Swift FX vs. Swift LT

[trytryagain]

Why do you prefer one over the other?

[Jersey Girl]

I had a Swift LT for her but found the Swift FX to be more comfortable for me. The straps are softer and I am a side sleeper and I found the FX to be less invasive and more comfortable for me personally.

Regards,

Jersey Girl

[rosiefrosie]

I have both and find that the Swift LT for her works the best for me. I can't stop the Swift FX from leaking. I had my worst night ever a few nights ago when I decided to give the FX another try. I might as well as not had a mask on at all. My leak rate went way up and I had more apnea events than I have had since I have been able to monitor my therapy. But, everyone is different. If you have the chance to try them both, you should do so. I thought they both were comfortable with the Swift FX being more light weight and as Jersey Girl said, less invasive. If it wasn't for those nasty leaks and increased apnea events it would be the one I prefer.

rosie

[pbach]

I own both masks. For me the winner is the Swift LT. The Swift FX doesn't swivel like the LT. Even though the FX has a slinky hose, I don't like the weight of it. I like that the LT has a hose clip on the head.

[Janknitz]

Both are very good masks. I like the FX best because it is very lightweight, soft, and comfortable, BUT it takes some tweaking to avoid leaking. The pillows are very lightweight, but the slinky hose is heavy and can easily pull the pillows away from your nose.

I sew velcro hook tape (the stiff part) in the inside back strap to keep the headgear from slipping on my head, and HANG the hose on a hose hanger/manager. These tricks keep the pillows seated against the nose and prevent leakage.

See my signature for fitting tips--these work for both masks.

[robysue]

I use the Swift FX and it's very comfortable. And I have very little problem with leaks unless I wear it really ridiculously loose.

I tried on the LT and couldn't stand it on my face for even five minutes at the DME when I was first looking for my first and only mask.

Now understand, the reason I can't stand the LT is not because the FX is that much better of a mask: The FX simply fits my face, and the LT doesn't.

The LT has these L-shaped frame pieces that lie along your cheeks and stabilize the mask. For the folks who love the LT, I'm sure these L-shaped pieces are part of what they like---that extra stability does make it easier to maintain a seal---if the mask fits your face. And the LT has a neat feature that allows you to slightly adjust the angle of the pillows. And I believe that you can switch the orientation of the pillows relative to the frame so that they can either line up like this / \ or like this \ / to fit the shape of your nostrils better.

But the LT does NOT fit my face: I have these high, very pronounced cheek bones and hollow cheeks. The top of the L-shaped pieces of the LT's frame kind of sit like teeter-totters on the tops of my cheek bones---until I try to seat the pillows. Then I'm forced to make the bottom parts of the L's dig really badly into my cheeks in a most painful fashion.

So if you're torn between these two masks, there's really only one way to make an informed decision: Put BOTH of them on your face with your machine running at your full pressure. Maybe you'll be lucky and both will work. But for many people, ONE of the two masks will wind up being a better fit. Which one depends on YOUR face.

[KimberlyM]

I have the Swift LT and FX. I prefer the LT. I can only keep a seal with the FX if I don't toss and turn much. When I bury my head in the pillow I move the nasal pillows and have to readjust. I do have slotted nares, so I have to keep the hose up towards my head with the FX or air leaks at the tip of my nares, the LT has a clip for the hose and does this without me needing to fidget with it. I also like the air diffuser on the LT better. The FX seems to blow on my arm, but the LT blows up and away from me a little bit. I covered the lower straps and the two pieces that come around the face on the LT with polar fleece so they wouldn't leave marks on my face. It is a somewhat thick fleece, so I have no marks at all. I also like the fact that I can slip the LT off my face (without unhooking any straps) to go to the bathroom and come back and just slide it back on and it fits perfectly since the pillows are stabilized by the frame and I am able to keep it nice and loose. No messing with it in the middle of the night. When I started CPAP 7 weeks ago my AHI was 17/hr with treatment. I just started with the LT a few weeks ago and I am down to 1.2 AHI/hr last night and slept for 2.5 hours, bathroom break, 4.5 more hours. I am thrilled! Now for disadvantages; when I wash the LT pieces I have to readjust the pillows to get them just right. I have tried marking where the frame fits on but to no avail. I am getting much better at figuring out where they were lined up though. Janknitz fitting guide is excellent and that is how I got my FX to fit right. I think the slotted nares are what prevents the FX from being a good fit for me. Another suggestion, many on here have talked about using lanolin on the nares to hold the pillows. I bought some when I first started with pillows and they would hold but come loose in the night and I couldn't get a seal again without washing them. Janknitz suggested trying them without the lanolin and now they stay snug perfectly! I guess that is why we have the forum, what works for some doesn't work for others. The LT and FX are both really good products and I wish the FX had worked for me. I may revisit it again at a later date.

