In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Elvie Stride Review

An exceptionally wearable breast pump with a user-friendly app, but it may lack sufficient suction power and durability
gearlab tested logo
Elvie Stride Review (The Elvie Stride pump has no screen, only a few buttons.)
The Elvie Stride pump has no screen, only a few buttons.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $270 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Elvie
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Molly Bradac  ⋅  Nov 16, 2023
58
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#6 of 10
  • Efficiency - 35% 3.1
  • Comfort - 25% 6.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 8.0
  • Portability - 15% 8.8
  • Hygiene - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Elvie Stride offers a hands-free pumping experience, allowing you to pump without interrupting your daily activities. We appreciate its user-friendly app that helps you monitor your pumping sessions and milk production. This valuable information can help you stay on top of your breastfeeding journey. However, the Elivie Stride's price is not for everyone. If you're on a tight budget, other cost-effective options are available. Also, we noticed potential issues with suction power, and if you require a high level of suction for efficient milk expression, you may want to explore other options. With that said, if you value convenience and flexibility in your pumping routine, the Elvie Stride is a compelling favorite breast pump for busy moms on the go.
REASONS TO BUY
Outlet-free portability
Awesome app
REASONS TO AVOID
Suction power may lack
Flimsy parts can shift
Pricey for moderate performance
Editor's Note: We refreshed this review on November 15, 2023. With the breast pump review receiving a significant update, we share how this pump compares to the others.

Compare to Similar Products

 
elvie stride
This Product
Elvie Stride
Awards Top Pick Award
Best for On-the-Go Pumping
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Breast Pump
Best Value Award
Budget-friendly Expressing Buddy
Top Pick Award
Best Manual Pump
 
Price $270 List
$259.99 at Amazon
$216 List
$216.00 at Amazon
$190 List$33 List
$23.49 at Amazon
$23 List
$12.94 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
58
79
72
67
51
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line A hands-free, convenient breast pump that's perfect for busy moms who need flexibility in their pumping routineA superior breast pump that's high-quality, efficient, and easy to useDespite occasional reports of strong suction, this portable pump provides portability and efficient milk expressionOffering simplicity and convenience, this affordable and portable choice performs well in our testsA cost-effective option designed for passive letdown pumping to collect milk or provide relief from breast engorgement
Rating Categories Elvie Stride Spectra S1 Plus Baby Buddha Lansinoh Manual Bre... Haakaa Gen 1
Efficiency (35%)
3.1
9.6
7.9
5.7
3.2
Comfort (25%)
6.0
7.8
6.9
5.9
2.4
Ease of Use (15%)
8.0
8.0
7.4
8.2
7.4
Portability (15%)
8.8
5.5
7.6
8.3
10.0
Hygiene (10%)
7.0
6.0
5.0
8.0
8.0
Specs Elvie Stride Spectra S1 Plus Baby Buddha Lansinoh Manual Bre... Haakaa Gen 1
Measured Milk/Min 0.12 oz 0.55 oz 0.45 oz 0.28 oz 0.19 oz
Measured Suction 170 mmHg 250 mmHg 290 mmHg 200 mmHg n/a
Suction Settings 2 modes and 10 suction levels per mode 12 14 2 1
Power Source Rechargeable Battery Rechargeable Battery Rechargeable Battery Manual Manual
Available Flange Sizes 21mm, 24mm, 28mm 20mm, 24mm, 28mm, 32mm 21mm, 24mm, 28mm, 32mm 21mm, 25mm, 30.5mm, 36mm 30mm
Measured Weight 0.8Ibs 2.9 Ibs 0.8Ibs 0.3 Ibs 0.2 Ibs
Measured Weight of Pump with Two Bottles 1.1 Ibs 3.1Ibs 1.1 Ibs 0.2 Ibs (one bottle) 0.2 Ibs (one cup)
Open/Closed System Closed Closed Closed Closed Open
Capability Double Double Double Single Single
Manufacturer Claimed Battery Life Up to 2 hours Up to 3 hours Up to 1 hour n/a n/a
App Yes No No No No
Night Light Feature No Yes No No No
Included Bottle Holder or Base? No - n/a Yes - one built-in bottler holder Yes - bottle base Yes - bottle base No - n/a
What's in the Box 1 Hub
2 Cup Fronts
2 Cup Seals
2 Breast Shields (24mm)
2 Caps
1 Tube Splitter
2 Short Tubes (for the Cups)
1 Long Tube (for the Hub)
1 Clip
1 Cover
2 Valves
2 Diaphragms
1 Charging Cable
Instructions for Use
2 24mm Spectra Breast Flanges
2 28mm Spectra Breast Flanges
2 Spectra Tubing
2 Spectra Duckbill Valves
2 Spectra Backflow Protectors. Includes silicone membrane, uppercase, and lowercase for each Backflow Protector
2 Spectra Wide Neck Storage Bottles. Includes nipple, disc, cap, and cover for each bottle
1 Spectra 12V AC Power Adapter/Charger
Baby Buddha Rechargeable Breast Pump Unit (Black)
2 24mm Flanges
2 Sets of Duckbill Valves
1 Pair of Silicone Diaphragms
2 Bottles
2 Bottle Bases
2 Bottle Storage Caps
2 Bottle Hygiene Covers
2 Pump Covers
3 detachable tubes & T-connector.
USB-C Charging Cable (charge to full in 4 hours)
Lanyard
Carrying Tote
2 ComfortFit® flanges (25mm & 30.5mm)
1 Lansinoh® breastmilk storage bottle (5oz)
1 Manual Pump Body, stem, handle, silicone diaphragm
1 White valve
1 Bottle stand
1 Bottle cap and bottle collar
1 NaturalWave® slow-flow nipple
1 Bottle storage lid
Cup

