Many of us love spending time outdoors to recharge and reconnect with nature. The fresh air, beautiful scenery, and tranquil silence offer a much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. This article covers how you can enjoy your upcoming camping trip while still reaping the benefits of CPAP therapy.
We’ll dive into the gear you need and the best ways to power your CPAP, whether you’re a glamper or a backpacker.
Read on to see how you can enjoy both the beauty of nature and the comfort of sleep apnea therapy.
What do I need to camp with a CPAP machine?
CPAP machine
You’ll need to bring your CPAP to keep up with your sleep apnea treatment while camping. This can be your home CPAP or a travel unit, if you’ve invested in one. Remember, travel CPAPs aren’t battery-powered, so you’ll still need to plug them in. For an introduction to the world of travel CPAPs, check out our Travel CPAP Basics article.
Unlike a home CPAP, travel units are much smaller. The Transcend Micro Auto Travel CPAP, for instance, weighs a little over 7.6 oz and is the size of a softball. If you’re a backpacker looking for something small and lightweight, the Transcend Micro is a great option.
Heat moisture exchangers (HMEs)
Most people agree that heated humidifiers make CPAP therapy much more comfortable. It’s hard to remember how good CPAP therapy is for you when the dry air makes your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth. Unfortunately, heated humidifiers can really drain your battery. Running a CPAP with a humidifier and a heated tube can cut your battery life by as much as 80%!
To get the most out of your battery, we recommend using heat moisture exchangers (HMEs) instead of a heated humidifier. HMEs are small disc shaped filters that use heat and moisture from your exhaled breath to humidify your next breath. They go between your CPAP mask and machine and take up minimal space.
For a quick video explaining HMEs, check out our video below.
Even if your CPAP is plugged in, we still recommend using a HME instead of your machine’s heated humidifier for a couple reasons. First, distilled water is needed when using a humidifier and that’s an extra item to pack.
Second, you run the risk of water damage when using a humidifier. You probably don’t have as much space for your CPAP machine when camping. If you are tent camping, you may not even have a stable, flat surface for your machine. There’s a much higher chance of your CPAP tipping over and water spilling into the machine motor at the campsite.
Finally, it’s easier to keep your machine, CPAP mask, and hose clean when you don’t use a humidifier. You don’t have to worry about cleaning the water tank and keeping your hose dry.
CPAP mask and extra accessories
If you have room, bring your favorite CPAP mask and another mask as backup. If you need to pack light, skip the backup mask and pack an extra mask cushion. Camping is a lot less fun when you’re trying to use your CPAP with a torn cushion.
Cleaning supplies
Just because you’re camping, doesn’t mean you should stop cleaning your mask. In fact, you’ll probably be sweatier and dirtier than usual, so your mask might be too. We recommend using CPAP mask wipes and CPAP mask cleaning sprays that cleans and deodorizes. They take up very little space if you choose the travel-size options.
If you’re new to CPAP and want more information on equipment cleaning, or if you’re an experienced CPAP user who wants a refresher, check out our CPAP Equipment Cleaning video below. We cover how to properly clean your mask (the whole mask), hose, and water chamber.
Power source or battery
Your CPAP will need either an AC or DC power source, or a stand-alone battery. Keep reading to see all your CPAP camping power options.
CPAP Camping Power Option: Plugged In
The easiest way to camp with your CPAP is to plug it into a power source at the campground. National and state parks offer campgrounds with full hookups (electricity, sewer and water) and campsites with only electricity. Full-service campsites are, as you might expect, very popular, so be sure to reserve your campsite well in advance!
CPAP Camping Power Option: Unplugged
If you’re not into camping at fancy campgrounds with all the bells and whistles, you’ll need a battery or power source for your CPAP. Let’s talk about your options for camping off-grid or boondocking in an RV.
Generator
A generator uses gasoline, propane or diesel to generate electricity. Larger generators provide more power and are used for high-power appliances such as microwaves. The good news is that CPAP machines don’t need a lot of power and can be powered by small, quiet solar generators.
Stand-Alone Battery: Lithium Ion CPAP Battery Kits
For a portable and easy-to-use option, lithium-ion CPAP batteries are the way to go. Like solar generators, they’re quiet, so you won’t disturb your neighbors at the campsite. But they’re much smaller – about the size of a small tablet. They fit easily into any backpack and often have USB ports for charging your phone or laptop.
These batteries can be either machine-specific or universal. A machine-specific battery connects to your CPAP with a dedicated adapter cable, which is usually included. But check the battery specs or “what’s included” section before buying, especially if you have a newer or older CPAP.
A universal CPAP battery works with all brands and models. It usually has an AC outlet, so you can plug your CPAP directly into it. These batteries don’t need any adapter cables, so you have one less thing to worry about when packing.
If you’re wondering how to charge these lithium batteries, the answer varies depending on the battery. Generally, you have a few options:
- AC Power Source: Use your machine’s AC power supply to charge the battery.
- Solar Charging: If you’re in the wilderness, a solar charging panel can do the trick.
- Car or RV: If you’re car camping or RVing, a battery-specific DC converter can charge the battery from your vehicle.
Keep in mind that you might need to buy extra accessories for these charging methods, and not all batteries support solar charging.
Our comprehensive guide, “How to Buy the Best CPAP Battery for Your Machine,” covers everything you need to know before buying a CPAP battery. The world of CPAP batteries can be confusing, but we’re here to help you make an informed decision and avoid any “I wish I’d known that” moments.
If you’ve already decided you’ll be camping with a CPAP battery, check out our 2024 Best CPAP Battery Review for our top picks.
Stand-Alone Battery: Deep-Cycle Marine Battery
If you don’t want to use your RV battery for everything, a deep-cycle marine battery is a good option. It’s affordable and reliable, and can provide power for many nights, depending on your pressure setting.
You’ll need an inverter or DC cable adapter to power your CPAP from a deep-cycle marine battery. The ResMed AirSense/AirCurve 10 12V/24V DC Converter comes with alligator clips connected to a DC cable adapter, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to power their machine directly from a deep-cycle marine battery.
DC Power Source
You can power your CPAP with a 12V or 24V car or boat battery using a DC converter. If you’re camping in an RV, this is probably the easiest way to power your CPAP.
You can always plug your machine into one of the 120V wall outlets in your RV. But if you’re boondocking, you’ll need an inverter to power those outlets. Inverters aren’t very energy efficient, so it might be better to invest in a DC cable and converter for your CPAP.
DC converters cost anywhere from $20 to $100, depending on the brand and model. Remember that DC converters are specific to certain brands and machines, so make sure you know what kind of machine you have before buying one.
The Takeaway
Sleep apnea therapy shouldn’t take away from the joys of spending time in nature. With the proper equipment and knowledge, it’s entirely possible to enjoy camping while also managing your sleep apnea effectively.
Hopefully, this article makes camping with CPAP much clearer and encourages you to bring your machine along on your next camping trip!
Want more info?
For more information on CPAP travel and camping accessories, visit us at RespShop.com. We’re also available by phone, email and online chat for all your CPAP needs.