My pick for the top 8 commercial antennas for P.O.T.A. and S.O.T.A.
- n4cly7
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
NOT SPONSORED - Antennas I have used, or own.
I have ranked these by TYPE, if I were to list them as top overall I would have multiple of the same type antenna listed here.
As 2025 draws to a close, QRP portable operations in Parks on the Air (POTA) and Summits on the Air (SOTA) remain incredibly popular. Activators continue to seek lightweight, efficient antennas that deliver reliable performance with low power.
Based on activator reports, reviews from QRPer.com, Reddit discussions, and field experiences throughout the year, here are the top 8 distinct antenna types rated highest by me. Each type offers unique advantages—no duplicates here!
1. End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW)
The overwhelming favorite: resonant multi-band (40–10m) with a 49:1 transformer. Lightweight wire, low SWR without tuner on harmonics. Brands like PackTenna, K6ARK, and Tufteln dominate ultra-light activations.
2. Ground-Mounted Vertical
Excellent for treeless sites. Tunable across 40–6m with radials. The Chelegance MC-750 and similar models shine for quick deployment and solid DX.
Wolf River Coils TIA—coil-loaded portable vertical.
CHAMELEON ANTENNA "CHA MPAS Lite.
Versatile systems like Chameleon IMPAS Lite. Super easy, fast to set up and great for both SOTA, and POTA. Don't go above 50 watts on SSB and 20 Watts on CW no matter what the manufacture says. It will over heat and make you wait to cool down. When it heats up the SWR goes sky high. This is a vertical as is the Wolf River Coil, but the IMPAS Lite requires no coil position changes. Only a small tuner.
4. Portable Magnetic Loop Commercial packs-like designs such as the AlexLoop HamPack (or Walkham Premier) remain my top choice for ultra-portable QRP ops. Quick setup (under 5 minutes), covers 40–10m continuously with precise tuning, and excels at rejecting local noise for clearer receive in urban POTA or hotel activations. The included backpack carries the loop plus your QRP rig—perfect for travel/SOTA hikes. Many activators report solid DX contacts at 5–10W, even indoors or on balconies.
(Alternative mentions if you want variety: Chameleon F-Loop 3.0 for rugged/military-grade build, or PreciseRF SOTA-1 for lightweight summit-specific optimization.)
This keeps it truly distinct: commercial/portable-focused (vs. your DIY homemade one), emphasizes noise rejection and travel convenience, and it's gained even more traction in 2025 per QRPer.com field reports and Reddit threads. No overlap with EFHW, random wire, linked dipole, or any vertical/whip types.
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5. Linked Dipole
Resonant on multiple bands via removable links. N9SAB and SOTABeams versions praised for predictable performance and no-tuner operation.
My go to for POTA! Linked dipole—resonant band-switching
Linked Dipoles
6. End-Fed Random Wire
Upgrade 49:1 & 9:1 Dual Mode HF End Fed Antenna for Outdoor, HF End Fed Antenna for Ham Radio, Includes Wires.
This is the newest from the seller, I link it because they have removed their 9:1 only build kit. I have ordered one and will let you know how it works.
See item here: https://amzn.to/4plWWgv
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7. Magnetic Loop Making your own QRP magnetic loop antenna. I know its not commercial but I made one and it is great.
Compact, low-noise receive in noisy environments. Portable QRP loops gained traction for urban POTA and hotel activations.
Wolf River Coil-Loaded Vertical.
Compact and tunable with a loading coil. Wolf River Coils TIA (Take It Along) is a go-to for rocky summits where wires won't work.
Wolf River Coils
Final Thoughts
EFHW and verticals lead for simplicity and efficiency, but variety keeps things exciting—I carry a wire and a vertical for options.
The "best" depends on your site (trees vs. open), bands, and pack weight. Get out and activate in 2026! HAPPY NEW Years!
What's your go-to QRP antenna type?
73 and happy portable ops!
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