Review of the Bluetti AC70 1000w Power Station for Camping & Road Trips
I’m a big fan of the Bluetti AC70 portable power station! It’s reliable for camping and road trips, and easily keeps everything powered on adventures.
In this review, Iโll break down the AC70โs best features and give you the inside scoop on how it performed during my adventures this summer and fall. Iโm all about real-world testing, so youโll get the full rundown on how it held up in the wild: pros, cons, and everything in between.
All in all, the Bluetti AC70 is an awesome addition for car camping and weekend getaways at a cabin.
My favourite uses? Keeping my mini fan running, inflating my paddleboard, and cozying up with a heated blanket. I know, I know, those may not be the flashiest uses, but theyโre the kind of luxuries that take camping to the next level!
TL;DR: Just like Bluetti’s smaller EB3A power station, I absolutely loved the AC70 and highly recommend it. I’ve been impressed with every Bluetti product I’ve used.
What to Expect in this Review
Letโs get one thing straight, Iโm no tech expert. Iโm just a regular gal who loves camping and sharing my honest thoughts on gear. So, if you’re expecting a deep dive into the nitty-gritty tech specs, well, thatโs not really my style (and letโs be real, I wouldnโt even know where to start).
But what I can promise is that Iโll give you the lowdown on the important stuff without bogging you down with technical jargon. If youโre looking for a super detailed breakdown, Bluettiโs website has got you covered.
FYI: Bluetti sent me this power station to test and review, but they didnโt have any say in this review. Everything here is 100% my own opinion.
Where to Buy
Don’t wanna read the whole review, but wanna snag the Bluetti AC70? Youโve got a couple options.
Amazon’s always great for a quick order if you wanna get it in your hands fast. But hereโs a tip: the Bluetti website often has the best deals with special discounts (in the hundreds of dollars) that you wonโt find on Amazon.
For example, at the time of writing this, it’s only $549 CAD (savings of $450) on the Bluetti website whereas Amazon is $799 (thanks Black Friday!). Long story short, always check both!
Tech Specs & Whatโs in the Box
Letโs break down the Bluetti AC70โs specs. For the full technical details, check out their website.
Tech Specs
- 7 charging ports which can be used at the same time:
- Two standard American wall outlets (get an adapter for other outlets)
- Two USB-A outlets (extender to increase ports)
- Two USB-C outlets (extender to increase ports)
- One DC output (adapter to increase outlets)
- Multiple ways to recharge:
- Wall plug (cord included)
- Solar panel (cords included; solar panel sold separately)
- Vehicle via cigarette lighter
- Weight: 22.4 lbs
- Dimensions: 12.36โ ๏ฝ8.18โ ๏ฝ10.07โ
- Battery: 3,000+ uses with a 10-year lifespan
- 80% charge in 45 minutes using a wall charger
- 768Wh power capacity
- Operating temperature: -20 to 40ยฐC (-4 to 104ยฐF)
- 5-year warranty
Whatโs in the Box?
When you buy the AC70 power station directly from Bluettiโs website, youโll receive:
- The AC70 power station
- AC charging cable (the wall cord)
- Solar charging cable
- Car charging cable
- User manual
- QC card
- Warranty card
Accessories Youโll Want
I definitely recommend picking up these extra accessories for your Bluetti power station.
- Car charging cable so you can charge while driving (some models don’t come with it)
- USB-A and USB-C extenders to increase ports
- Cigarette lighter inverter to increase ports
- Travel plug adapter increases ports
- Solar panels to charge off grid (this is a big investment and totally optional)
Elevate Camping with the Bluetti AC70
Last year, I leveled up my car camping game with Bluettiโs entry-level EB3A power station and it was a game changer! So when Bluetti asked me up to try their AC70, I was excited to see just how much fancier I could make my camp setup.
My setup already felt pretty glampy, but wowโthe jump from the EB3A to the AC70 was impressive. It made me feel like camping royalty!
Last year, my trusty EB3A powered my mini fans and paddleboard pumpโsuper important, obviously. The AC70 easily handled those essentials but also opened the door to a few new luxuries I didnโt even know I needed like heated blankets and hair dryers.
Sounds like itโs time to dive into the details, right?
How I Tested the Power Station
This review is all about how the Bluetti AC70 1000W can power your road trips and camping adventures. I put it through its paces this summer so you can decide if itโs the right fit for you.
Normally, I car camp in my Ford Escape from spring to fall, but this year was… different. I lost most of my stuff, including my camping gear, in a house fire earlier in the year. So, for obvious reasons, camping looked a little different this season.
