BLUETTI Handsfree 1 Backpack Power Station Review

Over the years, I’ve seen some great power stations from BLUETTI, and they’ve become a staple of any shoot that I go on. The issue is that while they provide an essential boost to power when you’re out and about, carrying them around is always an issue, and that’s where the new BLUETTI Handsfree 1 comes in.

This new backpack-n-power station has been designed for those of us who work off-grid, and while the actual capacity of this power station is in line with smaller and lighter options, the BLUETTI offers something that a simple power bank doesn’t: AC mains power.

This means that if you need to run lights, charge accessories and cameras, or even run your computer, then that’s perfectly possible. On the front, you can plug it directly in, and power is supplied to whatever device you want, be it through a USB or standard AC plug. What’s more, it all stays nicely contained within one simple backpack.

One of the major features that really stands out with the BLUETTI range of products is the quality, and once again, the backpack and the power station are extremely well made.

Starting with the all-fabric backpack, BLUETTI has used high-quality materials throughout, and there’s plenty of padding around the shoulder and waist straps. Likewise, all the straps and buckles feel well made and durable. While the pack isn’t waterproof, the zips are weather-sealed, and the outer fabric proved to be both tough and weather-resistant during the test.

Looking closer at the backpack, there are many features that are attuned to the use of the power station it contains, such as the quick access doors on the side to the ports of the power station when needed. Then, there are two further sections. Looking at the front of the backpack and the entire front unzips and flips open, enabling you to fit in a few thin items, but if you unzip the expansion, you have room for clothes, a jacket, or a decent amount of gear.

The middle section is where you can keep all your camera gear, along with drones and a laptop. There is the larger Handsfree 2 backpack, which might offer a slightly deeper section, as the Handsfree 1 is rather shallow. Camera bodies, such as the Sony A7 IV, have to be laid flat without the lens attached in order to fit properly in the section, and the DJI Air 3S also just fits, but it’s a little tighter than I’m used to. Unfortunately, in this section, there’s no space expansion.

Finally, dotted around the body of the bag are a range of mesh and zipped pockets for batteries, filters, and anything else you want to slip in.

The main focus of the system is, of course, the power station rather than the backpack in which you carry it. Again, this is of the same high quality that we’ve seen with the rest of BLUETTI’s power stations and features a decent number of sockets ready to charge or power your kit. As with all of BLUETTI’s power stations, there’s a small screen on the front that gives you a readout of the unit’s status, and there’s also an app if you want a little more detail.

On the front, there’s the main power button and the DC and AC buttons to activate the ports. The DC ports are all on the front and include two USB-C 100W and two USB Type-A 15W. There’s also the 12V-28V/8.2A/200W DC/PV input for solar panels.

There’s no doubt that the advent of electric power stations has changed the way many photographers and videographers can work away from the studio. The old anxiety of running out of battery power for your camera, lights, and other gear has really been eliminated by the fact that you can now take mains power with you. However, while there are lightweight power stations out there, including some from BLUETTI, the BLUETTI Handsfree 1 is the first time that a fully focused pack has been designed for content creators.

The “battery in a bag” premise works incredibly well with the design of the backpack, with its 42L capacity enabling you to carry a decent amount of kit along with camera and drone equipment. BLUETTI has also ensured that the outside of the bag is designed to carry all the usual accessories, including tripods, gimbals, and anything else you want to strap on board.

The backpack has been designed as part of an ecosystem, and in this test, I’ve taken a look at the Handsfree 1 and the 268.8Wh battery pack that supplies both AC (mains) and DC power. While the capacity is relatively low compared with the company’s larger systems, it’s perfectly adapted for use out in the field. With fast charging times that see the unit charge to 80% in 45 minutes, it means you can top up quickly when needed. BLUETTI also makes a set of solar panels that have been designed for use with the kit, although I have yet to look at those in this review, and the unit has solely been charged using AC mains power.

The BLUETTI Handsfree 1 is something of a surprise but really reinforces just how useful these electric power stations are when working as a photographer or videographer. I now always take at least one of these systems with me on a shoot. Sometimes, they get dragged along for the day, but more often than not, they get left at a base where they’re used to charge batteries and power computers.

