Liberty VS Hybrid anyone???

CarrieS · Post by **CarrieS** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:22 pm

Has anyone used both and if so can you compare them for me?
Thanks

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:06 pm

Most know my comfort level allows for the Hybrid where I could not do well with the Liberty. I need the soft Hybrid pillows and the chin flap. The chin flap is a huge plus.

Flying_Norseman · Post by **Flying_Norseman** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:13 pm

I am beginning to think that the chin cup is essential for this type of mask. I didn't care for it when I tried it at my DME, but the Liberty is pretty much unusable to me. The mouth cover moves around too much. I would imagine the chin cup fixes that.

jammin · Post by **jammin** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:56 pm

I've been using the Liberty for about three months (on Resmed Adapt SV since April after having been diagnosed with centrals in March), and it was the first of all the Resmed masks that I could tolerate. It took quite a lot to sort it out but eventually I got comfortable with it. The real problem with the Liberty is that no matter how careful you are with it, it tends to break within a few weeks, either in the swivel/elbow connector or the upper receptacles for the headgear, both of which are remarkably flimsy in construction. Tonight I'll be trying the Hybrid for the first time, though I took a short nap with it today. First impression from the nap was, overall it fits me better than the Liberty, leaks less and seems more substantial in many respects. The plastic of the seal feels better on the Liberty and the headgear is a better design, other than in the way it attaches to the mask. On the whole, though, I expect the Hybrid is going to be the ticket unless Resmed fixes the problems with frequent breakage. For those who are interested, neither of these is recommended for use with the Adapt SV, but I figure it's better than nothing.

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:55 pm

I've used the Hybrid a lot longer than the Liberty, and still consider the Hybrid my mask of choice.

I have two Liberty masks. (One just received in a trade--thanks SleepingBetterNow!) On the one I already had, the top straps will not stay connected to the shell unless I have it on. On the Hybrid, I like to insert/remove the oral cushion, and be able to take off and put on the mask without unhooking the top straps. Can't do that with the Liberty I already had. The one I received in trade today, although those upper straps come off easier than the Hybrid, they are must better than the Liberty I already had. Don't know which way most of them are made. Ended up putting tape on the upper straps so they'd stay put!

Also, I don't like that little piece of hose that comes with the Liberty. And from what I hear about the breakage problems, I better disconnect it from the heated hose I have, rather than disconnecting it from the mask.

Also, can't understand why the Liberty oral cushions come in small and large, no medium. And, you have to order either the large or the small cushion, as the mask doesn't come with both (although it does come with small, medium, and large nasal pillows.) The Hybrid comes with all sizes of both.

And unlike most people, I like the higher vent rate of the old Hybrid shells. I think the newer Hybrid shell still has a higher vent rate than the Liberty. And, to me, it seems like the Hybrid shell might be a bit sturdier. Time will tell, though, since I haven't used the Liberty very much yet.

There's a little indention on the Liberty oral cushion where the pillows go, and a little notch on the bottom edge of the pillows. You put that notch in the indention to get the pillows in the right position. I like that. But, you don't get varying heights on the Liberty pillows like you do on the Hybrid. I also use a medium Liberty pillow and a large Hybrid pillow. The Liberty pillow might fit me a bit better than the Hybrid, but don't have enough nights yet with the Liberty be certain about that.

Don't really have any major complaints about the Hybrid. I like the chin flap idea, but I can't wear it that way. It leaks much more for me around the bottom of the mask with the chin flap, so I remove it. But, sometimes the mask does slip up during the night, which puts more pressure on my nose from the nasal pillows, and that can cause my hose to hurt the next morning. The chin flap left intact may prevent that; I don't know. This doesn't happen much, though.

Pam

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