By Mike Mercer, destination specialist at The Fly Shop

 

Article Highlights:

  • Nearly all international fly fishing destinations can accommodate CPAP users with the right prep.
  • Portable power stations like the Jackery can run a CPAP for multiple nights off-grid.
  • Lithium battery packs are travel-friendly but have strict airline limits — check carefully before you fly.
  • Some remote lodges offer 12-volt marine batteries to power CPAPs when there’s no nighttime electricity.
  • Never check your CPAP; always carry it on. Confirm plug adaptors, voltage, and power availability before departure.

 

 

A few years ago, after a lifetime of effortless sleep, I suddenly found myself waking up exhausted and dragging through the day. A visit to the doctor confirmed the culprit: severe sleep apnea. Like millions of others, I now rely on a CPAP machine to sleep (continuous positive airway pressure) — a small price to pay for feeling rested and healthy again. While it’s a simple fix at home, the real challenge comes when traveling — especially to remote fishing lodges where reliable power isn’t always guaranteed.

As a Destination Specialist at The Fly Shop, I often travel to remote, off-the-grid fishing lodges. At home, reliable power is a given. Abroad — especially deep in the backcountry — it isn’t. For anyone like me who can’t sleep without a CPAP, the question is: “How do you travel with one?”

 

Never Check It and Know Your Plugs and Voltage

Your CPAP goes in your carry-on — always. Your trip could be over if it gets damaged or lost in checked luggage. Airport security has (almost) never been an issue. They treat it like a laptop: take it out of your bag, put it in a bin, and you’re through. Once you leave a city, the larger challenges begin. First, understand that wall outlets differ worldwide in plug style and voltage (120 vs. 240 volts). Most modern CPAP machines automatically adjust for voltage, but you’ll need a plug adaptor for the local outlets.

I use a universal travel adaptor with fold-out prongs that fit almost anywhere. It’s small, affordable, and indispensable. These are adaptors, not converters. Adaptors let your plug fit; converters change voltage — which most CPAPs don’t need nowadays. Check the label on your machine to confirm.

 

Will There Be Overnight Power?

Some remote fishing lodges have power all day but shut off generators at night. Others run on solar with battery backup, keeping outlets live 24/7. Your travel agent — or the lodge itself — should be able to answer this quickly. Lodges have gotten creative in accommodating CPAP users. Here are three solutions I’ve encountered — each with pros and cons.

Portable Power Stations (Like Jackery): Many remote operators stock battery packs like the Jackery Explorer 300. Fully charged, it can run a CPAP for several nights — even longer without the humidifier. It’s the simplest option if the lodge provides one, but it’s less practical for anglers to pack themselves. These units can be recharged from a wall outlet or a portable solar panel.

Lithium Battery Packs (Carry Your Own): These are much smaller and designed for air travel. Most will power a CPAP for 1–2 nights (without a humidifier). They’re pricey but convenient. Here’s the big caveat: lithium batteries are considered fire risks. They’re allowed in carry-on only — never in checked luggage. However, airlines and countries have distinct limits on battery size, usually measured in watt-hours. If yours exceeds that limit, it gets confiscated.

On a trip to Patagonia, my battery passed U.S. security, but in Santiago, Chile, airport security flagged it. It was slightly over the allowed limit for that airline. No debate. No appeal. My options were to throw it away or miss my flight. Goodbye $400 battery. The lesson I’ll share with you is to always check the battery regulations for every airline and country on your itinerary — not just the U.S.

The Car Battery Solution: Some lodges offer a surprisingly simple alternative: a standard 12-volt marine or car battery. These can run a CPAP for multiple nights — sometimes up to a week if you skip the humidifier. You’ll need an adaptor that connects your CPAP to battery terminals (with red/black alligator clips). Check your machine’s compatibility and whether you need an inverter (to convert DC to AC power). It’s a bit clunky but works well — and the lodge usually has the battery on-site.

CPAP Humidifiers: CPAP manufacturers strongly recommend using distilled water in the humidifier to avoid mineral buildup. Some travelers bring their own (in checked luggage), but many lodges can provide it if requested in advance. I’ve found that I can comfortably skip the humidifier for trips up to a few weeks. It’s worth testing at home before you travel to see if you can tolerate it.

 

CPAPs and Airport Security Inconsistencies

Most of the time, CPAPs are accepted on flights without issue. But sometimes, bureaucracy intervenes. On that same Patagonia trip where I lost the battery, the airline also decided my CPAP — a Philips DreamStation — wasn’t allowed because their rulebook only permitted ResMed brand CPAPs. Fortunately, I packed a spare machine — a ResMed — otherwise, I would’ve faced a costly delay in searching for a replacement in Santiago over a weekend.

On my return flight, the same DreamStation CPAP machine (oddly) passed inspection with no issues. The lesson is it pays to carry a backup — or at least check the airline’s rules in advance.

 

CPAP on the Fly

Traveling internationally with a CPAP has challenges, but they’re usually manageable with planning. I’ve hauled mine all over the world — from jungle camps to high-altitude lodges — and I’ve yet to find a destination where it didn’t work. At The Fly Shop, we regularly help clients determine their destination’s power situation. If you let us know you use a CPAP, we’ll check whether the lodge has all-night power, solar inverters, or battery options. We’ll also tell you whether you need to bring an adaptor or inverter.

CPAP use isn’t a barrier to adventure. More anglers than ever travel with them, and most lodges are accommodating. With foresight, you’ll sleep soundly under the stars — or a thatched roof — and wake rested, ready to chase fish in whatever wild corner of the world you’ve chosen.

 

Mike became The Fly Shop’s first employee in 1978, and in no time became a fly fishing and fly-tying prodigy. Still with The Fly Shop, Mike plans and organizes destination fly fishing trips around the world, sharing his wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience with the fly fishing community.