Written by Mike Price, OT
As a growing health issue in the United States, sleep disorders, especially sleep apnea, are on the rise.
Although it’s estimated that about 22 million Americans suffer from some form of sleep apnea, a full 80 percent of the people affected by moderate or severe sleep apnea go undiagnosed every year.
While sleep apnea episodes normally don’t last longer than 30 to 40 seconds, they can also occur more than 100 times a night, resulting in adverse health consequences if left unchecked.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to hypertension, stroke, atrial fibrillation, chronic heart failure, and a host of other cardiovascular problems, and is also associated with type 2 diabetes, depression, obesity, and is even a frequent contributing factor in heavy machinery operation and traffic accidents.
Continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP machines are the usual recommended treatment for sleep apnea, keeping users breathing regularly throughout the night.
While there are many different CPAP machines to choose from, there are even more CPAP mask designs, ensuring that everyone finds just the right fit.
The success of CPAP therapy in treating sleep apnea is dependent upon the patient using the machine and wearing the mask every night, and the most common reason why people don’t wear their CPAP every night is that they don’t like their mask.
Although choosing the right CPAP machine is important, it is generally the fit of the mask that’s going to determine whether you comply with nightly CPAP therapy or not. If it’s uncomfortable or the wrong style, people typically stop using the whole machine, instead of trying to find a better design.
If you are currently using a CPAP mask that’s uncomfortable, don’t give up your treatments!
State-of-the-art innovations occur often in the field of CPAP design, and experts know that it’s the mask that makes the most difference in the compliance that ensures healthier outcomes.
Here’s a brief rundown of some of the most popular CPAP mask styles and who tends to benefit most from each:
Generally covering the nose and mouth, full face CPAP masks are well suited for people who breathe through their mouth. Usually designed to seal around the nose and mouth, cushioned edges often form the shape of a triangle or oval, which is held in place by four-point headgear.
Ideal for people who have chronic allergies, sinus problems, or other issues affecting the ability to always breathe through the nose, full face masks are also good for folks whose mouth drops open during sleep.
Sleeping positions that suit full face masks include the yearner (side sleeper with arms out in front), soldier (back sleeper with arms straight at sides), and starfish (back sleeper clutching the pillow).
Sitting on the bridge of the nose and covering either the bottom half of the nose or the whole nose, nasal CPAP masks are held in place with four-point headgear attached to the frame.
They can be configured as a nasal cradle, forming a triangular seal around the nose to the upper lip (leaving the mouth uncovered), or as a nasal prong that forms seals around both nostril openings.
Well suited for people who breathe through their nose, nasal CPAP masks can be used for any sleeping position, side, back, or stomach, and patients who breathe through their nose have shown improved CPAP compliance by using a nasal mask.
Unlike other nasal CPAP masks, nasal pillow masks do not cover the whole nose. Similar to nasal prong masks, the nasal pillow masks use two seals around the openings of the nostrils, but they’re held in place with cushioning pillows to add comfort and stability.
As the lightest in weight of all the CPAP masks, nasal pillow masks are also more compact, with minimal headgear. They’re a perfect choice for patients who breathe through the nose and find full face masks and other nasal masks too bulky or confining.
They’re a good choice for any sleeping position, and especially suitable for stomach sleepers, as they stay in place better than other designs for this sleeping position.
Whether you’re brand new to the world of CPAP therapy, or a seasoned user seeking a better fitting mask, we’ve done the research for you to take the guesswork out of finding the best CPAP mask.
Taking performance, functionality, durability, comfort, and ease of use into account, our review of the best CPAP masks also looks into the pros and cons from the real-life users of this equipment, giving you a comprehensive overview of the top-rated CPAP masks in our catalog.
 | 1) ComfortGel Blue Nasal and Full Face CPAP Masks with Headgear View Product |
Convenience, comfort, and versatility place the Sleepnet Ascend CPAP masks on our top five list as a great choice for most CPAP users. Available in either a full face mask or a nasal mask, these masks come with cushions in three different sizes so you can determine the best fit for you.
Comfortable, lightweight, and non-irritating, the Ascend cushions utilize patented AIRgel, which reduces pressure points, mitigating skin irritation. Their Advanced Cushion Technology (ACT) provides an ergonomic fit, ensuring a dependable, effective seal as wearers shift position throughout the night, combined with the mask’s Flexible Spacebar, and the 360-degree rotating elbow which enables shifts in the positional tubing.
Ideal for any sleeping positions due to its flexibility, the nasal Ascend mask is perfect for patients who breathe through their nose, while the full face Ascend is better suited for users who breathe through their mouth, or a combination of both nose and mouth.
