Why should you consider travel CPAP machines?
Many sleep apnea patients have had to lug around their heavy equipment everywhere they go to get a good night’s sleep. But not anymore! Enter the wonderful invention of travel CPAP machines! These machines are more portable and weigh significantly less than regular CPAP machines. You should consider a travel CPAP device for your sleep therapy if you are tired of shouldering the weight of your bulky CPAP machine, if you want something that fits in the palm of your hand or if you are always traveling or on the go. Truck drivers or people who travel for business are perfect examples of people who might purchase a travel CPAP machine since they are on the road a lot and must have a CPAP device they can easily carry around with them. Travel CPAP machines also have some of the best features a CPAP machine can have. In this post we will discuss two of the leading travel CPAP devices, the Philips Respironics DreamStation Go Auto Travel CPAP Machine, and the ResMed AirMini AutoSet Travel CPAP Machine.
Dreamstation Go vs. AirMini
Weight and Size
Since we are discussing travel CPAP machines, weight and size are among some of the most important specifications to know. The ResMed AirMini is more lightweight than the Philips Dreamstation Go weighing 0.66 lbs. while the Dreamstation Go is slightly heavier with a weight of 1.86 lbs. The Dreamstation Go is equipped with a touchscreen making it slightly bigger than the AirMini.
The dimensions of the AirMini are 5.4in x 3.3in x 2.1in. The dimensions of the Philips Dreamstation Go are 5.9in x 5.9in x 2.3in. The size and weight of both machines show that they have excellent portability options making them ideal travel-friendly CPAP devices.
Pressure Ranges
Both the AirMini and the Dreamstation Go have pressure ranges that go from 4-20cmH2o. The Dreamstation Go offers Flex Technology that provides pressure relief when you start to exhale to make the transition between inhalation and exhalation easier. The AirMini offers a similar feature called EPR or Expiratory Pressure Relief.
Compatibility
The ResMed AirMini is only compatible with ResMed masks like AirFit P10 Nasal Pillow Mask for AirMini, AirFit N20, AirFit F20, AirTouch F20, and AirFit F30. Check out the AirMini Bundles on our site for more information. Please be aware that the AirMini is not compatible with any other masks, tubing, or humidifier systems. The Philips Dreamstation Go is compatible with any mask that has a 22mm outer diameter connection giving you the freedom to use whatever mask fits you best.
Pressure Modes
The Dreamstation Go has two PAP pressure modes: CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure and APAP or automatic positive airway pressure. The AirMini also has auto CPAP and APA pressure modes but it also has an APAP pressure mode with a specifically designed algorithm for women named Autoset for Her.
Noise-Level
No one wants to be embarrassed because of a loud CPAP machine especially if you are traveling so this another important thing to look for. The ResMed AirMini has a noise-level of 29 dBa or decibels while the Philips Dreamstation Go has a noise-level of 30 dBa.
Max Operating Altitude
Since these are travel CPAP devices many people use them while traveling by airplane so another helpful thing to find out is the machine's maximum operating altitude. The max operating altitude for the AirMini is 8,500 feet and for the Dreamstation Go, it is 7,500 feet.
FAA-Approved
Before taking these devices on the airplane with you, it is helpful to know if they are FAA-Approved, in other words, if the travel CPAP machine is okay to take on the airplane according to the Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. Luckily for you readers, both the AirMini and Dreamstation Go are FAA-Approved so you can take to the skies without missing your therapy.
Compatible Humidifier
Many CPAP therapy patients like to use a humidifier with their CPAP machine because they find the blast of cold air unpleasant. The humidifier also helps in relieving dry mouth and throat by adding moisture to the air you are receiving. The ResMed AirMini has a waterless humidification system called HumidX and HumidX Plus technology. This consists of a small, waterless, disposable humidifier. This feature works by allowing exhaled air to pass through the HumidX waterless humidification filter before reaching the mask which acts as a moisture source. HumidX Plus technology uses a Heat Moisture Exchanger or HME. HME technology captures heat and moisture from every exhale and stores them in small paper ridges. When you inhale the heat and moisture are released to provide warmer airflow through your mask. The HumidX Plus feature will not work with the ResMed AirFit F20 and AirTouch F20 Full-Face Mask. The Philips Dreamstation Go has an optional humidifier attachment called the DreamStation Go Heated Humidifier. This attachment will work with bottled water, so you do not have to worry about purchasing distilled water like with other CPAP humidifiers. It is also designed to work with 12mm, 15mm, 19mm tubing sizes. This humidifier can also detect the temperature of the heating plate and automatically adjust it for optimal humidifier temperature. The heating plate will also turn off if it detects that there is a low amount of water present.
