mask experience?

I am currently using the ultra mirage mask. It needs to be replaced. Anyone have experience with the mirage activa mask? Thanks!

Hi Kent, just bought one last week to replace a Respironics Comfort Select. The "active" cushion seems to work vey well. I have had no leaks and the mask is comfortable. Overall quality seems excellent as expected from Resmed and disassembly and cleaning is easy. On the down side, it is somewhat bulky and the inflating portion of the cushion sticks out and sometimes touches my lip which is distracting at least at first. The secret to a good fit seems to be to leave the mask loose until the machine is running and the cushion inflates, then adjust the headgear down just so that nothing is leaking. Not snug at all. The forehead pads only lightly touch on mine and the bridge adjustment seems to have good selections. I am able to sleep more on my side than with asny other mask I have tried so far. I personally am pleased with the mask. Hope some of that helps!

I just bought an activa today, should get it in the next few days. All of this in my continuing quest to spend as much money on masks as possible

I'm a side sleeper, so I hope it works well for that.

Kent,

I regularly use both the Ultra Mirage and the Activa nasal masks. I think they're both engineered very well. I sleep mostly on my side and some on my back. For me, the Activa is very comfortable and seals great when used with fixed CPAP pressure. Now that I use an auto-adjusting machine, the pressure stays pretty low, so it doesn't seem to "inflate" the Activa enough to work well. So, I tend to use the Ultra Mirage more with the auto machine.

If you're using a fixed pressure machine, or an auto machine that stays at maybe 8 or above, the Activa will be great.

The Activa is a little difficult for some to get used to since it is relatively large and heavy and it has a foot-long elephant trunk, but it functions very well. I find it to have a little more exhaust noise than the Ultra Mirage, but the noise is pretty "white" and constant, so it isn't bad (and I'm super-sensitive to noise).

Another tip for this mask (and others) it to have a system to keep the hose under control. For me, I am able to loop the hose through a loop on the headboard of the bed which keeps the hose pointed to the top of the bed. This helps manage the elephant trunk.

If you have moisture condensation problems, a good feature of the Activa is that the "bellows" of the cushion is so big, it traps the moisture and keeps it out of your nose.

Keep in mind that if you basically like the U.M. or want to keep it as a backup, you can get a new cushion for it (like at cpap.com).

Both great masks. The above opinions expressed are my own. If anyone disagrees, I guess they're wrong.

Good luck!
Jim