chin strap recommendation?

[SleepingUgly]

Can anyone recommend a good chin strap?

Is the adjustable Viasys well liked? http://www.viasyshealthcare.com/prod_se ... LI-200.pdf

I've seen people mention the Papcap, but I'm having two issues in considering it: (1) would it fit someone with a small head well? (2) I hate wearing hats, and it just seems like so much coverage?

[famousnick]

I like the Ruby Topaz. Mine's a little tight because of my big head but it's very well made.

[kwikwater]

I vote for the papcap and I'm the last one to think I would!! After some 5-6 others, I used the Topaz Ruby as well, but found that I stretched int out within 2-3 weeks and would shorten the straps to make it work. Then I bought neoprene material that was twice as thick, traced a pattern from the Topaz and sewed my own. I kept thinking the papcap was too much money. I bought one, just to trace the pattern from and send it back. Well, for the first time in 5 years, I'm getting full therapy from my machine. I've just had the software for 6 months, but I can tell the difference is longer than that!! Yes, it scrunches my hair up and makes my head itch and you can't really do a good job, with dissembling your head, but I'm a BELIEVER in papcap!! It took me a few nights to learn how to position it for me. It wasn't really like the illustrations showed. I put the strap under the BACK of my jaw, nearly against my adam's apple. It forces my tongue to do it's job in blocking the back of my throat closed so therapy air doesn't blow out my mouth. I thought it had to do with keeping my teeth and lips sucked up tight. Not at all, for me. Good Luck!!
Kelvin

[SleepingUgly]

Re: the Papcap... I can't find anything on the papcap website about sizing. The S-M is less than 22 inches measuring where? Also, in the video the guy says that it is a forward tension (it seems the straps at the cap are a bit more forward than at the chin), but in the picture on the website, it seems to be the reverse.

[echo]

I'd go with the papcap too. I have a 'standard' from before they had L vs S sizes. My head is a bit smaller, since for example I have to hitch up the Activa bottom straps to get it to sit right. The standard was a tad large but still worked very well. You might want to email them with the measurements of your head size and ask whehther the small might be too small. The fabric is light so it shouldn't be a problem... YMMV

[park_ridge_dave]

I'd go with the papcap too. I have a 'standard' from before they had L vs S sizes. My head is a bit smaller, since for example I have to hitch up the Activa bottom straps to get it to sit right. The standard was a tad large but still worked very well. You might want to email them with the measurements of your head size and ask whehther the small might be too small. The fabric is light so it shouldn't be a problem... YMMV

Echo is right just send them an e-mail. Bret usually answers quickly and sometimes gives you a discount coupon

I love my Papcap

cheers,

Dave

[Slinky]

I liked the Respironics Basic White chin strap. I'm one who prefers the less the better approach. It has a soft, comfy, silky chin "cup". There are just the two straps coming off each side of the chin "cup" and 4 small velcro squares. You position the chin strap straps on your mask headgear straps w/one of the velcro squares. This allows you to reduce the tendency of these chin straps and headgear straps to push/pull your chin backwards into your neck. The other two squares are used to put the two chin strap ends together at the top of your head or to attach the chin strap straps to both the upper and the lower mask headgear straps.

[chet]

I suppose that finding the right chin strap is like finding the right mask,what works for one does not work for another.I will try the Resprionics chin strap next.I tried the pap- cap with negative results. You could make your own pap- cap,just cut the bill off of an old baseball cap,cut a piece of elastic bandage and sew/hot glue Velcro to the matching parts.

[SleepingUgly]

I did not like that thin, white Respironics one.

[DreamStalker]

PapCap is the only one work getting.

[pdean44]

I bought the cpap.com cheapie chin strap and it works better than the respironics one that my dme sent me. I will find the link for it.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/deluxe ... hleak.html

this one doesnt look glorious but works pretty well for me.

the wider band actually makes it more comfortable. You have to learn where to position it so it works the best on your face to seal your mouth. I put on the wide band. then put the mask on over it. After that i take the two velcro straps and fasten one in the front and one in the back of my head to hold the strap firmly in position. it does not move.

For 18.99 pretty reasonable compared to some other gear.

I have not tried the pap cap but probably will some day.

[echo]

the wider band actually makes it more comfortable. You have to learn where to position it so it works the best on your face to seal your mouth. I put on the wide band. then put the mask on over it. After that i take the two velcro straps and fasten one in the front and one in the back of my head to hold the strap firmly in position. it does not move.

Glad it works for you, but of course what works for one does not work for the other .. my problem with those chinstraps is that they are so thick (wide), and the space under my chin/jaw so small, that the band ends up choking me. If I slide it up over my chin, then it knocks the mask off (FFM in my case). With the papcap strap I could at least double it over slightly so it didn't choke.. and it uses a lot less pressure too, so that also cuts into my neck less. YMMV!

[pdean44]

I will say that no one size fits all solution is the norm around here. In the end we are down to experimentation. At least we all make good test cases for the rest on our journey to healthy sleep.

[Ms.Snuffleupagus]

Well I have been using the Hybrid mask for a little bit and it is working quite well. But a couple of nights ago, I decided to try again my Swift Fx with cpap.com's Deluxe chin strap (the one mentioned by p.dean). It worked! Got an AHI of 2 and an AI of 0.1. Better AHI than with the Hybrid. I find this chin strap more comfortable than the PapCap or Respironic's premium chin strap. But as echo mentioned it is quite wide and the front part of it sits just below my lower lip. I wear only the small back strap to prevent it from slipping backwards. Don't need the front strap.

[pdean44]

Since i have a nose mask it doesn't matter that the strap gets up close to my lips. I let it get pretty close as it helps keep them closed.