I don’t cope very well with heat, never have.  When most people were out ‘enjoying’ the heatwave last summer, I was sat in the coolest room at Muddy Towers, and even then, I was an agitated and grumpy sod.  So when the good folks at Ecoflow asked if I wanted to try out their updated portable air conditioner and heater I was frothing at the bit - literally!

What’s in the box?

Along with the Wave 2 you will  find an XT150 to XT150 cable in addition to the two exhaust ducts (127 mm and 150 mm diameter), and 3 matching adapters to attach them to the various air ducts on the Wave 2.  There’s also a window insert for the hoses, a cable winder, drain tube and of course instructions.

On the front of the unit you have an easy to read LCD screen with 6 buttons. There is a main power button, heating/cooling/fan toggle button, and 4 buttons below them for fan speed, temperature and a mode button that adjusts between max, night, standard and eco mode.

Is it easy to use?

Setting up and configuring the Wave 2 for first-time use is incredibly simple, though for it to work effectively it requires some forethought in terms of where you direct the exhaust ducts.  What I mean by that is, if you want cold air, then the vent behind the LCD screen pumps out hot air, and if you want hot air the same vent expels cold air.  So if you are in a closed environment without using the ducts it kind of nullifies itself, unless of course you’re sat directly in front of the unit and simply want a blast of cool or hot air.

In an enclosed space the two ducts should be run out of a window, or through a gap in a tent, with one duct drawing in cooler air and the other expelling hot or cold air.

Alternatively, the Wave 2 can be left outside with a single duct connected to the outlet that will blow air at your chosen temperature into the room, or tent.

Is it portable?

The Wave 2 weighs in at 14.6 kg (if you opt for the additional battery that increases to 22 kg), and measures 51.8 x 29.7 x 33.6cm, so it is quite big, but with integrated handles at either end it’s fairly easy to pick up and move around.

The App

As I mentioned, setting up and configuring the Wave 2 for first-time use is incredibly straightforward, but using the EcoFlow app is a great way to interact with it as it controls everything the Wave 2 has to offer.  Not only will it tell you the precise air outlet temperature, but settings such as screen timeout, drain mode and even ambient lighting and more can be configured.  In fact, because I find it easier to use, I tend to use the app more than the controls on the unit itself.

Power and the additional battery

The Wave 2 will happily keep you warm, cold or simply keep the air circulating by plugging it into a wall socket at home, a campsite socket, a car 12v system, a power station and even a solar panel - your choice.  Pair it with, say, an EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max and you'll get 7-14hr run time in Eco Mode.

If you can afford it, the optional battery is a must if you are truly off-grid as it lets you power the Wave 2 for around 3-4 hours in max mode, or 6-8 hours if you switch to eco or night mode.

The additional battery and Wave 2 slot together easily with a satisfying click.  If there’s a downside, it’s that the battery can’t be removed and charged separately, it has to be connected to the Wave 2.  In reality it’s no big deal unless you have to carry it a fair distance.

Once you’ve completely drained the battery it can be fully recharged again within two hours, depending on the source. In addition, the battery also has USB-A and USB-C charging ports to keep small devices running.

My thoughts

In truth, if Ecoflow hadn’t offered to send me their Wave 2, I wouldn’t have ever considered trying it, it’s a lot of money to spend to keep cool or warm.  However, after around 10 months of regular use, I wouldn't like to be without it.

During our hot summer months it kept me cool, and, more importantly, sane, and now it’s February I’m enjoying the extra free* heat it churns out which is helping with the ever increasing energy costs (*free when I use the solar panels to charge it). I haven’t done the maths to see how much I'm saving, but essentially you can't beat free.

For the occasional camper it is a lot of money to part with, however, if you spend a lot of time off-grid in a converted camper van, or use it to cool down/heat up a small workshop, shed, boat or off-grid home then it really is a worthy investment.

prices:   Wave 2 unit - £1,049 Battery - £799

more at » https://uk.ecoflow.com/products/wave-2-portable-air-conditioner

(Ecoflow often have bundle deals, so it’s worthwhile keeping an eye out.)

Read about the Wave 2 Carry Bag - https://www.themudlife.co.uk/gear-reviews/2024/3/29/ecoflow-wave-2-bag