RV FEATURE
A couple of months ago, I was preparing to test out the various Starlink systems for this magazine. As a part of that preparation, the issue of portable power reared its ugly head. What was I going to use to power all those systems at the same time without access to mains power? Well, coincidentally, Bluetti reached out to us and asked us if we would like to trial its new Handsfree portable power system. It looked like the sort of thing I needed, so naturally I accepted the offer. After using this system for a few weeks, I wasn’ t prepared for the revelation that was to come..
This section is perfect for storing clothes, laptops or even a Starlink Mini.
WHAT IS IT?
In a nutshell, the designers at Bluetti have taken their smaller portable lithium power stations and reshaped them to fit into a high quality, custom-made backpack. If you’ re into hiking or bush-walking, the layout of these backpacks will be very familiar.
There are two sizes available. The Handsfree 1 features a 42L backpack with a 268.8Wh power station. The bag is rated to comfortably carry 30kg and the inverter output is 300W. The Handsfree 2 is considerably larger at 60L in capacity. Its power station has a 512Wh battery with an inverter output of 700W.
For all intents and purposes, they are functionally similar to other Bluetti power stations, like the AC50B we reviewed last year. They are just taller and thinner to better fit into the backpack. The elongated form factor means the layout of the controls, outlets and display have had to be rearranged; however, this works well for the intended purpose.
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