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For decades, oxygen concentrators have been used to provide clean and safe oxygen for people with difficulty breathing. It works by filtering out nitrogen in the air and sending 90-95% pure oxygen to your nostrils, and these are usually found in hospitals or installed in residential homes. However, these oxygen concentrators are bulky and limit your mobility, where you only need to stay in one area.
By the turn of the 21st Century, companies have also started developing portable oxygen concentrators (POC) to provide mobility and save space in people’s homes. Today, there are already several different companies that provide commercially available portable oxygen concentrators, and this article will rank the best machines based on different criteria.
YOUR BASIS WHEN BUYING A PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR
With so many companies that produce portable oxygen concentrators, it’s hard to choose just one to use throughout your entire life. However, to help you decide on what product and model is the best to buy, here are some of the criteria you should consider when canvassing different POC’s:
Brand
Even though we always say that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, we can’t help but be attracted to products whose brands we are familiar with. After all, the name of a brand wouldn’t be familiar if it weren’t widely used by a lot of people, so you can already have an idea on how well a product performs based on their reputation. However, there are also lesser-known brands that has a promising performance, so don’t base your decisions on brand names alone.
Price
If you’re one of those people that are on a tight budget, the first thing that you will probably look at when buying a POC is the price. Some brands sell products that are too expensive, but will only last for a while before having damages. The price of portable oxygen concentrators usually ranges from $800 – $2,000, depending on the brand, model, and the included batteries and accessories. However, other POC’s can reach prices of up to $3,500, which already includes a complete set of accessories and an extended warranty.
Performance
The performance of a portable oxygen concentrator is the most important to consider when buying one. This machine will help you in breathing, so you’ll want it to be reliable 24/7. Depending on the brand and model, there are different ways to measure the performance of the machine. There are different pulse types or pulse speeds, which is important to know depending on what you want the POC to do. Specifically, there are two types of pulses: continuous flow and pulse flow, where the oxygen will be delivered continuously or in pulses, respectively.
Before buying a new POC, make sure to check the portable oxygen concentrator continuous flow reviews or pulse flow reviews to tell whether the performance of a product is good or not.
Maximum Altitudes
If you are the type of person that travels a lot, then you should also consider the maximum altitudes that a POC can reach. Portable oxygen concentrators rely on air pressure to provide oxygen, and they usually operate to altitudes of up to 10,000 feet. However, there are other models that has a maximum altitude of up to 13,000 feet, so if you’re always on plane rides, make sure to inquire about the maximum altitude of a POC.
Size and Weight
Portable oxygen concentrators are designed to be small and compact to provide mobility, and companies prioritize the comfortability and convenience of the user. Before buying the POC, make sure to check its specifications, namely its dimensions and weight. Some products will also include the weight with and without the batteries, so you can get an estimate on how heavy or how bulky the machine will be. Other POC’s will might also be heavier, and this is because they are built to be heavy-duty.
TOP PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS
From the given criteria above, we have gathered some of the top portable oxygen concentrators in the market for each criteria:
Smallest and Most Compact: Airsep Freestyle 3
If you want a portable oxygen concentrator that’s not too heavy or bulky, then Airsep Freestyle 3 Concentrator is perfect for you! It’s dimensions are 6.1” x 8.6” x 3.6”, and it only weighs a total of 5 pounds, including the batteries. This portable oxygen concentrator also has an adjustable strap that makes it seem like you’re only carrying a lunch bag, unlike the other products in trolleys that you have to drag around.
Best Continuous Flow: Respironics SimplyGo
Several portable oxygen concentrator continuous flow reviews have stated that this one is their personal favorite. This oxygen concentrator comes in several different modes, and its continuous flow ranges from 0.5 to 2 liters per minute, so you can guarantee the best oxygen flow at any time with this machine.
Longest Battery Life: SeQual Eclipse 5 Mobile Unit
This product is known for its long intervals between changing or charging its batteries. It comes with two batteries, where one battery can last for up to five hours at the maximum oxygen pulse. Not only that, but these batteries were also designed to be as energy-efficient as possible, so there’s no need to change its batteries very often.
Best for Travel: The Oxlife Independence
If you are a person that likes to travel to different places, then you should get the Oxlife Independence. This concentrator can operate at altitudes of up to 13,123 feet, which is perfect even for plane rides. Plus, this device also comes with a cart and wheels for easy transport, and its batteries can last up to 4 hours in pulse mode, so you don’t have to worry about changing batteries while outdoors.
OVERALL BEST PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR
With so many portable oxygen concentrators listed above, it’s difficult to choose just one. However, if you’re looking for a machine that’s perfect for all situations, then you should get the Inogen One G3, which is one of the best in the market. This concentrator has a battery-life of up to 10 hours, and can fully operate in altitudes of up to 10,000 feet. Not only that, but the Inogen One G3 is also one of the quietest concentrators available, and only weighs around 4.8 pounds. With these specifications, it’s no question that this product has already sold more than 300,000 units worldwide, so you should also get yours now!
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