Frequently Asked Questions
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About our Products
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What does a Mountain Air Generator (MAG) do?
The MAG produces low-oxygen (hypoxic) air by taking in fresh air and removing some of the oxygen. The low-oxygen air can be used for various types of altitude training including Live High Train Low, Hypoxic Workouts, and Intermittent Hypoxic Training.
What is the power source?
The MAG-30 comes in two voltages: 100-110 volts for US, Canada, and Japan, and 220-240 volts for Europe and Asia. It uses about 500 watts of electricity. The MAG-20 is CE certified.
How portable is it?
The MAG-30 is amazingly compact. It measures 22" high x 11" depth x 13" width and weighs only 41 lb. It rolls on casters and has a built-in carrying handle.
How much noise does it make?
About 50 decibels, comparable to a window air conditioner.
How high does it go? Do I need any special attachments to reach the maximum height?
The MAG-30 goes from sea level to 22,000 feet (6700 meters).
What are the safety features of the Mountain Air Generator?
The Mountain Air Generator uses a proven, fail-safe method of producing low-oxygen air. No chemicals or additional gases are used. The only ingredients are electricity and air. It operates at room pressure so there are no pressurized chambers. The air produced by the MAG is many times cleaner than normal room air. If the power fails or any internal component fails, the MAG will either stop producing low-oxygen air, produce a reduced flow, or produce air with higher oxygen content.
Does the system come with a warranty?
New systems are warranted for one year for parts and labor or 3000 hours, whichever comes first, under our limited warranty. The MAG is built to give thousands of hours of continuous service.
Does the MAG require chemicals to remove carbon dioxide?
Carbon dioxide (CO2), a trace gas in the atmosphere and a waste product of respiration, is present in our exhaled breath. Some systems require a constant supply of chemical "scrubbers" to remove excess CO2. The MAG, however, produces an air stream containing no more CO2 than normal fresh air. If you are breathing through a mask, or using the Snowcap Sleeping Canopy, the CO2 in your exhaled breath escapes to the surroundings, and each breath brings in fresh air.
How does the MAG work?
The Mountain Air Generator uses a process called Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA). Air is separated using a micro-porous mineral with a cage-like molecular structure, just the right size to allow oxygen to pass freely, while retaining nitrogen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. The reduced-oxygen air produced by PSA is clean and chemical-free. It contains the normal amount of humidity and carbon dioxide. The process consumes nothing except air and electricity.
Can I convert my entire office or bedroom? How many machines will I need?
By using multiple MAGs, you can convert a sealed room to a high-altitude room. A good rule of thumb is that the air in the room should be replaced every hour with an equal amount of hypoxic air. Since the MAG produces approximately 6000 liters of low-oxygen air per hour, a single MAG can support a space of 6000 liters (6 cubic meters, or 210 cubic feet). A small bedroom measuring 8'x 10' with an 8' ceiling (640 cubic feet) would require 3 MAGs, since 640/210 = 3 (approximately). The MAGs would be placed outside the room, in a separate, well-ventilated space, and the hypoxic air introduced into the room through an air duct. For more details on room conversion, please contact us.
How does the Snowcap sleeping canopy work?
The Snowcap maintains altitude even though there are small gaps around the edge of the canopy. Low-oxygen air flows into the canopy from the MAG through the hollow frame of the Snowcap, and pushes the room air out. Since low oxygen air is flowing outward, there is no opportunity for regular air to come in. If you lift the canopy during the night, either by getting up or just rolling over, you will get a shot of outside air, but it will quickly be brought back to altitude by the high rate of hypoxic air inflow.
Is the Snowcap safe? What happens if there is a power failure and the air flow stops?
If there is a power failure, air from the room can enter through the small gaps around the edge of the canopy, keeping you safe and preventing suffocation.
How big is the Snowcap?
The Snowcap fits any size bed, and features a compact design, measuring 34" wide x 22" deep x 22" high (85 x 56 x 55 cm). It comes with handy carrying bag and weighs about 12 pounds (5 kg). With one standard 7/8" (22 mm) air connection, the Snowcap is compatible with many hypoxic air generators.
How fast does the Snowcap come up to altitude?
The Higher Peak sleep canopy reached full altitude in less than 5 minutes, compared to 1.7 hours for the Hypoxico Deluxe Bed Tent, according to a study by the Australian Institute of Sport (2013).
How do your products compare to training masks that restrict the amount of air you breathe?
Training masks that force you to breathe through tiny holes aren't the same thing as altitude training. You are still breathing regular, full oxygen air, but you are getting less of it. These masks may strengthen the respiratory muscles, but they do not produce red blood cells.
How about systems that make you breathe in and out through a canister filled with carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorbing materials?
By forcing you to re-breathe your exhaled air, that type of system does lower the amount of oxygen in the air you breathe. However, to prevent CO2 buildup to unsafe levels, an adsorbent chemical is used, which must be replaced frequently. The cost of constantly buying new canisters may exceed the cost of an altitude generator. In addition, canister system must be physically held over the mouth, and cannot be used while working out or sleeping.
