Review of New F&P 432 FF Mask & Sizing Guide

I created a new thread on the 432 because I want to take a different approach to reviewing the mask than the previous post on the 432. That post was both an excellent review and the review that prompted me to order the 432.

I like to approach this review from the perspective of someone who has been using nasal masks for the last 5 months and switched to a full face. In my earlier posts I shared my journey through the mask jungle beginning with the Swift. When I started on CPAP like the rest of you it was an entirely new experience. I had a great RT and as far as I knew all masks were created equal. He told me that the Swift was a new and extremely popular lightweight mask. He was correct on both counts.

Unfortunately I endured the Swift for most of 4 months before discovering CpapTalk.com. Your posts opened my eyes to mask alternatives I never knew existed. I decided to purchase a number of masks upfront so that I could evaluate them side by side instead of one at a time. All of these masks were nasal masks and all of them were infinitely quieter than the Swift. Further none of the new masks I tried were nasal pillow masks. The Swift had done a job on my sinus and nares that I didn't want to repeat.

I purchased a Resmed Ultra Mirage II nasal mask, an F&P 405, an F&P Aclaim 2, and a Somnotech SomnoPlus. That last mask, the SomnoPlus, is a real sleeper among masks. I think I had only read a single review of this mask on this board. The person who reviewed it was very noise concsious as I am. He claimed the SomnPlus was dead silent. And it was! Unbelievably silent. Not only that it has to be the lightest weight nasal mask out there and gets a great seal. When I woke up with it on I sometimes didn't realize I was wearing a mask.

Most of us purchase new masks by studying this forum and buying the ones most of us rave about. Well let me tell you nasal mask users that you are missing out on a real gem if you bypass the SomnoPlus.

After switching to a nasal mask I began to get higher quality sleep than I ever achieved with the Swift. However, a new problem arose. When I went into a deeply relaxed state I discovered that I was leaking air through my mouth and/or mouth breathing! Kind of hard to tell the difference when you are half asleep. But there was no doubt about the air leakage. At times the sound would wake me up. This was a disappointing turn of events as I had finally found a number of nasal masks I could live with.

After studying your posts I realized it was time to try a full face mask. Because of the number of posts about the ResMed FF Ultra Mirage I purchased it first. Try as I might I could not get a good constant seal even at my pressure of 10. I had to tighten the straps down to the point where it was annoying and even then I developed leaks. One night I took it off at 2:00 am and put my SomnoPlus back on for the rest of the night.

I was out over $200 as I'd purchased the ResMed after the price hike. Then I read the review of the F&P 432. I was gun shy after dropping all that cash on the ResMed but this problem wasn't going to go away all by itself. I purchased the F&P 432 and now all I can say is Wow! There is an order of magnitude difference between the ResMed FF and the 432. That foam inner cushion makes all the difference in the world. The 432 is sheer comfort. Sheer comfort. Absolutely no leaks whatsoever. And equally as important for me this is another mask that is dead quiet.

I can honestly say that at this point that I would choose an F&P 432 as quickly as I would a SomnoPlus nasal mask. If you even suspect you are leaking air or mouth breathing please try the F&P 432 before the ResMed. They are both nearly the same price and are pobably the two safest bets for most of us anyhow.

I say again that the 432 is sheer comfort and I absolutely never thought I'd hear myself say that about anything related to CPAP. The fit and feel of the 432 on my face is actually both comfortable and comforting as I know that I am sure to receive the full benefit of my therapy without mask leakage and mouth breathing.

I honestly get a decent nights sleep with a nasal mask. Yes, I know I have mouth leakage but it's not severe enough to cause me to wake up completely fatigued as I might if I received no benefit from the therapy at all. I probably could have continued to use a nasal mask without any serious issues. All of the F&P nasal masks and the SomnoPlus worked out for me. It would have been easy to skip a further investment of cash and quit when I thought I was ahead.

