Whether you're new to CPAP therapy or a seasoned vet, we can all agree: finding the perfect mask isn't easy!  Short of having plastic surgery to fit into one of the hundreds of generic masks out there, you're probably going to have to try on a few before you find one that fits your face comfortably.  Today, we've lined up our favourite CPAP masks and some best sellers that are $100 or less.

AirFit™ P10 & P10 For Her CPAP Masks (Fitpack), $97.98

This super-light and sleek CPAP mask is made by Resmed and may be one of the quietest masks on the market. The AirFit™ P10 has a Standard and a "For Her" version, each with various size nasal pillows. The Standard version has blue and grey headgear and comes with small, medium and large size cushions. The For Her version has soft pink and grey headgear and comes with extra small, small and medium-size cushions. The exhalation port, designed with QuietAir woven-mesh vent system minimizes any disturbances to your bed partners.

Dreamwear & Dreamwear Gel CPAP Masks (Fitpack), $97.98

Made by Philips Respironics, the Dreamwear and Dreamwear Gel masks have a unique frame design. Air flows through a flexible silicone frame that sits across your face and airflow to the main tubing is connected from the crown of your head. This design has a claim to support various sleeping positions - side, back or stomach for comfort. This mask comes with a standard size frame (additional size frames sold separately) and 3 or 4 size nasal cushions in the package (depending on which Dreamwear) for easy fitting. 

AirFit™ N10 & N10 For Her CPAP Masks, $94.98 

The AirFit™ N10 series, manufactured by Resmed has garnered a huge fan base. It's a nasal style (around the nose) mask with an under-eye frame that improves sightlines (for reading/watching TV) and provides comfort and wear-ability with their SpringAir™ cushion.  The head straps are significantly slimmer with SoftEdge™ technology to provide excellent stability throughout the night. The Standard AirFit™ N10 comes with a standard size headgear in classic blue and a choice of small, standard and wide sizes. The For Her version is equipped with small headgear and only one small size nasal cushion finished in soft pink. 

Mirage Activa™ LT Nasal CPAP Mask, $94.98

Also by Resmed, the Mirage Activa™ LT has been on the CPAP scene for quite some time as the successor of the original Mirage Activa™. The revamped MicroFit dial provides a more secure fit along the forehead and dual-wall cushion makes it a favourite among many CPAP users. The Mirage Activa™ comes in 4 sizes-small, medium, large and large-wide and performs comfortably - even for restless sleepers. 

Meridian CPAP Mask, $79.98

Last, but certainly not least, the Meridian nasal mask by Resmed is the lowest priced CPAP mask on our list. It's one of Resmed's longstanding classics; a simple nasal mask providing effective treatment. The headgear features 3 fastening points for easy on-and-off maneuvering and a 360-degree swivel elbow to allow a range of movement for users. The cushion is fitted with a silicone pad that contours the face with minimal leakage. Though it comes in small, medium and large, finding your size can be challenging - and with so much new mask technology coming out every few months, many CPAP vendors have stopped stocking this oldie but a goodie.  

While many CPAP users tend to push their mask's lifespan to over a year, it's recommended we replace our CPAP masks every 6 to 8 months, as your mask can get gross and its materials begin to break down.   We hope this list helps you find a well-fitting and budget-friendly mask that'll bring you a restful night's sleep.

By Arthur Allen, WebMD Feature Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS

Clues You Might Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Do you wake up in the morning with a headache, feeling just as tired as when you went to sleep? Has your spouse moved to the room next door, exhausted by listening to you snore, gasp, and choke every night?

If so, you may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) -- a condition where the upper passages of your airway close off, interrupting your breathing and depriving you of oxygen until you wake up and start breathing again. Sleep apnea affects more than 18 million American adults.

How can you tell if you have sleep apnea? The only real way is to have a sleep study, a test that records what happens while you sleep. But there are some common signs of sleep apnea, experts say.

The three main warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea are:

• Loud, persistent snoring
• Pauses in breathing, accompanied with gasping episodes when sleeping
• Excessive sleepiness during waking hours

• Should everyone who snores see a sleep specialist? No, say the experts. “Most people who snore don’t have obstructive sleep apnea, but most people who have apnea snore,” says Robert L. Owens, MD, of the Sleep Disorders Research Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. If you have chronic snoring that is loud enough to wake a bed partner, talk to your doctor.

  Like snoring, the most definitive sign of sleep apnea -- waking up to breathe -- is often witnessed by a bed partner. People with sleep apnea frequently wake up for a few seconds to gasp for air. This can happen hundreds of times a night in people with severe sleep apnea, Owens says.

  “If someone witnesses you waking up repeatedly at night, it’s very suggestive of obstructive sleep apnea,” he tells WebMD. “Increasingly, I get wives who come in with little movies on their cell phones that show what their husband looks like at night. That’s very convincing.”

  If you don’t have a bed partner to catch your gasping or snoring on camera, the only signs of sleep apnea you may notice are morning headaches or extreme sleepiness during the day, says Lisa Shives, MD, medical director of Northshore Sleep Medicine in Evanston, Ill.

  Sleep specialists use the Epsworth Sleepiness Scale to measure daytime sleepiness. People with extreme sleep apnea are likely to doze off in the middle of meals or conversations, Shives tells WebMD. Moderate daytime sleepiness, such as the desire to take an afternoon nap, doesn’t necessarily mean you have obstructive sleep apnea.

If you wake up with a very dry mouth and gummy front teeth, it may also be a sign of sleep apnea, Shives says. “My little phrase is, ‘It’s very hard to gasp through your nose.’ People who have obstructive sleep apnea tend to sleep with their mouths open.”