Tips for Going Camping with your Oxygen Concentrator

Tips for Going Camping with your Oxygen Concentrator

Rate This Story

3 Votes So Far

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Like with any other chronic condition or special medical need, you should be able to go anywhere you want and do the things you would have been doing, whether you are using oxygen therapy or not. Camping is something many families do together during the summer, and you should be able to go along without worrying that your need for oxygen therapy would be any sort of burden. The only burden would be bringing along oxygen equipment that is inconvenient or not functioning properly.

Bringing along a portable oxygen concentrator is your best bet, since you don’t have to worry about running out of oxygen. You should never have to run out of oxygen in the great outdoors! If your family is planning a week or longer excursion out in the woods this summer, we have a few tips and suggestions for you to make it as fun and hassle-free as it can be.

Consider Renting a Portable Concentrator

If you don’t want to commit to buying a portable concentrator, or if you know you won’t need one after your camping trip, renting one is your best bet. Choose the portable model that will fit your oxygen needs, and one with a great, long lasting battery.

We have the Sequal Eclipse 5, the Respirionics SimplyGo, Inogen One G3 and Inogen One G4 available to rent, if you need a continuous flow of oxygen. These models also have pulse dose settings. Our other rental portable models have pulse dose only, and if you only need pulse dose oxygen, the Inogen G2 would be a great selection because of their great battery life.

If you need constant, pulse dose oxygen, the Inogen models are recommended, so you won’t need to charge your concentrator battery as often. The G2 with the 24-cell gets as much as 8 hours of battery life. If you don’t need constant pulse dose, the Lifechoice would be ideal because of how small and easy-to-carry it is.

Plan Ahead With Extra Battery Power

Even though you may be getting a camp site with an electrical source (a must), you will need to be able to explore and go hiking through the woods with your family, or do the other things they have planned. This is where having an extra battery will come in handy, especially if you are using your oxygen concentrator all day, or for most of the day.

An extra battery with an external battery charger would be ideal. Just plug in the charger, and the battery into the charger while you are off adventuring and using the one in your concentrator. When you get back to the site and your battery is almost drained, switch them out and put the fully-charged one into your concentrator. One battery and a back-up battery should be enough for you, even if you will be gone for a week. How many back-ups you have on you depends on how far from your camp site you will be hiking.

Another important thing to bring with you, is a pulse oximeter. When you are hiking or exerting yourself in some way, you will need to make sure you are still getting enough oxygen. If your blood oxygen level drops, you may need to rest or turn up the flow rate as prescribed by your doctor.

Rate This Story

3 Votes So Far

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.

Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

About Scott Ridl:

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more. Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

13 thoughts on “Tips for Going Camping with your Oxygen Concentrator

  1. Training for a new way of life. ugh. Last Summer I spent 4 months – three mornings per week – at Pulmonary Rehab. Learning that I have been breathing wrong for most of my life (don ‘t laugh – so do you. *snicker*). This past February I whined to my pulmonologist about running out of breath when doing normal household chores. Now all those things I learned in pulmonology therapy are more than just excises – they’re literally life and death. Anyway so, I am an avid camper and hiker. I have a Lbarador Retriever who MUST get exercise every day…not to mention that my doctor says the very worst thng a person can do when he/she has Emphysema is to stop moving. So now, for the past 6 weeks I have been attempting to relearn life. That is, life with oxygen. And when I go hiking with my dog, I definitely do take my pulse oximeter. I ‘modified’ my backpack so that I can hump with two water blisters (each is 1.75 liter) and two of the M6 (2 liter) oxygen cylinders – actually three because I carry one in the shoulder case intended for that purpose. I also take along my pedometer/activity tracker. All in all though – it really isn’t any different than when I used to hump 123 miles through the woods looking for a camp spot. I suppose now I’ll either just use campgrounds, or camp at spots I know, that are close to my parking location. *shrug* So some things have to be changed in my life. Anyway – I haven’t yet had the opportunity to go camping. Primarily I am just “training” myself to hike with emphysema. I haveb’t received my POC yet – it’s on order. So as sooon as I have the POC (yep, with two spare batteries) I’l be scoping out the tent sites. 🙂

    • Wonderful, Ken! Thank you for sharing. Should you need any further oxygen related equipment for your hiking trips, feel free to give us a call at 877-774-9271.

