A headgear assembly for attachment to a patient interface that delivers breathable gas to a patient, includes a pair of side portions and a rear portion that interconnects the pair of side portions, each of the side portions including an upper side strap and a lower side strap, the rear portion including an upper strap, a lower strap, and intermediate connecting straps extending between the upper strap and the lower strap. The headgear assembly is designed and configured so as to be used with a plurality of different mask systems, and to accommodate for variations in the anthropometrics across a wide variety of patients.