7 Must-Have Accessories for the Inogen One G5 Portable Oxygen Concentrator

Possibly the most notable achievement of the Inogen One G5 is its battery life. As opposed to previous portable oxygen concentrators, the G5 afforded oxygen patients ample usage time with up to 13 hours of battery life on a flow setting of 1 and up to 3 hours on its highest setting (a setting of 6). This means that even patients with the highest oxygen demands can stay out and about for longer than ever before. 

By excelling in all aspects of design like weight, size, battery life, cost, oxygen output, and reliability, the G5 set a new precedent for oxygen concentrator manufacturers. No longer would oxygen patients have to “settle” for below-average battery life or sacrifice their personal freedom and independence just to get the oxygen they need — the Inogen One G5 does it all.

While you’ve probably already read a lot about the G5 itself, you may be wondering what accessories are available for it. G5 accessories are by no means necessary for you to experience the benefits of this oxygen machine, but they certainly help if you want to make the most of it. Read on as we take a look at 7 must-have accessories for your Inogen One G5 portable oxygen concentrator and be sure to leave a comment if you have any questions.

The Inogen One G5 Custom Carrying Case

The most fundamental Inogen One G5 accessory is the custom carrying case. This simple accessory provides G5 owners with the easiest and most effective way to carry their portable oxygen concentrator whether they’re simply taking a trip to the store or going on a long vacation around the world.

The custom carrying case is designed for the minimalist. Rather than offering tons of extra storage pockets, it has just enough room to carry small objects like a driver’s license, a grocery list, or your Inogen One G5 manual. But most importantly, it keeps your concentrator at your side as you go about your daily life. It also has the ability to carry a G5 with either the single or double battery attached.

Prevents Scratches and Dents

If you’re not already aware, the Inogen One G5 doesn’t have any place to clip a shoulder strap onto. As a result, you’ll need to have a case to carry it in like the G5 custom carrying case. Fortunately, this case provides ample protection so you’ll never have to worry about scratches, dents, or cracks.

Although the G5 is already a solid unit that resists damage with its hard outer shell, like any electronic device, it’s still susceptible to internal damage. The custom case is padded enough to prevent minor damage but thin enough that it won’t add a significant amount of bulk to the unit. You’ll be able to carry your oxygen unit wherever you please, even in busy or overcrowded areas, and still have the peace of mind knowing that your concentrator is safe.

Easy to Use

The G5 custom carrying case makes it incredibly easy to transport your POC. If you’re worried that you won’t be able to use your concentrator as easily, think again! When you slip the G5 into the carrying case, simply lift the flap on the top to access the control panel. There’s an open area in the back so that you can plug in an AC or DC power adapter. What’s more, to change batteries, all you need to do is unzip the bottom of the bag. Another reason the G5 carrying case is easy to use is that you can adjust the carrying strap to your liking. The strap has an adjustable pad on it so you’ll never feel uncomfortable while carrying your POC. 

The Inogen One G5 Backpack

The G5 backpack is the opposite of the custom carrying case in many ways. While the custom carrying case opts for a minimalist approach, the backpack is designed for those who want to carry a lot of personal belongings with them. The obvious downside to this is that you’ll need to take the backpack off to check your battery life, oxygen purity status, and alerts, however, the control panel can be easily accessed without even having to remove it from the backpack. Note that the Inogen One G5 backpack can hold both G5s with single batteries and G5s with double batteries.

Perfect for Traveling

If you’re someone who loves to travel and explore the world, the G5 backpack has a lot to offer you. While it’s certainly important to travel light on long trips, you also need to make sure that what you do take is stored in the most efficient way possible. On the G5 backpack, you’ll find a large storage compartment for personal belongings and a pouch on the back of the bag allowing you to keep everything separate. 

Your Inogen One G5 will fit snugly into the pouch meaning it won’t jostle around or fall out. The top of the POC is only partially covered, so you’ll still be able to check the screen, use the buttons, and plug in your cannula while it’s in the pouch. There is also a mesh material where the air intake is so that you ensure it’s always operating how it should be. 