Our Analysis and Test Results

In 2013, Tania Boler, a women's health expert, created Elvie. The company aims to develop innovative, user-friendly products to improve women's health and well-being. Elvie has spent over 10 years developing cutting-edge tech and breaking societal taboos to level up women's lives.

Performance Comparison


elvie stride - the elvie stride is a remarkably quiet breast pump that offers...
The Elvie Stride is a remarkably quiet breast pump that offers convenient, hands-free pumping, making it an excellent choice for those with on-the-go pumping needs.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Efficiency


Elvie Stride faced some challenges in this test metric compared to the competition.


While some of our testers had positive experiences with the Elvie Stride breast pump, our testing revealed that it did not perform as efficiently as some others. We noticed that several factors seemed to influence its efficiency, including nipple shape and size. During testing, the Elvie Stride struggled to establish a consistent latch. This problem also occurs when the pump's internal channels become wet.

This pump lacks a flange, and the shape of its breast shield struggled to achieve a secure latch with the Emulait bottle and the Medela Pressure Gauge. This hindered the pump's overall performance. With some other pumps consistently latching, we have a hunch that if your body doesn't match well with the breast shield, you might not experience the full power of the pump.

elvie stride - photo showing the elvie stride app interface, particularly the...
Photo showing the Elvie Stride app interface, particularly the amount of milk pumped from both sides, plus the total.
Credit: Elvie

On average, in our tests, the Elvie Stride pumped at a rate of 0.12 ounces of milk per minute, and the Medela Pressure Gauge recorded a maximum suction strength of 170 mmHg, which falls short by quite a bit from the manufacturer's claimed suction strength of 300 mmHg. We could also notice the lesser suction in our efficiency tests.

elvie stride - elvie provides a visual guide for selecting the proper breast shield...
Elvie provides a visual guide for selecting the proper breast shield size for your body, which can contribute to user comfort and efficiency during pumping.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort


The Elvie Stride has some qualities that we believe benefit comfort.


The Elvie Stride is comfortable while pumping in motion. It comes with a 24 mm breast shield, and other sizes are available. It offers two modes: stimulation and expression, each featuring 10 suction levels. We believe this wide range of options allows most moms to cater their pumping experience to their comfort. Also, the manufacturer provides a visual guide on proper breast shield sizing, and this is an incredibly valuable resource that can contribute to a breastfeeding mom's comfort during use.

elvie stride - the elvie stride has a minimalistic interface and an informative app...
The Elvie Stride has a minimalistic interface and an informative app that provides information and details about your pumping session.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The Elvie Stride is innovative and user-friendly.


The Elvie Stride keeps it refreshingly simple with only four buttons to control its functions, allowing you to easily manage power, modes, intensity levels, and play/pause. What elevates the experience is the accompanying app, which is free and allows you to control the pump remotely. It steps in as the pump's screen, tracking time, adjusting settings, and recording data. If you decide to go app-free, don't worry; the pump remains easy to use. It just has no data collection.