The F&P 432 is more mask on your face than a nasal mask to be sure. But what a comfortable design and fit. The risk of more cash outlay was worth it. I've finally found the end of an expensive but worthwhile road. I can't say enough about the quality of this 432 headgear and all. That inner foam cushion made all the difference in the world in terms of comfort and seal when compared to the ResMed FF. There is really no comparison between the two at all. The F&P 432 is in an enitrely different league.

All of you have been a lifesaver for me. I hope that in some way this review of the 432 from a nasal mask user's perspective helps some of you find your way home through the mask jungle. This one is a keeper for sure.

Grayson

Where do you get a Somnopus?

I have tried all the FF masks you mention including the one mask that you don't talk about, the Hybrid when titrating patients in my sleep lab. In my opinion, if you have no problem using nasal pillows, the Hybrid wins hands down! The F&P 432 is the next best.

In response to the question about the SomnoPlus, I purchased mine right from CPAP.Com. I purchased all my masks there. I believe you'll find it on their website under the category of Other Nasal Masks. You can probably also do a search on their website for SomnoPlus or SomnoTech, the manufacturer.

Also, I recently called SomnoTech in Pittsburg, PA and spoke with them. They have a new mask out called Soyala. It's actually their brand new model upgrade for their SomnoPlus. The seal on the new Soyala is the same. The primary changes are to the manner in which it exhausts and it now has an adjustable forehead piece.

As soon as they told me that they had changed the exhaust I asked if the new Soyala was a dead silent as the SomnoPlus. They assured me that it was. By the way, the Soyala is also available from CPAP.Com. It just became available and last time I checked they had them in stock.

As far as I know SomnoTech only produces these two masks. I believe I read somewhere that their original SomnoPlus was one of the best selling masks in Europe. After using one I can see why.

Frankly if it weren't for the single review of the SomnoPlus I read here on CpapTalk.com I probably would have never purchased one. I was looking for as silent a nasal mask as I could find. The reviewer emphasized just how quiet it was. He was absolutely right. No exaggeration at all.

If I were stuck on a desert island with just 2 masks one of them would be the SomnoPlus/Soyala and the other the FP 432. I never thought that comfort was going to be a part of the CPAP experience. These masks proved me to be wrong.

Grayson

After using the new F&P 432, I realized that some sizing suggestions might be a help to others. When I first started buying my masks from CPAP.Com I used their Find My Size link that asks you to enter various facial measurements then makes sizing and mask recommendation.

I consistently came up a Large on this sizing chart. Every mask I purchased including the F&P 432 is a Large and everyone fit as well as it was designed to do. If I had any difficulty with any given mask in keeping a seal etc. it was not because I had purchased the wrong size. Any and all issues were related to the basic design of the mask I was trying.

I believe the older F&P 431 came with multiple size cushions or seals. The new F&P 432 is available only in S,M, & L. My suggestion is that if you think you might be in between sizes either S/M or M/L and are tempted to downsize based on previous mask experience, I would recommend caution before doing so.

The new F&P 432 has a full inner foam support right underneath the outer silicon shield. The combo of inner foam and outer silicon produce a very comfortable, effective, face hugging seal. The seal is especially good around the bridge of the nose and in the eye area. It certainly stops those annoying air leaks into the eyes I experienced with the ResMed FF Mask.

However, I would describe the fit of the F&P 432 as being both comfortable and snug. By snug I do not mean to suggest that it is tight in an uncomfortable way. What I'm saying here is that the mask achieves a comfortable and effective seal by providing a snug, secure fit especially in the nose/eye area.

A second caution in downsizing mask size in the F&P 432 is the fact that it seals below the chin. I have no idea just how much shorter in overall top to bottom length a Medium might be than a Large. However, this seems to me that it would cause some real fit and seal problems if you chose a size too small for your face.

