How to Choose a Travel CPAP Machine

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines help people suffering from sleep apena to sleep through the night. Since using a CPAP machine consistently is part of a doctor-prescribed treatment for sleep apnea, it's very important for CPAP users to use their equipment as instructed. That often means using their CPAP machine most nights or even every single night.

This can be challenging for CPAP users who are traveling, as standard CPAP medical equipment is often large, bulky, and difficult to pack, transport, and set up outside of the home. That can make it very difficult for sleep apnea sufferers to travel while keeping up their compliance with their prescribed treatment.

Why CPAP Compliance Is Important

The bad news is that CPAP users who are found to be non-compliant with their prescribed therapy may lose insurance coverage for their equipment, making it very expensive to continue with their CPAP treatment.

Unfortunately, many people with sleep apnea who lose insurance coverage simply can't continue their therapy and will stop using their CPAP equipment altogether. When left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health and wellness problems like chronic fatigue, heart disease, high blood pressure, greater chances for heart attack and stroke, and many others.

The good news is that CPAP equipment manufacturers offer travel CPAP machines that are specially designed to go on the road and help sleep apena sufferers travel more easily while complying with their prescribed treatment.

How to Choose a Travel CPAP Machine

Travel CPAP machines are smaller, lighter, simpler to set up, and easier to travel with than their standard counterparts. They're designed to function the same as standard CPAP machines, and some even include a built-in humidifier, auto-pressure adjustment, and other extra comfort and performance features.

The first step to choosing a travel humidifier is to think about your current prescribed CPAP therapy and your current CPAP equipment. Here are some of those considerations:

• Will the travel CPAP machine work with your favorite mask?
• How easy is it to pack, carry, unpack, and set up the travel CPAP machine?
• Is the portable CPAP machine simple and intuitive to operate?
• Could the travel CPAP machine give you the right air pressure levels?
• Is the travel CPAP machine programmable and able to perform as prescribed?
• Can you access your sleep data from the travel CPAP machine to ensure proper compliance?
• If your standard CPAP machine has a built-in humidifier, does the travel CPAP machine have one too?
• Will your insurance cover the cost of the travel CPAP machine?

These are many of the questions you should ask yourself when looking at travel CPAP machines, but not all of them. Your unique therapy and CPAP equipment may include other considerations as well, so be sure to think about those. It's best to consult your sleep doctor to make sure you don't leave any stone unturned while looking at portable CPAP machines.

Here Are Some Travel CPAP Machines to Consider

Let's take a look at some of our favorite travel CPAP machines available right now.

Apex XT Fit

The Apex XT Fit is clearly the best value in portable CPAP machines, retailing around $300.00. It's a single-pressure model that does not have any auto-adjusting features. It also doesn't record, display, or export your sleep data, so it could make compliance reporting for some users. However, it's small, light, and simple to use, making it a great option for budget-conscious users.

Philips Respironics DreamStation Go

The Philips Respironics DreamStation Go is one of the most advanced travel CPAP machines on the market. It features a full-color touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity to export sleep data for compliance. It has automatic pressure adjustment and Flex breathing technology to make exhalation easier. You can even program it to ramp pressure, making setup and use easier. Costing just under $800.00 retail, the DreamStation Go is an innovative option for CPAP users who need extra features and functionality.

HDM Z1 Auto CPAP

The HDM Z1 Auto CPAP machine is one of the most portable travel CPAP machines available. Retailing around $400.00, it's also an excellent value. It features a built-in humidifier, an auto-pressure-adjustment option, breathing pressure relief technology, and easy connectivity for compliance-related sleep data tracking. It's also easy-to-use and very quiet to operate, making it perfect for CPAP users who travel a lot or need to use their equipment on planes, trains, or buses.

Somnetics Transcend EZEX

The Somnetics Transcend EZEX is a feature-packed travel CPAP machine that's also fairly reasonably priced at around $400.00 to $450.00 retail. It has auto-pressure adjustment and "EZEX" easy exhale technology. It also features compliance sleep data tracking via email, and it can even be powered by a battery if needed.

ResMed AirMini

The ResMed AirMini might just be the best all-around travel CPAP machine available right now. It has a built-in humidifier, it weighs only three-quarters of a pound, it has automatic start and adjustment capabilities, and it offers easy remote access to your sleep data. At around $850.00 retail, it may not be the least expensive travel CPAP machine, but its features and capabilities make it an outstanding choice.

We hope you found our guide to choosing the right CPAP Travel Machine helpful. Whichever you choose, be sure to keep up with regular maintenance and cleaning to improve your device's longevity. Click below to check out our in-depth guide to CPAP maintenance and cleaning.