New product review: Pad-A-Cheek Buckle

[WAFlowers]

Two weeks ago I was approached to be a Beta tester (aka guinea pig) for Pad-A-Cheek's latest innovation: a pad for the Swift's buckles. Apparently I was chosen because Karen wanted someone like me who was "folically challenge"; that is to say, my hair is rather sparse up-top.

Before we get too far I must admit that the buckles on the Swift headgear have never really bothered me much despite having no hair to pad the top buckle and minimal (or less if I'm freshly razored) for the back buckle. Only the back buckle was even noticeable to me, and that only when I was lying on my back. Despite this I agreed to be a tester.

I was offered 2 free pads on the condition that I give them a fair trial and then write a review. I accepted this on one condition: if I liked them I would pay for them so absolutely no one could say that my comments had been bought.

The Pad-A-Cheek Buckles arrived in the mail a few days later, each in a small zip-lock baggy complete with clearly understood installation instructions and a most curious wire loop designed to make it simple to thread the straps through the pad. The pads themselves were well-made and of just the proper size to not only cover the buckle but also to give additional padding to a significant portion of the strap.

It was the work of only a couple of minutes to install both pads. Although the instructions said to remove both straps from each buckle to do the install, I discovered that a persistent and patient person could leave the buckle attached to one strap and entice it to pass through the pad "tube". However I also found that this takes so long it just isn't worth the effort. My recommendation is to follow the instructions as written.

The first night when I put the now padded headgear on I was quite pleasantly surprised to discover how much more comfortable the top strap was. Recall that I earlier said that it had never bothered me? Well, it turns out that it was just below my "annoyance threshold" so I had been ignoring it. At that time the only hair which still grows on my head (sides and back) was getting rather long for me. Despite this, the pad for the back buckle made a significant improvement in the comfort of that buckle, especially but not only when I was lying on back.

I would say that even for those with hair this product would be worthwhile.

After almost a week of trying the pads I took a razor to my head (I do this periodically) and took everything off, as short as possible. I've done this a few times since starting on CPAP, so I knew what comfort level to expect. With the pads in place the headgear was noticeably more comfortable. It also seemed to be cooler as the pads do an excellent job of breathing and wicking away skin oils and sweat. I'm sure they'll need to be washed occasionally, but this shouldn't be a problem.

With the pads capturing the skin oils and sweat and shielding the headgear straps from those contaminations in the area of greatest strain (near the buckle) I'd expect the lifetime of the headgear will be extended significantly!

For me, these are a worthwhile addition, improving my sleep comfort.

Karen, my only question for you is: where do I send the check?

[Bella]

I was one of the people who expressed interest before. I sleep on a tempur(sp?) pillow, which conforms to the shape of your head - and the buckles! There have been times when I've woken up with "buckle pain". My questions are: are they ready for the general market yet Karen?, and do you ship to Canada? I love my Swift, but I think that I'd like to pad it all around.

[Sleepless on LI]

Bill,

I don't know if you've tried this, also, but the strap pads Karen makes work great on the back of the Aura to keep it from riding up the back of the head, not to mention making them more comfortable. The little lady has a gift of taking straps that are all but tolerable (sometimes not) and making them actually comfortable. And we won't mention the pretty patterns she makes them in because I don't think that would matter to a big, strong, strapping, studly guy like yourself ! (but she does make them in great patterns and colors, too...)

[WAFlowers]

Gee, I wonder if she's got a pretty blue to match my sparkling eyes?

Before xPAP the sparkle was gone. It's back!

[hecate]

Where can i get the pad-a-cheek cheek pads from?

Liz

[Ric]

Where can i get the pad-a-cheek cheek pads from?

Liz, I got mine originally from the same place I got the mask, cpap.com (our beloved sponsor). I notice Karen markets them on eBay (searchterm: padacheek), and on her own website:

http://www.padacheek.com/

I did a Google® search for "padacheek" and got 174 hits, including virtually all of the online cpap vendors. (At least all the SERIOUS vendors ).

Thanks Karen for watching out for us, and the extra gentle touch your product provides. I know each of these are hand-made, straight from your studio, with lots of TLC !

[hecate]

Thank you, just ordered a pair.

Liz

[Sleepless on LI]

You can always PM Karen, too. She is reachable here all the time. And she is one of the sweetest women you can do business with, by the way...

Bill, the blue would be just lovely, especially if she can order some material that has a glittery sparkle to it...And if she has any material left over, she can make you a matching skirt!!!

[Ric]

Gee, I wonder if she's got a pretty blue to match my sparkling eyes?

Bill, no no no no no...... PINK will do a MUCH better job of bringing out "eye sparkle" !

Bill, the blue would be just lovely, especially if she can order some material that has a glittery sparkle to it...And if she has any material left over, she can make you a matching skirt!!!

Sleepless, I think I see where you're headed with this. (Does Karen do slippers?)

[Sleepless on LI]

Bill, the blue would be just lovely, especially if she can order some material that has a glittery sparkle to it...And if she has any material left over, she can make you a matching skirt!!!

Sleepless, I think I see where you're headed with this. (Does Karen do slippers?)

Ric,

I think if you're really lucky, she may embelish them with beads (she does bead work, too) or some type of sequins, although that may be itchy.