IRL Backpack build
belaBOX Cloud vs IRLToolkit: which IRL relay should you use?
Both keep a dropped connection from killing your stream. One is cheap and DIY, the other is hands-off and premium.
Holds 1080p60 on Twitch (standard)
Your encoder tops out at 1080p60. A higher-end encoder would go further.
Hardware total
$1,137
+ ~$35/mo upkeep
| Component | Pick | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera | DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Gimbal cam with great low light, USB webcam mode, and DJI mic pairing. The IRL favorite. | $512 | Buy on Amazon |
| Encoder | Orange Pi 5 + belaBOX Dedicated HDMI-in encoder running the free, open-source belaBOX firmware with SRTLA bonding. The DIY backpack heart. | $150 | Find on Amazon |
| Connection | Netgear Nighthawk M6 5G mobile router with an ethernet port, so you wire it straight to the encoder. | $400 | Find on Amazon |
| Data Plan | Visible Unlimited Truly unlimited data on the Verizon network. The IRL favorite for a cheap single line. | ~$25/mo | Learn more |
| Bonding | belaBOX SRTLA Bonds several connections to your relay, built into the belaBOX encoder. Free. | Free (with belaBOX) | Learn more |
| Relay / VPS | belaBOX Cloud Managed SRT relay plus phone control to start/stop the encoder. The cheap, popular choice. | ~$10/mo | Learn more |
| Power Bank / Portable Battery | SHARGEEK 140 (20K, 140W) High-capacity, high-wattage bank that runs a power-hungry encoder all day. | $75 | Buy on Amazon |
A relay is the layer that turns a dropped connection into a quick BRB screen instead of a restarted stream. The two popular managed options are belaBOX Cloud and IRLToolkit.
belaBOX Cloud
Pros
- Around $10 a month
- SRT relay plus phone control of the encoder
- Pairs perfectly with a DIY belaBOX rig
Cons
- No built-in cloud OBS
- More hands-on
- You manage your own scenes
IRLToolkit
Pros
- Full managed cloud OBS
- Offline protection and scene control
- Hands-off, just stream
Cons
- $100+ a month
- Pricey for hobbyists
- More than a solo creator usually needs
belaBOX Cloud
The value pick, and the natural match for a DIY backpack.
IRLToolkit
Worth it when you want a producer-grade, do-nothing setup.
The Reddit take: searching belaBOX Cloud vs IRLToolkit on Reddit? The r/streaming, r/Twitch, and r/IRLstreaming communities largely land on the same gear, and this build reflects that consensus, not just our opinion.
Build on this in the configurator