We still hit the road for camping and road trips, but it was a mix of tent camping, cabins, and Airbnbs instead of car camping.
I also gave the AC70 a spin at home with everything from an electric kettle and toaster to a Vitamix, TV, and hairdryer. Turns out, you can (almost) bring your whole house camping and power it all with this portable power station.
Initial Thoughts on the Bluetti AC70
For context, the only other power station Iโve used is the Bluetti EB3A, so while Iโm no expert, I came into this with a few expectations.
First impression? The weight. The Bluetti AC70 is twice as heavy as the EB3A at 22.4 lbsโ it’s still manageable with one hand and about a pound lighter than similar models. A bit hefty for long hauls, but no real complaints!
Size-wise, itโs chunkier than the EB3A which can make it a bit trickier to store on camping trips. But honestly, unless youโre seriously crammed for space, you should have no problem finding a spot for it. It easily fits at my feet in the passenger seat or behind the seats.
I also love that the handle is solid and built right into the body. There’s no flimsy, breakable handles! And the rounded corners make it pretty comfy to carry around. The handle is located at the back, so it’s a little off-centre when you’re carrying it.
Now, letโs talk about what I wish the AC70 had: wireless charging and a built-in light, both of which are features on the EB3A that I really liked. But if I hadnโt used the EB3A first, I wouldnโt have even noticed. And if wireless charging is a deal-breaker for you, just toss in a portable charger. Problem solved!
What to Expect from the AC70
Before I dive into my experience with this power station, letโs first take a look at what itโs all about. Weโll cover everything from the design to power usage, battery life, and more. So, buckle upโweโre about to break it all down!
1000W Power Output & 2000W Lifting Power
The Bluetti AC70 can easily handle devices up to 1,000W and with its surge capability of up to 2,000W, it can even power higher-wattage items for short bursts.
It can power things like hair dryers, electric kettles, and hair straightenersโstuff that smaller power stations would definitely struggle with. Not sure if your gadget will work? Just check the power info on the device or cord, or just plug it in and see what happens.
As a rule of thumb, the lower the wattage, the longer the power will last. So, while your phone (around 7W) will last ages, something like a full-sized hair dryer (pulling around 800W) will drain it faster. Choose wisely, my friends!
Power Lifting Mode
Power Lifting mode is a pretty cool feature on Bluetti power stationsโit lets you temporarily boost the AC70’s 1,000W limit up to 2,000W. Plus, it helps stabilize the power draw on high-wattage devices.
For example, I put my Conair Infiniti Pro hairdryer to the test at full blast. Without Power Lifting mode, it surged to 1,500W and tripped the power station. But with Power Lifting mode on, it never went over 900W and ran like a champ.
While Power Lifting mode is super handy, it does drain the battery fast (which makes sense since you’re drawing way more power than usual). You wonโt want to use it all the time, but it’s good in a pinch.
You turn on this mode via Bluetooth using the Bluetti app. Too be honest, Iโm not a big fan of this. I much prefer when you control settings right on the device instead of forcing you to mess around with an app.
Device Charging Options
The Bluetti AC70 comes with two USB-A, two USB-C, two standard wall outlets, and one DC outletโthat seems like lots of options, right?
Well, since most of my gadgets are USB-powered, I quickly ran out of ports. Not to fear though, I just got a little creative and plugged an adapter with extra USB slots into the cigarette lighter and USB-C. Game changer! It really boosted the power stationโs usefulness.
Without that adapters, youโre definitely a bit restricted in how many devices you can charge/use at the same time.
What Can You Charge with the Bluetti AC70?
The Bluetti AC70 portable power station can power lots of camping gear:
- iPhones, Androids, tablets, laptops, portable power banks
- DSLR cameras and drones
- Paddleboard pumps
- Electric blankets and pads
- Projectors for movie night
- Kitchen items including car fridges, electric griddles (PL), blenders, espresso/coffee machines (PL), electric kettles (PL), immersion blenders, toasters (PL), and more
- Hair straighteners and hair dryers (PL)
- Anything under 1,000W (technically 2,000W but you’ll drain the station quickly)
This little powerhouse has you covered for all your camping and road trip needs!
Digital Screen & Bluetti App
The AC70’s digital screen shows important info like remaining power (in percentage and hours), current usage, and input/output wattage and adjusts in real time as you plug in devicesโa handy feature!
A Bluetooth app lets you check input/output and toggle Power Lifting and Eco mode. Iโm not big on extra apps, but luckily, I donโt need it often.
How to Charge the Power Station
There are three ways to charge the power station: wall, car, and solar.
- Wall charger: The AC70 can charge up to 80% in just 45 minutes or 1.5 hours to full.
