AirMini vs Dreamstation Go - Weight Issue

I have literally just started using a CPAP machine, last nigh was my first night. Insurance really didn't give me any options, I ended up with the Res Med Airsense 10. I am also using the Dreamwear mask from Phillips - right now the full face, though I really want to try the nasal cushion. I particularly wanted this mask because I sleep on my stomach and turn a lot (pressure points issue), and having the hose come out the front just doesn't work for me.

I travel a lot - probably every other week. Mot of my travel is short distance, meaning I won't need to use the unit on the plane itself, but I do need to carry it with me in my carry-on. Taking the Airsense with me is not feasible, so I am looking at travel machines.

I really like the ResMed AirMini, BUT none of the 3 masks they offer would work for me. Now if they made the N30 compatible... but in any case, that means I also looked at the Dreamstation Go. But the Dreamstation go is not only a lot larger in physical size, it is also a nearly 3 times as heavy! However, that weight includes the power pack, which is separate with the air mini. How heavy is the air mini's power pack? Does that make up a large part of the weight difference?

I purchased an AirMini and compatible 95Wh lithium battery pack to use on weekend/overnight backpacking and hammock camping outings. Total weight of both together on my scale is right at 890g - just under 2lbs. While I'd rather not stuff the extra weight in my pack, it's a pretty darn light combination and saves me from the negative results of skipping a night of CPAP therapy.

I just purchased a Go and looked at the AirMini too. I didn't get to see the power supply, just the demo unit at my local shop. My deciding factors were the proprietary mask requirements (which if you search can be worked around with 'hacking'), humidification, and the built in power supply. The AirMini was a lot smaller though. If you can wait at all, you might want to run a while first and see how important humidification is to you and pick up a travel machine in a couple months. There's a lot of factors there. If you only make one or two night trips, maybe you can go without the humidifier. Where you travel could affect that too, do you go to more humid places? After you get used to your system, you could test this by running without the humidifier a couple nights.

I think that I've seen that the new F30 mask is compatible with the AirMini to using the same kit/adapter as the F20. It's a very similar mask to your Dreamwear. If I'm finding information correctly though, the F30 and F20 will not work with the heat moisture exchanger system that the AirMini uses though, so there will be zero humidification. Only the nasals supposedly work with the HME. From research and talking to a couple shops and respiratory therapists, these 2 machines are in a class of their own for travel and nothing like the Transcend or Z1.

There are a ton of people with more knowledge and experience on here, but I wanted to share a bit since I just spent a week agonizing over the same thing. I only fly 1-2 times a year on average, so I decided I wanted the mask compatibility and humidification over the ultimate in portability. The other thing I've learned in this research is that Philips and ResMed have fairly different algorithms for exhale relief, so you may feel different using the Go. I have a DreamStation Auto as my primary, so I haven't been able to tell any differences using both machines.

Why do you say taking the Airsense 10 with you is not feasible? I travel with mine all the time. I also have a Dreamstation GO with battery. It is just a heavy and bulky as the AIrsense 10 when you pack it up.

Cardsfan wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 19, 2019 9:13 am

Why do you say taking the Airsense 10 with you is not feasible? I travel with mine all the time. I also have a Dreamstation GO with battery. It is just a heavy and bulky as the AIrsense 10 when you pack it up.

Is it that big? The Airsense 10 is huge as far as a travel item. I do about 2 to 3 trips a month, usually 2 or 3 days in length. All carryon, but I have a rollaboard and a rather overstuffed underseat bag. The airsense bag I got is nearly as large as my underseat bag.

I just carry my CPAP as an additional bag as you get medical devices as an additional carry on

Jas_williams wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 19, 2019 9:41 am

I just carry my CPAP as an additional bag as you get medical devices as an additional carry on

That's a very important point! My local respiratory therapist kept telling me I didn't need a travel machine and my dreamstation came with a (pretty large) travel bag. She put my prescription right in that bag and said, just pack it up and you get to carry this on for no charge in addition to your normal carry-on items as a medical device exception. Myself, I was as much afraid of breaking my primary machine traveling as anything else...and I can have my Go all packed up and ready to leave except my mask. It's not unreasonable that insurance considers them a luxury item with the medical exemptions.

I use the F30 with my air mini and it works great. No humification but I usually travel to coastal destinations where the air is plenty moist.

The thing that the AirMini is awesome with is the ultra tiny size and weight. It is noticeably lighter that my airsense 10 autoset.

What sucks about it is the proprietary masks which is a significant limiting factor if you don’t use anything other than the P10/n20/f20/f30. You can buy a hose mod adapter online that would help mitigate this but out of the box it is limited to 4 masks from resmed. The other thing that sucks is no water based humification. They have the humidx system for the p10 and n20 mask and it for any full face or hybrid masks. It is the nature of how humidx works.

DSGO is great in that it now offers water based humidification but the size and the weight of the unit is basically close to what the home based units are which really negates any real weight or size savings. The DSGO is considerably larger (in my opinion) than the AirMini. The DSGO has no proprietary connectors and masks so it is very configuration flexible compared to the AirMini.

