Traveling with CPAP: Do you need a CPAP travel bag or case?

Traveling with CPAP equipment is an intimidating prospect for many sleep apnea patients. In our last blog post, we explored the details of air travel with a CPAP device. Today, we look at some more options for taking your sleep apnea therapy with you while you’re on the go, including additional equipment like CPAP travel bags, CPAP travel cases, battery converters and more.

Do you need a special CPAP travel bag or case for traveling with CPAP?

There’s no shortage of specially designed CPAP travel bags out there – most CPAP retailers like CPAPSupplyUSA.com and TheCPAPShop.com offer a variety of CPAP travel cases. ResMed even offers a series of specially designed ResMed CPAP travel cases for its own CPAP devices, including the S9^TM Travel Bag, the S9 Travel Bag for Her, and the S8^TM II Premium Travel Bag. (See them on ResMed.com’s CPAP accessories page.)

And it is recommended that you use a CPAP travel bag when carrying around your sleep apnea therapy equipment, to best protect it. That applies to driving as well as flying! These machines are built to be durable, but all the same, a severely rocky road or a dropped suitcase can cause as much damage as mishandled airline baggage.

If you’re interested in learning what CPAP travel bags or cases other sleep apnea patients have traveled with, check out this discussion at CPAPTalk.com.

Traveling with CPAP: Batteries and adaptors

Another aspect of traveling with CPAP equipment is making sure you’ll have the right power supply when you arrive at your destination. Chances are extremely high that your destination will have a compatible power source – but that isn’t always the case, as this unhappy Thailand traveler discovered.

For the record, all ResMed CPAP systems feature a power supply that automatically adjusts to the specific power supplies you’ll find in locations throughout the world. All devices will accept 100-240V, 50-60Hz, without any special adjustment. You’ll need to use the correct plug adapter for the power outlet of the country you’re visiting – these are available in most electronics stores, and even in many vending machines found in international airports.

ResMed’s S8 and S9 CPAP products operate with inverters and converters that allow you to use batteries to power your devices. ResMed also offers converters that let you operate your device from a 12V or 24V DC power source in a car, boat or other battery-equipped vehicle.

If you use a CPAP device without a humidifier, or an S9 combined with an H5i^TM, then you’ll need “a modified sine wave inverter with a minimum power rating of 150 W,” the ResMed.com battery guide explains.

Finally, the ResMed PowerStation II is designed to power your CPAP while you’re away from the ideal power source. 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.

Traveling with CPAP equipment has never been easier, particularly if your equipment is made by ResMed! Whether you need to use your CPAP on a flight, or need to convert it to a different power source in another country, or you’re looking for a special CPAP travel bag or case, you’ll find many options, most of them easy to use. So sit back, relax… and enjoy your travels!

For more guidelines on CPAP travel, check out our overview of traveling with sleep apnea therapy. And if you haven’t already, be sure to read Travel CPAP solutions, and CPAP air travel guide.