I keep a radio in my pack. It is a combo battery/hand crank model with AM/FM ,weather band and a couple of foriegn bands. I like it for multiple reasons. The hand crank is nice becase old uncle murphy would show up for sure if I needed it and left batteries in it. i originally bought it in CA incase I was stuck after an earthquake. Figured I could find out what routes were closed and what was happening. I keep it in for SHTF scenario because it could be any number of reasons. Weather,lost hiking,or political SHTF. and its sometimes nice to fall to sleep hearing good music without worrying about dead batteries in the morning. Oh yeah i have a hand crank L.E.D. flashlight in the pack too. uncle murphy again.