  2. Thank you I have been told I have 1/3rd of my lung useage and need oxygen I am a camper but stay and live there most of the summer with cat and dog always thought you couldn’t do or have either. Don’t want to give up any of it still processing as also I was told I don’t exercise enough and what I do is wrong Zumba 2x also pound 2x a week this is my winter plan plus treadmil

  3. Hi, do you have batt charger for Inogen one g3 for rent? Probably 3 weeks. Also do you rent batteries for it $ ?? Thanks!! Randy 321.285.6446

    • Hi Randall,
      Actually, yes! we do rent batteries and battery chargers. Give us a call and we can help you with this. We do ship out every day so once you put the order in, we can get it out to you. Give us a call at 888-237-5676 and we can set you up with what you need.

  4. I’d like to go camping but I need 1L/min at night to hook up to my IPAP. I need the oxygen for the IPAP) “only” at night when sleeping —-but the IPAP requires continuous flow. Other than my car there is no electrical source nearby. We are talking only about a maximum of 3 or less nights. Is this situation doable? Thanks

  5. I am looking at purchasing a solar operated Lithium battery generator….what size generator would i need for 3L 24/7. I am a cubmaster for a scout pack and I am not ready to give my independence up.

    • Generally, for portable oxygen concentrator power requirements are:
      AC Power 100-240VAC, 50-60Hz, or
      DC Power 11-18 VDC (10 max amp)

      • Will portable oxygen concentrators run on a dc adapter plugged into a solar battery (lithium battery)? I ask because Varon, for example, says the car must be running, as if it takes a lot of amps/watts. I currently run my CPAP 2 nights of camping with a solar battery and recharge using a solar panel. Can I do the same thing with an oxygen concentrator and battery combo? What are examples of concentrators that will woork for camping by running 8 hours through the night on a solar battery? Thanks, John

        • Running a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) on a solar battery is possible, but it’s essential to consider a few factors to ensure a reliable power source during camping:
          1. Oxygen Flow Type: Since you mentioned that you’d like to use the CPAP machine with an Oxygen Concentrator, you’d need a continuous flow of oxygen (not pulse-dose oxygen). There are a few portable concentrators that supply continuous flow oxygen, such as Respironics SimplyGo, CAIRE Eclipse 5, and Oxlife Independence.
          2. Power Consumption of the POC: Different POCs have varying power consumption rates. You will need to check the power requirements (in watts) of the specific POC you plan to use. POCs with higher flow rates typically consume more power.
          3. Battery Capacity: The capacity of your lithium solar battery is crucial. It should be sufficient to power the POC for the duration you need, such as 8 hours overnight. The battery’s capacity is usually rated in ampere-hours (Ah) or watt-hours (Wh).
          4. Consult an Expert: Given the complexity of setting up a solar-powered system for a POC, it’s advisable to consult with a solar power expert or an electrician to design a system that meets your specific needs.

          At last, always have a backup plan, and consult your healthcare provider for guidance on using a POC in non-standard settings like camping.

  6. I was looking at whether it is safe to use a portable air concentrator while camping. We have propane gas stove and furnace. Not much room in there.

    • Using a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) while camping is possible, but it’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety. Propane gas stoves and furnaces can produce heat and flames, so keep your POC at least 8 feet away from them. Make sure to also keep your POC away from any other sources of heat, such as campfires.
      Always consult your POC user manual for specific instructions on use and maintenance, as well as any additional safety precautions.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *