A retractable tube (6) for use in a respiratory apparatus for delivering a pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient has an internal diameter of about 30mm or less, a weight of about 500 g/m or less, and an unextended length of about 2 m or less. The retractable tube (6) includes a portion that is extensible in a range of about 40% - 400% in response to force applied to the tube, and the extensible portion is configured to return the tube to its unextended length in the absence of force applied to the tube. A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of pressurized breathable gas includes a flow generator to generate the flow and a patient interface to deliver the flow to the patients airways. The flow generator and the patient interface (4) are connected by a retractable tube (6). A method of delivering a flow of pressurized breathable gas includes connecting the flow generator and the patient interface (4) using a retractable tube.
