Can You Use a Travel CPAP Full Time?

About to start your CPAP therapy? You might be inclined to get a travel CPAP as your main unit. After all, it works pretty much like a regular sleep apnea machine–except it’s more lightweight and more convenient to bring wherever.

Travel-sized CPAP devices are a godsend to sleep apnea patients who are always on the go. But in most cases, they can’t be your primary device. 

We’ll start the article by comparing the features of a travel CPAP vs regular CPAP. Then, let’s see why the former is typically incapable of running full time and whether frequent travelers with sleep apnea can use can use a travel CPAP every night.

Why do some people buy travel CPAPs, despite already owning a regular sleep apnea machine at home? It’s all a matter of what each has to offer. Here are the main differences between a travel CPAP vs regular CPAP:

Power Source

All travel CPAPs can run on rechargeable batteries, letting you continue therapy anywhere at any time. Some of them even have specific batteries made by their manufacturers, like the P8 Travel Multi-Night Battery for the Transcend Micro.

While all home units can also be powered by universal CPAP batteries or power stations, travel devices offer more power options. Besides being battery-powered, most travel CPAPs support universal voltage, while others come with built-in USB ports. Some can even operate on DC power without a converter, so they can be charged in your car, a boat, or an RV.

So can you rely on a travel CPAP for full-time use? Or is it merely a travel companion or a backup unit?

To help you decide, here’s an overview of the advantages and limitations of travel CPAP machines:

Pros

Portable: Because travel CPAPs are smaller and lighter than home units, they’re easier to pack and carry in a CPAP bag. They also take up minimal closet space when not in use.

Versatile power options: Planning to use your CPAP on the road? Prefer to plug a USB cable into your machine? You won’t have to worry about running into power issues with a travel CPAP–most devices offer various power options. 

Can be used for air travel: Most travel CPAP machines are approved by the FAA for in-flight use. Learn about everything you need to prepare before flying with a CPAP.

Built-in auto function: Modern travel CPAPs come with an automatic function. When activated, this feature automatically adjusts the pressure setting according to your breathing pattern. Some models also have automatic altitude adjustments, convenient for air travel and trips to the mountains. 

No bulky water chambers: While travel CPAPs lack certain features to maintain their small footprint, they make up for their shortcomings in other ways. For instance, if you need a travel CPAP with humidifier, you can find models with waterless humidification systems or heat moisture exchangers. 

Cons

No water-based humidifier: Most travel CPAPs don’t come with heated humidifiers. And while some have travel-friendly alternatives to water chambers, they’re reportedly not as good as the real thing.  

Lack of certain features: Apart from the absence of a humidifier, there are a few useful features that certain models lack. For instance, if you need a travel CPAP with battery, you’ll likely have to purchase the batteries separately. Or if you like to track your sleep data, you should know that not all travel CPAPs offer comprehensive data tracking.

Might not be covered by insurance: While insurance providers typically cover regular CPAP machines, you’ll probably need to pay out of pocket for a travel CPAP since it isn’t considered a necessity. 

Noise level: Sound-sensitive CPAP users might find travel CPAPs louder than home units.

There’s a reason most people opt for a regular CPAP, rather than a travel-sized device, as their main sleep companion. Let’s look at the problems you might face when you decide to get a travel CPAP for daily use:

Shorter Lifespan

Again, travel CPAPs are designed for use on trips. That means most, especially cheaper travel CPAP machines, aren’t built for regular use.

Home units, on the other hand, are durable and powerful enough to last at least five years of nightly use. 

Data Monitoring

Every CPAP user knows the importance of CPAP compliance reporting. Not only is it required by insurance and healthcare providers, but it also helps users tweak their devices’ settings for optimal therapy. Plus, seeing your CPAP AHI can help you understand whether CPAP therapy is truly working for you.

That said, there are travel CPAPs that allow you to see your sleep data but don’t let you download compliance reports. In regular CPAPs, data reporting is always an included feature and you can view your sleep data directly on the machine.

Noise Management

If you can only sleep in total silence, a home CPAP machine is a better option than a travel unit. But why are travel CPAPs noisier than standard units?

As with most travel-sized versions of things, these devices sacrifice a few features to minimize their footprint:

• One of these features is insulation. A travel CPAP device has less room for soundproofing materials than a home CPAP machine.
• Another is the humidifier. In place of water chambers, some travel CPAPs have heat moisture exchangers (HME). These devices draw in moisture from your exhaled breath and release it back as you inhale, humidifying the air you breathe without the bulky water chambers of regular CPAPs. While the process itself isn’t necessarily louder than using a standard water-based humidifier, some CPAP parts (like mask connectors housing the HMEs) have design flaws contributing to the noise.
• Lastly, travel CPAPs have less room for larger motors found in home units. The smaller the motor, the harder it works to deliver the same air pressure produced by regular CPAPs.

