What's the word on those "tactical tape measure" antennas?

[WRTC928]

I like the idea of a 15" antenna that can be folded up and carried in a pocket or in a small radio bag behind the seat of the truck, but would it really give me any improvement over the 8" 701-type antenna? I can definitely get a bit better performance from a 771 over a 701 in some circumstances, but the "tactical" antennas seem a bit gimmicky to me. If it's no better than an 8" antenna, there's no point. Does anyone have any personal experience they can share about these?

[Socalgmrs]

With a stock rubber duck I get about 10miles in the open.  With a 771 I can do about 40miles in the open.  I always carry a 42” foldable when on horse back out in n the wild that gets me to more than 60miles in the open.  The help under curtain circumstances. 

[WRTC928]

13 hours ago, Socalgmrs said:

With a stock rubber duck I get about 10miles in the open.  With a 771 I can do about 40miles in the open.  I always carry a 42” foldable when on horse back out in n the wild that gets me to more than 60miles in the open.  The help under curtain circumstances. 

I'd settle for just as good as a 771. What brand do you have?

[Socalgmrs]

I use abbree. They are cheap and I don’t mind if one breaks or goes missing.  We have a whole bunch of ht radios.    The main reason I do so well with distance in my area is flat dry desert.  We use our radios 7 days a week all day long. 

[HHD1]

On 2/25/2025 at 9:05 AM, Socalgmrs said:

 We use our radios 7 days a week all day long. 

What's your favorite, go-to HT?

[Davichko5650]

1 hour ago, HHD1 said:

What's your favorite, go-to HT?

Dunno 'bout theirs, ours is the Motorola XTS 2500.

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, HHD1 said:

What's your favorite, go-to HT?

I think elsewhere he said they use BF UV-9Gs. 

[WSGL775]

I use the Abbree 42.5" folding tactical antenna. I have one permenately attached to my radio back pack with a 3ft jumper cable SMA to BNC for quick changes in the field. At home I use the same antenna attached to a tripod rising 8ft in the air. Same setup SMA to BNC. I use the Baofeng UV-5R 8W as my go to radio's and those antenna's work exceptionally well for me.