That sorry PR System1 bag: any ideas?

I have to travel alot with my job, living out of motels and such so my poor machine gets tossled around more than I like. That bag you get with the PR1 is just cheap to me with little padding, if you can even call it that. And the holes in the bottom really do not make alot of sense. This is a good machine and I like it but I am finding it hard to believe that Respironics couldn't do better than this.

So I know there are others here who agree that this bag falls woefully short in protecting your machine so I am curious if anyone has found a good replacement.

I don't know about replacements, but I've traveled 4-5 times with my Respironics bag without any major issues.

Here's what I've done:
- Put a hand towel covering the unit+humidifier (wrapped in the towel)
- Unplugged the power brick & cord and put them separately in the front pouch
- Put the hose inside a plastic bag (usually the one that it came with works great), and slide it in the top strap (NEVER falls out)
- Use the side pocket for papers, and/or tape
- Put the mask on top loosely

Went through several checkpoints (airport + other security) w/o issues, and the unit was easy to take out for inspection.

Don't really seen any major issues with the bag, other than it's a bit bulky, but I don't know how they'd fix that.

I understand what you are saying but I am referring to the lack of protection for the machine itself. The padding is inadequate to me.
Also, I use a hose cover and you cannot place a hose with the cover on in the pouch built into the lid, and with the hose cover on you you don't have any room for the mask. You can get the mask inside but it has to be forced.
There has to be something better out there that offers proper protection for a machine and can carry everything needed. The bag provided performs it's most basic function of taking a machine from point A to point B but manufacturers should offer more to those who need the extra protection, such as myself. When I say that I travel I mean that I drive a "big truck" and not just on the highways but alot of off-road driving with my bag in a side box on my truck.
Not all Cpap users are going to be the same, obviously, but I just wish there were more options offered by the manufacturer.

Bearcat42 wrote:I understand what you are saying but I am referring to the lack of protection for the machine itself. The padding is inadequate to me.
Also, I use a hose cover and you cannot place a hose with the cover on in the pouch built into the lid, and with the hose cover on you you don't have any room for the mask. You can get the mask inside but it has to be forced.
There has to be something better out there that offers proper protection for a machine and can carry everything needed. The bag provided performs it's most basic function of taking a machine from point A to point B but manufacturers should offer more to those who need the extra protection, such as myself. When I say that I travel I mean that I drive a "big truck" and not just on the highways but alot of off-road driving with my bag in a side box on my truck.
Not all Cpap users are going to be the same, obviously, but I just wish there were more options offered by the manufacturer.

I agree with you that the machine isn't well protected, but I don't think it needs to be "that" protected. It should be hand carried and moved gently.

I also agree with you about the hose cover issue, didn't consider that one and might be why mine closes with the mask on top without any need to "force" it closed.

You may be better off with a small suitcase (check out the womens makeup cases, hardcase), that might be just the ticket.

Hopefully, you'll find something that will work!

have u tried ebay? when i was looking for bags before i saw all sorts. i got a nice laptop bag from there for a great price. it may be an option someone has thought of and jumped on the chance to make some cash.

I've found at least two very well padded bags, actually meant for laptops and etc. that are large enough, deep enough and padded enough to be pretty much worry-free for both my PR S1 and laptop at Office Max. I would assume that Staples and Office Depot and many places that sell luggage or briefcases would have something that would work as well as the two I tried. Take your S1 in its carry case w/you when shopping and try the various "brief cases" out for fit, etc. Office Max had no problem w/my doing so. And, I think it was, Sears, maybe that offered to let me put one on my credit card to take home to see if all would fit and if not return it for a full refund.

Slinky wrote:I've found at least two very well padded bags, actually meant for laptops and etc. that are large enough, deep enough and padded enough to be pretty much worry-free for both my PR S1 and laptop at Office Max. I would assume that Staples and Office Depot and many places that sell luggage or briefcases would have something that would work as well as the two I tried. Take your S1 in its carry case w/you when shopping and try the various "brief cases" out for fit, etc. Office Max had no problem w/my doing so. And, I think it was, Sears, maybe that offered to let me put one on my credit card to take home to see if all would fit and if not return it for a full refund.

Slinky, that is what I call thinking "outside the box"! I never would have thought that Office Max would have something I could use for my Cpap equipment.

And I always forget about eBay so I need to check that out as well. Thanks everyone for your help. I don't mean to sound whiney or anything like that it's just an unpleasant thought that my machine is not getting adequate protection from the rigors of moving around so much and I would sure hate for it to get broken.

I have an extra Resparonics bag that I will give to you, so! if you are ever in the Mtn. Home area get in touch (870) 425 5865.

