Bluetti Handsfree 2 Review. Power your adventure.
The Bluetti Handsfree 2 is an all in one portable power solution for those who need to carry gear and power to remote locations. Think walking off the grid for a couple of days to stargaze and get drone shots of nature without having to worry about packing multiple drone batteries and you’re probably looking at who this is designed for.
Contents
It consists of a power station and a backpack that is perfectly tailored to allow access to ports and outlets without requiring the battery to be removed and exposed to the elements. In addition, the backpack’s rugged construction and padded shoulder straps make it comfortable to carry even when loaded with gear. However, if you prefer, the power station has a convenient carrying handle so you can set it up with a solar panel on a hill and keep the backpack in a tent or other shelter.
The Bluetti Handsfree 2 Backpack is a rugged all-weather backpack that can withstand light rain. It has an IPX4 rating, which means it should keep the contents dry in light rain. In addition to the splash-resistant fabric, the backpack has waterproof zippers with rubber gaskets. However, the power station part of the equation is not waterproof and needs to be protected from water ingress. I discovered this a bit late, but fortunately, there was no lasting damage.
Bluetti Handsfree 2 specs
Backpack
- Capacity: 60 Liters / 66 lbs
- IPX4 (splash-resistant)
- Dedicated compartment for the power station with side-access for convenient charging
- Expandable compartment for clothing
- Multiple smaller pockets for accessories
- Water bottle holders
- Combination lock for security
- Rain cover for added protection in wet weather
- Ergonomic design with padded straps and waist belt for comfortable carrying
- Breathable mesh material in contact areas for comfort
- MOLLE webbing on the front
- Quick-release clip for action camera
Power Station
- 512Wh LiFePo
- 4000+ cycles
- 700W continuous, 1200W surge (Herculine Mode)
- AC Outlet x 1: 700W total Pure sine wave inverter, USB-C x 2: 100W each, USB-A x 2: 15W total
- 600W Max AC input (power cord) 45min (80%) / 1.3 Hours (100%)
- 350W Max Solar input, 12V-45V XT60 connector – 2 hour charging under ideal circumstances
- Car charging 5.8 Hours (12V) / 3.1 Hours (24V)
- Pass through charging
- 3 charging modes (turbo, silent, standard)
- 16.5lbs / 7.5kg
- 305mm × 105mm × 385mm / 12in × 4.1in × 15.2in
- 5 Year Warranty
Package contents
- BLUETTI Handsfree 2 Power Station
- BLUETTI BluePack 2 Backpack
- Solar Cable (XT60 to MC4)
- User Manual
Handsfree 2 real world testing and thoughts
I received this during a time when I was barely able to walk due to a knee issue. A couple of months of PT on my right knee have me walking normally again, but I did not get a chance to do much with this in the fashion it was mean to be utilized in. I have worn it, walked a fairly easy trail in it, left it in the elements, and solar charged it for several empty-to-full full power cycles on a different brand solar panel.
I did walk around with the backpack on being that strange guy at Radnor Lake and had a few thoughts after adjusting it properly (I got it quite wrong initially). The backpack is pretty great, it’s designed for actual use with the goal of protecting electronics and being able to haul everything you need along. But even though it was only 16.5 pounds, that was just the base weight for the battery and the backpack.
While this can lift to 1200 watts, I couldn’t really figure what I would carry along that would require that. At 1200 Watts the unit would be exhausted in under 30 minutes so there’s that too. Perhaps at home powering a fridge during a power outage, or bringing along a hair dryer or hot plate.
At 512 Wh capacity batteries, and assuming a 90-95% conversion efficiency the unit is probably going to reliably produce 460-486 Watts. I couldn’t locate the efficiency specs and I’m not pedantic enough to run this through another charge, hook up a Kill-a-watt, and drain it to see. OK, maybe I am but it hasn’t been done as of this writing.
460Wh should charge an average iPhone 16 or Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, which both use about 19.2 Wh batteries if my searching is correct, over 23 times. I didn’t have a drone to play with, but Google suggested they have an average power usage of 245 Watts per hour. Assuming that, the backpack would provide less than two hours of flight time. Your drone size, power consumption, and usage will obviously vary. Something to consider though.
Bluetti lists 5 drone recharges for a DJI Mavic 3, and 10 for a DJI FPV.
