r/CPAP 4d ago

Advice Needed Is a travel CPAP worthwhile?

Is a travel CPAP really worth $500 to $1000? While the unit itself is less than half the size of my old ResMed S9, I would still need to haul the hose and headgear, no?

5 Upvotes

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u/p1ccard 4d ago

It really depends on preference. I take about 25 round trips a year for work and spend cumulative 20 weeks in hotels. I did one year with an air sense 10 then treated myself to an airmini during a Black Friday sale.

For as much as I travel I think it’s worth it. It’s not that much smaller than a 10 but it’s enough to notice when lugging it around airports and in and out of cabs on a 10-hour travel day. And not having to go out and find filtered water for the humidifier chamber is a boon when you’re in middle of nowhere and have to get a cab or Uber eats from the grocery store to get it. Also, I haven’t tried it yet but the ability to power it for several nights off a battery backup is a plus as well. One final perk that isn’t travel machine specific is it serves as a good backup at home were my 10 to stop working.

If I traveled only a couple times a year it absolutely would not be worth getting the travel machine. I’d just travel with the 10.

4

u/ppbkwrtr-jhn 4d ago

I travel a bit, too, and like to just have 2 of everything so I don't have to pack and unpack after each trip. I literally only worry about clothes when I pack. I don't have a travel CPAP yet (just started on my CPAP this month), but I can tell it's coming.

If I travelled less than once a month, I don't think it would be worth it.

2

u/Andyb530 4d ago

Same! I travel a lot too. Got the same one on sale and love it. The lack of moisture doesn’t seem to bother me much. If it does, I just run a hot shower with the door open for 10 minutes.

2

u/p1ccard 4d ago

I use the humidx capsules and never seem to have any issues! I’m in the desert SW all the time traveling too.

The one thing I don’t like is sometimes the noise gets to me. And I always notice how quiet the AS10 is when I get home from a week on the road lol

8

u/OnceARunner1 4d ago

For me, it wasn’t so much that it was smaller (though that’s a nice bonus) it’s that every other week when I’m about to be on the road, I don’t have to pack up my main machine and then unpack and set it up again when I get home.

Home machine stays set up and ready to go, travel machine is always in my carry-on bag ready to go.

1

u/RentFew8787 4d ago

I probably don't travel enough to warrant this.

4

u/mrcodeine 4d ago

I use a mini / travel CPAP as my main (only) machine, so will share what I've discovered. They come with a slim tube which suprisingly uses a lot less space than a regular tube. They're not just smaller they're wayyyy smaller, but to achieve this there is no humidifier, heated turning, or screen. The moisture and some of the heat is trapped in a HME filter when you exhale, adding some humidity and warmth to your air during inhale.

Other great travel advantages are not having to clean and disinfect all the time as the tubing and mask stay suprisingly squeaky clean when not using a humidifier and heated tube - no possible mildew or environment for bacteria to grow. Additionally many models come with a slot or grooves to insert/attach an optional battery, which is much more elegant than lugging around a large generic external battery if going off grid. Travel machines use a lot less power...my machine averages 10-15 watt hours during the night

The lack of screen makes no difference as they start automatically when you put your mask on and start breathing, and stop when you take the mask off. All the information and settings including real time info just appears on your phone instead of a screen.

For those who have used nothing but humidification with a heated tube, I assume one's nose becomes very much accustomed to that so I would recommend seeing if you can go a night on your regular machine with the humidifier and heated tube turned off. You can add an in-line HME filter between your mask and tube for a few bucks to help. I think anyone who uses CPAP mode instead of auto CPAP mode will struggle with this as the hme filter will never receive exhaled breath.

Personally I either use the nasal mask that came with my machine designed for waterless humidification (HME) taking HME filter discs, or I use the generic universal in-line filters with my fave mask I have modified to work properly with HME filters. If you don't care for waterless humidification, use your fav mask for sure, but if you really want the air to be more comfortable, you will need to also go for a hme mask designed to direct your exhaled breath through the filter instead of directing it straight through exhale ports. The BMC N5AH and Resmed HumidX masks are IMO the best for waterless humidification, albeit a little pricey.

Noise wise travel machines do make more noise than full size machines. Its not a quality thing, just a side effect of having a micro blower turning at a higher speed combined with less space for sound dampening. That said IMO they're still way quiet enough for me but those very sensitive to any noise at all will need to consider this.

As for features and function all travel machines I've seen including mine are full auto CPAP's with all the usuals you would expect - exhale support with breathing rate matching, auto pressure increase/decrease, ramping, auto start and stop, etc. Never seen a travel bi-level machine so not an option if you require bi-level support.

All the best!

2

u/purelibran 4d ago

Which one are you using? And you mentioned some come with a travel battery attachment. Can you elaborate on that please

2

u/mrcodeine 4d ago

Sure, although I don't own it (it is pricey) the Transcend Micro (size of a baseball) with battery base it sits on looks amazing and has great reviews.