Once again, I purchased a Large F&P 432. I purchased all of my masks in Large. I am full faced, 5'11, and 235 lbs. The measurements I entered into the Cpap.com sizing chart are as follows:

1) Length Measurement - 2 1/8
2) Diagonal Length - 2
3) Width Measurement - 1 1/2
4) Depth of Nose - 3/4
5) Full Face Length - 4
6) Gender - Male
7) Nares Shape - Round
8) Nares Equal - Yes

I hope this assists you in sizing an F&P 432 if you are interested in purchasing one. I'm certain the customer support staff of Cpap.Com will also be quite helpful if you call.

The F&P 432 continues to be a comfortable interface and performs without leakage whether on my back or on my side. As we all know you can make any mask leak if you mash your face hard enough into a pillow or your arm. However, in normal use the fit, seal, and 360 degree hose swivel perform regardless of the position in which I sleep.

If you decide to purchase one just don't skimp on size!

Grayson

i use the medium seal on my 431, and plan when i get mu insurance or insurance cards to get the entire 432 (i have had the mask 6 months)

my seal is ripped at the top, so i am going to need a new seal anyway

my question is if i use a medium on the 431, should i stick with a medium on the 432

Because I know how important it is to properly size a mask before purchasing it and not being able to return it, I want to offer some suggestions here.

1) Cpap.com offers return insurance. The insurance was $51.75 on the HC431. If you want to be absolutely certain you can return an HC432 then I'd call customer support and see if they are making return insurance available on the new model HC432.

2) In my comments above I included my facial measurements and stated that when I entered them into the Sizing Guide on Cpap.com I was consistently advised to purchase Large. I purchased a Large F&P 432 and it fit perfectly.

3) I would definitely call Cpap.com customer service and ask for expert advise if you are unsure of your choice.

4) Another source of expert input might be Fischer & Paykel. You already own the 431 in a Medium. They would absolutely be able to tell you how the new Medium 432 compares in size/fit.

I know what it's like to drop good money on a mask that gets thrown into a drawer and never used. The $200 I spent on the ResMed FF Mask would have more than paid for the F&P 432. It's an expensive game for sure.

Proceed cautiously and gather as much input about sizing as you can especially from Fischer & Paykel and Cpap.com support. It would seem to be logical that a person who fit well into a medium F&P 431 should also be able to wear a Medium F&P 432. However, it's still best to look before you leap.

Ultimately it's your money. And you must be the one who owns this decision.
I hope I was able to help in some way.

Grayson

Hi, and thanks for the endorsement of the 432 as I'm just about to try it out (next wk). My question is about the sizing - I spoke to F&P also, and the rep told me sizing was S = 4 1/4" long nasal bridge to under chin, M = 4 1/2" and L = 4 3/4, which doesn't make sense if your L has only a 4" measurement - what would the S and M be? That's what drives me nuts about the sizing guide - it told me (long ago) that I shouldn't wear .. a certain mask at all, and it was one I already had and liked! And I've been so scrupulous about measuring carefully... can't see how I could do it any better.

Hi,

The measurements I included in my comments were my facial measurements not the physical dimensions of the F&P 432!

If you check out the Sizing Chart on Cpap.com it asks you to measure your face with a ruler and enter the measurements into their website just as I listed my facial measurements for you.

I purchased a Large 432 with the facial measurements I listed above. Hope this clarifies things for you.

Grayson

Very GOOD review, well done.

It does no good to write a review if you don't have any past experience or compare its features to something the reader has and can relate it to.

I think you did both, you compared noise levels to the somnoplus and the UMFF.

I use a UMFF have for several years, if you say the 432 is quieter than the UMFF, that is what I was looking for.

You also compared comfort and leaks to the UMFF, other important aspects of a good mask. So I think you would agree...

432 is quieter than the UltaMirage Full Face
432 less prone to leaking than UMFF
432 is more comfortable than UMFF
432 costs less than UMFF ($174 vs $185)

Think I'll have to order one, maybe even a somnoplus nasal, still have a roll of tape.

Again, excellent review, thanks.