Limited Humidification

Do you often wake up with nosebleeds or a dry throat after a night of CPAP therapy? If that sounds like you, then getting a travel CPAP as your main unit might not be the best choice.

While some travel devices offer the option of using heat moisture exchangers as a substitute for water-based heated humidifiers, some CPAP users find that they don’t provide sufficient humidification. Of course, this depends on the climate you live in, but if you know you need CPAP humidification, chances are, a HME won’t cut it.

Lack of Customization

When buying a travel sleep apnea device, you pretty much get what you pay for. Cheap travel CPAP machines usually provide a single pressure setting, or they might not have the expiratory pressure relief function. This can be an issue for users who need varying pressure settings or for those who find it uncomfortable to breathe out with a CPAP machine.  

Batteries Are Often Sold Separately

You’d think that every travel CPAP comes with a battery. After all, traveling doesn’t always offer the convenience of readily available electrical outlets.

But if you want to buy a travel CPAP with battery, keep in mind that most models require you to purchase batteries separately. So for those planning to camp in the wilderness or go off-grid, your shopping list should include compatible batteries or CPAP power stations–some of which are also compatible with regular CPAP devices.

Also, some airlines don’t allow passengers to plug in their medical devices on board. Instead, they require passengers on CPAP to use FAA-approved batteries, which should last longer than the total duration of the flight.

For more information, check out our tips for traveling with CPAP machines and our CPAP Battery Review for our best picks of 2024.

Many people use travel CPAP machines every day without issues. But for most of the reasons stated above, it isn’t recommended. If you’re dead set on using a travel CPAP as your primary unit, you’ll want to do the following first:

Consider the Comfort Features

What comfort features do you value in a regular-sized CPAP? List them down and see whether the travel CPAP you’re eyeing has them. 

The ResMed AirMini, for instance, comes with an expiratory pressure relief function, making it easier to breathe out. It also maintains the auto start/stop and auto ramp features of the brand’s line of CPAP machines. 

Test the Waterless Humidifier

If you’re not sure whether or not you can forego the water-based humidifiers of standard CPAP, consider renting a travel CPAP with humidifier or heat moisture exchanger (HME) before buying. That way, you can compare the humidifier performance of a travel CPAP vs regular CPAP.

If you think that a travel CPAP’s waterless humidifier suits your needs, keep in mind that you have to replace the HME cartridge weekly or monthly (depending on your machine). 

Check the Noise Level

While most travel CPAPs are louder than their average-sized counterparts, quiet ones do exist. The noise level of the Breas Z2, for instance, is only 26 decibels–making it one of the quietest travel CPAP machines on the market. Learn more about all the features of this machine in our Z2 Auto Travel CPAP Review.

Apart from checking the noise level, you can also connect a CPAP muffler to your tubing to dampen the noise.

Ensure It Can Track Sleep Data

For trouble-free compliance reporting, make sure that the travel CPAP you’re getting can track your sleep therapy data. One good example is the APEX XT Auto. It includes an SD card to store your data, which you and your doctor can access via the Easy Compliance PC program. Some travel CPAP machines including the Transcend Micro, ResMed AirMini and Breas Z2, also support mobile apps so you can access your CPAP data on the go.

Invest in a Good Machine

When used every day, travel CPAP machines do not guarantee longevity. This will be especially problematic if your insurance policy does not cover travel CPAPs, let alone replacing one. 

If you’re determined to get a portable device as your main unit, expect to pay extra for a good-quality machine. One brand that’s known for making long-lasting CPAP machines is ResMed. While its products are considered high-end, there’s a reason the brand has earned the trust of many long-time CPAP users.

Using a travel CPAP full time is possible but isn’t recommended. While it works perfectly as a backup unit or an occasional travel companion, the limitations that come with such a small machine make it unsuitable for everyday use. 

If you’re set on the idea of buying a travel CPAP as your primary device, check whether it’s covered by your insurance provider. You’ll also need to ensure that it’s durable enough to withstand daily use and has the features you value in a regular-sized machine.

Or better yet, get a regular CPAP as your main unit and a travel-sized CPAP as your secondary unit. That way, you won’t have to worry about wearing down your everyday device, and you’ll still have one you can easily bring on trips or use during emergencies.  

Here on RespShop, we offer a wide assortment of CPAP, auto CPAP, BiPAP, and travel CPAP machines. You can also rent a CPAP if you’d like to test things out before committing to a purchase.

Not sure which CPAP machine to buy for full-time use? Contact our sleep specialists using the options below.