Best Backpacking Solution?

I wanted to go backpacking for 4-7 days with my daughter.
This. https://www.travelyosemite.com/lodging/ ... mp-lottery

What is the current idea of the best solution? I found this
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/transc ... -somnetics

Maybe that, and an extra pre-charged battery pack or two?
I run my pressure around 11 (inches of water?) I wonder how many hours each battery pack would last.
Does the high altitude mean it consumes more watts?
Not certain I can rely upon solar recharging.

Would appreciate your thoughts. Maybe this is in the wiki?

To help you calculate, here is the Resmed battery guide.

https://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents ... lo_eng.pdf

thx1138 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 03, 2019 11:54 am

I wanted to go backpacking for 4-7 days with my daughter.
This. https://www.travelyosemite.com/lodging/ ... mp-lottery

What is the current idea of the best solution? I found this
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/transc ... -somnetics

Maybe that, and an extra pre-charged battery pack or two?
I run my pressure around 11 (inches of water?) I wonder how many hours each battery pack would last.
Does the high altitude mean it consumes more watts?
Not certain I can rely upon solar recharging.

Would appreciate your thoughts. Maybe this is in the wiki?

You left out a few key details. First, how far are you hiking in, and are you setting up camp further in? If you're driving to a campsite the will be used as a base for day hikes, we can figure out an easy and relatively cheap solution. On the other hand, if you're hiking 20 miles to the campsite, followed by other overnights deep into the woods, it gets more difficult.

The other issues are how much are you willing to spend, and how much of a hacker are you? There are a few low power devices with expensive batteries. And we have one member who built custom packs for a climb of Kilimanjaro:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=172420&p=1261222&hi ... o#p1261222

In general, you can't trust solar power. I live off-grid during the summer, relying mainly on solar, but I have enough battery power to go 3-4 nights and my panels are about triple a days use, plus 3 separate backup power systems. In other words, major over-kill! When you use small batteries (i.e. one night batteries) you need a full day of sun to fully charge them - not easy to do if you're also hiking. A lot depends on the local geography and weather.

Appreciate your reply. Yes, that Yosemite hike I linked to is pure backcountry. Not car camping, which would open up other solutions. And it sounds like I can't rely on solar.

On this Amazon review they don't like the spare battery pack for the Transcend system
https://www.amazon.com/Somnetics-Transc ... 00F9CF9T6/

For the CPAP, super light or small aren't critical. And I'm ready to hack the battery pack. I guess at higher altitudes more power is needed to maintain pressure using the thinner air.

I'm now discovering, the simplest solution is to just use my old Resmed S9 (leaving the humidifier half at home.) Then pack along something like this https://www.amazon.com/MAXOAK-Airsense- ... B074N8G8C7 "Net Weight about 4.1LB,Size L8.7inch*W2.5inch*H7.9inch." They offer as an example "Resmed S9: 6 nights with humidifier/heater off, 5 nights at a pressure setting of 11 for a total run time of 33 hours and 37 minutes."

What time of year will you be camping? I too was looking into battery power and came across a YouTube video made by a guy who used a CPAP machine when camping in cold weather, to see if battery power stood up in low temps. It did but, because he couldn't power a humidifier, he couldn't sleep because the air coming through the machine was so cold and dry.

That was my experience when running without a humidifier in a cool room. The blower seems to chill the air just a degree or two which, if it's already cold, can be a real problem.

Steve of Cornubia wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2019 1:00 am

What time of year will you be camping? I too was looking into battery power and came across a YouTube video made by a guy who used a CPAP machine when camping in cold weather, to see if battery power stood up in low temps. It did but, because he couldn't power a humidifier, he couldn't sleep because the air coming through the machine was so cold and dry.

That was my experience when running without a humidifier in a cool room. The blower seems to chill the air just a degree or two which, if it's already cold, can be a real problem.

What you need to do to combat the cold air is run the tube in a big loop in your sleeping bag then your body heat warms the air before it gets to your nose

Steve of Cornubia wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2019 1:00 am

What time of year will you be camping? I too was looking into battery power and came across a YouTube video made by a guy who used a CPAP machine when camping in cold weather, to see if battery power stood up in low temps. It did but, because he couldn't power a humidifier, he couldn't sleep because the air coming through the machine was so cold and dry.

That was my experience when running without a humidifier in a cool room. The blower seems to chill the air just a degree or two which, if it's already cold, can be a real problem.

From your avatar, I see you are using this CPAP mask cover.

https://laughingsquid.com/alien-facehugger-cpap-mask/

Jas_williams wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:34 am

Steve of Cornubia wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2019 1:00 am

What time of year will you be camping? I too was looking into battery power and came across a YouTube video made by a guy who used a CPAP machine when camping in cold weather, to see if battery power stood up in low temps. It did but, because he couldn't power a humidifier, he couldn't sleep because the air coming through the machine was so cold and dry.

That was my experience when running without a humidifier in a cool room. The blower seems to chill the air just a degree or two which, if it's already cold, can be a real problem.

What you need to do to combat the cold air is run the tube in a big loop in your sleeping bag then your body heat warms the air before it gets to your nose

He did that, but with little success. I guess it helps in 'cool' situations- I've used that trick for years myself - but he was camping in very cold conditions.

When using cpap the cold air will cool your body temp faster than normal. I've only camped down into the 30's F with the machine. You can compensate by wearing more clothing or having sleeping bags rated for lower temps. When I use my cpap I figure I have to have have enough extra layers to deal with temps that are about 10 degrees cooler than what the thermometer says.

Make sure you try your cpap at home without the humidifier. I once left the humidifier home on a week long camping trip and the machine/mask were terribly loud. Enough so that I couldn't sleep the first night. Each night got a little more tolerable, but I was quite exhausted. Supposedly you can buy a cpap muffler to use in place of the humidifier. I have never tried one.

Rob K wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:14 pm

... Supposedly you can buy a cpap muffler to use in place of the humidifier. I have never tried one.

I've used a PR 560 with no humidifier for the last 5 summers on my boat, plus a number of trips to humid destinations. A muffler makes a huge difference - I would never go without it. There is a cheap inline filter that can also give partial noise reduction, but the muffler is worth every penny.

Curious if you (or anyone reading this) would consider going without the CPAP on a camping trip? Or a weekend away when it would be a pain to drag along the machine?

Chris8243 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:51 pm

Curious if you (or anyone reading this) would consider going without the CPAP on a camping trip? Or a weekend away when it would be a pain to drag along the machine?

Nobody smart, besides, all that noise from the snoring and snorting might cause a bear to come and eat you just to get some piece and quiet.

CapnLoki wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:26 pm

... A muffler makes a huge difference - I would never go without it. There is a cheap inline filter that can also give partial noise reduction, but the muffler is worth every penny.

I have never heard of a CPAP 'muffler'. In light of my recent, miserable experience with a noisy Devilbiss machine, I'd be keen to learn more?

Steve of Cornubia wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 15, 2019 3:19 am

CapnLoki wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:26 pm

... A muffler makes a huge difference - I would never go without it. There is a cheap inline filter that can also give partial noise reduction, but the muffler is worth every penny.

I have never heard of a CPAP 'muffler'. In light of my recent, miserable experience with a noisy Devilbiss machine, I'd be keen to learn more?

Go to cpap.com and search for "muffler"
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/human- ... be-muffler