Are you tired of feeling restricted by those clunky, old-fashioned breast pumps that are so difficult to clean and way too loud?
I hear you!
I’ve scoured the market and tried out a range of breast pumps to find the top 5 best wearable breast pump for on-the-go mums in 2023.
- I’ve found breast pumps that are gentle and comfortable on your sensitive breasts.
- I’ll explore the most discreet and quiet options for you so you don’t have to worry about those awkward pump noises or feeling self-conscious in public.
- I’ll tell you about the hassle-free alternatives that won’t add extra chores to your already busy life.
- And let’s not forget the importance of that precious bonding time with your baby. I’ve been sure to find the best wearable breast pump out there that allows for skin-to-skin contact, promoting a strong connection while you express milk.
- Plus, we’ve ensured that these wearable breast pumps are portable and fit seamlessly into your daily routine, so you can maintain your active lifestyle.
Best Overall Breast Pump
TSRETE S12 Double Wearable Hands-Free Breast Pump
Features:
- Rechargeable, electric, batteries required (Included)
- Holds upto 180mls/6oz on each side
- 40dB of sound
- Weighs 770g/1.7lbs
- Made with 100% food-grade silicone
I chose the TSRETE S12 Double Wearable Hands-Free Breast Pump as the best wearable breast pump overall for a few reasons.
When I first came across it, it looks just like any other wearable pump so I was a little sceptical.
However, when I tried it I found that it was actually quite good quality for money and holds a decent amount of milk.
There were a few things I didn’t like about it but I definitely think the pros outweighed the cons.
What I liked:
- I’ve tried various pumps, but the TSRETE S12 stands out with its larger milk storage capacity, allowing me to pump more without worrying about frequent emptying.
- One of my mommas had an oversupply issue, and this pump was a game-changer for her. Unlike other pumps that stopped when they were full, this one continued to express milk effectively.
- I love the convenience of the display on top of the pump, which shows me the pumping duration and level. It’s a feature that some other pumps lacked, and it helped me keep track of my pumping sessions.
- The suction power is just right, providing a comfortable pumping experience without any pain or discomfort. I found that I didn’t have to pump for extended periods to achieve the same results.
- The clear silicone material of the pump allowed me to see my nipple during pumping, making it easier to position correctly. This was a major advantage over other pumps that made it difficult to get the right placement.
- I experienced zero leakage while bending over or picking up my baby, and emptying the pump into a bottle or storage pouch was a breeze.
- Cleaning the pump was simple, thanks to its well-sized parts. I never had to worry about losing small pieces down the drain.
- The pump’s two modes and nine levels provided flexibility, and the battery life lasted for an impressive amount of time.
- I appreciated that the pump offered three sizes for the nipple fitting, ensuring a comfortable and customized fit.
- If you’re looking for a cheaper option, the TSRETE 12 Breast Pump can also be bought as a single pump which cuts the price by half.
What I disliked:
- While the TSRETE S12 is not the quietest pump on the market, the noise level of around 40 decibels didn’t bother me much.
- Assembling the pump for the first time required a bit of practice, but once I got the hang of it, it became easy and straightforward.
- If you accidentally order the wrong size flange, you’ll need to go through the process of returning it and waiting for the correct size to be sent since only one size is included.
- The design isn’t as sleek fitting as some others I tried so it’s quite noticeable if you wear it in public.
Best budget-friendly wearable breast pump
Haakaa Manual Breast Pump and Ladybug Milk Collector Combo
Features:
- Manual/ natural suction breast pump
- The manual breast pump collects 100mls/4oz
- Ladybug milk collector holds 75ml/2.5oz
- Made with 100% food-grade silicone
Now I know what you’re thinking… a natural suction breast pump… does it even work? But hear me out!
This Haakaa Manual Breast Pump and Ladybug Milk Collector combo doesn’t look like much but it does a better job than you’d think.
I found this natural suction breast pump was gentle, easy to use and didn’t make my nipples feel like they’d been in the wringer.
So of course it had to go on the list of the best wearable breast pump for on-the-go mums
For someone on a tight budget or not wanting to waste a drop of their precious milk while breastfeeding, this is a must!
What I liked – Haakaa breast pump:
- The suction works better than I thought it would. It can also be adjusted easily
- It’s super easy to use
- Super easy to wash, no extra parts to assemble or worry about
- Great value for money
- Lightweight and compact
- Doesn’t spill, it stands up easily by itself and also comes with a lid depending on the combo you choose.
- It’s perfect for placing on the other breast while you are breastfeeding
- And for all those mummas out there who are worried about noise, this pump doesn’t make any noise at all
- Can be used to treat mastitis
What I liked – Haakaa ladybug milk collector:
- It’s light and compact
- I loved how you can just put it in your bra and get on with your day.
- It catches all of your milk so its not wasted in the breast pads
- Also super easy and simple to use and clean.
- They’re discrete and can be worn anywhere and everywhere.
- They have a cute design – I had to mention this, who doesn’t love ladybugs?
- Soft on your nipples
- Also has great suction
- Stands up by itself and has a little plug thingy that makes it easy to dispense the milk without spillage
What I disliked – Haakaa breast pump:
- It was easily knocked off by my baby
- It’s a natural suction pump, which means that it can take a bit longer to express than other electric breast pumps.
- It doesn’t fit inside your shirt so you have to walk around with it hanging out
What I disliked – Haakaa ladybug milk collector:
- It doesn’t hold very much so I had to make sure that it didn’t overflow
- It turns yellow after a while because it’s silicone, but this is completely normal and doesn’t really bother me that much.
