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We use them when we're out in the hills with no mobile signal & on sites as mentioned above to call the kids in. They can be used in cars following in convoy but as also mentioned the 2-3 km distance is optimistic!!

I would never use them in place of supervision if supervision was needed. They are a useful device to enable kids to have a little bit more safe independence.

Walkie Talkies are great fun whilst camping!  We bought some last year from a local car boot sale and were the best £5.00 we spent in a long while!  The kids thought they were so grown up and "cool" having them and it was a good way of ensuring they were back in time for tea!!  (Clock watching and children doesn't really go well together!)  Also as the youngest one has a tendancy to trip over anything taller than an ant, they can call in Mum with the plasters!!

I agree that kids should be supervised..we always camp within sight of the kids play area and toilets, but they do like to think that we aren't watching them constantly...ha ha, little do they know!!

Another funny point is the amount of other people who use them....we had some great conversations with other campers who were on the same channels.  Mind you a rather large bottle of red did help the conversation flow!!

Used WTs for years and they were great when the kids were younger.  Very useful for getting them back for a meal .... and also calling them when they'd gone off to the shops and we thought of something else we needed.  We used them a lot in France with no problem, though somebody once said they were illegal in France ..... (?)

Ours have all packed up now (they lasted about 8 years) so we bought some Uniden PMR885s last year .... superb.  Longer range (though that can lead to more interference) but with 8 channels and 38 CTCSS codes per channel, pretty easy to find one that's clear.  Up to 8km range (over the sea - not in built up areas).  Just have to remember to recharge them.

What I like about these is the large clear screen with a great auto-backlight compared to our old ones - I can read the things without glasses!!  Friends with a huge American motorhome which they live in use them too when parking up and wouldn't be without them now.

Darned useful when doing a recent plumbing job in the loft, cos I just called downstairs for water to be turned on/off and it saved me climbing up and down the loft ladder and stairs, ha ha!  My wife got upset when I called her from the end of the garden and asked for a drink - well I did have a bad leg, LOL!

BTW, I discovered in a photographic shop some clear plastic film that goes over the viewing screen on cameras to stop scratches - useful on the WT screens and mobile phones too - just cut out a paper template to fit and then cut the plastic round it, peel off the backing and there you are.