Many units on the market can vary from 1 ½ lbs, to as little as ¼ lb. in weight. It may not seem much, but a ½ pound is equivalent to a can of beans. A portable may need to be carried for hours on end. Even a little extra weight may add up and lead to fatigue. It is important to read the fine print. Many vendors will list the weight of the unit WITHOUT the battery included, or with their smallest battery.

This is one of the most important criteria. Airlines typically require you to carry twice your battery usage for a flight. A 4 hour flight requires you to bring 8 hours of battery capacity. You don’t want to run out of juice in line at the grocery store or halfway through a grandchild’s soccer game. Battery anxiety prevents you from living the life you choose. Many manufacturers will list the maximum possible life and advertise this exclusively. Up to 6 hours of battery life*! When you read the *, it will specify that this is only at a setting of 1 and with an extended battery. To truly compare battery life, ensure you find the chart that shows your prescribed setting and the battery size you are interested in. Many manufacturers will hide additional weight or shorter than advertised battery life in this way.  

This will be displayed as mL or mL/min. This determines how long the machine can keep up with you. To reach higher prescribed settings, a higher max output is needed. A higher setting needs a more powerful unit and battery. You need to consider if your condition is stable or progressing. A low output unit may perform well for the first year, but will struggle when you need a setting of 3 or 4.

This is a device worn on the shoulder day in and day out. Size matters. The smaller the foot print the better. It can be hard to compare is dimensions are different. Most vendors will list 3 numbers like so 12”x4”x6”. Grab a calculator and multiply the 3 numbers this will give you an overall size comparison.