Summer’s almost here, and the great outdoors is calling! But if you have sleep apnea you might be tempted to skip the trip… or worse, skip the CPAP.
Thankfully, even off the grid you can have your CPAP and use it too! And that doesn’t have to mean spending hundreds of dollars on a specialty travel CPAP machine.
We’ve put together the best tips for camping with the CPAP machine you already own. Our real-world tips cover everything from powering your PAP to keeping it clean. Because when you’re camping, the only logs you should be sawing are the ones for your campfire!
1. If You Have One, You Have None
“If you have two you have one, if you have one you have none.” The old camping proverb is just as true for your CPAP equipment as for any of your other camping gear. Things have a way of breaking when you’re miles away from the nearest store.
It’s always a good idea to pack extra filters, tubing, headgear, and even an extra CPAP mask. These items are small and lightweight, and well worth the price to make sure sleep apnea doesn’t ruin your camping trip.
2. CPAP Wipes Are Your Best Friend
Your CPAP equipment is going to get dirty, and that’s a bad thing, since you’re going to wear it on your face. You don’t want to waste your potable water cleaning it, and you definitely don’t want to give it a dip in the nearest lake.
The solution? Toss a pack (or two) of inexpensive, lightweight CPAP wipes into your bag! These unscented cleaning wipes cut through dirt, grease, and grime like a camp knife, and the alcohol-free solution is safe for plastics and fabrics, so you’ll end up using them on more than just your CPAP.
3. Request a Campsite with a Power Source
This may seem like an obvious tip, but while many campgrounds offer electricity, not every campsite they offer will have power outlets. Calling ahead to request a site with its own power supply can save you a night without sleep.
Having a continuous source of AC power is especially helpful if you use a humidifier, which can drain battery life in a matter of hours. However, if you prefer something a little more off-the-grid you might like our next tip...
4. Bring a Car Battery (Seriously!)
With the right adapter, you can safely power your CPAP machine from an ordinary car battery for days. Just don’t use the one in the vehicle you came in, or you may be camping longer than you expected.
Also called a deep-cycle auto or marine battery, you can find these lead-acid batteries in any auto parts store. At around 40 pounds they’re hardly a portable battery, but what they lack in portability, they more than make up for in run time.
To do this, you’ll need a DC adaptor cable, which features alligator clips that connect directly to the free-standing battery’s terminals. The other end of the adaptor features a cigarette lighter-style outlet, which connects to your CPAP machine’s DC plug.
If your CPAP machine doesn’t come with a DC plug, you’ll need to pick up an inexpensive power inverter, which converts DC power to AC.
5. Pack a CPAP Battery (or Two)
If you’re looking for something a little (or a lot) more portable than a car battery, advances in lithium-ion battery technology have made CPAP batteries smaller and lighter than ever.
They also pack more battery power than ever, and you can expect most overnight batteries to last around 8 hours, and extended-life batteries to double that. That said, it’s still a good idea to pack more than one, so you can keep one recharging while you’re using the other. (Especially if your battery includes USB ports, which allow you to power more than just your CPAP therapy! Keep one battery for your PAP, and another to charge your cell phone, GPS, and more.)
Of course, the actual run time may vary depending on your pressure settings, and whether you’re using add-ons, like a humidifier or an inverter. High pressure levels, advanced CPAP settings, humidification, and DC converters can all significantly reduce battery life.
And, as an added bonus, CPAP batteries are FAA-approved to use in-flight! This makes them extremely useful for CPAP users who travel, unlike car batteries which won’t fit in your carry-on.
6. Consider a Solar Panel
Just as “one is none” applies to your gear, it also applies to your plans. You may plan to recharge your CPAP battery at camp, and then find yourself facing power outages. It’s a good idea to always have a backup to your CPAP battery backup.
A solar charger is great for recharging your CPAP battery pack because you can leave it in the sun while you’re off on adventures. Then when you’re done, they fold up flat and fit in your backpack.
While charge times vary from model to model, most CPAP solar chargers will recharge an overnight battery in as little as 4-6 hours, and a multi-night battery in 10-12.
Choosing the Right CPAP Equipment
Wherever adventure takes you, with these tips your CPAP can come, too! That way you can feel rested, refreshed, and ready for what lies ahead.
If you need help finding which CPAP batteries, solar chargers, and extra supplies are compatible with your CPAP machine, your personal Aeroflow Sleep Specialist can help you pick the right fit! Reach out at info@aeroflowsleep.com or call 1 (866) 560-6674.
