Can you’re keen on and hate one thing equally? That’s the connection I’ve with Bluetti’s Handsfree 1 Backpack. For $349 you get a big 42L backpack and a thin 268.8Wh photo voltaic generator constructed round long-lasting LFP battery cells that may be recharged by as much as 200W of linked photo voltaic panels. It options two USB-A and two 100W USB-C ports with a single 300W AC jack to energy modest gadgets like a Starlink terminal for a full work day.
I’ve been touring round Europe with it in my van for a number of weeks. On one hand, I really like that I can retailer all my gear inside a single large bag, together with my DSLR, lenses, Starlink Mini, a drone and controller, motion digicam and equipment, laptop computer, a 45W EcoFlow photo voltaic panel AND that comparatively large energy station able to recharging my MacBook Professional about thrice.
Then again, it’s an unpleasant, overwrought backpack that appears prefer it was designed by {an electrical} engineer who dabbles in plumbing. Its brutal building lacks even an oz of finesse, regardless of weighing a really heavy 5kg / 11 kilos earlier than including any of my gear.
However there’s one thing to be stated about with the ability to energy and carry a complete distant workplace setup on my again, even when it’s just for brief distances due to the load.
Bluetti makes an excellent greater, even heavier, Handsfree 2 equipment that encompasses a 60L backpack, 512Wh photo voltaic generator, and 700W of AC output. I didn’t evaluate that one as a result of I’m not insane.
Each backpacks are lined in zippered pockets and Molle straps to connect absolutely anything, together with a photo voltaic panel for those who’re determined for energy en route. There’s even a GoPro mount baked proper into the shoulder strap. Digital camera gear is supposed to be stowed within the massive central part that includes foam dividers that may be shuffled round quite a lot of pre-defined velcro attachment factors. The bag is barely splash resistant, nevertheless, so Bluetti throws in a rain fly.
Vented panels on either side of the bag will be zipped again to disclose all of the inputs and outputs of the photo voltaic generator. That’s a pleasant contact — that huge battery by no means wants to depart the bag. Port exercise can be managed and monitored over Bluetooth from the Bluetti app.
The bag helps a great deal of as much as 30kg (66 kilos). I’m off the grid in the meanwhile, so I can’t weigh my full pack, however it’s rattling near the restrict. Thankfully, every part on the backpack is adjustable so you may dial in your most well-liked weight distribution throughout the shoulders, chest, and hips. However the gear extends up to now off the again that strolling with a fully-loaded bag requires a major ahead lean to counteract the pendulum impact.
Look, I hate the aesthetics of this Bluetti backpack however I can’t deny its useful enchantment. It may be a boon to photographers or distant staff needing to remain powered and linked whereas spending the day within the subject. As a cell workstation, it’s just like the evil twin of Peak Design’s new Curler Professional, solely Bluetti removes the wheels and throws in a photo voltaic generator for lots much less cash.
You should buy simply the 42L backpack for $169 for those who by no means learn this evaluate, or get an entire Bluetti’s Handsfree 1 equipment with the backpack, battery, and Bluetti’s very moveable 60W photo voltaic panel for $399.
Images by Thomas Ricker / The Verge