Comfortable to Wear

Let’s face it, if you’re traveling around the world and doing a lot of walking, the last thing you want is an uncomfortable backpack. Fortunately, the G5 backpack delivers in this category. Like the custom carrying case, the G5 backpack has adjustable shoulder straps to help you find the right fit. They’re also padded so they won’t dig into your shoulders.

Another reason the G5 backpack is so comfortable is that the G5 won’t hang down or move around as you walk. Naturally, the farther something protrudes out from a backpack, the more strain it will cause on your back. However, with this backpack, the G5 is held close to the main storage compartment so there won’t be any unnecessary strain on your back and shoulders. 

The Inogen One G5 Single Battery

The single battery is the same one that comes with your Inogen One G5 portable oxygen concentrator. However, if you’re in need of more battery life on the go, an extra one may be just the thing you’re looking for. It’s called a “single battery” because it has just one cell in it. This cell has one anode and cathode which is separated by electrolyte, used to produce both a voltage and a current. 

Lightweight Design

The Inogen One G5 is only 4.7 pounds with a single battery attached to it and a single battery by itself only weighs about 8 ounces. So even when you’re carrying an extra single battery with you, it will still weigh less than most portable oxygen concentrators on the market. Inogen has spent several decades refining the technology in their batteries allowing oxygen patients to have a longer battery life in a smaller and more lightweight battery. The single battery offers up to 6.5 hours of life on a flow setting of 1.

Easy to Replace

If you’re looking for extra batteries for your G5, chances are, you’re on the go often. If that’s the case, you’ll be happy to know that Inogen G5 batteries are extremely easy to remove and replace. Simply press the release tab that’s on the side of your G5. The battery will pop off of the unit and you can then put the new battery in its place. Make sure you push upwards so that it clicks into place and it’s secure while you’re going about your daily business.

The Inogen One G5 Double Battery

Some people get confused when they hear “G5 double battery” because they think it comes with two separate batteries, however, the word “double” is referring to the number of cells in its casing. In this case, the double battery provides twice as much battery life as the single battery. If you’re going on a long vacation or you’re planning on being away from home for a while, there’s no understating the importance of having a G5 double battery with you. 

Ample Battery Life

The G5 double battery pack is equipped with up to 13 hours of battery life on a flow setting of 1. This is the longest external battery life of any portable oxygen concentrator on the market and offers an ample amount of freedom for you to be out and about as long as you please without having to replace your battery or find an outlet to charge your device.

If that’s not enough, you’ll be happy to know that the double battery isn’t a whole lot bigger than the single battery and it’s still very lightweight. The double battery weighs in at just 12 ounces, only 4 ounces more than the G5 single battery. In other words, you’re getting twice the battery life with a 50% increase in weight. This makes the double battery the most efficient battery option for the Inogen One G5.

Plenty of Options to Fit Your Lifestyle

The main takeaway when it comes to Inogen One G5 batteries is that they offer plenty of options to fit your lifestyle whether you’re super active and want to get out as much as possible, or you just need to get to the store once a week.

The Inogen One G5 comes with a single battery attached to it. This means you’ll get up to 6.5 hours of battery life right out of the box. If you want to extend that battery life, however, you can purchase either an extra single battery or an extra double battery. Two single batteries would provide you with up to 13 hours of battery life and a single and double battery would provide you with an astounding 19.5 hours of battery life! What’s more, you’d only be carrying 5.75 pounds of weight in total, that’s still less than other pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators like the Oxlife Freedom and the AirSep Freestyle 5. 

The Inogen One G5 DC Power Cable

One thing we get very excited to tell oxygen patients about is the Inogen One G5 DC power supply. Why do we like this accessory so much? Because it adds to the many ways the G5 offers you freedom and independence throughout your daily life. Nobody wants to live in a world where they have to count down the hours of freedom they have the moment they live their home in the morning, it’s more reassuring to know that you’ll have access to oxygen wherever you go and the DC power supply offers this.

Perfect for Road Trips

We’ve already talked a lot about flying and taking a cruise with the Inogen One G5, but what about taking a road trip? The G5 DC charging cable allows you to charge your G5 in any vehicle with a cigarette outlet, so you’ll be able to keep your concentrator fully charged during your whole trip. 

