Lauren Carlstrom, O+ Team Member | Pioneered in 2003 by Oxygen Plus, the growing category of portable recreational oxygen has several unique and differentiating characteristics from medical or other supplemental oxygen. Oxygen Plus was recently named a “major player…involved in R&D activities for the development of cutting edge products” in a global recreational oxygen equipment market that’s expected to grow at a CAGR of ~16.3% from 2019 to 2026, reaching a market value of ~$307 million by 2026 (Acumen Research and Consulting). But what are some defining features of recreational oxygen canisters themselves? And what are some reasons Oxygen Plus just may be the #1 most trusted recreational oxygen company in the world? Canister Size & Portability: Oxygen Plus’s flagship product, the O+ Elevate Pack, includes one reusable O-Stick dispensing shell and two starter O+ Refills, which are 100% recyclable and available in 6-, 12- and 54-packs at select retailers and online at oxygenplus.com. From day one, Oxygen Plus has developed safe and attractive recreational oxygen products that are extremely portable, consumer-friendly and lightweight. The canisters seamlessly fit in your pocket, purse or pack – so they can go where you go, any time you need a lift. In the U.S., the largest oxygen canister on the market is the O+ Biggi from Oxygen Plus, offering consumers 11 litres of oxygen (220+ breaths) per canister. The most portable oxygen canister in America, due to its ranking as the smallest-sized and extremely durable canister with a consumer-friendly actuator, is the O+ Mini from Oxygen Plus. Just 4 inches tall, the O+ Mini offers 1.55 litres of oxygen (24+ breaths) per canister, dispensing oxygen – to the nose or mouth – from a nozzle that won’t poke you or snag your clothes. In addition to size, all Oxygen Plus products are so portable because 1) the canisters are made from lightweight aluminum, and, 2) because oxygen (O2) – which is not weightless, as some may say – has a very light atomic mass of 31.9988 grams (Convertunits.com) that may feel empty in the human hand. Canister Usage & Accessibility: In addition to the portability of recreational oxygen, one does not need a prescription to purchase or breathe recreational oxygen in a can. This is because canned oxygen is intended to be used intermittently by healthy, active people wanting to replenish depleted oxygen levels to optimal levels, which are between 96% to 100% SpO2. In a recent industry report on the Recreational Oxygen Equipment Market By Product, recreational oxygen was referred to as “consumer oxygen,” and is defined as being “used to enhance brain functioning and also to improve athletic endurance” (Acumen Research and Consulting). Many people who buy oxygen canisters use Oxygen Plus to energize and recover from the strains of modern life – stress, travel, exercise, alcohol, inactivity and pollution. Canister Content & Manufacturing Process: Recreational oxygen is not identical in strength to medical oxygen, which is approximately 99.8% oxygen. While the oxygen percentage marketed in a final product of recreational canned oxygen can vary between recreational oxygen companies, Oxygen Plus products are sourced from 99.5% Aviator Breathing Oxygen (ABO) – the same oxygen pilots breathe in a cockpit ((FAA, 2019) – and is referred to as, “Pure Recreational Oxygen,” offering ~97% (+/- 2%) oxygen in each breathe. What’s the filling process look like? Oxygen Plus’s source oxygen is directly transferred or “trans-filled” into its pure aluminum canisters in a clean room using highly-controlled processes similar to those of medical devices and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Pharmaceutical technician working in sterile working conditions at pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. To date, Oxygen Plus is the only oxygen company worldwide that fills its oxygen canisters in a FDA-registered facility. This is important because recreational oxygen canisters, which are currently not regulated by the FDA, require special filling and manufacturing protocol that is better suited for medical or food-grade products. Recreational oxygen, which is filled using aerosol technology but is not a traditional aerosol, needs to be filled and packaged in a dirt-free, grease-free and oil-free environment. When filling oxygen canisters around aerosols, there is an inherent risk of safety (fire, heat) due to the presence of non-compatible substances. Oxygen Plus’s dedication to the consumer – and its products – is one reason Oxygen Plus just may be “the #1 trusted brand of portable, lightweight” oxygen in a can. Canister Pressure: While there are other characterlogical differences, such as handling, storage and shipping, a final point of difference from other types of oxygen worth mentioning relates to pressure. Historically, oxygen was only available in heavy, often steel, cylinders so they could carry a large amount of oxygen. These oxygen tanks, which are often used for medical or industrial use, are extremely high pressure, with approximately 2,000 pounds per square inch (psi). Comparatively, recreational oxygen canisters have much lower pressure, ranging between 100 to 500 psi. Simply put, because the pressure is lower, the cylinder (or canister) can be lighter and made from recyclable aluminum. So, while offering healthy people ample oxygen to restore depleted oxygen to optimal levels, Oxygen Plus canned oxygen is very lightweight – and it goes where you go. In sum, Oxygen Plus pure recreational oxygen products are unique in its industry, and to other forms of oxygen, because they are portable, functional, consumer-friendly and manufactured in a FDA-registered facility. Next time you want a healthy, side-effect-free and scent-free way to boost oxygen levels, buy a can of Oxygen Plus so you can think, feel and perform your best. O+O+O+O+O+ Resources: Acumen Research and Consulting. Recreational Oxygen Equipment Market By Product: Concentrators, Bar Equipment, others; By Application: Athletics/Sports, Medical, others - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends and Forecast 2019 – 2026. https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/recreational-oxygen-equipment-market. Retrieved October 6, 2019. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Oxygen Equipment Use in General Aviation Operations. https://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/oxygen_equipment.pdf. Retrieved October 16, 2019. Convertunits.com. Convert moles Oxygen to grams – Conversion of Measurement Units. https://www.convertunits.com/from/moles+Oxygen/to/grams. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