The minimalist design of the Brevida Nasal Pillow provides a comfortable, lightweight fit for CPAP users who breathe through their nose, and this mask takes the number four position on our list. Configured as a unique geometric shape, the Brevida’s AirPillow cushion enables a complete seal in and around the nose, eliminating the need for a bulkier or more confining mask.
The Brevida highlights Fisher & Paykel’s trademarked VisiBlue design technology to enhance the visibility of the mask’s essential connection points and dual strap headgear for easy location in the dark, or when users aren’t wearing their contacts or glasses. The unique design also provides an additional foot of space between the CPAP hose and the mask, enabling improved mobility for the user throughout the night.
A diffuser cap and filter ensure clean, purified breathing, quiet operation, and the utmost efficiency, with both parts easy to wash and maintain. The Brevida nasal pillow CPAP mask is a good choice for anyone who breathes through their nose, and will provide stay-in-place therapy for any kind of sleep position, including stomach sleepers.
Formulated with soft silicone rubber, the ComfortFit CPAP masks, cushions, and headgear come in a wide range of sizes and other variable options to enable a perfect fit for every user. Coming in at number 3 on our list, this mask is recommended for patients who breathe through the mouth, at least part of the time.
These full face masks ensure compliance with their comfortable frame stabilizer that redistributes pressure evenly for a secure seal that doesn’t feel like a vise.
Enabling visibility with its unique shape, the ComfortFit mask eliminates the need for a forehead pad, allowing wearers to watch TV, read, and engage in other activities while receiving their CPAP therapy. The clear design also enables easy viewing of the face, mouth, and nose within the mask.
Soft, lightweight, pliable, and comfortable, the ComfortFit is a deluxe mask that allows custom specifications for ordering the mask with or without headgear, the size of the mask, and the size of the cushions. It’s a good choice for back sleepers, and some side sleepers.
Taking the number two spot on our best CPAP masks list, the DreamEasy CPAP Mask starter kit brings everything you need for comfortable, efficient, and convenient CPAP therapy. Suitable for single patient use in hospitals and other care facilities, this CPAP mask kit can also be used by individuals in their own home. Its full face formation is ideal for users who breathe through their mouth.
Three different sizes of full face CPAP masks are included to ensure the perfect fit for every user, along with adjustable headgear that can be resized. The masks’ comfort cushion softly conforms to the natural contours and ridges of the face, creating a comfortable and efficient seal that won’t leak air. Its keyhole design on the forehead bar also eliminates pressure points, and reduces the weight from the mask and strap.
Clips are located on the front of the mask, making it easier and quicker to both apply and remove the mask, while this design feature also eliminates the need for readjustment. Constructed with medical-grade liquid silicone, the cushion is airtight, odorless, washable, and reusable to ensure clean and maintainable operation. Other components of the mask are top-rack dishwasher safe, or can be cleaned with mild soap and water.
As our number one choice for the best CPAP mask, the ComfortGel Blue Mask comes in either a nasal mask or a full face mask to fulfill individual user needs perfectly. Its uniquely pliable blue gel cushions are dual-walled to comfortably conform to the individual contours of the face for an easy and reliable seal.
Available in a range of sizes to ensure a perfect fit, adjustable hook-and-loop straps combined with a simple snap system keep the mask in place, no matter how much the wearer tosses and turns. The soft and comfortable forehead cushion reduces the weight of the mask on the face, minimizing pressure and contact points.
Noise is kept to a minimum with the added design benefit of the exhalation port being angled away from the user and bed partner. Both the full face mask and the nasal mask are easy to take apart and clean the individual components, with both simply snapping back together for convenient application. The gel cushions can also be ordered separately as replacements for old and worn out cushions, making this mask a great choice for long-term CPAP therapy, as opposed to having to buy new masks every so often.
CPAP therapy is an effective treatment, using machines and masks to deliver oxygen to ensure people living with sleep apnea keep breathing at night.
We researched the top-rated CPAP masks, and our review ranks the best, with some that were great choices for people who breathe through their nose, and others that were better for those users who breathe through their mouth, along with considerations about sleeping positions.
Our number one choice is the ComfortGel Blue Nasal and Full Face CPAP Masks with Headgear by Pinnacle Medsource.
Available in both full face and nasal configurations, and a variety of sizes, the ComfortGel Blue can fit just about any face. Its double-walled blue gel cushions comfortably conform to facial contours, and an adjustable strap system keeps it in place, even for users who move around in bed a lot at night.
If you found this review helpful and you're interested in learning more about CPAP, check out the rest of our great articles on Caregiver University.
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
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