- Solar charger: The solar input on this model is 2.5x faster than the previous generation which is a huge improvement. It can handle up to 500W of input and fully charges in about 2 hours. In my testing, it was bit longer since I wasn’t able to get 500W consistently.
- Car charger: You can also charge it via your carโs cigarette lighter. 12V input (100W) takes about 3 hours and 24V (200W) takes 2 hours.
There are three AC charging modes: Silent, Standard, and Turbo which you choose in the app. Silent charges slowly and quietly. Turbo charges fast but is definitely a lot nosier.
My Experience with the AC70 Power Station
Now for the fun part! I took it camping and road tripping! So far, Iโve brought it to theย Okanagan, Kootenays, and Alberta. Itโs such a handy addition to our road trip gear.
Storing the Power Station
Theย Bluetti AC70 is compact and super portable. Itโs 12.36โ ๏ฝ8.18โ ๏ฝ10.07โ and forms a perfect rectangle which makes it easy to store. Make sure you always keep it upright.
Most of the time, I kept it at the front passengerโs feet so it could charge while driving or in the back seat for easy access. During the day, I kept it out of direct sunlight so it didnโt overheat; it usually ended up under the car or picnic table. I also used sunshades on the car windows to help keep the interior cooler.
At night, I stored it in the car since itโs a bit too big to fit comfortably in our small two-person backpacking tent. When we were at a cabin, I kept it beside my bed to run my fan and charge my phone.
Caution: The Bluetti AC70โs storage and operating temperature is -20 to 40ยฐC (-4 to 104ยฐF). Take care to keep it within that range while camping.
Camping & Road Tripping with the Bluetti AC70
I used to never miss having power while camping, but now that we have a power station, I can’t imagine going without it. Gotta love car camping’s luxuries.
Main Uses for the Power Station
We used to visit restaurants just to charge our devices and sometimes even booked a hotel when everything died. Those days are long gone! With the power station, we save on dining out and hotel costs which makes this a very worthy investment.
Besides the obvious uses like running mini portable fans, powering a paddleboard pump, and charging my phone, Kindle, and laptop, I also found myself using the power station for some very luxury things.
Things like:
- Blow drying my hair (using the L’ange which uses less power)
- Snuggling in a heated blanket at night
- Blowing up seven paddleboards for a bachelorette party
- Making breakfast on a griddle
- Cute string lights around camp
- Re-charging my portable Anker power bank and Nintendo Switch
These are things I never would have ever considered for camping and road tripping. I used to accept that I’d look like a gremlin or be a little chilly, which are all things I was (and still am) totally okay with. But when you have the chance to bring a little luxury, why not enjoy it?
Charging While Camping
The first time I used a power station (it was the EB3A, not this one), I forgot to bring the right charging cables and couldnโt recharge it. Donโt make the same mistake, double-check that youโve got all the gear before heading out. Thankfully, I didnโt make that mistake this time!
When Iโm on the road, I mainly recharge the power station using solar panels or the car charger. I rarely use the wall charger unless Iโm at home.
Last year, Bluetti sent me their 200W solar panels and theyโve been my go-to for keeping the power stations charged. Theyโre easy to set up and leave. I usually donโt bother checking if theyโre working at full capacity because itโs super convenient to set them up at camp or on the beach and just hang while they do their thing.
If Iโm using the car charger, I just put the power station at the passenger’s feet while we drive. It takes up a bit of space, but itโs never been an issue.
I donโt use the wall charger much when camping, since, obviously, Iโm usually not near any outlets. And Iโm definitely not lugging the power station into a restaurant to charge! You could bring it into a campground bathroom if thereโs power available, though I havenโt tried that yet.
Final Verdict on the Bluetti AC70 Portable Power Station for Camping & Road Trips
After putting the Bluetti AC70 portable power station to the test on a bunch of camping trips and summer adventures, Iโm totally hooked! Iโm not surprised, though, I also loved the smaller version I tried last year.
Pros
- Small, lightweight(ish), and portable
- Lots of ports
- Charges quickly and holds it
- Affordable (especially when they run sales on Bluetti’s website)
- Power Lifting mode
- Powers pretty much everything I’d ever want for camping
Cons
- No wireless charging or built-in light
- Easy to scratch
- Some features require an app
- Heavy to carry long distances
This compact, lightweight powerhouse is a breeze to throw in the car, carry around camp, and tuck away when Iโm not using it. Overall, huge fan.
If you also love car camping or road trips, youโve gotta check out a Bluetti power station. Theyโre affordable, reliable, and great for keeping all your gear charged up wherever you go!
