Rank the masks you have tried????

To date I have tried 3 masks (note: I cannot use nasal masks).

Mirage Quattro > Mirage Liberty >>>>>> F+P Oracle

How about you?

(want to buy another FF mask and am trying to figure out which one to buy)


Cheers,

Nosey

Have only tried one full face mask, the Resmed Quattro, and that doesn't come small enough for me.

So:

1] Respironics Simplicity Petite (simple nasal cushion)
2] Resmed Mirage Micro Small (nasal cushion)
3] ComfortLite 2 Simple Nasal Cushion/Nasal Pillows

Possibly the Fisher & Paykel HC 406 (the 407 was too large, never had the chance to try the 406 before I found the Simplicity)

Didn't care for:
F & P Aclaim 2 (nasal cushion)
Respironics ComfortGel (nasal cushion)
Breeze Nasal Pillows
Resmed Activa (nasal cushion)
Resmed Swift (nasal pillows, the original)

Since most people use nasal masks, you are not going to get as many replies:

1) ResMed UMFF (Small) Best of my masks so far (medium was too large) good clips
2) Hybrid Small (Comes with all sizes of everything)
3) Comfortful2 (Wrong Size - too large) poor clips to mask and vibrates too much

p.s. cpap.com has a list of which full face models have sold the most and reviews on all of their full face masks.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed

See if you could try a Fisher Paykel 432 FFM. It stays with you when you turn, seals well, minimal leaks! It's a great mask. Good Luck!

It would be too long a post, so I'll just rank the worst and the best,


worst=masks with "Comfort" in their name, biggest lie on the planet
....
....
best=Somnotech Soyala, small, light, great sealing, durable and quietest mask interface you'll find

For me, Fisher & Paykel 432 was a complete bust -- even the sleep tech couldn't get it to seal for me. UMFF didn't work well for me either. There was some Respironics brand I also tried.

Just goes to show that no mask works for everyone!

Quattro took quite awhile to tweak and figure out how to make it seal better and quit gouging my nose bridge. I eventually got it to where I really liked it and it worked very well (after a few months!) but then I developed a sensitivity to the soft silicone of the flap and can't wear it anymore

So now I'm back to nasal pillows (Swift II and CL2) and am eagerly awaiting my shipment of Swift LT.

Mindy

[quote="ww"]Since most people use nasal masks, you are not going to get as many replies:

1) ResMed UMFF (Small) Best of my masks so far (medium was too large) good clips
2) Hybrid Small (Comes with all sizes of everything)
3) Comfortful2 (Wrong Size - too large) poor clips to mask and vibrates too much

p.s. cpap.com has a list of which full face models have sold the most and reviews on all of their full face masks.

What you will eventually discover is that people have different facial features relative to size and shape. So what someone else says about how well a mask fit them is of little use to YOU unless you know how their facial features compare to YOURS.

You really have to try each mask until you find one that works. Full face masks are the most difficult to fit because they have the largest amount of facial real estate required to fit properly.

The most usefult tip for fitting full face masks is to make certain that you mitigate the amount of facial oil that builds up while you sleep. Next is to make certain that the headgear strap(s) fit around the back of your head and not the back of your neck. Finally, take your time trying different sizes and headgear adjustments for whichever mask you happen to be trialing.

Good luck!

Dreamstalker,

Appreciate the comments (just call me little grasshopper)! WHile the mask fit IS such a personal thing, that does not stop all of us from reading many reviews. At the end of the day, what one person raves about may be a horrific experience (or expenditure!) for another. Still, I think the idea of individual self-funded product challenge reports a good read....and can't help but think I'll take something from reading them that can help me decide on the next course of action as I ride the road to mask perfection!

Cheers,

Nosey

• Profile lite gel Nasal S(pinched/leaked)

Ultra Mirage Nasal II S(leaked)

• Ultra Mirage FF S(leaked)

Ultra Mirage FF M(Bruised nose)

• F&P 432 S(too tight)

F&P 432 FF M (might do for once in a while/leaked)/HYBRID also (leakd)

• Swift II Nasal Pillow

Swift LT Nasal Pillow

• to date the one for me that is most comfortable & have best #'s has been the Swift II nasal Pillow mask & since one size is correct,with Pillow swaps you can make this interface last longer-better value ,defiantly a bonus & hallelujah it works

Comfortfull 2 - Large too big, medium too small. Very bulky mask. Couldn't stop the leaks. Seems light years behind the competition in terms of design.

