Buying Guide- POC

What is a portable oxygen concentrator?

A portable oxygen concentrator — or POC — is a battery- or wall-powered device that pulls in room air, strips out the nitrogen, and delivers concentrated medical-grade oxygen through a nasal cannula. Unlike a cylinder, it never runs out as long as it has power. Unlike a stationary unit, it's small and light enough to take with you.

POCs are typically prescribed for patients
who are active or mobile, leaving the house regularly, travelling, or simply wanting the freedom to move around their home without a 50-foot tubing run trailing behind them.

Three Things That Actually Matter

  • Your Prescribed Flow Rate

    • This is the single most important number. Your physician will prescribe an oxygen flow rate — usually expressed in litres per minute (LPM) for continuous flow, or as a "pulse setting" from 1 to 6 for pulse-dose delivery.
    • If your prescription is for pulse dose at settings 1–4: any modern POC will work. The Inogen Rove 4 (settings 1–4), the
      CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort (settings 1–5), and the Inogen Rove 6 (settings 1–6) all cover this range comfortably.
    • If your prescription is for pulse setting 5 or 6: the Rove 6 (settings 1–6) is the natural choice, with the FreeStyle
      Comfort (settings 1–5) as a strong alternative at setting 5.
    • If your prescription specifies continuous flow at any rate: a POC is not the right tool. You need a home concentrator (we cover the differences in our POC vs. Home Concentrator guide). The exception is the Philips SimplyGo, which offers up to 2 LPM continuous flow — we don't stock the SimplyGo, but we do carry replacement power supplies if you already own one.

  • How Active You Are

    • Active patients need longer battery life. A POC that runs 4 hours is fine if you're mostly at home and just want freedom around the house. The same unit is frustrating if you're going out for a full day.
    • A useful rule of thumb: count how long you'll be away from a power source on your longest typical outing. Add a 50% safety margin. That's the battery life you need.
    • Going out for groceries (2 hours away from power): a single-battery POC is fine.
    • Visiting family for the day (8 hours): you need either a long-battery POC (the Rove 6 does up to 13 hours on the 16-cell battery at setting 1), or a regular POC plus a spare battery.
    • Traveling or flying: see our Travel guide. Airlines require enough battery for 150% of your flight time, so plan for double batteries or external chargers.

  • Weight You Can Comfortably Carry

    • A POC that's too heavy ends up sitting at home. A POC that's comfortable goes everywhere with you. For most adults this matters more than people expect — 3.3 lb feels noticeably different from 5.7 lb when it's on your shoulder for 6 hours.
    • Lightest option (3.3 lb): Inogen Rove 4.
    • Mid-weight (5–5.7 lb): CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort and Inogen Rove 6. Both can be worn in a backpack or hip bag instead of a shoulder strap, which redistributes the weight significantly.

Inogen Rove 4

Flow: 1–4 pulse

Weight: 3.3 lb

Battery: up to 5 hours

Warranty: 3 years

Best for: lighter prescriptions, frequent shorter outings, the lightest weight option available.

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Inogen Rove 6

Flow: 1–6 pulse

Weight: 5.7 lb

Battery: up to 13 hours

Warranty: 5 years

Best for: higher flow rates, longer days out, the longest battery life on the market.

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CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort

Flow: 1–5 pulse

Weight: 5 lb

Battery: up to 10 hours

Warranty: 2 years

Best for: ergonomic curved design rests against the hip naturally, balanced compromise between weight and battery life.

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What's NOT Included By Default

Every POC we sell comes with a double battery, AC and DC power cords, and a basic carry bag. A few things you'll might want to add to your order:

  • A spare battery — the double (16-cell) battery roughly doubles your runtime. Most patients end up adding one within the first month.
  • A backpack or hip bag — if you plan to be on the move, the backpack distributes weight far more comfortably than the basic carry bag.
  • A starter pack of cannulas — most prescribers recommend changing them every 2–4 weeks. A 5 pack of cannulas costs less than $15.
  • An external desktop charger — if you have a spare battery, this lets you charge it off the unit so you're always ready to head out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these FAA-approved for flights?

Yes — all three POCs we carry (Rove 4, Rove 6, FreeStyle Comfort) are FAA approved for use on commercial flights. Each airline has its own notice requirements (typically 48 hours) and battery-life rules. See our Travel guide for the full Canadian airline breakdown.

Can I use a POC overnight?

Generally, no. POCs deliver oxygen on a pulse-dose schedule triggered by your inhale. During sleep, breathing slows and becomes shallower, which can cause the pulse-dose trigger to miss breaths. Most physicians prescribe a continuous-flow stationary concentrator for overnight use. The exception is the Philips SimplyGo (up to 2 LPM continuous), which we don't currently stock as new equipment.

How loud is a POC?

Quieter than you'd expect. All three POCs we carry run at 38–42 dBA on average -about the same as a quiet refrigerator. Higher pulse settings are slightly louder. You can comfortably have a conversation while it's running on your shoulder.

How long do POCs last?

Manufacturers rate them for 5+ years of regular use. The sieve beds (the cartridges that strip nitrogen from the air) typically need replacing once every 5–6 years, and we sell the replacement column pairs for $160–$225.

Talk To Your Physician

This guide helps you understand your options. It does not replace a conversation with your prescribing physician or respirologist. Before purchasing, confirm with your healthcare provider that the POC you're considering matches your prescribed flow rate, duration of use, and any specific clinical requirements (such as continuous-flow needs at night).

Questions? Email us at hello@homeoxygensolutions.ca. We help patients make this choice every week.