Best Portable Breast Pump
Medela Swing Maxi Double Electric Breast Pump
Features:
- Electric, rechargeable breast pump
- Wieghs 1.48kg/3.28lbs
- Each bottle can hold 150mls
- 45dB of sound
- Has an app
I’m sure you’ve heard of Medela pumps before.
They’re one of the head honchos when it comes to breast pumps and have been around for years.
This is one of their newer pumps and even though it has tubing, it’s still quite light and portable.
The Medela Swing Maxi Double Electric Breast Pump was a must on my list of the best wearable breast pump for on-the-go mums for a few reasons.
The main reason – it was quiet and powerful! I managed to get more milk in less time. That’s a win in my books.
What I Liked:
- First off, the Medela Swing Maxi pump is so light and portable. I could clean and do the things I needed to do around the house while pumping. No more feeling stuck in one spot!
- The silicone cups were soft and comfy.
- It was still surprisingly quiet, only 45 decibels
- The suction power was adjustable like the other pumps but I found this pump got the job done quickly and efficiently, so I could get on with my day.
- The attached bottles were the best part of this pump! Storing the milk was a breeze. Just unscrew the bottles, pop a lid on, and into the fridge. No need to worry about transferring them into a storage bag.
- It comes with a backpack that has a ‘cold compartment’ so I could pump anywhere and not have to worry about getting home to put it in the fridge… within reason.
- Cleaning was a breeze too. No complicated parts to deal with.
- If you need a spare part, it’s easy to buy separate parts online.
What I Disliked:
- Now, it’s not the most compact pump out there. It takes up a bit more space, so keep that in mind if storage is tight.
- I did have to deal with those tubes connecting everything, which added a bit of extra stuff to carry around.
- One downside is that it doesn’t come with a bra for support. You’ll either need to buy one separately or get creative with your hand-holding skills.
- I must admit, it’s not the most discreet pump either. So, if you prefer privacy, you might want to consider other options.
- You can’t just pump one side; you have to do both
Best discrete breast pump
Elvie Breast Pump
Features:
- Electric, lightweight, rechargeable breast pump
- Weighs 225g
- Each pump holds upto 150mls/5oz
- Almost no sound!
One of the most popular breast pumps on the market today – the Elvie Breast Pump.
For my itty bitty titties, it made me look like I actually had some boobs. Not to mention how surprisingly quiet this pump is.
I didn’t realise that a breast pump could look so natural and discrete… I’m so used to seeing these bulky old-fashioned pumps that stick out like a sore thumb.
If it weren’t for its hefty price tag this would be my all-round favourite.
What I liked:
- I loved how I could track and control everything with the app. It was easy to use.
- The Elvie Breast Pump‘s sleek design made it the least noticeable breast pump that I tried… but how visibly unnoticeable can a breast pump really be
- It was very quiet so when I was having meetings or talking on the phone with someone, they couldn’t hear it pumping.
- It actually holds quite a lot of milk – 150mls… it really didn’t look like it would
- It’s by far the lightest breast pump I tried
What I disliked:
- The Elvie Breast Pump isn’t leakproof. If the bottle at the bottom fills up too much it spills over the seal
- It’s hard to see when the bottle is full without taking the pump out of your bra completely
- The pump isn’t very strong, so it can take longer to express your milk
- There are small parts that are hard to clean
- It’s definitely not the most budget-friendly on the list
Best manual breast pump
Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump
Features:
- Manual breast pump
- Silicone flexible breast shield
- Weighs 263g/0.58lbs
- A bottle holds 150mls
Last but certainly not least on our list of the best wearable breast pump for on-the-go mums – the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump.
This pump has been on the market for a while and has quite a few competitors but after trying a majority of them, this was my favourite.
For most first-time mummas, the thought of breast pumping is enough to get your head around let alone having to do it manually…. That’s a whole other mission.
Well, it was for me anyway.
But, let me tell you – Once you try it you’ll never want to touch an electric pump again!
What I liked:
- It’s a great addition if you have other Medela products because they all use the same bottles and attachments.
- It also comes with the soft silicone flexi nipple shield, which, as I said before, was soft and fit around my nipple quite well
- This manual breast pump has a 2-phase technology that mimics the suckling of the baby to help increase the letdown of milk. The handle has two ends. The first smaller end is to stimulate letdown, and the second is to express the milk
- The stand stops the bottle from tipping over when you’re done. We all know the feeling of going through all that effort just to have the milk spilt EVERYWHERE.
- Easy to store or feed straight away after pumping
- Only a little bit of sound but nothing as loud as the motors that cone in the electric pumps
- Easy and lightweight to take with you
- The suction is just as good, if not better, than the electric pumps
- There is a nifty trick that makes it super fast to pump. Holding down the long end of the handle during milk letdown to get more milk out rather than the short pumps
What I disliked:
- It’s fiddly to clean, with a few small areas to get into but not a lot of individual parts that you have to clean.
- Manually having to do the work
Let’s get pumping!
There you have it, mums on the go! Our top picks for the 5 best wearable breast pump in 2023.
Whether you’re looking for the best overall performance, a budget-friendly option, portability, discretion, or the simplicity of a manual pump, we’ve got you covered.
From the TSRETE S12 Double Wearable Hands-Free Breast Pump, offering convenience and efficiency, to the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump and Ladybug Milk Collector Combo for those on a budget, each pump brings something unique to the table.
The Medela Swing Maxi Double Electric Breast Pump offers unmatched portability, while the Elvie Breast Pump ensures discreet and silent pumping.
And for those who prefer manual pumps, the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump delivers reliable performance.
Whatever your pumping needs may be, these pumps will make your on-the-go journey smoother and more convenient.
So, grab your favourite pump and embrace the freedom and flexibility it brings.
Happy pumping, mummas!