Fisher & Paykel 432 - Not bad but had one major flaw for me and that's the chin cup. I would get major leaks when my jaw relaxes. Tried all combinations of foam insert and seal.

Probasics Zzz - Ok. Light weight, comfortable, some nice design features. Very poor seal and would leak after an hours use. Tried in both large and medium.

Hybrid - I really love this less invasive design. The best mask I've tried to date. Currently using the large cushion with chin flap. Problem is I have to have it uncomfortably tight to prevent leaks at the corners of my mouth. I tried it without the chin flap but I find it makes the mask too unstable and it starts to leak. Tried in all sizes with and without chin flap.

Resmed Mirage Series 2 - Not availble any more (though cpap.com get hold of them occasionally) but my NHS had one. Could never get the hang of the floating seal thing.

Resmed Liberty - My success with the Hybrid made me want to try the Liberty in the hope that it had ironed out the flaws in the Hybrid. I've only used it for one night so far so the jury is still out.

The Resmed masks seem to be very difficult to adjust; they have this floating hover thing going on. None of the other masks I've tried do the floating thing like the Resmeds. Are all Resmed masks like this? The Liberty is the same and I find I can get it to seal well in the afternoon, then when I put it on at night it's as though someone has adjusted the straps in my absence and it seals terribly. I then have to go through the whole rigmarole of adjusting the headgear again. They seem to be very sensitive to subtle changes in face structure/moisture/oil etc. Anyone else find this or is it just me?

Starting to get pretty downhearted since I started cpap two months ago. Really struggling with the masks. Last time I had more than 4 hours sleep in a night was before I started cpap! On a more positive note I think I've adjusted well to using it every night and actually find it almost pleasant having air blasted up my nose.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, mirage, cpap.com, CPAP, seal

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, mirage, cpap.com, CPAP, seal

chipbutty wrote:The Resmed masks seem to be very difficult to adjust; they have this floating hover thing going on. None of the other masks I've tried do the floating thing like the Resmeds. Are all Resmed masks like this? The Liberty is the same and I find I can get it to seal well in the afternoon, then when I put it on at night it's as though someone has adjusted the straps in my absence and it seals terribly. I then have to go through the whole rigmarole of adjusting the headgear again. They seem to be very sensitive to subtle changes in face structure/moisture/oil etc. Anyone else find this or is it just me?

Starting to get pretty downhearted since I started cpap two months ago. Really struggling with the masks. Last time I had more than 4 hours sleep in a night was before I started cpap! On a more positive note I think I've adjusted well to using it every night and actually find it almost pleasant having air blasted up my nose.

I found that for the first 6 months I'd get very frustrated by a mask working well one night and then not another. That was true of the Resmed Quattro, Resmed Swift II, Respironics Comfortful and Bravo.

Eventually with the Quattro, I discovered that when I quit getting so stressed about it, I'd just lift up on the mask a few times (or more than a few) with the hose on and I'd eventually hit the right spot and settle in for the night. Hitting that "right" spot became easier with practice. A stabilizing pantyhose tights strap (a la Rested Gal) made the biggest difference for tossing and turning. Since that experience, I'm finding the same with the other masks that worked some of the time: I now make small adjustments and use one or two or even three pantyhose tights straps where needed to make the mask stay stable. Works for me.

Mindy

I think the panty hose trick will be next in my quest for a nights sleep. I've got one of those Buffs which may also work. I use when I go mountain biking; wicks up sweat in the summer and keeps my head warm in winter. Think it could do with a wash first though.

Just be sure to get panty hose tights not plain pantyhose. The tights are a heavier weave and are better for our purpose. Rested Gal also posted info about a specific type of knot to use so it doesn't get bulky and is easy to get off.

Mindy

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to ask my girlfriend. i'm sure she will know which sort to get. I'm certainly not buying them

[quote="mindy"]Just be sure to get panty hose tights not plain pantyhose. The tights are a heavier weave and are better for our purpose. Rested Gal also posted info about a specific type of knot to use so it doesn't get bulky and is easy to get off.

Mindy