Elvie Stride breast pump review

Women's health expert Tania Boler founded Elvie with the mission to improve women’s tech. Since launching the original Elvie Pump at London Fashion Week in 2018, Elvie has gained something of a cult status. The Stride is Elvie's first hospital-grade pump. It's marketed as powerful and ultra-quiet, and can be purchased as a single or double breast pump.

What were your first impressions of the Elvie Stride breast pump?

Unboxing an Elvie is like opening an Apple product – the feel is incredibly premium and it is a real pleasure to unpack. Included in the box is the pump itself with a standard-sized nipple shield (24mm). Additional sizes are available to purchase on the Elvie website.

I love the fact Elvie products are designed by female engineers and I find the branding really appealing. This continues through to the product itself. All of its washable elements are a lovely mint green. The app is similarly attractive and intuitive to use.

How simple is it to set up the Elvie Stride breast pump?

With the number of components in a breast pump, some that need cleaning and sterilising and some that don't, the assembly for this kind of kit is always going to be tricky. I found setting up the pump the first time a bit of a struggle, though I did this five days post-partum when very sleep-deprived! Once I got the hang of it, it became easy to pop the kit together. I can do it now in less than a minute.

Is the Elvie Stride breast pump easy to use?

All instructions for the Stride come in the included manual but I didn’t feel they were as clear as they could be. The brand has a plethora of tutorials online (YouTube) as well as in the app, and I found these necessary to watch to ensure I was using the pump correctly.

How comfortable is the breast pump to wear?

The Elvie Stride is the comfiest breast pump I've ever tried. I’ve only previously fed one of my children with expressed milk, and my original intention was to exclusively breastfeed my newborn with expressed top-up feeds as he got older. However, we, unfortunately, hit more stumbling blocks than expected on our journey, and breastfeeding just didn’t work for us past the age of 1-month-old. So the Elvie Stride has been expressing all his breastmilk feeds (3 or 4 a day) alongside supplementary formula.

The Stride sits snugly under a nursing or sports/crop top bra. I didn't quite believe I'd be able to go about my daily business while pumping but it delivers on that promise (just make sure to shut the top holes properly before bending forwards).

I used the device underneath a soft crop top-style bra, which provided sufficient coverage to hold the pump flat to my body. I love that you don’t have to buy supplementary uncomfortable breast-pumping underwear to use it effectively. The control unit has a clip on the side to allow you to attach it to your clothes, though this can be a bit fiddly to attach properly.

The nipple shields are available to buy in different sizes (21mm, 24mm and 28mm). There are comprehensive instructions online to help you measure your nipples and ensure you’re using the correct size. You can also buy nipple cushions to ensure maximum efficiency and comfort.

How effective is the Elvie Stride at expressing breast milk?

I pump varying amounts at different times of the day. At my most productive, I’m able to extract 200ml of milk in 35 minutes using the Elvie Stride pump. The cups are roomy with a capacity of 150ml each, which I found more than enough for my expressing needs.

However, as the cups are curved, I found it hard to use the measurements to get an accurate read on how much milk I'd expressed. I also found it impossible to empty the Elvie Stride without leaving some milk behind.

Are the settings on the Elvie Stride breast pump easy to control?

The pump is hospital grade (up to 270 mmHg) and offers a stimulation and expression mode, which you’re able to program in the app. I found using it on the highest setting became uncomfortable, so I usually set the pump on a level 8 or 9. Having used another brand’s wired hospital-grade pump, I found the output and ease of use to be comparable.

Is the Elvie Stride smartphone app good?

The pump comes with an app that controls the settings (it can also be used without) and this is easy to set up and use. If required, you can use the app to log your sessions, which I found beneficial. There were no detrimental effects on my phone battery when using the app, and it connected seamlessly to the device for each use.

Can you really use the Elvie Stride hands-free?

I mostly used the pump in the house while relaxing, but I’ve also cleaned, cooked a roast dinner and sat at my desk writing emails while pumping. I’ve also taken it on the school run with me (driving, not walking) and, if used under a jumper, you’d be hard-pressed to know it was there.

You do need to be careful to properly shut the top holes on each of the cups to prevent leakages. More than once I didn’t do this and ended up with half my precious breastmilk all down my front as I bent over. I found I was able to bottle feed my baby while pumping, though this does take some careful positioning to ensure the cups aren’t dislodged.

How portable is the pump?

Very, though there are no cases or carriers available to purchase via Elvie, which is a trick I think they are missing. When taking it out of the house, I used large freezer bags to maintain sterilization and I would have preferred to have a hard case available for this purpose.

Is the Elvie Stride breast pump quiet?

Though the pump is quiet, it’s not silent. It actually lulls my baby off to sleep when he’s next to me! If you’re watching TV, you won't be able to hear it. But I wouldn’t feel it’s quiet enough to use while on a work Zoom call.

How easy is it to charge the pump?

The Stride requires charging before first use and in between uses – it lasts for approximately 2 hours before the battery runs out, and you are unable to use it whilst in charging mode. I found this frustrating if I needed to pump and hadn’t remembered to pop it on charge. It takes approximately an hour to come up to full power. You can easily tell when it’s ready for use as the battery light switches from red (charging) to green (ready).

Is the Elvie Stride breast pump easy to clean?

Not really. Elvie recommends the pump be cleaned after each use and sterilised once a day (I use a steam steriliser). I found the pump’s removable parts quickly built up milk residue, and with quite a few nooks and crannies it was difficult to ensure they were cleaned properly. There's no guidance on how to clean them as effectively as I would have liked to. Given their fiddliness, this also means the parts take a few hours to completely air dry.

How does the Elvie Stride compare to other breast pumps you've tried?

The Medela Swing Maxi is comparable in terms of power and effectiveness, and it comes in at approximately half the price of the Elvie Stride.

What's in the box?

• Pump control unit
• 2 x cups
• 2 x 24mm nipple shields
• 1 x Charging Cable

What additional accessories can you buy?

• 21mm or 28mm nipple shields (a 24mm shield is included in the pack), £24.99
• 15mm, 17mm or 19mm nipple cushions, £19.99

Both of these accessories may be essential to achieve the optimal fit.

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing the product?

After having the pump in constant use (3-4 pumps per day for 6 weeks), I don’t think it’s suited to be an exclusive pump. The pump has lost suction now and often stops working mid-way through a session. I’m in conversation with Elvie’s Customer Service team to resolve this issue, but had I not had a backup pump at home, my feeding journey would have been affected by this.

Is the Elvie Stride breast pump worth the money?

Elvie products are not suited for those looking for the best value, but they justify their high products with attractive design and innovative functionality. Based on my experience with the pump losing effectiveness after 6 weeks of use, I don't think it’s worth the high price point.

How does it compare to similar breast pumps?

Where can I buy the Elvie Stride breast pump?

It is available from Elvie, John Lewis and Natural Baby Shower

MadeForMums verdict

The Elvie Stride is a good-looking pump that delivers on its promise of powerful performance with a hands-free design. It was let down by some parts being difficult to clean, and you will need to remember to charge the pump between uses. I'd recommend the Elvie Stride if you’re looking for a stylish, powerful, occasional pump that is also discreet. But I didn't find it durable enough to withstand my constant use.