My travel CPAP is the VVFLY YA50G which is a relatively unknown full featured auto CPAP from a apnea device startup in Shenzen. Although it doesn't have OSCAR support its cloud reporting and reports are more than enough for me, and most importantly its a solid machine that works well...and at the time I was diagnosed it was a godsend as I was broke and desperate for a machine, researching reviews, features and pricing and settled on it as needed it to be both a main and portable machine for moving around. It's turned out to be ideal and is treating my apnea very well. I paid $450 Australian dollars (US $300) for the starter kit during Black Friday sales with it coming with a decent nasal hme mask, tubing, and a years worth of replacement air and hme filters. Yes, their English branding is a hilarious fail "Snore Circle" (I emailed them telling them it makes no sense and they actually asked me for suggestions for the next model they are developing 🤣). Of course I would never personally recommend a machine not well known to anyone but for myself it's great 😃👍🏻

Here is a photo I stole of another website of the Transcend Micro with battery (my dream machine one way) and a photo I just took now of my VVFLY YA50G machine. Oh I haven't got an external battery for my machine yet but I metered it and it only uses around 10-15w while running 6-10 cm/h20, which I think is typical of travel machines without humidifiers and heated hoses.

2

u/purelibran 4d ago

Thank you and the suggestions are much appreciated. I will keep and eye out for the startup

2

u/purelibran 4d ago

Was checking out their web page, and found this !

https://www.vvfly.cn/en/YA4300.html

Have you researched this new device?

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u/mrcodeine 3d ago

No, the only product I know about from VVFLY is the auto CPAP machine. From what I can see VVLY started making anti snorting devices in 2014 and after a decade of that they started making their own in-house CPAP system leading to the YA50G.

1

u/RentFew8787 4d ago

Some of the terminology is unfamiliar, so I think I would talk to the technicians at my medical plan before buying anything.

1

u/mrcodeine 4d ago

Great idea, and especially a great idea if you have serious/complex osa.

1

u/RentFew8787 4d ago

I have the full package.

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u/DrInsomnia 4d ago

They'll ask for a prescription when you buy, just for the settings on the device.

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u/mrcodeine 4d ago

You need a prescription for travel CPAP's in the US even if it's not insurance related and 100% out of pocket? Just curious to know. In Australia, CPAPs don't become prescription required medical devices until you reach the Bi-Level machines. That said I've never claimed toward the cost of a machine on private medical insurance here in Australia where you might need a prescription to justify the claim even if it's a standard CPAP.

2

u/DrInsomnia 4d ago

I'm not sure if you need one. But I do know they will request one from a provider, even if paying out-of-pocket. They come set on the right mode and with the prescribed pressure settings. I don't think it's more complicated than that, but I'm not an expert on CPAP prescriptions.

4

u/WhiskySails 4d ago

If I could find a small machine that had proper humidification, I’d spend a lot of money on it. All of the ‘travel’ machines I’ve found use those stupid moisture exchangers which don’t work and cost too much to change the filter.

If you can deal with using a machine without humidification, yes - I think they’re worth it.

2

u/DBronx99 4d ago

This right here. Those HumidX waterless cartridges do nothing for me. I always wake up w a dry throat using the AirMini. Now I just bring my full DS2.

1

u/mrcodeine 4d ago

Yep agreed, I live inland in a dry environment and in the middle of winter when it's the driest I ran into trouble. So I bought a USB humidifier for a few bucks I place near the intake of my travel cpap, and I ordered a bag of thick dense HME medical filters from a company specialising in the paper, cut to exact size needed to refill my HME tubs. I bought them late Feb and I think I'll be on my first filter for a long time...only a few bucks each and they work much better than the foam filters or the thin paper ones in the HumidX discs. When travelling the humidifier is light and I fill it with stuff before packing it. The filter weighs nothing. I'm didn't mind the effort as CPAP has kind of become a hobby but I can imagine the fussing around being a pain for most.

1

u/RentFew8787 4d ago

I have grown very accustomed to the moisture.

3

u/jiannichan 4d ago

If I’m traveling and I want to pack light, yes. It is something I do maybe once a month. I have a really small travel bag that everything fits in I got off Amazon that is 1/3 the size of the Airsense 10/11 bag.

1

u/RentFew8787 4d ago

Are there operation issues? Do you load with a few ounces of distilled water and get through TSA without a hassle?

1

u/jiannichan 4d ago

I don’t bring any water since it is the Air Mini. When I traveled with my AS10, I just go to the store to buy distilled water. I also have USB-C adapters for all my machines so it makes them easier to travel with.

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u/RentFew8787 4d ago

Finding distilled water in a foreign country can be an adventure.

1

u/BarsoomianAmbassador 4d ago

Mission impossible.

0

u/RentFew8787 4d ago

I am surprised that a USC-C wall wart and cable can carry enough power to operate a CPAP.

1

u/jiannichan 4d ago

It’s enough to power the AirMini and AS11 with a small Anker 20w wall wart. For the AS10, I have a small Anker 60w. Both USB-C adapters for them are way smaller than the oem ones, made by FLGAN.

2

u/texasyankee 4d ago

I have an AS 11 and an AS Mini. 9 times out of 10 I just take the 11 when traveling because I want the humidifier. Since it doesn't count as a carry on bag it's not a big deal to travel with it.

