CNET’s key takeaways
- This solar-rechargeable energy station can also be a backpack that may carry my tenting necessities. I used to be in a position to cost my laptop computer six to 9 occasions, my telephone 18 occasions and my drone 5 occasions in a single cost cycle.
- The Bluetti Handfree 2 backpack prices $599 at full worth, however it’s usually on sale for $450.
- It is heavy. It weighs 16.5 kilos by itself earlier than including different gear.
The Bluetti Handsfree 2 backpack, which can also be a solar-rechargeable energy station, is my new outside important. This transportable powerhouse lets me preserve all my favourite electronics totally charged, even once I’m deep within the wilderness.
The Bluetti Handsfree 2 is called CNET’s best power station for camping as a result of it is the one one — out of a whole lot we examined — that’s mixed right into a backpack. It may be fully-charged utilizing solar panels or conventional wall charging. The battery pack matches into the rear pocket of a giant tenting/mountain climbing backpack, with loads of area left in the principle compartment for all my different tenting necessities, even meals, garments, gear or all of the gadgets I’ll be powering with the capacious battery.
This newest iteration of Bluetti’s transportable energy station isn’t only for glampers like me. It’s nice for anybody who needs to actually work remotely or whose job takes them nicely off the grid. It allows the usage of an enormous number of powered tools with out having to haul round an enormous, conventional energy station or generator. It will also be an enormous boon for anybody working in emergency services, the place transportable backup energy is usually a (literal) lifesaver.
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My expertise with the Bluetti Handsfree 2 backpack
The backpack can maintain 66 kilos when totally loaded, but it surely weighs 16.5 kilos by itself.
I spent a number of days utilizing the Bluetti Handsfree 2 to guage how nicely it stored me related whereas glamping. I took it out on the mountain climbing path with me for a number of hours and examined it with a number of gadgets and equipment.
The guts of Bluetti’s backpack energy station is a transportable battery unit, boasting a formidable 512Wh of energy storage and a most output of 700W. The battery matches snugly contained in the rear compartment of a giant, 60-liter blue backpack festooned with hoops, straps and buckles. It’s not essentially the most engaging factor, but it surely works.
The 512Wh battery’s lifespan relies upon fully on how you utilize it or which gadgets you cost with it. For example, I used to be in a position to fully refill a laptop battery six to 9 occasions, a phone 18 occasions and a big drone 5 occasions. It might additionally repeatedly energy a 10W LED gentle bulb for greater than 40 hours with no need to be recharged.
The facility station can pair with a photo voltaic panel (not included) to allow you to cost off-grid.
There’s loads of area to hold equipment, all the things from digicam gear to blankets or a tent. The shoulder straps embrace buckles to can help you mount a GoPro or different action camera to assist seize your wilderness adventures. The principle compartment additionally has detachable dividers that can help you divide the interior area nonetheless you want or depart it as one massive chamber.
The Handsfree 2 affords 5 outputs, all of which can be utilized concurrently. There’s an AC output (as much as 700W) for gadgets with a regular electrical wire, in addition to two USB-C ports (100W every) and two USB-A ports (rated at 15W output every).
It has sufficient output to energy a mini-fridge to maintain my favourite grownup drinks icy chilly, even with out entry to ice, and get some air circulating by way of my tent on sizzling desert nights with a full-size field fan.
The facility station comes with a handy deal with and matches within the backpack with different gadgets.
There’s an AC enter and a DC/PV enter to cost the battery. I plugged in a regular AC wire and obtained an entire cost in about an hour and 20 minutes. You can too cost it through your automotive. It took me nearly six hours with a 12V charger or barely over three hours with a 24V charger.
The headline charging possibility is photo voltaic. Whereas the Handsfree 2 doesn’t include a photo voltaic panel by default, you will get a 100W or 60W photo voltaic panel as a bundle or choose up a standalone transportable photo voltaic panel starting from 60W to 350W. On the 350W level, Bluetti says you’ll be able to totally cost the battery in two hours, whereas on the decrease finish, the 60W panel would take round six hours to fill the battery from empty.
Weight and sturdiness
The 60-liter backpack might look spacious, however the transportable energy station inside takes up a major quantity of area.
With the battery loaded, the Handsfree 2 weighs about 16.5 kilos. For those who add vital weight with your personal gear, and particularly for those who’re carrying a tent, water bottles and different equipment on the outside of the pack, it could actually get fairly heavy shortly. Bluetti says the Handsfree 2 can assist over 66 kilos of load whole as a consequence of its bolstered again and backside panels. For those who plan to do a number of mountain climbing, chances are you’ll need to restrict the load of different gear you load into the Bluetti.
The battery pack itself is a strong, dense brick in gunmetal grey, weighing round 15 kilos. Whereas it’s not precisely light-weight, it’s lighter than different energy options approaching its 512Wh capability, and the way in which it matches into the backpack makes it balanced sufficient to hold with relative ease (no less than for brief distances).
Whereas not totally waterproof, the Handsfree 2 is water resistant. It contains a number of options to maintain your gear (and the battery) secure from rain, together with waterproof zippers and a rain cowl, and the backpack is created from splash-resistant cloth.
Contained in the backpack are compartments with detachable dividers, letting you retailer digicam equipment and attachments.
The specs
- Battery Capability: 512Wh LiFePO₄ (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery
- Output Energy: 700W (AC output)
- Output Ports:
- 1 x AC outlet (700W max)
- 2 x USB-C ports (100W every)
- 2 x USB-A ports (15W every)
- Enter Charging Choices:
- AC Charging: As much as 600W max, totally charged in roughly 1.3 hours.
- Photo voltaic Charging: As much as 350W max, totally expenses in roughly 2 hours with a 350W panel.
- Automobile Charging: Roughly 5.8 hours (12V) or 3.1 hours (24V).
- Dimensions: 12 inches (L) x 4.1 inches (W) x 15.2 inches (D)
- Weight: Roughly 16.5 kilos (with battery loaded)
- Backpack Capability: 60L
- Backpack Load-Bearing Capability: As much as 66 kilos
- Water Resistance: Splash-resistant cloth, waterproof zippers, features a rain cowl. Not totally waterproof.
- Further Options:
- Go-through charging
- UPS (Uninterruptible Energy Provide) mode
- Bluetooth app management
- Constructed-in display screen show for energy utilization and remaining cost
- MOLLE-compatible backpack with exterior attachment factors and detachable inner dividers
- 5-year guarantee
CNET’s shopping for recommendation
The facility station that is included with the Handsfree 2 is able to charging your telephone as much as 18 occasions.
The Bluetti Handsfree 2 is a superb backpack and transportable energy station combo for campers, hikers and photographers. Not solely was I in a position to cost issues like a telephone or laptop computer shortly and simply (and even concurrently), the Handsfree 2 additionally let me energy some actual luxurious equipment.
If the value tag is simply too steep however you want energy on the go, you’ll be able to think about a regular power bank just like the InfinityLab InstaGo or Anker PowerCore for round $45. Consider, although, that these transportable energy banks are solely good for charging a telephone a few times.
Whereas technically transportable, power stations have a extra powering capabilities than transportable energy banks, however most are too heavy to lug round when mountain climbing. Transportable energy stations are meant for campsites and RVs. They often have wheels and will be lifted, however they don’t seem to be significantly transportable just like the Bluetti Handfree 2, which may merely be carried with you regardless of how tough the terrain is.
