Standard 2M or Dualband??

[asteffes]

50 watts maximum power will work just fine. In fact, once you start studying up for your ticket, you'll learn that you always want to use the *least* amount of power that gets the job done. You *should not* use 50, 25 or even 10 watts when you're talking to your buddy 20 feet in front of you on the trail. Doing so exposes you to more RF energy than is necessary and it might cause interference for other people on an adjacent frequency. Set the radio to its lowest setting for these situations and don't bump it up unless you have to to maintain communications.

In my opinion, 75 watts is not much more than 50 watts. You aren't getting 50% more range despite having 50% more power. Buy a radio based on usability, feature set and power output, in that order. Some radios have *terrible* UIs (the Icom 2720H, for example, is outrageously bad given its price.) Some radios do a lot of things you won't need or care about. Most any radio will have plenty of power for the vast majority of situations you'll be in on the trail (they pretty much all have 50 watts max on VHF, 35 watts max on UHF.)

 

[Pskhaat]

What isn't also stated yet, but is obvious, is that VHF/UHF frequencies are line-of-sight. 5-10 watts in these frequencies with a proper antenna can get you 100+ miles line of sight. If you can talk to the horizon well below 50 watts, you generally (without ducting) won't talk to any other horizon on 50+.

Power and it's usage is much more a factor on HF and lower frequencies, but there are folks who talk 'round the world on 10 watts or less.

 

[gary in ohio]

So what is the recommended wattage?

I see single band 2M that are 75watts, but dual bands are only 50 watts, affordable ones anyway!

There is going to be very little difference between 75watts and 50 watts in the real world.