For backpacking
Imagine winter, night, dark, inside a tent, relaxed, not wanting to read, isolated, alone, and the entire world out there available to your ears. There's a lot of interesting stuff out there.
Kaito KA105
Priceless.
This was my solution to finding a digitally tuned, light, small radio which uses readily available batteries. Another consideration is for it to be inexpensive enough to lose or have stolen without experiencing too much grief. I've stopped taking expensive items, such as Leatherman tools, preferring knockoffs for that reason. (A Leatherman is too heavy anyway, but that's the idea.)
Arf