Looking to get a handheld, just wondering who has what and why, and most importantly how has it worked out.

I bought a Icom A24 a couple years ago as a backup. The sound quality and range (using it on the ground) seems fine. It's not real user friendly. I imagine if I used it all the time it would be fine, but as it is, it's pretty much a "get the manual out" each time to remind me of the sequence of pushing which button before twisting the knob, etc. The new one with VOR and GPS looks neat, but there again, more features means more button sequences. I've heard the Sportys radio's are easier to run, but I've never been around one.

I bought an Icom A14 handheld a few years ago, sort of as a backup but mainly for ground use.
Works great, simple to use with pushbutton freq selection.
I think it has some other features like memory frequencies but I don't use them.
It has a belt clip so you don't have to hold it while walking around.
Tried it in the airplane with a headset adapter (which was another $35 or so),
it didn't have the greatest reception with just the rubber ducky antenna but seemed to be OK for pattern work.
Kinda awkward to use without their special PTT switch though (those are another $20 or so).
I bought mine from Pilot Mall, $204 with free shipping-- seems like a pretty good value.

I have a couple of Yaesu, they work fine, Headset adapter, I can plug the antenna into the aircraft. Little antenna works ok, on ground or in the air.

Had an Icom before, it was good too. Surely the VOR feature is a joke, nobody’s used VOR for the last 30 years. FAA plan is to be down to 37 VOR stations nationwide, accessible only over 18,000’. Dead technology.

You get what you pay for with radios, but which one to choose depends a lot on what you want it for.

I agree that VOR and extensive memory features are of no value. Simple is better. I do NOT like LCD touch displays...much prefer buttons and knobs. Immersible is a good feature for a survival radio.

Without the ability to connect to a headset and to an external antenna, handhelds are of little value in the cockpit. Better than nothing, but just barely.

The handheld in my survival vest is a older Icom, and what I like about it is it runs on AA batteries. I load it up with lithium AA's and don't have to worry about it for ten years...rechargeable batteries do not hold a charge nearly that long. A piece of paper between the battery pack contacts and the radio prevents accidental activation in the vest.

Rechargeable radio batteries are surprisingly energy dense...recharging them from you airplane battery can quickly deplete it beyond being able to turn the engine over.

Many radio's come with very poor antennas. Upgrading the antenna is usually a very smart investment. I like these guys: https://www.smileyantenna.com/

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I really like my Yaesu 550. The rechargeable battery lasts a long time and it comes with a AA battery tray that I load up and keep in the glove box. That way I always have a backup, or extra AAs on hand. As stated above it also comes with a headset adapter and a removable antenna that you can upgrade or plug into your airplane's antenna.

I have had many over the years. I have the Icom A-14 now and it is probably the best I have had. Simple and the battery last a long time. I think the A-14 was recently replaced with the A-16, my buddy just bought one and he is very happy with it.

Kurt

I have the Sporty's SP-400 that I bought 3-4 years ago. I like it a lot. My plane has only one COM radio (and it's ancient and a bit unreliable), so I carry the SP-400 with me all the time. Even bought a RAM mount just for that radio. I've used it with the rubber ducky, and it's usually OK within 10 miles of the airport here in the flat plains of Texas. I also have an external antenna connection in my plane that works MUCH better. I've talked to Houston Center from over 30 miles away using the external antenna. Not bad for a handheld.

What I like about the SP-400 (after looking at virtually everything on the market at the time) is how easy it is to use. Everything else I looked at pretty much required a refresher course with the manual every time you want to do something. I'd say that was "just me" but I hear the same thing from so many other pilots that I think it's "real"... The SP-400 is FAR easier to use than the others. I bought it for "emergency use", and I've had to use it a several times. Twice I was just inside the DFW Class Bravo airspace when my COM radio decided to take the day off. Both times, I used the SP-400 to talk to ATC, so it was no issue. On another trip, the COM radio died just about at takeoff, so I wound up using the SP-400 for several hours.

As someone else pointed out, I really like the fact that it uses AA batteries. I bought an extra battery holder, and buy AA batteries at CostCo in bulk so I always have a fresh set available. But having said that, I typically get about 30 hours of use from the batteries before they're down to about 25% power, at which point I swap battery packs, then take the "depleted" batteries home to use in my computer keyboard and mouse, where a power failure is a mere inconvenience.

15 yeas ago when I bought a Rexon RPH-520 to use in the plane as the primary radio. I really liked it. After several years the squelch failed, radio still worked but there was fairly constant static, so I bought a Icom A6. The A6 has been a great radio and is easy to use but the RHP was easier and I slightly prefer it.

The A6 is kept in the seat pocket of the plane and the RHP is in the hangar. We’ve used both several times in the last few months to communicate during flight testing.

But that doesn’t help you as you can’t buy either of them anymore.