Compatible Battery
Imagine you are getting ready to go to bed and start your CPAP therapy when suddenly, the power goes out, and now you must ask yourself how will you receive your therapy? Let me introduce you to CPAP portable batteries. These batteries power your machine without you having to plug into AC power. The AirMini has a compatible battery named the Medistrom Pilot-24 Lite Battery and Backup Power Supply. This battery can charge in 2-3 hours and provide power for as long as 10 hours. The Medistrom Pilot-24 Lite Battery can power your machine and work as a backup battery to charge your other devices as well. The Dreamstation Go also has a compatible battery option specifically for the Dreamstation Go machine named DreamStation Go Overnight Battery. This battery is specifically made for the Philips Dreamstation Go travel CPAP machine. This battery fully charges in 5 hours and can provide up to 13 hours of use for your Dreamstation Go. The Dreamstation Go Overnight Battery can also function as a backup battery to power your other devices.
Warranty
Both the ResMed AirMini and the Philips Respironics Dreamstation Go travel CPAP devices have a limited warranty of 2 years. Check out the user manual for the AirMini and the user manual for the Dreamstation Go for more information.
Associated Apps & Bluetooth Connectivity
Both the AirMini and Dreamstation Go have phone applications that make keeping track of your sleep even easier. The AirMini has an app named AirMini by ResMed that is available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store to use with your mobile devices. This app has immensely helpful features like allowing you to control the AirMini device right from your phone, track your daily sleep data statistics, see how well you slept, adjust your settings, help you set up your machine and mask, share data, and allows you to “test drive” what therapy may feel like if you have never experienced it before. The AirMini App allows you to connect to your AirMini device via Bluetooth. The Dreamstation Go has an app named DreamMapper which is also available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. This app offers a variety of features like transferring your data via Bluetooth from your Dreamstation Go, provides daily feedback about your treatment, personalizes your treatment by using alerts and personal goals, provides extensive help with any questions you may have with videos and guides, and allows you to receive notifications about your therapy and any equipment you may have that is compatible with the DreamMapper app.
Power Supply and USB Ports:
The ResMed AirMini has an external 20W power supply specifically designed for the AirMini. This power supply is for use in the U.S, if you are outside of the U.S you may need a voltage converter. The AirMini does not have any UBS ports. The Dreamstation Go relies on universal AC power and accepts 100-240V. The Philips Dreamstation Go comes with a six-foot power cord and a built-in power supply. The built-in power supply allows you to plug one side into the machine and the other directly into the wall outlet. If you are using the Dreamstation Go outside of the U.S you may need a plug adapter. The Dreamstation Go features a USB charging port that you can use to charge your other devices and a microUSB port that can be used to extract your therapy data.
Drawbacks
While these two travel CPAP devices are some of the best in the market today, they still have a few drawbacks. The ResMed AirMini is only compatible with certain ResMed CPAP masks, which we have outlined in our AirMini Bundles. Another drawback of the AirMini is that the HumidX technology feature is not available for use with the AirFit F20 and AirTouch F20 CPAP full-face masks. The main drawback with the Dreamstation Go is the noise level. Since this travel CPAP machine has a noise level of 30 decibels, it is slightly noisier than other travel CPAP machines. Another drawback of the Dreamstation Go is that when you are on battery power, you cannot run the machine and the humidifier. The Dreamstation Go will have a flashing indicator that the humidifier is on and will not start treatment until it is turned off.
Which one is right for you?
The AirMini and the Dreamstation Go are two of the top-rated travel CPAP machines in the market today. They are both portable machines ideal for traveling and they have amazing features that make receiving and keeping track of your therapy a breeze. To figure out which travel CPAP device is best for you, you need to determine what your needs are. Once you figure out your specific needs you should be able to compare the features and specifications of both travel CPAP machines to determine which one best fits your needs.
We hope we were able to shine some light on these two amazing products with even better features, ResMed AirMini and Philips Dreamstation Go, and help you make the decision of which one is right for you.
