Camping with CPAP: Solutions and helpful tips

Camping with CPAP therapy is not only possible — it’s easier than ever before. Thanks to lightweight CPAP equipment, portable power sources and a wide variety of power converters, campers and backpackers have a number of options for taking their CPAP therapy with them.

And bringing your CPAP therapy with you is highly recommended to make sure you continue your sleep apnea therapy. Simply deciding to skip therapy for a few nights is never a good idea. It could mean backsliding in your progress to beat sleep apnea. It could also encourage the very bad habit of skipping therapy on certain occasions.

So, what’s the secret of camping with CPAP? Actually, it’s no secret at all. Over the years, technological advances from CPAP equipment manufacturers like ResMed have made taking your CPAP equipment a simple matter wherever you decide to go — including excursions into the great outdoors.

Camping with CPAP: Plugged in

Of course, the basic breakdown when it comes to camping with CPAP therapy is whether you’ll have access to electricity. Most national and state parks throughout the U.S. offer campsites with electricity, which means your main concern will be simply traveling with your CPAP machine.

As we discussed in our CPAP travel blog post, a special CPAP machine isn’t required for traveling with your CPAP therapy. Most modern CPAP device are portable and streamlined, designed to be used on the go as easily as at home — particularly the sleek and lightweight AirMini™ AutoSet machine.

All ResMed CPAP machines automatically adjust to the specific power supplies you’ll find in locations throughout the world. Will your camping adventures take you to Europe, Australia or South America? No problem — as long as you can plug into the local power source, your ResMed device will do the rest.

Camping with CPAP: Unplugged

Then again, as many die-hard campers would be quick to point out, real camping — that is, truly “roughing it” — means cutting yourself off from electricity altogether.

There are two main options to solve these “unplugged” CPAP and camping situations. You can use an adaptor to plug into a vehicle’s battery, or purchase a portable power source for your CPAP machine. (This is assuming you’re not interested in buying and lugging around your own electrical generator.)

All of ResMed’s S9 and S8™ CPAP machines operate safely with inverters and converters that let you power your CPAP machine from a 12V or 24V DC source in a car, boat or other vehicle that’s battery-powered. These converters are available from CPAP retailers; get more information at ResMed’s CPAP accessories page.

Even better than using a power converter is carrying your own portable power source with you. The ResMed Power Station II is designed to power your CPAP when a main source isn’t available. Lightweight and small, it’s easy to carry along with your CPAP machine and mask, and is specially designed for use while flying — but can also be used anywhere else you need portable power. In other words, it’s the perfect solution for camping with CPAP where electricity isn’t available.

So, don’t give up your next camping trip because of CPAP — and, even more importantly, don’t give up your CPAP therapy while you go camping! If you’re looking for the best options for camping with CPAP, or even traveling with CPAP in general, talk to your medical equipment provider about the Power Station II and other ResMed accessories today.