until then, this summer’s vehicle-baring wardrobe staples leave plenty of real estate to stack compact CB radios as you please. Take a cue from Radioddity and complement a sleek dashboard with a compact CB27, or embrace Uniden’s rustic flavor of ’80s maximalism, with a mix of modern features and ergonomic designs.

Click Here to Buy this Product: Radioddity CB27

3. Professional Elegance

President wasn’t the only designer to bring the professional elegance to the catwalk this season. At Cobra, the cast of models wore full, feature-rich CB radios, featuring multiple channels, noise management, and FM stereo receivers—a wink to their heritage in reliable communication. From demure handhelds to robust mobile units, these professional models prove the communication stand is not the only place to get reliable devices this season. Whether you’re looking to add a slice of something new to your dashboard or want to infuse your drives with a professional twist, these radios demonstrate that some tools are meant to be used, not just admired.

Click Here to Buy this Product: President Electronics Walker 2

4. Minimalistic Marvels

While feature-rich radios reached new heights this season, in another camp, a standout class of minimalistic CB radios reflected a lexicon of 20th-century artistic movements, ranging from art deco to midcentury modern. At Uniden, the PRO505XL’s clean faceplate bore resemblance to those worn by the likes of minimalist designers. In homage to another icon, the simplicity and functionality of the PRO505XL seemed to have been rekindled in the modern design ethos. Olivier Rousteing likewise adopted minimalistic designs, and we love to see it—anything that allows you to feel more connected this time of year is surely a good idea, even if you can’t hear the ocean when you use them! From classic shapes to options with a modern twist, our favorite minimalistic CB radios are here.

Click Here to Buy this Product: Uniden PRO505XL

5. Rugged Reliability

A CB radio is an adult’s play chest—especially if it includes rugged reliability. This fall, yours could too, if you manage to snag a Cobra 29 LTD that showed at Coach. And even as we wait for those to hit the market, the CB radio world has plenty to offer. Just last month, Cobra—mastermind behind the “Soundtracker” and “Dual Watch”—released an exciting model that features a special run of noise reduction features and emergency channel access. This revival of a classic staple rekindles a sense of reliability and brings a spirit of ruggedness to the communication box. And what better time to be reminded of robust performance than long summer drives that leave space to explore? From an emergency-ready model to a professional-grade unit, we handpicked a few pieces that evoke that rugged spirit.

Click Here to Buy this Product: Cobra 29 LTD

6. Portable Perfection

Plump features mirroring dinosaur eggs and candy-coated gobstoppers came to life in portable CB radios across a variety of fall collections. At President, the Randy FCC2’s bespeckled functionalities resembled the works of 20th-century designers who drew inspiration from nature, such as Angela Cummings, whose unique designs garnered a loyal following that ultimately led to her very own boutique at Bergdorf Goodman, circa 1984. Taking a detour in favor of brighter pops of color and cosmic proportions, Cobra featured jumbo features, primed for a gumball machine. Whatever your preference, portable CB radios offer a refreshing way to update simple basics, like your go-to emergency kit or travel bag.

Click Here to Buy this Product: President Randy FCC2

7. Feature-Rich Wonders

If one CB radio trend stood out most this season, it was feature-rich wonders, which rose to the forefront. Rekindling the sense of shameless exuberance that defined the ’80s, CB radios took on a life of their own, in multi-functional designs and sharp technological advancements. Taking cues from the era that hyperbolized camp style, designers from Uniden to Cobra showcased feature-rich CB radios en masse, leveraging a mix of functionalities such as noise-canceling microphones and versatile microphone systems. In Milan, Jil Sander’s crystal-covered fringe designs exceeded the length of a shoulder-length chop, brushing against the collars of pink and maroon capes. And what better time to embrace this trend than summer, when an easy updo is the M.O. and your communication devices are left to bask in the sun? Consider letting them have their moment in the sunshine by swapping everyday models for a more glamorous alternative. Whether you take a cue from Uniden and don a Bearcat 980 or opt for an earthier model with stone elements, similar to Cobra’s, there are plenty of ways to drop it like it’s hot.

Click Here to Buy this Product: Uniden Bearcat 980

Conclusion

In conclusion, the world of CB radios is as dynamic and varied as the fashion runways of New York and Paris. From classic revivals to compact powerhouses, professional elegance to minimalistic marvels, rugged reliability to portable perfection, and feature-rich wonders, there is a CB radio to suit every need and style. Whether you're a trucker, a hobbyist, or someone who values reliable communication, these top picks for 2024 offer a blend of functionality, design, and innovation that will keep you connected and stylish on the road. So why not embrace the trends and upgrade your CB radio today?