FF Mask Question

I have used all three of the bigest FFMs. Here's my experience:

Ultra Mirage - very comfortable. Forehead adjustment is great. Not great for side sleeping or if you move a lot. The exhalation ports are a bit noisy and if you lay on your side they will get your partner. Overall a good and very comfortable mask.

FF 431 - My favorite of the FFMs. Moves with me very well. Beating leaks does take some trial and error w/ the headgear, but once I got it "dialed in" it was great. The updated exhalation ports with lots of tiny holes is very quiet and so-so for blowing on a partner if you are on your side. Headgear/velcro seems to breakdown prematurely, though.

Comfort Full - in my experience it was anything but comfortable. The silicone of the interface was hard and not at all comfortable. Leaks, leaks, leaks all night long.

I am debating whether my next mask will be another FF431 or if I want to try a hybrid... or maybe Soyala? Decisions, decisions.

I guess I'll chime in, because I tried 3 FF masks last year (2006).

1) Ultra Mirage Full/face - Warm, leaky, hurts my nose, and puts unbearable pressure on my jaw..

2) HC431 - Just as warm, not quite as leaky, doesn't put any pressure
on my jaw, but it hurst my nose more.

3) The Hybrid - If you have chipmunk cheeks, are conditioned to nasal pillows, and have a small mouth, you will love this one. If you look like John Kerry (no disrespect intended), forget it, and try the new Soya.

I think the HC431 outsells the HC432, because it's been on the market
much longer.

KeziasPurr wrote:

DreamStalker wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which FF mask performs best with Bipap? I was thinking of either the Ultra Mirage II or the Comfortfull 2. Does anyone have bipap experience with either one of these???

You are missing the main issue ... it should not be which one works best with BiPAP but which one works best for YOU ... and that depends on which ones YOU try.

Like everyone else in this forum, I was just looking for information. I've seen different opinions on masks used with CPAP vs. BIPAP (ie. the Mirage Activa), and thought I'd get a consensus on the masks I mentioned earlier. I apologize for "missing the point". I thought this forum was meant for asking questions such as mine. I'll be more careful in my next post.

No need to apologize for any post or be more careful with future ones. You are correct, this forum is for questions ... and answers.

Anyway, yes, the reason that there are many opinions on masks is because each mask fits each person differently ... while on the other hand -- each mask fits each type of machine the same.

Exactly, DreamStalker.

For example, no one in this thread really had anything bad to say about the HC431, but I found that thing to be the mask from hell. It was horrendous. I wore it for at least 8 months, and I could never (despite trying different sized seals, trying the straps loose vs. tight, etc) get a leak-free seal. Ever. Just to keep it from leaking as much as possible I had to tighten the straps so tightly that I had deep, red lines in my face for most of the day. Additionally, it actually caused my face to bleed on more than one occasion.

As DS said, different masks perform different ways for different people.

I adored my UltraMirage Full Face. It was actually leak-free most of the time, even though I'm a tummy sleeper. And I didn't experience it as "warm," but then I don't use a heated humidifier. I would highly recommend the UMFF, far and away over the 431. But then, that's just based on my own experience.