I like both units but ultimately landed on the AirMini because it was cheaper, had a mail in rebate that further dropped the cost. The DSGO at the time didn’t have a humidifier and when I called philips they said none that they knew of only for me to find out just a month and a half later that they released one. Water based humidification is a nice to have but for an extra $250 it is quite steep. The cost of a DSGO with humidifier is far costlier that a dreamstation auto that is not much larger and is much quieter and will likely last much longer than a DSGO due to the fact that it is a full sized home unit.

Speaking for myself if the DSGO was priced exactly the same as a AirMini but included the humidifier at that price then I’d strongly consider the DSGO.

You got to remember, the long hose and mask still take up the same amount of space, no matter how small the machine is, and the power cord. When I pack up the Dreamstation GO with the battery, I put it in the med. size case that it comes with. BuT- you still have to pack the long hose and mask. So I end up putting everything in the case for my Resmed Airsense 10. Then that has a sleeve that fits over the handle of my roll aboard. There's not much you can do but deal with it.

As pointed out, the ResMEd travels as an extra carry-on because it's a medical device. I would NOT carry a CPAP in my carry-on--occasionally they run out of overhead room and the flight attendants will grab a bag and check it. If you carry it separately and it's marked as medical equipment, they cannot check your CPAP that way.

The ResMed Case has a strap across the back with some velcro and it it works perfectly on my rollerbag handle--pull out the velcro strap, slide it over the rollerbag handle and close the velcro to secure it. Very easy to manage and the weight doesn't pose a problem.

Cloudship wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 19, 2019 7:27 am

How heavy is the air mini's power pack?

It is rated to supply 20W of energy and is just a tad heavier than a typical mobile phone charger.

Janknitz wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 19, 2019 2:52 pm

If you carry it separately and it's marked as medical equipment, they cannot check your CPAP that way

There is nothing to stop you from putting a medical equipment tag on your rollerbag......

billbolton wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 19, 2019 4:22 pm

There is nothing to stop you from putting a medical equipment tag on your rollerbag......

You then lose the medical device exemption - the medical device must be the ONLY thing in that bag. Technically my old bag (before I got the DSGO, which travels MUCH easier than my full size DS) would be no-go for an exemption if they wanted to be picky, because I also put phone chargers in it.

As for why the DSGO travels easier (I got the humidifier as well, and actually got it from my DME for LESS than the cost that our host sells it) the medium travel bag fits it like a glove, and it comes with a soft sided bag for all the accessories (mask, power cord, hose). The power supply is built-in rather than this massive 90W power brick, and with the humidifier which has a unique design it's significantly lighter than my similarly equipped full size DS. The thing weighs 2.64 pounds WITH the humidifier according to specs, and feels like less whereas the DS with humidifier weighs approximately 4.37 pounds - a gigantic difference!

I can throw the DSGO and mask into my overnight bag and it's really easy to just pick up and go with. The DS is a whole production to do that with.

Cloudship wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 19, 2019 7:27 am

I have literally just started using a CPAP machine, last nigh was my first night. Insurance really didn't give me any options, I ended up with the Res Med Airsense 10. I am also using the Dreamwear mask from Phillips - right now the full face, though I really want to try the nasal cushion. I particularly wanted this mask because I sleep on my stomach and turn a lot (pressure points issue), and having the hose come out the front just doesn't work for me.

I travel a lot - probably every other week. Mot of my travel is short distance, meaning I won't need to use the unit on the plane itself, but I do need to carry it with me in my carry-on. Taking the Airsense with me is not feasible, so I am looking at travel machines.

I really like the ResMed AirMini, BUT none of the 3 masks they offer would work for me. Now if they made the N30 compatible... but in any case, that means I also looked at the Dreamstation Go. But the Dreamstation go is not only a lot larger in physical size, it is also a nearly 3 times as heavy! However, that weight includes the power pack, which is separate with the air mini. How heavy is the air mini's power pack? Does that make up a large part of the weight difference?

First I want to say that with only one mask you might be surprised at how others work in different situations. I like the Dreamwear, own all three versions of it. But it is far from the best choice if you want to "bury your face" into a pillow. I do love a top mount hose, but the front mount hose can be dealt with and might not be the issue you think it is. The most secure mask for "burying your face" I have found is the Nuance Pro. Simply has less leaks and never changes airflow. Hose is quite flexible and you can tug on it pretty hard without the nose piece coming loose. Headgear is the best I have tried.

I don't think there is a travel machine that is anywhere close to as quiet and comfortable to use as your home unit. The ResMed travel case is well thought out and surprisingly easy to deal with. BUT, it is still a hassle and you have to pack it when you leave and unpack to use it when you return. So a second unit is quite a comfort, be it a travel or normal size. I bought a Z1 travel unit, but found it needed a LOT of changes to be worth having. It does function well now, I can use any mask. But none have really good humidifier systems for instance. Noise is always a concern with travel units. If you travel a LOT and can manage the carry on size of the Airsense 10 it will always do a better job for you. If size is everything, the Z1 I have packs in about 1/3 the space and weight is a lot less.