ResMed’s continues to reinvent and improve upon the Swift line of masks.  Some veteran CPAP users will remember that when the original ResMed Swift hit the market, it took off like wildfire.  Nasal pillow masks were relatively new and ResMed brought the Swift to market at the perfect time.  Although the original Swift was quite popular, some adjustments were needed with one of the biggest complaints of the original Swift being noise.

What followed was the Swift II.  The upgraded Swift II addressed the noise issue with a 50% reduction.  With little serious competition, the Swift II again claimed the nasal pillow throne.  Today, ResMed has three different masks in their Swifts line; the Swift II, Swift LT and the Swift FX.  With all these Swifts available, the question becomes which Swift CPAP mask should a CPAP user choose and why?  Since this is a personal choice and no true correct answer, we will profile each mask in hopes of bringing some clarity to the situation.

ResMed Swift II

The ResMed Swift II has had quite a run as many people switched from traditional nasal CPAP mask to the Swift II when it was released.  The Swift II offered minimal facial contact and an unobstructed line of vision when compared to the typical nasal mask.  The nasal pillow, which rises slightly into the nostril, is held stable by a small cylinder or “barrel” which rests just below the nose.  The most significant difference with the Swift II from the other Swift masks is the barrel design which allows the CPAP tube to be positioned to the right or left.  This positioning is helpful especially if you tend to sleep on one side as the tube can be positioned to the opposite side.  The tube can also be run up or down depending on preference.  The Swift II’s minimal design and lightweight feel (2.5 ounces) offers the CPAP user a comfortable and simple CPAP therapy experience.  One drawback derived from user feedback is the buckle at the back of the head.  Although not a big issue for most, some users consider the buckle uncomfortable when lying on their backs.  Nevertheless, the mask consistently gets high marks from users.

ResMed Swift LT

ResMed continued to improve upon the Swift platform by creating the next generation Swift LT.  The ResMed Swift LT has all of the attributes CPAP users like about the Swift II including some strategic design changes.  For example, ResMed continued with the minimal, lightweight design (2.3 ounces) while improving upon its quietness.  One major change from the Swift II is a departure from the barrel design.