Bluesound PULSE FLEX 2i control without wifi?

I'm thinking of buying it.

I want to use it out of WIFIs reach. I want to use it in the garden, with a hard disk or SSD connected via USB.

Is it possible to control the device through bleutooth, without streaming music?

If not, are there alternatives?

I'd love a player that is mobile, has USB-SSD compatibility, and doesn't need a smartphone to control it.

 

Pretty sure you need a smartphone or computer to setup and control a Pulse. You want a powered outdoor speaker that can navigate and play files from attached USB storage. Take a look at this Sony:
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-MHC-V21-Power-System-Bluetooth/dp/B07HL8Z268

Download and read the manual and you should see it can do what you want within reason. You might also read this post on another similar topic as most of the same USB-related caveats will apply to this Sony unit:
Help add Cd/usb inputs

All in all, playing to a portable speaker via Bluetooth from a phone or portable music player has a lot fewer restrictions. You have more choice in speaker options as well.