For decades when you hear someone in the CPAP world speaking about a Nasal CPAP mask you think of a clown nose style mask. It surrounds the nose and seals over top of the bridge of the nose. That is a classic nasal mask. Then there was the Nasal Pillow style. This style had small nasal buds that rested on the nostrils to create a seal. Now there is a hybrid style that cradles under the nose. The Cradle-Style CPAP masks give you the ability to seal under the nose like the pillow style while still giving you a similar experience as the traditional nasal style.

What is a Nasal Cradle Style CPAP Mask?

These masks have been around for a few years now and were pioneered by Philips. However, now there are options from all of the other manufacturers that work really well. Each of them has their own pros and cons though. Philips has the DreamWear Nasal Cradle mask. ResMed has the N30i as well as the N30 cradle style. Then you have Fisher and Paykel who has the Evora. All of these masks seal under the nose in a “cradle-style”, but they all have significant differences. Let’s take a deeper dive on each.

DreamWear Nasal Cradle CPAP Mask

The DreamWear was the first CPAP Mask of this style to really catch on. A big reason why is because it worked very well. It has an over the top of the head tube connection which was also game changing for many CPAP users. The frame of the DreamWear Nasal has a ton of flexibility, because it also fits the DreamWear Full and DreamWear Pillows. This mask cushion is available in Small, Medium, Large and Wide. The DreamWear frame is available in Small, Medium, and Large, and the headgear is a standard size. That gives this mask a ton of flexibility. Let’s run through the detailed pros and cons of the DreamWear Nasal.

DreamWear Nasal Cradle Pros:

• Top of the head tube connection– This feature allows CPAP users to move side to side without dragging a tube across their body. Great for side sleepers.
• Easy quick connect– Allows you to snap your tubing on and off very easily when you need to get up in the middle of the night.
• Soft silicone cushions– The cushion that seal under your nose is very soft and silky. This helps to prevent skin contact issues that cause abrasion or discomfort.
• Headgear Arms– The headgear arms that are now standard on this mask allow the headgear strap to ride lower on the back of the head. Reducing the chance of the strap slipping up the back of the head and breaking seal.

DreamWear Nasal Cradle Cons:

• Exhalation draft– The port on the front of the cradle allowing you to exhale can be a bit drafty and noisy.
• Tubing on sides of face– The frame of this mask is what carries the air down to your nose from the top. For some users this tubing is a little too thick and can be uncomfortable. There are soft covers that come with the mask to help with this. Additionally, if the side tube is pinched off some users have reported that they can hear it a bit.
• Side of nose leaks– The cradle on the DreamWear Nasal is flatter than some of the other option. This can cause leaks up the side of the nose.

N30 Nasal Cradle Mask

The N30 from ResMed is a really cool cradle option. It takes many popular features from the P10 Nasal Pillow and adds in the positives of a cradle mask. The N30 also features the same headgear as the P10 which is really thin and stretchy. It has a front of the mask tube connection which gives the mask a more traditional fit. The cushion size is available in Small, Medium, and Small-Wide. The Adjustable headgear fits most heads very well. Let’s look at the detailed pros and cons of the N30.

N30 Pros:

• Stretchy headgear is really comfortable– The headgear on the N30 is very thin and stretchy. This makes it very easy to take it on and off plus gives a comfortable fit.
• Deep cradle provides an effective seal– Side wings of the cushion allow the N30 to seal very well. Especially for users that have had issues with other cradles leaking to the sides of the nose.
• Quiet and diffused exhalation– There is little to no exhalation draft at all. That means you and your bed partner won’t hear or feel the exhalation.
• Easy cushion removal– No clips or tricks. The cushion slips on and off the frame easily and will only go on one way. Very simple.

N30 Cons:

• Headgear is tough to take on and off the frame– When it is time for maintenance on the N30 you should take the headgear off the frame. The way that it attaches makes it really difficult. Plus, it is easy to put it on backwards.
• Headgear can wear out quickly– The stretchiness of the headgear provides a very comfortable fit. However, when it loses its stretch that pro becomes a bit of a con. Replacement headgear can be purchased separately but will need to be replaced more often than others.
• No quick-connect for tubing– You do not have the option of disconnecting the tubing and leaving the mask on. This mask is so easy to fit that this may not be an issue, but this is a feature that most others have.

Evora Nasal Cradle CPAP Mask

This is a great new mask from Fisher and Paykel. Fisher always does a great job on masks. They make some of our absolute favorites. The Evora has a traditional front of the face tube connection but has a really unique headgear and fit. The “ball-cap” style fit allows you to slip the mask on and off like a hat. The cushion size is available in Small, Medium, Wide and Large. The headgear is standard, but very adjustable. Let’s dive on the high and low points.

Evora Pros:

• Headgear is very unique– The “ball-cap” style headgear is very unique. Once you have it sized it slips on and off like a baseball hat. It is also very long-lasting.
• Effective fit– The stability of this mask is top notch in the cradle-mask category. The headgear, frame and the cushion all have great features that keep it stable on the face.
• Soft stretchy silicone cushions– The cushion on the Evora is very soft and stretchy. This allows it to use the pressure of the air from your CPAP to help seal. This gives a good seal without having to over-tighten the straps.
• Quick connecting frame– The headgear and frame pop lose from the cushion very easily. This makes maintenance very simple.

Evora Cons:

• Frame/Headgear has some hard plastic– For some users the plastic in the headgear and frame can be uncomfortable. Especially if you overtighten the Evora.
• Cushion can be tricky to remove– The cushion clips in very well. So, while it certainly doesn’t ever fall off, it is kinda tough to get on and off the frame when it is time to replace or clean it.
• Presses on upper lip for some– We have heard from a few users that the Evora may can cause discomfort on the upper lip. Usually, just a fitting issue, but for some it was a deal-breaker.

N30i Nasal Cradle Mask

The N30i by ResMed is a similar mask to the DreamWear Nasal mask. It features a top of the head tube connection which is great for a lot of side sleepers and heavy movers. The cushion was recently upgraded to provide a softer fit under the nose and a quieter exhalation. The cushion is available in Small, Medium, Small-Wide and Wide. The Frame on the N30i is available in Small and Standard, and the headgear is standard as well. Let’s look at the details of those features.

N30i Pros:

• Very quiet– The diffused exhalation on the front of the N30i is extremely quiet. It also produces very little draft on exhalation.
• Stretchy frame– The frame on the N30i allows for a lot more freedom of movement without pulling the cushion loose.
• Great tube quick-connect– There is a quick connect on the top of the frame where the CPAP tube connects. It detaches and reattaches very easily. Allowing you to keep the mask on while up at night and quick connect back to your tube when you get back to bed.
• Soft Cushion– The newest version of the N30i cushion does not have any hard plastic that may poke your face. It is very soft and flexible.

N30i Cons:

• Exhalation feels tough at higher pressures– We have had some feedback from users to indicate that the new diffuser can make exhalation a bit more difficult at higher pressures.
• Air tube frame can be weird– Much like the DreamWear, the N30i uses the frame to bring the pressure from top of the head to your nose. Some users have reported noticing a reduction in air-flow when they pinch off one side of the tubing while laying on their sides.
• Slips up on the head sometimes– The strap that holds the N30i stable goes around the back of the head. For people with long hair the headgear sometimes wants to slip up the head and allow the mask to come lose.