So you've come to embrace your CPAP machine and the restfulness it helps you enjoy, along with all the other benefits you're gaining by treating your sleep apnea, but you've got vacation plans lined up for the summer.
Too bad you can't take a vacation from your sleep apnea, right? A lot of CPAP machines are indeed relatively portable, but once you involve air travel with baggage limits, or maybe a camping trip where the amount of gear you carry is scrutinized down to the last wooden match, things get trickier. Fortunately, there are solutions, and Apnea Health has ways to help.
Yes — you can absolutely travel with sleep apnea. Purpose-built travel CPAP machines like the ResMed AirMini and the Philips DreamStation Go are a fraction of the size and weight of a regular machine, keep the features you rely on, and are easy to pack for a flight or a road trip.
Heading off-grid? CPAP batteries let you run your machine while camping, on a plane, or as a backup during a power outage. Apnea Health sells both travel machines and batteries — and rents travel devices too, if you'd rather not buy.
| Feature | ResMed AirMini | Philips DreamStation Go |
|---|---|---|
| Size & weight | About the size of a butter dish; ~2/3 lb | 6" × 6"; 1.86 lb (under 3 lb with humidifier) |
| Humidification | Waterless "HumidX" pod on the hose; pucks replaced monthly | Water humidifier; happy with regular tap water |
| Controls | App-only (myAir) — set up and start from your phone | Touchscreen + DreamMapper app |
| Masks | Works with a few specific ResMed masks | Works with any mask |
| Best for | Ultra-small size; a travel-only / second machine | Full-time performance in a compact package |
Travel CPAP machines
The team at Apnea Health set me up to test a couple of new, very small CPAP machines for their performance and fitness for travel. Up for the test were the Respironics DreamStation Go by Philips, and the AirMini from ResMed. Both performed admirably and lived up to their claims to the name, "Travel CPAP." There were some differences of course…
Size matters!
Since the name of the game is portability, size really does matter.
The DreamStation Go, a sleek 6" x 6" little box without the added humidifier accessory, weighs in at only 1.86 lbs. It screams portability, though it's so diminutive a better word might be whispers. The addition of the optional humidifying unit doubles the length (it remains easily detachable for travel) and adds barely any weight so altogether it still weighs under 3 lbs., hose, mask and all.
The ResMed AirMini is in a league of its own for size – this thing is tiny. By stripping down the humidifier (more on that shortly), the screen, knobs and everything else but two touch spots for power and Bluetooth, ResMed has managed to create a full-function travel CPAP that's about the size of a butter dish and weighs only 2/3 of a pound. It comes with a travel pouch but could just as easily slide into a purse or the side pocket of a laptop bag or backpack.
Functionality
These two manufacturers have managed to squeeze all the features that you've come to expect from your regular CPAP into a couple of much smaller packages.
The touchscreen on the DreamStation Go is intuitively easy to navigate both for setup and feedback, as is the DreamMapper app that provides reports, user manuals and handy informational videos on your phone or tablet. The Micro-flexible tubing is remarkably light and narrow but works with any mask, and the humidifier is designed to be happy using regular tap water so you don't have to worry about lugging or finding distilled water while you're on the road. This machine works and feels like a regular CPAP, just in a smaller package: in spite of its dimensions it can perform as a full-time machine with the added bonus of impressive travel ability.
As for the AirMini, absolutely everything is controlled through the app – you set it up on your phone or tablet and then push a button (or just put on your mask and breathe to auto-start) and begin therapy. For humidification, ResMed has done away with traditional water tanks and opted instead for a system that uses a rather ingenious pod with a porous filter built into the hose that captures and re-uses heat and moisture as you breathe. The filter "pucks" come in two grades for more or less humidity, or you can forgo them entirely if you don't feel the need (depending on local conditions, time of year, etc.). The filters don't require cleaning but do need to be replaced once a month.
Shop travel CPAP bundles
AirMini + P10 Starter KitShop →
AirMini + N20 Starter KitShop →
AirMini + F20 Starter KitShop →
AirMini + F30 Starter KitShop →
Drawbacks
Truly it is difficult to find a drawback with the DreamStation go, other than that it's not as small as the AirMini. When you add the humidifier it does get larger, but the whole thing is still much smaller than a regular CPAP machine. As a stand-alone without the water tank it would travel even lighter, and I did test it out that way (on a warm night in the Montreal area) and had no complaints at all.
The AirMini is the reigning champion for small size. One unfortunate drawback it that the "HumidX" waterless humidification system, while brilliant and highly effective, is positioned on the hose just below the mask, and expels a constant stream of air. It's surely something you'd get used to, and for many it wouldn't be disruptive at all, but to me it felt like one of the kids snuck into my room to blow on my face through a juice-box straw for a prank. The machine is ever so slightly louder, and it is actually limited to working with a few specific ResMed masks, but those minor complaints are far outweighed by the convenience of its impressively small size.
Questions about the AirMini? Call us at 1-800-727-8748.
What about that camping trip?
You might be wondering about powering your CPAP on that camping trip I mentioned, if you're headed for the woods with no access to an electrical outlet.
Not to worry, there are also batteries available with multiple charging options, so you can take your CPAP to sleep in a tent, on a plane, the passenger seat in the car, you name it. You can use a battery with a travel CPAP or your own existing machine, or you can use a backup battery in case of a power outage at home.
Conclusion
Overall, both the ResMed AirMini and the Respironics DreamStation Go are impressive, full-functioning travel CPAP devices, and either would make travelling far easier and more convenient. Imagine the freedom of going on vacation with a CPAP that takes up no more room in your bag than a beach novel!
The DreamStation Go works exactly like a full-sized machine in a tiny package. And the AirMini, while recommended solely as a travel CPAP and not meant for full-time use, is the winner if you're looking for ultra small size in a second machine.
Apnea Health has both models available along with informed staff to help find the best solution for you.
Don't travel enough to feel the extra cost of a travel CPAP is justified? Apnea Health still has you covered – they also offer travel devices for rent so you can rest easy on your next trip.
Find your travel CPAP — buy or rent
Apnée Santé stocks both the AirMini and the DreamStation Go, plus batteries and travel bundles — and our staff will help you find the right fit. Not a frequent traveller? Rent one instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can I travel with a CPAP machine?
Yes. Purpose-built "travel CPAP" machines are made for it — the ResMed AirMini and Philips DreamStation Go are far smaller and lighter than a standard machine, so they pack easily for flights, road trips and camping.
What is the smallest travel CPAP machine?
The ResMed AirMini — it's about the size of a butter dish and weighs only around 2/3 of a pound, making it the winner for ultra-small size.
Do travel CPAP machines have a humidifier?
Yes, in different ways. The DreamStation Go uses a water humidifier that's happy with regular tap water. The AirMini uses a waterless "HumidX" pod on the hose that captures and re-uses your own heat and moisture; its filter pucks are replaced once a month.
Can I use a CPAP while camping with no power?
Yes — CPAP batteries with multiple charging options let you run a travel or standard machine off-grid, whether you're in a tent, on a plane or in the car. They also work as a backup during a power outage at home.
Can a travel CPAP replace my regular machine?
The DreamStation Go works exactly like a full-sized machine, so it can be used full-time. The AirMini is recommended solely as a travel CPAP — it's ideal as a compact second machine rather than an everyday one.
Can I rent a travel CPAP instead of buying one?
Yes. Apnée Santé offers travel devices for rent, so you can rest easy on your next trip without buying a machine if you don't travel often.
This article reflects a hands-on review and is provided for general information only — it is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. For help choosing or renting a travel CPAP, speak with an Apnée Santé respiratory therapist.
