Hybrid Universal & Mirage Liberty Masks

[plr66]

I am really interested in whether the Hybrid's chin flap helps keep your jaw from dropping open--and if you do some mouth breathing, whether this mask then tends to leak anyway? I had a bit of trouble with the Liberty in having to tighten it too much to prevent leaking. Have any of you used both of these masks to compare their features?

https://www.cpap.com/productpage.php?PNum=2204&PAID=301

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/mirage ... llows.html

[plr66]

Thought I'd try posting this one more time ttt (sorry) as I have an appt tomorrow with the DME folks.

[wjp]

I have used both. Liberty was very difficult to fit and I found I had lots of leaking.

Hybrid gives so many additional options for fitting including all three mask sizes and all three nasal sizes.

I found the headgear on the Hybrid to also be far better than the Liberty. In my mind it's no contest, go with the Hybrid.

Also, the purpose of the chin pad is not to keep your mouth shut. It helps with stability, and keeps gives greater control so the nasal pillows are not pushed into your nose as hard.

The whole idea of the full face masks, or in this case the mixed style, is to allow you to breath through your mouth or nose.

[WearyOne]

I prefer the Hybrid as well (could not get Liberty to seal), but I cut the chin flap off my Hybrid.

Pam

[plr66]

I prefer the Hybrid as well (could not get Liberty to seal), but I cut the chin flap off my Hybrid.

Pam

Thanks for the responses here. But why did you cut the chin flap off, Pam? And doesn't the edge cut into you now?

[DreamDiver]

I've tried both. The liberty was fraught with leakage problems. I could barely find a position where I could sleep soundly and not have a large leak. The Hybrid has a lot more options. I've found that the chin flap actually seems to stabilize leak issues. I know some people remove it, but I have had such success with it that I've been loath to try.

The liberty mouth pillow is closer to the hard-plastic frame. If you cinch the straps too close, it digs painfully into philtrum. The hybrid mouth pillow is extended further from the hard-plastic frame and is more springy. Because it has more give, it is more comfortable if you have to cinch the straps tighter. The liberty depends on your mouth being blown up with 'chipmunk cheeks' to stay solid against your face. That's uncomfortable for me. The hybrid snugs against your face whether your cheeks are 'chipmunking' or not. (Am I the first person to verb 'chipmunk'?) The nasal pillows on the liberty come in two sizes and one length - too tall for me. By the end of the night, it's like someone karate-chopped my nose. Very painful. The second night is nearly unendurable. The hybrid nasal pillows have two height settings and three sizes, are comfortable and leak less. There are a myriad of options for the hybrid since three mouth-pillow sizes are included in one set and costs less. The liberty includes only one mouth-pillow size with each hard-plastic frame and costs more.

The clear winner for me is the Hybrid Universal.

[WearyOne]

I prefer the Hybrid as well (could not get Liberty to seal), but I cut the chin flap off my Hybrid.

Pam

Thanks for the responses here. But why did you cut the chin flap off, Pam? And doesn't the edge cut into you now?

A wonderful poster to this forum suggested it, as he found it helpful in preventing leaks. (I don't remember who ) FOR ME, I found whenever I bend my head forward in the slightest with the chin flap on, it would push the chin flap forward and cause leaks. If you're not overweight with that "extra" stuff under your chin it might not cause the same problem for you.

It's cut off so close to the mask that I don't even feel the edge. I was very hesitant to do it at first, so I cut the flap off one of the other sizes that I wasn't using just to see how it felt. Whenever I get a new oral cushion, I try it just to see, and always end up cutting it off. I also used to cut the pillows apart, but don't do that anymore.

Hope this helps!

Pam

[DreamStalker]

Everyone is different. The size of your head, the size of your mouth, the distance between your nares and your upper lip, the distance between your nares and your chin, the curvature of your face, the amount of chub on your face, chin, and/or neck, the size of your nares, etc. etc.

I have tried both and both fit slightly different (whooda thunk it?) ... I ended up keeping the Liberty but that doesn't mean the Liberty should fit everyone else better. In any case, I use the Swfit LT as my primary and the Liberty is just a backup in case I ever get sinus congestion (none yet 2 and a half years and counting since starting PAP treatment). You just need to try both and determine which one fits YOUR face best. Alternatively you could also determine which one your face fits best.

RE: the chin flap. Just like chin straps, it did not keep my jaw in place and was totally useless for that purpose. YMMV.

[plr66]

I hesitate to bump posts to the top without adding or asking anything further of value. But I do want to say thanks to everyone who took time to provide such helpful detail in their responses to this question. So very helpful!

[Maryb]

actually I find that the chin flap stabilizes the mask for me AND keeps my jaw from dropping.

Maryb

[roster]

Thought I'd try posting this one more time ttt (sorry) as I have an appt tomorrow with the DME folks.

Plowing Route 66,

So did you get a Hybrid?

We can help you adjust it and I have a special way of dealing with the "flap/no flap" question.

Regards,

[plr66]

Thought I'd try posting this one more time ttt (sorry) as I have an appt tomorrow with the DME folks.

Plowing Route 66,

So did you get a Hybrid?

We can help you adjust it and I have a special way of dealing with the "flap/no flap" question.

Regards,

Should have mentioned, of course, that my DME did not have the Hybrid Universal in stock....they have had so incredibly many masks to choose from that it never occurred to me this might be the case. From the comments written here, I was very much leaning toward buying this one out of pocket, untried, until sadly reading MaryB's post.....leaves me in a quandry, for sure.

[plr66]

Ah--disjointed conversation link here, but just read the correction/clarification by Rooster on MaryB's thread titled "Hybrids not being made anymore?" All is well! Thanks.