The fact that I now have the option to carry one with me does add an extra dimension to the day. However, I have power banks that command a decent capacity yet are far smaller, so at the start of this test, my initial thoughts were: this is a great idea, but why would I take the BLUETTI Handsfree 1 over a far smaller and lighter source of power?

The answer to that is actually quickly revealed. During lunch, my GoPro, phone, a couple of SmallRig Sony-type batteries, and the laptop all needed a top-up. The Handsfree was with me because it had just arrived, and I was testing the DJI Air 3S and hadn’t had time to charge the batteries before heading out. So, it made sense to grab this and see how it would do. What was instantly apparent was that I had everything plugged in at once, and the 300W maximum output still had plenty of headroom. Most power banks are well below the Wh rating of the Handsfree, and the largest capacity power bank I have is 48,000mAh, which roughly equates to 177Wh. It also has a maximum output of 300W, so while both are able to charge at the same speed, the largest power bank only has half the capacity.

Then there’s the fact that the power bank only supports DC and not AC power. So, while any USB-chargeable device is fine, camera batteries and lighting that require AC power can’t be charged with the power bank. However, with the Handsfree 1, you just plug in everything, and it works—nice and easy.

There are, of course, two parts to the system, or actually three if you include the optional solar panel. The kit that I’m reviewing features just the battery and backpack, and as the backpack is the main thing you see when opening the kit, I’ll start with that.

My first thoughts about the backpack were more about the design, which all seemed decent enough and surprisingly comfortable once fully loaded. An instant issue was the depth of the camera section, which was just a little shallower than I would have liked. Still, removing the Sony lens and flat-packing the camera did the job, although it could be better. The rest of the kit settled in neatly with the flash, filters, and a few other accessories.

On the exterior, the bag is really well-designed, and it’s easy to slot everything you need into all the loops, pockets, and straps. BLUETTI has obviously thought hard about the design, and it’s definitely functional, although it’s more functional than stylish—this looks like a work utility bag rather than a stylish camera backpack.

On each side of the backpack are two large flaps that can be opened to give you access to the power station inside, essentially giving you fast access to the power when needed. The absolute ease of use really stands out, and despite the size and weight, when it’s in the backpack, the weight is well distributed, making it easy to carry. However, as the backpack fills with the kit, that load does become noticeable, so it’s great for lugging the kit to a location but not for carrying it fully loaded all day.

In use, the power station works incredibly well, especially with the app able to monitor the capacity and output of the unit. Access to the ports through the bag’s side doors works well, and when stopping for lunch, the bag sat at the end of the table with everyone’s phones, laptops, and chargers connected to get a boost of power. By the end of lunch, the battery had rapidly gone from full to empty, but considering it had topped up four NP-FZ100 batteries, the DJI Air 3S, several phones, and the MacBook Pro all at the same time, that was considerably more than most power banks could handle.

The BLUETTI Handsfree 1 backpack is a great choice for onsite power, and the fact that it comes in an easy-to-carry backpack just adds to the appeal. The Handsfree 1 offers a step up from the power provided by standard power banks and essentially bridges the gap between power banks and power stations with a decent capacity and power output. The pack is designed for creators on the move who utilize imaging gear such as cameras, action cameras, drones, and laptops and need something to keep all the kit topped up with power.

In use, everything works well, and even with just a single AC power socket, that’s more than enough to keep most small portable setups going. The capacity of the Handsfree 1 is a little limited, and it’s surprising just how quickly the kit will get through that capacity once you really put it to the test. However, if you consider that you can essentially power a MacBook Pro M1 Max 16-inch for a full day, all away from the office or studio, it all starts to make sense. As a power solution, it’s good, but I do have slight reservations about the backpack and the depth of the sections designed for camera gear—they really are just a little too shallow.

However, this is something a little different from other options out there, and it offers onsite power where that would usually be difficult or impossible. At present, this is a great start to a new product range and one that shows plenty of potential for future development.