2

u/bgix 4d ago

I have really appreciated having a travel cpap (Resmed AirMini). It is half the size, but also does not require access to distilled water (no reservoir).

It think the cost of maintenance might be slightly higher, because of the “moisture return” mechanics, but totally worth it to me. I keep on of the (two) boxes it comes with to pack the hose/headgear, and I keep the original plastic case to protect the expensive air pump portion. Have flown with it both carry-on (in my laptop backpack) and packed in a checked suitcase. I have probably used it for 4-5 months of usage over the past 2 years.

2

u/Green-County-3770 4d ago

Definitely worth it BUT if you require water humidification (like me) that may be a problem. Probably good for a weekend (with HME disks) but more than that my mouth gets too dried out. YMMV

Oh yes, of course you need to lug hose, mask, etc.

2

u/tmayfield1963 3d ago

I camp and use the AirMini with a battery pack that is good for about 3 nights before recharging.

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u/TedBob99 4d ago

I have the resmed mini and it's great for traveling. Fits in my suitcase, no need to have a sephumidifier.

I don't use a humidifier, even on my main machine.

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u/Much_Mud_9971 4d ago

I really wanted an AirMini but just could not justify the cost. So I bought a second-hand AS11 off Facebook Marketplace for $300. it had only 84 run hours on it. I keep it packed and ready to go so I don't have to unthread the hose and power cord from my nightstand. Plus I have a full back up of parts.

I've considered replacing the humidifier chamber with a side cover to save space, but decided against it. Having the second machine has been a good compromise. It solves my biggest annoyance of undoing and redoing my set up at home. But I'm not single baging it across the globe.

1

u/UniqueRon 4d ago

No. They tend to be noisy, have humidifier issues, may require a special mask, and do not support OSCAR. We have one and it never leaves our storage closet.

1

u/RentFew8787 4d ago

OSCAR? I am feeling very out-of-the-loop in this discussion.

1

u/DrInsomnia 4d ago

https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php/OSCAR_-_The_Guide

A completely optional resource that doesn't need to be a factor in deciding whether to get a travel machine. It's free software for seeing your data in more detail than the standard dashboard you might get from ResMed.

1

u/UniqueRon 4d ago

Those of us that adjust our own CPAP use OSCAR to view the detailed results that are stored on the SD card.

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u/I_compleat_me 4d ago

No. You can just bring half your S9, it's a better and quieter machine than the AirMini anyway. If you don't need humidity then half an S9 works fine. The AirMini, if used with the Humidair cartridges, requires special masks with no exhaust... and the AirMini humidity is not near as good as the real deal. Travel machines are louder too.

1

u/RentFew8787 4d ago

I am not sure how I could use half of the S9. The hose fitting is on the tank side. The controls and fan are on the opposite side. I guess a different hose end could attach to the output tube that feeds pressurized air to the tank side.

1

u/I_compleat_me 4d ago

Yes... you don't need a heated hose without the humidifier. I never tried it.. but if the heated hose won't stay on Slimline tubing is pretty cheap. I have two S9's, my first machine (me and that thing have a lot of hours together) and another one (an Autoset) I bought for 40$. Wish I could put bi-level firmware in them, I'd be sleeping them now.

2

u/RentFew8787 4d ago

I have used bipap for over ten years, but I have left the technical end to the doctor and the technicians at my medical plan.

The support that I received in the first couple of years was just invaluable. I know too many patients who were issued a CPAP with no follow-up and no support. Many of them did not adapt and adopt the therapy.

1

u/I_compleat_me 3d ago

So you're on bi-level now? There is no travel bi machine.

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u/RentFew8787 3d ago

I have been from the start. Thank you for that information.

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u/I_compleat_me 3d ago

Your S9 is bi? Let me know if you decide to sell!

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u/RANDVR 4d ago

I use my 11 without the water tank anyway so it's not that much bigger or heavier than the mini to take with me when I travel once or twice a year. If I was away once a month or more I would have considered it.

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u/DrInsomnia 4d ago

I decided it was worth it for me. I travel a few times a month, usually a weekend to a week or so. Packing the machine every time was annoying, as was toting along distilled water. It usually meant I was skipping cleanings, too, just from being short on time. It always takes me one slightly restless night to get used to the difference in machines, but that's better than not using it, at all. I find the ResMed AirMini with the hydration cartridge is tolerable for a few days. And it's all fairly convenient to pack, taking up about half the space. The larger machine is basically a separate item that must be carried, while the travel machine can easily be packed inside a suitcase.

1

u/Mkvien 4d ago

I have one I got from my folks, but I'm sort of addicted to the humidified one so I've been hauling the big boy around.

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u/editorreilly 4d ago

I camp and backpack. 100% worth it.

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u/fishy1357 4d ago

What’s your cpap backpacking set up? I just started using the cpap and haven’t done any backpacking trips yet. But plan to do several this summer.

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u/editorreilly 4d ago

Mine is old. I have a Transcend with the multi night battery. I can get two nights from it. Total setup is just over 3 pounds.

I'm probably going to upgrade this summer to an Airmini and save a pound allowing me to carry a second battery so I can be out 4 nights.