I have a couple of friends who would like to join us for a August trip but are concerned about their sleep apnea and CPAP machines. Does anyone have any experience using one with some type of alternative power? I told them I'd ask the experts......

There have been a couple of good threads offering options. Use the search tool on the right.

Personally, I use a mouth insert when away from power and I seem to be ok for about 4-5 days without my CPAP.

Have them do an internet search for portable C-Pap Machines. There's quite a bit of info out there and I have heard quite a few commercials on the radio, so maybe the prices are coming down.

The only off grid use of my APAP I've had is at my buddy's hunting camp.

I used a deep cycle marine battery and 12v adaptors. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to bring all 60lbs of it canoeing.

They do make some more portable units; which could work for them depending on how much they want to spend.

If you can't find the answers you need here try cpaptalk.com . They're all things CPAP.

Not too old of a post on topic.

butthead

I current use a Transcend portable cpap machine primarily for travel and canoe trips, it is about the size of a soda can and weighs just under a pound. To power it I have 3 of their bateries and they weigh about 1.5 pounds each. I have also made the investment into one of their solar panels to be able to recharge the batteries. I am still experimenting and trying to "perfect" the whole solar panel charging thing, I'm not certain if this is a perfected set up yet. Oh yes, the solar panel folds up rather small and weighs about .75 pounds and the batteries are about the size of a deck of cards. Throw in a mask and some tubing and it's all about 7 pounds or so.

But now the catch, it ain't cheap. I did however find a great source to work with and they do offer "slightly used" and factory refurbished units at a far savings, (I decided in the end on new but part of that was because my other machine has quite a few "miles" on it and I wanted to be certain that if it failed a would have a solid replacement). The company I found is 2nd Wind CPAP out of Tracy, MN. They're some great people to work with. I hope this doesn't set off any alarms for advertising for a company, that is not my intent but it took me some digging to find them so that is why I mention them.

Also when I purchased mine I had found other companies that were offering a deal on the solar panel and batteries if I purchased them togother. I asked 2nd Wind if they offered this too and at first their answer was no, but I explained that I had seen other companies make this offer on the internet and I wasn't aware if this was a factory promo and that is why I had asked. I was told that they would do some checking and I received and answer back that they would also honor the deal the other companies were offering.

There is another small cpap machine I had looked at and researched that came with a battery and it was a Z1 cpap if my memory serves right but after speaking with people from 2nd wind I went with the Transcend (and yes 2nd Wind handles both units). Hopes this helps you and anyone else that may be looking for this info.

Thanks everyone! Passing link to my friends. They would love the bwca if they can get past this fear....

What is the price range you ended up in I was figuring around $800.00 am I in the neighborhood?

quote mutz: "What is the price range you ended up in I was figuring around $800.00 am I in the neighborhood?"

My fabulous with figures wife just told me it was $993, and like I said that was for the machine, a battery and the solar charger. I later purchased a second battery and they threw in a 3rd battery that had been returned to them and it's condition was unknown for free. The free battery does work but does not seem to give more than one nights use. My 2 other batteries will give about 2 nights at 6 hours per night. But as I said a used or refurbished machine will cost less than a new one.

quote dblwhiskey: "

quote mutz: "What is the price range you ended up in I was figuring around $800.00 am I in the neighborhood?"

My fabulous with figures wife just told me it was $993, and like I said that was for the machine, a battery and the solar charger. I later purchased a second battery and they threw in a 3rd battery that had been returned to them and it's condition was unknown for free. The free battery does work but does not seem to give more than one nights use. My 2 other batteries will give about 2 nights at 6 hours per night. But as I said a used or refurbished machine will cost less than a new one."

Thanks we travel quite a bit and I'm tired of lugging the old "resmed" all over the place. I'm thinking it is well worth the money.

Not all CPAP's are the same. I bought the Transcend model with the same idea. I have found that the noise level at the mask is MUCH louder than my ResMed CPAP. So be sure to be super tired or bring some Tylenol PM. I have the battery and solar panel, but have not had the chance to try them out yet. That being said, I am looking forward to using my machine this year and getting a good night's sleep.