Now we need some reviews from the ladies like this, they have different facial structures than men so what works for one may differ for the other.

[quote="maskjkie"]I have tried all the FF masks you mention including the one mask that you don't talk about, the Hybrid when titrating patients in my sleep lab. In my opinion, if you have no problem using nasal pillows, the Hybrid wins hands down! The F&P 432 is the next best.

Glad the HC432 worked for you, Grayson. I've only used it two nights, but it has abraded the left side of my nose (just below the bridge) so badly that I may have to switch to nasal pillows until it heals.

The only thing I can think of is that the "fit and finish" on the blue foam thingie (technical term) was a little rough, with excess untrimmed material from where the mold separated during manufacture. I trimmed it clean, I'll return to the 432 in a few nights, because it seems promising. However, I have not so far seen lower numbers or greater comfort than with the 431, which is my favorite mask.

Everyone's mileage is bound to vary wildly with these masks, it seems.

cwsanfor,

I regret to hear of your difficulty with the 432 and am hoping the extra piece of foam was the only source of your discomfort. Only other insight I might have is that if you try, as I often do, to adjust your mask in the middle of the night in the dark the light of day often shows that what felt "even" to your fingers really didn't turn out that way!

I had a similar abrasion problem with one of the F&P Nasal masks I tried until I looked closely at the headgear and found that it looked like a 4 year old had tried to adjust it. It was exerting pressure on one part of my face because the straps were so aligned. One of my "middle of the night" quick fixes!

Bottom line is that you are absolutely right in saying that our experiences vary widely with masks. I purchased the ResMed FF mask because many members of this forum had been using it successfully for years. I didn't make it a week with the ResMed before I developed the same abrasions you experienced with the 432 and it leaked constantly for me.

If I had any thoughts of continuing to search for a new mask all I can say at this point is that Cpap.com's return insurance may just be the wisest approach of all. Everyone's mileage does indeed vary.

Best of luck to you with the 432.

Grayson

Very informative review Grayson.

I have one question however. As you stated, the 432 is supposed to "seal under the chin" ... Does this mean that the mask is designed to hold your mouth in a closed position? More specifically, does it allow you to breath thru the mouth?

For me, the nasal pillows (Breeze) are working great and I have adopted a daily nasal saline rinse to help prevent the potential for nasal blockage due to congestion. However, this is the first year I will go into the flu season under PAP treatment and I wish to plan for the worst. I have a Hybrid that I have been trying to make work during the weekends and still seem to be getting mixed results (some very good and some not so good). I was considering getting me a UMFF sometime next month but now wonder if I should try the 432 instead ... based on your review. My only concern is whether the 432 allows for mouth breathing assuming that nasal passages are completely bocked.

Thanks,

- roberto

DreamStalker,

Yes, I can breathe through my mouth with my F&P 432. The 432 does indeed seal under the chin. You can still open your mouth slightly but I cannot open my mouth fully by any stretch of the imagination.

I tried mouth breathing with it as soon as I started using it and I certainly can do so. As I said in my review, I loved my nasal interfaces but discovered that when I entered a deeply relaxed state my jaw would drop slightly or my lips would part permitting air to escape. That's when I moved to the F&P 432 as I did not want to start taping my mouth closed.

Even though I had mouth leaks while using a nasal mask I never woke up absolutely fatigued. I felt good so I probably could have continued using a nasal mask. However, I just wanted to settle on a mask I could live with once and for all. As you know, you get tired of thinking and planning and buying new things just so you can sleep. It's great to be able to get in bed, slap the mask on, and just forget about anything but going to sleep. That's why I ultimately switched to the full face F&P 432.

I also have the same concern about the flu/cold season approaching. I'm glad I have a full face mask for those times of nasal congestion. I was going to keep my old ResMed FF Mask in the drawer just in case. Leaks and discomfort are better than not being able to breathe at all. I was just fortunate that the F&P 432 solved my problem.

I wish you the best of luck with it as well.

Grayson