Backpacking solutions?

[cowlypso]

My dad really wants me to go backpacking with him this summer. I've looked around and it doesn't look like it's possible to get away with less than about 10 pounds for my machine and battery supply, and it will cost me a few hundred dollars at least. This isn't really feasible (I don't have the money at the moment). All my dad will say is, "Just go without it for a few nights, you'll be fine." Easy for him to say! I have skipped using my machine only 1 night since starting, and that was because of a power outage. I was a wreck the next day, and ended up napping most of the afternoon. No way am I going to make it through a backpacking trip without my machine. Of course, my dad is saying that I'm just using this as an excuse not to go with him, and trying to guilt me into it.

Are there any cheaper and/or lighter options out there for battery backup on a backpacking trip? I've read through a lot of the old threads, but it doesn't seem like there were any great solutions mentioned that were in my price range.

Maybe I can convince him to do some day hikes from a base camp where we have access to power...

[BlackSpinner]

Go with a pack horse?
A llama?
Compromise and do day trips from a base with power?

[dwzkd]

http://www.thebatterygeeks.com/v/vspfil ... _Packs.asp

Call us at 512-692-6837 and ask us about our brand new low cost CPAP battery and solar charger rental program!


I purchased a battery from them for use on airlines / camping. works great. They were great to deal with....

Never tried renting though...

[rested gal]

dwzkd had a good suggestion.
BlackSpinner had a humorous one that made me chuckle.

For others, especially new readers, who might come upon this topic:

LINKS to Battery operation, camping, power outage
viewtopic.php?t=9682

[AndyCelt]

I would also recommend the Battery Geeks. I have the N-C18500 CPAP battery and it will power my CPAP for four full nights (7 plus hours) at a pressure of 10cm. The battery itself is small and will fit easily into a backpack.

The only negative is the weight - it is almost 5lbs but that is still only half the weight you were looking at initially.

Good luck finding a solution!

[mars]

Hi cowlypso

Not everyone can do it, but for those who have experimented and found they have positional sleep apnea then there is no problem. I hope to do some backpacking again, and all I will be taking is my oximeter to wake me up if my SpO2 goes below 89, and wearing my cervical collar to keep my chin up, and sleeping on my side.

I am not yet ready to travel like I used to (sleeping out etc) but when I am all I will need is the collar, my oximeter, and some spare batteries.

But you have to do all the experimenting first to see if that is possible for you. And in using an oximeter with an alarm on whilst you experiment, you will not desaturate.

cheers

Mars

[carbonman]

A llama?

If you can go w/llamas, you can take just about anything.
In my climbing days, a friend had llamas.
We packed in beer.
Sounded good at the time, but.....
drinking beer at 11.5K' after climbing above that all day....
not so much.

As much as I hate to admit it,
my backpacking days are over.

[archangle]

Be really careful with any solar solution. You have to get enough hours of sunlight per day to keep your battery charged enough to run your CPAP. You have to handle cloudy days, find a campsite where you have direct sunlight on the panel for enough hours in the day. While it may be possible to do it, the calculations to do so can be a bit tricky. You may find that the size of panel and battery you need are more than you want to carry. If you're hiking and changing campsites every day, you may not have that many hours of sunlight to do your charging.

I presume the battery and panel size you need vary greatly with the particular CPAP machine, pressure settings, leak rate, BiPAP vs. CPAP, etc.

For any camping solution (solar or battery) you want to try, be sure to test it out thoroughly at home when you aren't dependent on it.

If you leave the campsite and go hiking while charging, you have to leave your expensive and desirable solar panels and battery out where someone could steal them.

[idamtnboy]

Are there any cheaper and/or lighter options out there for battery backup on a backpacking trip? I've read through a lot of the old threads, but it doesn't seem like there were any great solutions mentioned that were in my price range.

Two things to look at. I've seen some ads or web pages for a small portable CPAP that is mounted on top of your head. It might be on cpap.com. Sorry I don't remember better info about it.

Another possibility. Take a look at http://www.ihatecpap.com. They list a whole bunch of dental devices and tongue holders that work for some people as an alternative to CPAP. The site appears to be reasonably objective as they don't make any attempt to diss CPAP units, just that some people don't get along with them and some need an occasional substitute like for camping. Click on the types of products link to the left. You will, of course, have to get your sleep doc to go along with it.

Price range could be an issue with any solution. Day trips from a campground with power is your cheapest alternative, no doubt.

[AndyCelt]

I've seen some ads or web pages for a small portable CPAP that is mounted on top of your head. It might be on cpap.com.

That is the Transcend CPAP machine.. No idea how well it works.

There is also the Everest 3 which has an integrated battery. Be aware though, the facorty that manufactured the Everest 3 burned down and the company no longer makes them. You would be buying one of the remaining stock that CPAP.com has if you chose this route.

[B_4]

Cowly:

See this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64085&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

My camping rig is on page 2 of the thread. Good luck

[idamtnboy]

That is the Transcend CPAP machine.. No idea how well it works.

Ugly looking, isn't it? But if it fills a particular need, who cares? It still ends up being a pricey solution, $600 for the CPAP, $355, for the Transcend battery pack, plus solar panels or whatever to recharge the battery. Specs say the battery will power the unit for 15 hours.

[idamtnboy]

I have skipped using my machine only 1 night since starting, and that was because of a power outage. I was a wreck the next day, and ended up napping most of the afternoon. No way am I going to make it through a backpacking trip without my machine. Of course, my dad is saying that I'm just using this as an excuse not to go with him, and trying to guilt me into it.

Some people just don't understand. How about finding some similar comments from others here on the board and print them and give them to him? Probably won't convince him, but at least he'll know you're not just making it up and aren't alone.

Maybe make a deal with him. Tell him you'll go without the CPAP on one condition. If you feel like crap in the morning he will agree to abort the camping trip and come home, and agree to carry your pack back to the car if you are too shot to carry it yourself. Offering that compromise just may make him realize you are serious about this thing call sleep apnea and its treatment.

[Calvin7777]

Has anyone found a good travel CPAP solution. I am sick and tired of dragging my Resmed and accessories all around. Please respond if you have any ideas, I'm feeling desperate.

Calvin

[goldfinch]

I live on the road and drag the CPAP most everywhere but not absolutely everywhere. I do have a battery set up, but it isn't portable. I have not bought a solar array yet, am still looking at options. But these options are for when I am staying in one place, when I have a base camp. There is no practical backpacking solution if your backpacking truly is hiking in all your stuff on a multday trip. I can't imagine hauling both the bulk and weight of a lithium battery, cables, cpap and most significantly, solar panels sufficient to charge your battery. What are you going to do? Drap the panels on your backpack and charge as you hike?

I am leaving in a few weeks for a multiday backpacking venture in the mountains. Consulting with my doc, I decided to try Provent and bought a supply for the trip. My plan is to use the Provent nasal thingies with a chin strap to discourage mouth breathing. It will be an interesting experiment. I might try it at home with an oximeter at some point to see if I can get a rough idea as to the effectiveness. Fortunately, my sleep apnea is mild and is in large part positional so I would like to get myself off my back. Right now I am nursing a rotator cuff injury and am forced to sleep on my back.

If your apnea is severe and something like Provent doesn't limp you along, suggest a different type of trip to your dad, one where you have a base camp with electricity and do day trips from there. If he isn't willing, skip the trip.