Guide to Portable Oxygen Concentrators

Purchasing a portable oxygen concentrator can be a different process for different people, and the best course of action is to consult with your physician. Your specific oxygen requirement will be unique to you, and some portable oxygen concentrators are better suited to particular oxygen levels. In most cases, medical-grade portable oxygen concentrators can’t be purchased without a prescription from a doctor defining your oxygen levels.

Once you receive the necessary guidance from your physician, the best place to purchase a portable oxygen concentrator is often directly from the manufacturer. There are many after-market sellers that offer portable oxygen concentrators — occasionally at better prices than the manufacturers themselves — but the manufacturers typically provide more reliable customer service that can work with your doctors and insurance to offer the lowest possible prices. Since portable oxygen concentrators are considered durable medical equipment, some of them are even covered by Medicare.

Portable oxygen concentrators tend to be expensive, often costing upward of $4,000. There are now some affordable oxygen concentrators on the market you may be able to afford even without insurance.

For better or worse, there isn’t a huge selection of portable oxygen concentrators on the market. It’s a bit of a shame that there isn’t a wider selection to choose from, but thankfully the options available are well-designed, highly effective pieces of portable medical tech. Let’s take a quick look at some of the best portable oxygen concentrator options available and for whom they might work the best.

Best in Class: Inogen One G5

For nearly two decades, Inogen has been an innovator in portable and home-based oxygen concentrators. Its flagship model, the Inogen One G3, was the gold standard for pulse-flow portable oxygen concentrators until it launched the G5 model, which took what made the G3 great and improved upon it in nearly every way. The Inogen One G5 isn’t cheap; you can expect to pay upward of $2,500. But with the price tag comes a host of best-in-class features. Let’s take a look at some of the device’s high-level features. For a more in-depth breakdown, check out our Inogen One G5 review.

• Six flow settings that allow you to control the amount of oxygen you receive.
• Thirteen hours of battery life when paired with a double battery, or six hours with a standard battery.
• Weighs less than 5 pounds.
• Pairs with the Inogen Connect app to track device performance.
• FAA-approved, so it can be taken on flights.

Best for Continuous Flow: Philips Respironics SimplyGo

Created by one of the most recognizable names in tech, the SimplyGo from Philips is among the smallest portable oxygen concentrators with a continuous-flow setting. Users can also set the device to deliver pulse oxygen, but the ability to provide continuous flow — even for a short time — can be a game-changer if you require varying amounts of oxygen during the day. Let’s take a quick look at some of our favorite SimplyGo features.

• Weighs 10 pounds, which is on the high end for a portable oxygen concentrator. It’s still one of the lightest units that offers continuous oxygen flow, however.
• Oxygen concentration levels of 86 to 97 percent, some of the highest in the industry.
• More than a dozen oxygen settings in both pulse and continuous modes to regulate the amount of oxygen you need.
• Altitude rated to 10,000 feet.

Best Lightweight Model: AirSep Focus

One of the essential qualities we look for in a portable oxygen concentrator is that it can be carried around all day, but some devices go above and beyond. The AirSep Focus weighs in at around 2 pounds — nearly half the weight of comparable portable oxygen concentrators. The device isn’t perfect for all-day use since it’s limited by its battery life, but this pulse-flow model is one of the best for running quick errands or short walks. Here are some of the finer points of the AirSep Focus.

• Ultra-lightweight — the entire unit weighs less than 2 pounds.
• An hour and a half of battery life per battery, but batteries can be swapped out to extend the device’s life.
• Two pulse oxygen settings at 90 percent concentration.

There are many accessories you can add to your portable oxygen concentrator to make the most of your unit. Let’s take a look at some of the options.

• Extended batteries: Most portable oxygen concentrators offer additional external batteries or batteries with larger capacities that can be swapped out to extend the devices’ lives.
• Carrying cases: Most portable oxygen concentrators feature special cases that can be used to carry the units around. Some cases are backpack-style, while others offer shoulder-strap carriers.
• Replacement parts: Portable oxygen concentrators filter air, so their filters need to be replaced occasionally to ensure functionality. Particle filters and column pairs that help power the concentrator typically can be bought separately from the devices.
• Masks and cannulas: Portable oxygen concentrators require a way to deliver oxygen to the user. Typically it’s via a nasal cannula tube, but sometimes it’s a mask.

No matter why you need extra oxygen, it’s great knowing that modern technology has made advancements in portable oxygen concentrators that enable you to live a full, active life while receiving the care you need to breathe free. Hopefully future iterations of portable oxygen concentrators will lead to even lighter-weight models with longer battery lives.

Portable oxygen concentrators are an excellent way for people with respiratory illnesses to stay active, which can aid in the healing process. With more than 1.5 million Americans requiring additional oxygen, it’s a problem that won’t be going away soon.