In 2012 I bought a Lightweight Travel Lithium Battery Pack for my ResMed CPAP Machine from a website cpapXchange

cpapXchange Lightweight Lithium Battery

I am not sure if the battery technology has gotten better since I purchased this CPAP setup in 2012 but this Lithium Battery Pack has served me well. It is a bit on the expensive side $299 but it is the lightest system I could find. Right now on sale at cpapxchange for $297.99

The unit consists of a 12 volt converter that plugs into 12 rechargeable Lithium ion batteries tied in series and then plugs into my Resmed9 CPAP machine. I take off the humidifier when I go paddling since it uses more battery power. I can get 2 nights sleep per battery pack averaging 16 hours total per battery pack. I bring along 4 lithium battery packs with me and they weigh about 1.5 lbs. each. I do not recharge them on my trip.



I found this system to be lighter than most battery setups but I am still hoping that I can someday get the weight down even further. There is a new light weight travel CPAP machine called "Transcend" that is advertising on the radio that looks like a possibility.

3 years ago I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea using a sleep test and my Resmed9 machine and my Resmed AirFit P10 mask has been a God send. I can't sleep without CPAP. I have tried oral devices etc. and these substitutes just don't measure up.

I have used this set up the last 3 trips to Quetico and it has worked well. CPAP users may want to give it a try.





I just talked to a gal at CpapXchange and she told me that you would have to "special order" the lithium 12 AA battery pack with connector for $184 per pack ...ouch ... my extra sets of batteries were way cheaper back then and didn't have to be a "special order" ( may want to call Battery Geeks)

One battery pack comes with the $279 package with converter and bag etc. But since one battery pack will only do 2 nights on a Resmed 9 you will have to order extra battery packs for your overnight trips ... unless you can figure out a lightweight and reliable system to recharge them in the wilderness. Solar ?

CPAP users ... let me know if you find some better way to power up a CPAP machine for a 10 day trip? I am sure open to new technology.

I've posted before on this so I'll try to keep it short. Search for my old posts for most info.
CPAP's that run on 12v power internally will be the most efficient. Most of the Phillips Respironics units are 12v. (Others may as well.)

I own a BatteryGeeks 20,000mha lithium ion battery. With my old Resmed I would get two long or three short nights from my setup. (CPAP, inverter, battery)

When my Resmed broke I did research on CPAP's and bought a Respironics unit. I get almost six nights from the same battery. When I need more than that I rent one from BatteryGeeks.

I looked at the Transcend unit at the time but was told from several sources it was not a good daily unit. I didn't have the cash for two at the time so went with the Respironics. I'm very happy with it and would not bother to purchase a Transcend or other small one.

I would recommend an aftermarket 12v cord for the Respironics units. The factory one has two large and heavy ferrite cores to reduce electrical interference with other electronic devices. Since I don't tend to use other electronic devices when I sleep in the woods I'd prefer to use a smaller and lighter cable without the ferrite cores. :-)

Good luck, and don't let sleep apnea keep you out of the woods. I've slept hundreds of nights with my CPAP and battery since 2008 all over the place from the BWCA to backpacking many places including the Appalachian Trail, Isle Royale, the New Mexico rockies, etc.

I'm a dental technician and we make a lot of sleep apnea devices to replace or temporary uses for cpap. A few on the market are the clear dream, TAP 3 appliance, and an ema appliance. All mouth guards approved for sleep apnea and OSA. have your friends consult their dentist for mor questions. Safe travels!

quote Jesse p: "I'm a dental technician and we make a lot of sleep apnea devices to replace or temporary uses for cpap. A few on the market are the clear dream, TAP 3 appliance, and an ema appliance. All mouth guards approved for sleep apnea and OSA. have your friends consult their dentist for mor questions. Safe travels!"

The dental mouth "guards" work fairly well if you have mild apnea - moderate to severe and they are not enough to get the right kind and amount of sleep. I use one on the trail but it is only a minimal substitution compared to what a CPAP can do.