If you need to get out and do some sightseeing or to stretch your legs, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you have a fully charged battery to work with. Once you get to the hotel or wherever you’re staying, you’ll be able to charge your G5 with the AC adapter as well via a wall outlet. 

The Inogen One G5 External Battery Charger

One of the lesser-known and potentially underrated accessories for the Inogen One G5 is the external battery charger. Typically, in order to charge your G5 batteries, either through AC or DC power supply, you need to have the battery attached to your device. So, if you like to carry more than one battery on you, this accessory will enable you to charge two batteries at once.

Less Downtime

Life can be unpredictable sometimes. One minute, you could be sitting on the couch watching TV and the next you could be rushing out the door to meet with a friend or loved one. While we can’t always predict everything that we’ll do today, tomorrow, or next week, we can do our best to prepare for it.

By being able to charge two batteries at once, the G5 external battery charger will allow you to be prepared no matter what curveballs life throws at you. If you need to jump up and leave the house at a moment’s notice, you’ll have two full batteries to keep you going as opposed to just one.

Convenient and Easy to Use

The G5 external battery charger is very easy to use and can easily be packed with your extra batteries and charging cables when you’re away from home. Weighing in at just 0.85 pounds and about the size of a hockey puck, the external battery charger can easily be placed on a desk or table to charge and can be placed in your G5 backpack or a purse for safekeeping.

This accessory is very easy to use. Simply plug the AC adapter into the wall and into the external battery charger. Take either your G5 single battery or G5 double battery and plug it into the bottom of the external charger. You’ll see a light indicating that the battery is being charged. And once it’s fully charged, the “100%” symbol will illuminate to show you that your battery is fully charged. That’s it! Now you can simply detach the battery and use it on your G5. Remember to use the AC power cable you already own to charge another battery on the G5. That way, you’ll have no downtime. 

Backup Oxygen Tubing/Cannulas

Last but certainly not least, it’s a good idea to have some extra cannulas lying around in case you need to replace them. Cannulas are the clear tubes that you attach to the G5 and place in your nose in order to inhale oxygen. Many people don’t know that cannulas come in many different shapes, sizes, and designs, so it’s important to find ones that work best for you and allow you to be comfortable throughout the day.

Cannula Quality

Quality is the most important factor to consider when choosing a nasal cannula or oxygen supply tubing. As you’re moving around and going about your day, low-quality oxygen tubing has a tendency to kink and can even tear if it’s bent out of shape enough. You should make it a habit to check your cannula and tubing regularly to ensure this doesn’t happen, but it’s best to just invest in high-quality nasal cannulas in the first place to avoid this situation.

Tubing Length

Another important thing to consider is the length of the oxygen tubing. Tubing is sold in a variety of lengths like 10 feet, 15 feet, and even longer. Ideally, you’ll want to use shorter tubing because longer tubing can be a tripping hazard and can affect the way oxygen is delivered. When you’re using a pulse flow unit like the Inogen One G5, the device needs to be able to recognize your breaths so it can deliver a precisely timed bolus of oxygen. Most specialists recommend a cannula shorter than 35 feet to ensure the oxygen is being delivered immediately upon inspiration.

Cannula Design

The design of the nasal cannula primarily affects its comfort. There are various types of cannula and depending on your preference, you may choose one over another. Below are the types of cannulas you can choose from.

• Curved prong cannulas
• Flared prong cannulas
• Straight prong cannulas
  
  

You’ll also be able to choose between straight oxygen tubing and coiled oxygen tubing which is great if you want to limit the space your oxygen tubing takes up and it will also make it less of a hazard to you and others. If you need help making your oxygen tubing and cannula more comfortable, we wrote a great article about this a while back. You can find it here.

Conclusion

The Inogen One G5 is a fantastic portable oxygen concentrator. In the short amount of time that it’s been on the market, it’s rapidly become the most sought-after machine due to its reliability, long battery life, and high oxygen output. But we’d be remiss not to mention all the great G5 accessories that help you make the most out of your new device.

The seven accessories we listed above will offer you more freedom in the way that you use your G5 and ensure that you always have access to medical oxygen wherever you go. If you have any questions at all about the Inogen One G5 or G5 accessories, don’t hesitate to reach out to us or stay tuned to our blog for updates on the latest Inogen products.