So, one of the great things about the cordless world of outdoor power equipment revolves around the “swapability” of the battery between tools. If all of your gear runs on the same battery platform, swapping batteries between your string trimmer, hedge trimmer, edger, blower, and pole saw will be convenient and efficient. But, throwing a battery directly onto the tool you’re working with adds weight. On small jobs, maybe that isn’t a big deal, but with a lot of work to do, that weight can add up. Well, those folks on the Ego platform have some good news coming their way…the Ego Power+ Backpack Link provides a solution that allows the user to carry the weight of the battery on his back.
What It Is
Basically, the Ego Power+ Backpack Link offers a platform with which to attach any battery made on the Ego line to your back. This makes the tool in your hand much lighter, as the weightier part of the equation rests on your back. You might wonder if carting around a 2.5 Ah battery on your back really makes a big difference in the grand scheme of things? Perhaps not, though if you’re working with a large lot, or a lot of work ahead of you, you’re probably working with Ego’s 7.5Ah battery. At that point, yes, having the ability to strap the battery to your back will look pretty appealing.
Ego has constructed the Backpack Link with padded shoulder straps, a chest buckle, and a hook. This ergonomic solution reduces user fatigue by shifting the tool’s weight to your back. The new Backpack Link is compatible with any tools from Ego’s line of outdoor power equipment. Ego also claims that their new backpack attachment will improve runtimes.
Final Thoughts
We’re looking forward to putting our hands on this one. We generally have really good things to say about the brand; Ego products tend to work really well, having decent builds and solid runtimes. However, one of the things that Ego seems to emphasize in their new products comes down to user-friendliness. The Ego Power+ Backpack Link looks like it fits the usual mold. Of course, we won’t know this for sure until we can use it in some testing, but we’re optimistic.
We do have some questions regarding the claims about increased runtimes, as we’re not entirely sure how throwing a battery on your back will extend your battery charge. Of course, it does look like the backpack gives some “room to grow” for Ego, and perhaps we have a 9.0Ah Ego battery on the horizon? Maybe Ego’s runtime claims come down to some linguistic gymnastics that actually revolve around being able to use a larger battery.
We also have some questions about the price. $149 seems a little on the high side, and in all honesty, we’d like to see the Backpack Link priced about $50 bucks cheaper. Of course, we reserve the right to change our minds about that in the future, as we’d like to put our hands on this before we make any hard and fast conclusions. In any case, this system does look helpful and innovative, especially as an inroad to more professional level applications.
Ego Power+ Backpack Link Features
- Compatible with all EGO Power+ 56-Volt batteries
- Add more runtime to your handheld tools, not weight
- Suitable for use with EGO handheld tools
- Weather-resistant construction
- 5-year limited warranty
Ego Power+ Backpack Link Specs
- Depth: 13.78″
- Height: 16.929″
- Width: 7.84″
- MSRP: $149
For more information, check out the Ego site here . For online purchasing, check out Home Depot .
