Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSize and WeightPower SupplyProsCons
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Size and Weight
Power Supply
Pros
Cons
Having acontinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)designed for travel offers convenience and ensures uninterrupted treatment ofsleep apneawhile you are on the road and even camping.
However, travel CPAPs are typically costly and vary in how effectively they work compared to your at-home unit.
This article discusses the pros and cons of travel CPAP machines.
Brandon Peters, MD
There are many different travel CPAP machines sold online or through specialty medical supply stores.
This article looks at the different features of four popular travel CPAP machines:
It reviews their sizes, power supplies, and battery life. It also lists the benefits and drawbacks so you can make an informed choice if thinking about buying a travel unit.
Travel CPAP Sizes and Weights
Travel CPAP machines vary in size and weight, and there is no set standard as to what constitutes a “travel-size” unit. By way of example, here are the sizes and weights of four popular travel CPAP models:
Travel CPAP Power Supplies
With the exception of the AirMini, each of the most popular travel models has the option of running off a battery. The battery life will vary based on how much pressure is being delivered and whether accessories like a heated humidifier are being used.
As an example, the DreamStation Go has a battery that will reportedly last two nights when the CPAP pressure is set to 10 centimeters of water pressure (cm H2O).The battery will presumably last longer at lower settings.
In practical use, the battery life for most travel CPAP machines is one to two nights with standard use.
The lithium-ion battery used in travel CPAP machines is rechargeable. With that said, the battery cannot be recharged unless you have a power source. This is a consideration if you decide to take the unit out with you while camping.
Of the four recommended models, the Transcend has a solar charger that can make it useful for wilderness outings (unless, of course, it rains).
Pros of Using Travel CPAP
Travel CPAP machines have several features that may make them attractive for people who are on the road or away from home:
Cons of Using Travel CPAP
There are several reasons that you might not want to buy a travel CPAP. These may range from relatively minor nuisances to significant drawbacks, such as:
What Happens If You Don’t Use Your CPAP Machine?
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.ResMed.ResMed AirMini.Sleeptech.Somnetics Transcend.Phillips.Philips Respironics DreamStation Go.Lebret M, Wuyam B, Bertrand D, Chaudot C, Pépin JL, Borel JC.Effectiveness of a lightweight portable auto-CPAP device for the treatment of sleep apnea during high altitude stages of the Dakar Rally: a case report.Sleep Sci. 2018;11(2):123–126. doi:10.5935/1984-0063.20180023Soudorn C, Muntham D, Reutrakul S, Chirakalwasan N.Effect of heated humidification on CPAP therapy adherence in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea with nasopharyngeal symptoms.Respir Care. 2016;61(9):1151-9. doi:10.4187/respcare.04536Additional ReadingPhilips Respironics DreamStation Go. Phillips.Somnetics Transcend. Sleeptech.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.ResMed.ResMed AirMini.Sleeptech.Somnetics Transcend.Phillips.Philips Respironics DreamStation Go.Lebret M, Wuyam B, Bertrand D, Chaudot C, Pépin JL, Borel JC.Effectiveness of a lightweight portable auto-CPAP device for the treatment of sleep apnea during high altitude stages of the Dakar Rally: a case report.Sleep Sci. 2018;11(2):123–126. doi:10.5935/1984-0063.20180023Soudorn C, Muntham D, Reutrakul S, Chirakalwasan N.Effect of heated humidification on CPAP therapy adherence in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea with nasopharyngeal symptoms.Respir Care. 2016;61(9):1151-9. doi:10.4187/respcare.04536Additional ReadingPhilips Respironics DreamStation Go. Phillips.Somnetics Transcend. Sleeptech.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
ResMed.ResMed AirMini.Sleeptech.Somnetics Transcend.Phillips.Philips Respironics DreamStation Go.Lebret M, Wuyam B, Bertrand D, Chaudot C, Pépin JL, Borel JC.Effectiveness of a lightweight portable auto-CPAP device for the treatment of sleep apnea during high altitude stages of the Dakar Rally: a case report.Sleep Sci. 2018;11(2):123–126. doi:10.5935/1984-0063.20180023Soudorn C, Muntham D, Reutrakul S, Chirakalwasan N.Effect of heated humidification on CPAP therapy adherence in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea with nasopharyngeal symptoms.Respir Care. 2016;61(9):1151-9. doi:10.4187/respcare.04536
ResMed.ResMed AirMini.
Sleeptech.Somnetics Transcend.
Phillips.Philips Respironics DreamStation Go.
Lebret M, Wuyam B, Bertrand D, Chaudot C, Pépin JL, Borel JC.Effectiveness of a lightweight portable auto-CPAP device for the treatment of sleep apnea during high altitude stages of the Dakar Rally: a case report.Sleep Sci. 2018;11(2):123–126. doi:10.5935/1984-0063.20180023
Soudorn C, Muntham D, Reutrakul S, Chirakalwasan N.Effect of heated humidification on CPAP therapy adherence in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea with nasopharyngeal symptoms.Respir Care. 2016;61(9):1151-9. doi:10.4187/respcare.04536
Philips Respironics DreamStation Go. Phillips.Somnetics Transcend. Sleeptech.
Philips Respironics DreamStation Go. Phillips.
Somnetics Transcend. Sleeptech.
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