You'll soon find people using these little ICOMs everywhere, from schools to national parks. It's a great way for families or groups of people to keep in touch while out and about. The sound quality is awesome. There's a time-out feature which, when selected, will automatically turn off the radio and save your batteries. And, since it's an ICOM, you know it's built to last.
Voices come in loud and clear, and there is almost zero static interference.
FRS is perfect for short range communications, like keeping in touch within a ski area, or while sitting or walking in different areas within at a stadium. While CB communications are good for either short or long distance communication, the sound quality is often full of static, with lots of crackle and popping. FRS requires a very small antenna that's permanently attached to the radio, while CB works best with long antennas, like those big whip antennas found on 18 wheelers. When you want to use the ICOM, rotate the antenna up. When not in use, the antenna can be rotated down and out of the way, letting you zip up the whole radio inside a ski jacket or fanny pack.