There are many things about the app we love. You can save your preferred intensity settings by using the personalize feature, keep track of milk expression amounts, and set a timer to automatically stop the pump when the session ends. Changing intensity levels is hassle-free, with no need to cycle through all the options. The pump automatically switches from stimulation to expression mode after two minutes and will automatically pause after 40 minutes in a single session.

There are a few drawbacks to consider. Some users commented that the pump's components have a somewhat flimsy feel. None of the parts seem to have a rock-solid connection. Also, the plastic used in the nipple chamber has a cloudy appearance, which, while not a deal-breaker, can make it tricky to keep an eye on your milk expression progress.

elvie stride - the elvie stride is known for its portability and convenience. it's...
The Elvie Stride is known for its portability and convenience. It's a battery-powered pump with up to 2 hours of battery life on one charge.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Portability


The Elvie Stride is an exceptionally portable and convenient breast pump.


This wearable offers hands-free pumping, but it isn't tube-free. This can be slightly less convenient when on the move compared to the Momcozy S9 Wearable Breast Pump. The cups are worn in your bra during use, and the white control can clip to your shirt or pants. It's powered by a rechargeable battery and takes approximately two hours to fully charge, depending on your charging setup. According to the manufacturer, a full charge can last for approximately five 30-minute pumping sessions. When the pump is charging, it's unable to pump. Therefore, it's important to keep an eye on the battery level so it's charged and ready to go when you need it the most.

elvie stride - the elvie allows you to move about while pumping.
The Elvie allows you to move about while pumping.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

With a weight of 0.8 lbs, it's lightweight and small size will easily fit into most bags for convenient transport. Wearable pumps are usually smaller and lighter than traditional pumps, and hands-free operation is ideal for moms who want to pump while multitasking. Another notable feature is its very quiet operation, even on higher power settings, registering LO on the dB reader. Despite a low vibrating sound, we could barely hear it with background music playing. Depending on where you're wearing this pump and the background noise level, others may not be able to hear it.

Some users mention having leaking issues with the Elvie, particularly if you bend over for a long time, and you may need a more firm-fitting bra, like a stretchy nursing bra. However, the flexibility of walking around while wearing the Elvie is a standout feature of this option.

Cleaning the Elvie Stride pump parts can be done by handwashing with warm, soapy water.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Hygiene


The Elvie Stride features a closed system design, and the clean-up is a snap.


To ensure effective cleaning, having the right brushes is essential. We noticed that a flexible bottle brush or straw brush is particularly helpful for reaching the cup's rounded curves.

elvie stride - we suggest having a few bottle brushes on hand to help reach the...
We suggest having a few bottle brushes on hand to help reach the cup's rounded curves of the Elvie Stride.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

If you prefer, some parts, such as the breast shield, cup, valve, and diaphragms, can be cleaned in a dishwasher instead of by hand. Putting the pump back together isn't too much of a hassle, but it's important that every part is connected correctly.

elvie stride - the elvie stride is designed for hands-free pumping, and the cups...
The Elvie Stride is designed for hands-free pumping, and the cups can be worn in your bra during use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Should You Buy the Elvie Stride?


If you're willing to pay the pump's high cost, the Elvie Stride is an attractive breast pump for busy moms looking for portability, hands-free pumping, and a remarkably quiet operation for a discreet pumping experience. We also like its user-friendly app that allows for easy control and data tracking. However, it isn't very efficient, and this could be a reason not to buy this pump if your goal of pumping is efficiency.

elvie stride - the elvie offers a hands-free experience but isn't tube-free.
The Elvie offers a hands-free experience but isn't tube-free.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

What Other Breast Pumps Should You Consider?


The Spectra S1 Plus is a podium finisher in our review. This pump is strong, efficient, and great for establishing and maintaining milk supply. While it has a rechargeable battery, making it good for taking to work or pumping away from an outlet, it isn't as portable as the Elvie. But if you seek efficiency, it's unbeatable. The Baby Buddha is an affordable, portable double breast pump with strong suction power. It costs less than the Elvie and has better efficiency. While neither are discrete wearables like the Elvie, we suspect most mothers won't need this kind of pump and would prefer something more efficient or less expensive.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD and Molly Bradac