It’s kind of heavy
If I were walking into nature to do some filming I’d probably want to bring along a solar panel other than the giant one I was testing this with. My non-Bluetti 120 Watt panel took three, three and four days to charge the unit via solar. It was generally overcast, rainy, basically had a streak like the Pacific Northwest in Nashville while I was charging and I believe it was the environment. The three solar panels they recommend are the PV120 at 12.57 lbs/5.7 kg, the PV200D/SP200L at 17.2 lbs/7.8 kg, or the PV350 at 29.1 lbs/13.52 kg. But you’ll note the weight starts adding up quickly.
At 17.2 pounds for a 200 Watt solar panel, plus the 16.5 pounds for the Bluetti 2 Handsfree, we’re at 33.7 lbs / 15.28 kg. Now it’s been a while since I’ve been backpacking (absurdly rare tumor, chest surgery, knee problem, kids have knocked me down for years,) but when I did I believe the general rule was don’t go over 20% of your body weight. If you’re 160lbs, you’re at recommended capacity carrying a solar panel without adding anything.
Throw in a drone, phone, food, backpack, camping supplies, etc, you’re getting up there. I mean, it’s doable, don’t get me wrong, it’s just something to consider that if you’re really going to go into nature for few days you might want to bring a friend to carry all the non electronic gizmos, which is listed in the manual by weight ranges.
I really like the handle on the battery. I can’t really tell you why, but I very much enjoy that it’s offset so that when carrying it you can cause the battery to angle away from your legs just using gravity if you’re carrying it.
Nitpicking
Speaking of considerations, travel will need to be one of them. The Bluetti Handsfree 2 at 512Wh of LiFePo batteries far exceeds the FAA maximum battery capacity. You can check this sheet that the FAA has on their site if you doubt this, but it’s 100 Watt Hours per battery or up to 160 with airline approval. You will need to ground ship that battery if you’re planning on flying anywhere for a hiking adventure.
The Bluetti Handsfree 2 also fails my perfect battery/charger test in that you can not charge it via USB-C. That’s one of the things I’ve really dug about other portable power stations: not having to keep up with the cables that charge them. This might just be a me thing.
I really wish there were something so that you could isolate the battery in a waterproof container and pass some cables out so it could be expected to survive in an unexpected rain. When I camped I quite often camped in a shady spot, which is not conducive to solar charging. Eh, you can wrap it in the rain bag I guess but it would be nice by default to have it a little more water resistant with cover plugs for the USBs.
While the backpack is pretty good at keeping out water, I feel like with a waterproof chamber and an outside the bag connector plate there would be no reason required to ever expose the main battery to the elements. You’d just plug in and have USBs hanging off the side that if they got wet, well, it’s not the battery. Unexpected rain or falling in a creek the worst you’d do is trigger a shutdown of the unit.
Coming in at $399 as of this writing (which includes a $200 off coupon,) without a solar panel included, this feels a bit high.
Things I did not test on the Bluetti Handsfree 2
There’s an app for that… which I’ve used on other Bluetti products and allows you to change operating modes. There’s not much I find useful, that can’t be done by button pushes listed in the manual so I skipped it this round.
There are action camera mounts on the shoulder straps for things like GoPro… oddly I don’t have one of those.
While I did rearrange the padding on the inside, I did not pack for a camping trip I was not taking.
Wrap-up, it’s in the bag
I appreciate the concept, I’m not quite the target unless someone wants to send me some decent drones. As far as I can tell it works and there’s not a lot you can do with a decently protected power station to lower that weight.
You can find the Bluetti Handsfree 2 on Amazon or Bluetti’s website. Make sure you check what you’re getting as there are multiple versions that include or don’t include a solar panel as well as the Handsfree 1 which is a smaller version in both watt hours and liters.
Bluetti Handsfree 2
A backpack, solar capable power station, and more thought than you put into your mother's day card are featured in this photographer's dream backpack. I'd say it's great for nature photography and dark skies adventuring, but probably not for the average bear.
Product Brand: Bluetti
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 399.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.4
Pros
- A portable power backpack that thought of most things
- Designed to cover most bases
- Water resistant
Cons
- Doesn't charge via USB-C
- Not waterproof
- Power bank has to be exposed to elements charge
- Can't air travel with the battery