I solved this problem by modifying the simple travel bag to a cpap bag.
It is durable and easy to carry and safe.
I prepare the photos .
You can find the photos in the link below.
I hope it will help you to prepare yours.

http://foto.mail.ru/mail/tootsiege/_myphoto/8.html
regards.

semreka wrote:I solved this problem by modifying the simple travel bag to a cpap bag.
It is durable and easy to carry and safe.
I prepare the photos .
You can find the photos in the link below.
I hope it will help you to prepare yours.

http://foto.mail.ru/mail/tootsiege/_myphoto/8.html
regards.

I really like your set-up in the photos. Is this a computer bag? The pockets look really well laid-out for the machine and accessories.

If I had to carry my machine offroad in the side box of my truck I would go for a Pelican type hardcase with pick and pluck foam. They are watertight and nearly industructable, there are videos of torture tests on youtube, they shoot one with a 12 guage shotgun, drive over one with a pickup and throw one off a tall silo. You can size the foam padding for a close fit by plucking foam cubes. If you're interested you can go to the pelican website and see whats available, pick the size and model you need to carry everything then shop online or on ebay. They are expensive but can be bought cheaper on ebay, the used ones usually have some or most of the foam removed.

Bearcat42 wrote:Also, I use a hose cover and you cannot place a hose with the cover on in the pouch built into the lid, and with the hose cover on you you don't have any room for the mask. You can get the mask inside but it has to be forced.

I use a hose cover and am still able to get my hose, including the extra length of hose that came with the Swift FX, into the pouch built into the lid.

I travel almost every week using the bag and haven't had any damage but I agree that the padding could be more substantial. I just try to be very careful.

Tielman wrote: I agree with you that the machine isn't well protected, but I don't think it needs to be "that" protected. It should be hand carried and moved gently.

I would have agreed with you UNTIL I came across an oaf (no better word for him) in customs in the Dominican Republic. Just as I was placing my things into the bin for the xray machine at the airport, the security inspector tried to assist me by picking up my cpap (in it's bag) and TOSSING IT onto the conveyor that goes into the xray machine.

I screamed at him "that bag contains fragile instruments". I was LIVID I also chose not to press the point further than that because I know that customs/security is NOT a place to make a scene. As well, it was clear that the security oaf did not speak english, anyway. There were no supervisors in sight.

I was on my way home and I use my backup cpap for travel purposes anyway (it's an M-series auto). So at least I knew that I would have a working machine for that night. Not sure what I would have done if I had been out-bound, with no immediate options for replacement.

In the end, the cpap was not damaged. I'm not certain the result would have been the same if it had been packed in the PR Series 1 bag that has no padding.

Bottom line is that no matter how careful we are with our machines, sometimes we do not have control over how they are handled. A well padded carry case just might save a lot of grief.

I use a rather large camera bag; it is well padded and I can also carry my netbook, Kindle and some other things in it. It also has lots of pockets and compartments.

Bearcat42 wrote:

semreka wrote:I solved this problem by modifying the simple travel bag to a cpap bag.
It is durable and easy to carry and safe.
I prepare the photos .
You can find the photos in the link below.
I hope it will help you to prepare yours.

http://foto.mail.ru/mail/tootsiege/_myphoto/8.html
regards.

I really like your set-up in the photos. Is this a computer bag? The pockets look really well laid-out for the machine and accessories.

It was a combo-bag for short trips. First side is for your computer and the second side is for a couple of shirts and underwear .It is a little deeper than the normal laptop bag. That dimension supplies sufficient condition for the cpap machine due to its thickness.
Inner separation pockets are individually prepared cases you can detach them from the bag, if needed. But in normal usage they are fixed to the bag by means of Velcro tapes.
I am a professional in construction industry. Now I am in Afghanistan two months before I was in Azerbaijan and 1 year before I was in IRAQ. So, I am travelling very often, I prepared this bag.
Regarding to my experiences, I would like to apprise something more related with travelling internationally with your cpap.
I) do not forget to carry a polyester bag in your cpap bag.
2) You will use it to put your cpap in before passing through x-ray machine at passport control point. In the x-ray machine take the cpap out of the bag and put it in polyester bag. You cannot be sure about the cleanliness of the x-ray machine and most probably they want you to take the machine out to the carrying bag before passing x-ray machine.
3) Prepare a sticker for your bag. The sticker should contain a general explanation related with Cpap machines in general and it should be kept with you as a hand luggage in the plane. This may be helpful against some conceitedly officious employees in travel agency.
4) The medical devices are free to international circulation as being your personal belonging. But in some eastern countries you have to explain this rule to the officers at the border. So, carry the invoice and sickness certificate in your bag for this purpose. If you have a trip to this kind of country.

By taking these precautions I entered even to the LIBYA which has very rude border controls.

I hope it will be helpful for all.
God Bless.