[Borgasmord]

I like the LT. The hose goes between my eyes and over the top of my head. That allows me to sleep on my side or back. Leaks are no problem. But like it has been said, you need to try both and see which you prefer.

[bap40]

The Swift LT. I tried the FX and my head is small and I couldn't get the straps of the FX to stay where they needed to be. It was just overall too big.

[sleepy.sleeperson]

I liked the FX, but when I tried it on, it whistled. It was abnoxious. The LT fits perfect. The side straps are a little annoying, but I think anything on my face would be.

[xenablue]

I only have the FX for Her, which works just fine for me. I have tiny, slotted nares and use the XS pillows with few leaks - and that's side/stomach sleeping.
I agree that the tubing is kind of heavy for the lightness of the mask, but with my PapCap on, I can secure the tubing to the top so it's above my head and out of the way.


Cheers,
xena

[trytryagain]

Thanks for all of your feedback. After 5 months I'm still alternating the 3 masks I'm most happy with. I do have the Swift FX and find it pretty comfortable, although I do experience leaking when the slinky hose tugs and unseals the pillows. I notice that xenablue mentioned using it with a papcap which I just ordered, mainly to contain my hair as most of the straps just slide up and down on my mop of hair. I do like the fact that the LT has the hose going up on top of the head. Maybe I'll try the papcap with my fx and manage the hose in that manner. If that doesn't work maybe I'll do a trial with the LT through Sleepnation. Thanks again. J

[robysue]

Some people have also sewn the hook side of a strip of velcro to the backstrap of the FX to help keep it put on the back of the head. Apparently the velcro doesn't get as tangled in your hair as you might think.

I use a custom-made pad from Pad-a-cheek that she's not yet advertising on her website that covers the entire silicone part of the frame of the FX that goes over the head. I find that the fuzzy micro fleece cover slips around a whole lot less on my head and gets far less tangled in my hair. I asked Pad-a-cheek if she could make such a pad when I saw that the design of her regular FX cheek pads (http://padacheek.com/PAC_SwiftFX.html) were not what I was wanting because they didn't cover the area where the backstrap comes into the silicone frame. And that part of the frame was bugging me because it was bumpy and hard when I was lying on it when sleeping on my side at times. She did an excellent job of designing something that works for me. This kind of a pad might also help stabilize the FX for you as well.

Good luck!

[xenablue]

Thanks for all of your feedback. After 5 months I'm still alternating the 3 masks I'm most happy with. I do have the Swift FX and find it pretty comfortable, although I do experience leaking when the slinky hose tugs and unseals the pillows. I notice that xenablue mentioned using it with a papcap which I just ordered, mainly to contain my hair as most of the straps just slide up and down on my mop of hair. I do like the fact that the LT has the hose going up on top of the head. Maybe I'll try the papcap with my fx and manage the hose in that manner. If that doesn't work maybe I'll do a trial with the LT through Sleepnation. Thanks again. J

I actually bought the PapCap primarily to tame my unruly hair - it's not long (collar length), but it's kinda frizzy/curly and impossible to keep from getting stuck on the velcro of my headgear. I also need the chinstrap to keep my mouth shut, so the PapCap is perfect for both.

xena

[trytryagain]

I plan to contact Karen at Padacheek for some type of cover no matter which one I end up with. I've had luck with her mask liners for the Quattro and the Actival LT. I tried the velcro trick on the back strap without much luck, it clings to the surface hair but still slides. Thanks Robysue