Summary
- Effortless to carry with an ergonomic design that can carry all your electronic equipment and camping gear.
- It offers 700W AC output, plenty of USB ports, and up to 350W solar charging.
- Priced at $600 ($400 on sale) as a combo with the Bluepack.
Portability is a top concern whenever I review a solar generator: could you seriously take this on a hike, or is it just luggable from the truck to the campsite? The Bluetti Handsfree 2 is designed to be the maximum power capacity you could feasibly carry on your back, and the Bluepack that it fits perfectly inside of isn’t just a neat storage case—it’s a brilliant backpack too, with all the features you’d expect, plenty of extra capacity, and fantastic ergonomics. If you need serious power on the go, you need the Bluetti Handsfree 2.
Bluetti Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Station
The Handsfree 2 and Bluepack that it fits into isn’t just a plentiful 512Wh portable battery with a fancy storage case that you can carry on your back—it’s also a great backpack with plenty of pouches, pockets, hanging points, and even some PALS webbing for MOLLE. The only reason not to give this a 10/10 is that it has no built-in lighting panels. Otherwise, I can’t fault it.
- Effortless to carry thanks to the ergonomic waist and chest straps.
- Plenty of storage for electronic kit, clothing, and camping bits.
- Can be charged while hiking with the optional PV60L solar panel.
- No built-in LED panel on the battery.
- Lacks a DC port.
Price and Availability
Retailing at $600 for the Bluepack and Handsfree 2 power station, that’s already a good deal at less than $1/Wh for the 512Wh capacity battery, plus $150 to $200 for a decent hiking backpack. But at the time of writing, the combo is on sale for $400. You can add a 60W foldable solar panel for another $100.
The Handsfree 2: Slimline Power Station
With 512Wh of capacity, the Handsfree 2 breaks the mold of a typical solar generator. Its tall and slim design measures 4.1 inches deep, 12 inches wide, and just over 15 inches tall. Ports and buttons are located on the left and right sides and are accessible even when secured inside the Bluepack 2 thanks to the clever unzippable side panels. One inset handle runs along the top of the battery.
Weighing 16 lbs (7.5kg), the BluePack 2’s ergonomics are so good that carrying the Handsfree 2 around feels effortless. The weight is placed as close to your back as possible, as it should be.
Of course, while it’s perfect for hiking and camping, I also found a less conventional use for it: extending standalone VR play sessions to days at a time!
The Handsfree 2 offers up to 700W of AC output in standard mode, or 1200W when Power Lifting (which won’t work for all appliances). That means it can run a small space heater or travel kettle but not full-size appliances. That’s impressive, but I suspect it’s more likely to be used for older laptops that don’t use USB-C.
There’s no DC output port; that means you won’t be able to run portable appliances that rely on a 12V car socket. While I’m sure a handful of you are disappointed if you were planning to use this as a one-size-fits-all power station, it’s no significant loss purely for hiking.
When it comes to charging, you’re limited to 350W of solar (12-45V @ 8.2A max) via a single XT60 port. That’s plenty for the capacity, and you’re unlikely to carry more than a 200W panel with you on a hike. In good sun, you’d be lucky to get 150W from a 200W panel, so you’d need to set basecamp for around four hours to charge fully. If you want to charge and hike simultaneously, check out the matching PV60L (60W) panel, which ties on the top and folds over the back—however, this would strictly be used to top it up, as it would take a full day of sun to charge from zero.
You can also charge up to 600W with AC before heading out into the wilderness.
My only disappointment with the battery is that it doesn’t include any lighting; a small 1 x 2-inch LED panel above the USB ports would have been an excellent addition. Of course, it’s not going to replace an actual flashlight, but it would have been handy while fiddling with USB ports in the dark or as a nightlight.
The Bluepack 2: Carry All The Things
The BluePack 2 is a 60L backpack with loads of attachment points and features that any outdoor enthusiast will appreciate, from straps for bedding rolls and even an action camera hook on the left shoulder strap. On the rear, you’ll find a 2 x 3 PALS webbing for attaching your MOLLE pouches and tactical accessories for even more storage capacity. It’s rated for up to 30kg (66lbs), but I assume the Handsfree 2 counts towards this, leaving you with around 22kg (50lbs) to play with.
Internally, the BluePack 2 is divided into three main cavities. The first, closest to your back, is where the Handsfree 2 power station sits. A velcro padding bar secures this on the top, but there’s a small area left over here that you can utilize if you need.
Next is the gear space, which offers ample opportunity to securely store all the essentials—like camera lenses, a VR headset, a headlamp, or perhaps some eggs. This section features a basic number padlock, too, which is handy but won’t keep out a determined thief. Padded Velcro dividers ensure your kit is safe, and while the dividers can be removed to allow for larger objects, they can’t be reconfigured for smaller ones.
After a few hours of testing, my eggs were safe despite being held in the bottom compartment. On the opposite side is a sleeve for your laptop. Finally, there’s an expandable section for clothing with mesh pockets.
Out and About With the Handsfree 2
You might be wondering how you use the Handsfree 2 battery when it’s inside a backpack. Two rubber panels on either side can be unzipped and strapped up, giving full access to all the ports and buttons while keeping the battery snug inside. The rubber flaps also have downward-facing holes, so even when fully enclosed, the air can still flow around the battery (without allowing water in).
It’s a genius design, any way you look at it. I must admit, I’ve not looked at backpacks for many years; I had no idea they had got this advanced. It has all the expected trappings of a good backpack, with a waist and chest strap for comfortable weight distribution.
Although made from water-resistant materials, you’ll want to use a waterproof rain cover when it starts to pour. I found one stuffed into the right waist pocket that I assume is included as standard (you’ll keep finding little pockets everywhere), but my only complaint is the rain cover isn’t blue!
Should You Buy the Handsfree 2 And BluePack?
The Bluetti Handsfree 2 isn’t the first “backpack power station” on the market, but it’s the first that’s also a great backpack for outdoor adventures and not just a fancy bag for your power station. Of course, you could just stuff a regular power station into your favorite backpack, but it wouldn’t be nearly as convenient, and I’d worry about thermal runaway if you attempted to use it while packed.
Overheating isn’t an issue on the Handsfree 2, and the battery doesn’t compromise on quality either: it uses industry-standard Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cells rated to 4000 cycles. If 60L is too big for you or the 30kg capacity is too heavy, the Bluetti Handsfree 1 uses a 30L backpack instead.
If you need a lot of power and you love hiking, this is a game changer.
Bluetti Handsfree 2 Backpack Power Station
The Handsfree 2 and Bluepack that it fits into isn’t just a plentiful 512Wh portable battery with a fancy storage case that you can carry on your back—it’s also a great backpack with plenty of pouches, pockets, hanging points, and even some PALS webbing for MOLLE. The only reason not to give this a 10/10 is that it has no built-in lighting panels. Otherwise, I can’t fault it.
