Hybrid Mask Adjustments: Just One Man’s Opinion

Ok so I finally got my new hybrid out of its box and watched the video
I hate the straps and those little dohickies they attach to. I can't get them undo when it is on with any ease.

It took me 2 hours to finally get a fit that didn't leak. But it hurts my nose and upper lip - after 1/2 an hour of what felt like birth contractions of my nose I went back to my quatro.
I am using a small mouth piece and medium nose pieces.

rooster wrote: Note that ladies' tights are very comfortable compared to pantyhose or regular nylon hose.

Coming from a rooster, that's just WRONG!!!

I discovered something quite by accident the other night. I was washing my Hybrid and after I dried the cushion, there was still moisture at the joint between the pillow stalks and the cushion, allowing them to rotate with almost no resistance. When I put the mask on the pillows "self-adjusted" to the best angle for my nares. I rotated them slightly with my fingers and could feel them "seat". They fit so well, I started out without the elastic (my version of "tights"). I eventually had to put it on, but leaks were greatly reduced by the proper alignment. By morning, they were dry and resistant to turning again. I scribed a line with a fine-point Sharpie (although I suppose it's not very permanent on silicone...) to mark the alignment for the next time I wash it.

BlackSpinner wrote: ..... But it hurts my nose and upper lip - after 1/2 an hour of what felt like birth contractions of my nose I went back to my quatro.
........

If it is hurting your upper lip, then you need to loosen the headgear.

To remove the mask, just unclip the bottom two straps. This seems easy after doing it a few times, but I do agree it was a bit awkward at first.

It wasn't so much my upper lip as that little part between the nares(?) (between my nostrils) there is a little bone there that I never was aware of before. But if I loosened the straps then the pillows popped out.

I will try again next week when I get to Edmonton - I won't have to get up early so I can fiddle all night with the mask.

Other then that and the fact that my nostrils felt like I was birthing a baby I liked the way it sat on my face and not on the bridge of my nose.

BlackSpinner wrote:It wasn't so much my upper lip as that little part between the nares(?) (between my nostrils) there is a little bone there that I never was aware of before.

I had that issue when I was first fitted (by the DME) with my Swift II. The top strap was adjusted way too tight, as the pillows were being pulled up and mashed against my nostrils, causing serious discomfort in the same area you're referencing.

With the Hybrid, the pillows can be seated in either a low or high position. Try the lower position and, if need be, secure the pillows so they can't pop out. Try Whitebeard's fix (or something like Rooster's tights fix) to keep them in place.

Hope you can make it work for you.

Also, make sure you've inserted the pillows with the connecting tab facing away from you rather than toward you. (The pillow- and cushion-size lettering should both be upside down from the wearer's perspective.)

While we're revisiting the topic, I've also added some updates to my own Hybrid fitting thread at viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44457&p=396828.