Hybrid face masks-which one to buy?

[gretel1204]

I am getting ready to buy a hybrid mask as I don't think I want a full face one. I have seen two, the Resmed Liberty and the Innomed hybrid. I have read reviews of each but haven't really gotten anything from them. Does anyone have one or the other? Are they any good? Thanks.

[nanwilson]

You bet I use the Innomed/Respcare Hybrid..........way cheaper than the Liberty. The Liberty you have to order the size you want but with the Hybrid, it comes with 3 sizes of nasal pillows and 3 sizes of mouth cushion..plus you can have 2 different levels of height between your nares and the pillows. Go to cpap.com and click on the Hybrid and then go to the video and watch it. It also comes with a chin flap as part of the mouth cusion. I like it so much, I now have 3 of them plus 2 sets of spare pillows and cushion. We trade the sizes we don't need of the pillows and cushion to each other, that way you have more spares. The pillows do not degrade quickly either, unlike Resmed pillows that only last a month or two at the most.

[BlackSpinner]

Innomed/Respcare Hybrid - best bet for your money. Trade the unused sizes for ones you need.

It was the original and has a chin flap (some people cut it off but at least it is THERE as an option)

[LinkC]

I, too, use the Hybrid. I tried the Liberty but could not get a good seal. I'd go with the RespCare (formerly Innomed) Hybrid first, and if that doesn't work for you, try the Liberty.

[b360155]

I own a Mirage Liberty but it's been in the closet for awhile since my preferred mask is the Quattro FX. I just did the 1-week trial of the Innomed Hybrid and in fact am mailing it back to the CPAP Library today. I think the hybrid concept is great but for whatever reason, I have difficulty getting a consistent seal on the nasal pillows (tried all different sizes) throughout the night on both brands of mask. It'll seal for me for awhile, but invariably during the night I lose the seal and it wakes me up. If you want to try one, you might want to register for the CPAP Library mask trial program. Or, if you're getting one through a DME, just make sure to ask if you can exchange the mask if it doesn't work for you. I'd definitely start out with the Innomed first though. The masks are quite similar in design but the Innomed is significantly cheaper than the Mirage Liberty and as stated, the Innomed comes with all of the different face cushion and nasal pillow sizes to work with whereas the Liberty you have to order specific sizes which can be hard to determine before actually trying one out.

[BlackSpinner]

To help with the seal of the nasal pillows a lot of members use a lab rat trick - we have a strap across the pillows. Mine is lingerie elastic, others use lycra, ladies tights fabric. The joke is that you know you are a real hoser when you go to bed with a ladies tights on your head.

[chunkyfrog]

I have a Hybrid, which most closely follows the contours of my weird little face.
I wish it had nice soft pillows like on the Liberty--
but the pillows it has, ought to last extremely long compared to the dreck sold by Resmed.
I need to work on my labratting a bit to wear it.
Be sure to check the LabRat hacks on the Hybrid.

[Issac]

I had both and for me the Hybrid by Rescare is fantastic. It comes with everything and is great with high pressures. The Liberty is missing the best thing about the mask and that's the chin support so it did nothing for me, but there's a few who like it here. You will have a big selection of sizes with the Hybrid , so it may take an hour or so to find the very best lifetime fit, but once you do your all set. For me it was a life saver.

[Eureka]

I tried the Liberty but couldn't make it work. It did give me the "yearning" for the hybrid type mask, so I ordered the Innomed Hybrid. I use it every night now. I will admit it took several nights to get all the various adjustments made, but that is the genius of it. With all the choices it seems it could almost be adjusted to anyone. And a biggie for me -- no red marks on the bridge of my nose. That was really getting annoying.

[rosacer]

Thanks Nanwilson. Very good video for the Hybrid mask, very well explained, and a handsome user even with it's mask on

OK, could somebody tell me how long last the cushions (the mouth and the nasal) ? I'm used to the for ever lasting Headrests.

Thanks

[BlackSpinner]

Thanks Nanwilson. Very good video for the Hybrid mask, very well explained, and a handsome user even with it's mask on

OK, could somebody tell me how long last the cushions (the mouth and the nasal) ? I'm used to the for ever lasting Headrests.

Thanks

I have gone through 3 nasal pillows and 2 mouth cushions in 1 1/2 year. Only replaced them because I thought I should .

[rosacer]

Hi Blackspinner

Thanks for the info. That's not bad at all.

Does the mouth cushion makes a mark around the mouth?

The guy in the video seems to have the nasal cushions very tight against the nostrils (producing the piggy nose), is it necessary to use that mask very tight ?

Once (at the very beginning) I tried a Liberty and I was not able to stop leaks around the mouth even tightening the mask, it was maybe not the good size. I'm concerned because of my problem with the pressure over the teeth which is the problem I need to solve.

Thanks

[nanwilson]

Rosie
I use a padacheeks mask liner and have very few marks on my face.....I also keep the top strap really loose, the middle strap snug and the same with the bottom strap. As to the pillows, you don't need to have a "piggy nose" the pillows are designed with 2 levels of rise, once on the nares, you should have them only squished down by about half. Read Rosters thread on the hybrid, it is really good at explaing how the pillows should fit....certainly better at explaining than me .

[BlackSpinner]

Hi Blackspinner

Thanks for the info. That's not bad at all.

Does the mouth cushion makes a mark around the mouth?

The guy in the video seems to have the nasal cushions very tight against the nostrils (producing the piggy nose), is it necessary to use that mask very tight ?

Once (at the very beginning) I tried a Liberty and I was not able to stop leaks around the mouth even tightening the mask, it was maybe not the good size. I'm concerned because of my problem with the pressure over the teeth which is the problem I need to solve.

Thanks

I haven't noticed many marks.
My nose is too far from my mouth to have it scrunch. That is why I use the elastic around the pillows. That means my straps are lose enough that I sleep with a thumb under the straps in comfort. Don't ask me why I do this it just seems to happen.
One of the major adjustments places is the strap over the top of the head. Once that one is in the right place all the others fall into place.
I use the small mouth piece which just circles my lips. The tip of the chin flap just makes it under my chin. If I used a larger mouth piece I would have the flap in a better place but then it leaked at the sides. As it is it just works.

[chunkyfrog]

One important point about the Hybrid:
Its pillows have a high and a low position--for more nose comfort.