Elvie Stride review: 'The breast pump that saved me a fortune on formula'
Let’s get one thing straight: breastfeeding a baby is not easy. Even if you manage to sidestep all the potential issues, such as pain and low milk supply, ineffective latches and tongue ties, being the person solely responsible for keeping your baby fed all day (and often all night) is HARD.
Right now, you can pick up an Elvie Pump with a major discount as part of the Amazon Prime Day sale. We've rounded up a few of our favourite Prime Day baby deals already, but if it's an Elvie you're after specifically, we've rounded up a few of our favourite deals below.
Being able to pump and feed baby breastmilk with a bottle can be a game changer for both your sleep and your sanity – both of which were starting to suffer during my second pregnancy leave thanks to a very cute but very greedy baby who seemed to be allergic to sleep.
I’d been exclusively breastfeeding for ten months by the time I first tried the Elvie Stride. I wanted to start getting ready for my return to work, but I wasn’t ready to stop breastfeeding just yet, and quite frankly, neither was my daughter.
So, I put Elvie’s latest tech to the test to see whether it really is the game changer it appears.
Here is my honest review of the Elvie Stride breast pump.
What actually is the Elvie Stride?
The Elvie Stride is a hands-free, hospital-grade performance electric breast pump that connects to a dedicated app, allowing you to control it through your phone and record each session.
It’s incredibly quiet and sits in-bra, making it super discreet. While it does have a tube and small separate motor (unlike the original Elvie pump), everything fits easily under your clothes, so you can pump at your desk or at dinner without anyone noticing. It’s comfortable, light-weight, and gives you the freedom to pump hands-free on demand.
How does the Elvie Stride work?
First you need to download the (free) Elvie app. This will tell you exactly how to step up, use and care for your Elvie Stride, and control it for your remotely while you’re pumping.
Then, place the breast shield over your nipple, slip the pump into your nursing bra, clip on the hub, and you’re good to go. The Elvie Stride pump will start by stimulating your milk supply and then automatically switch to expression mode. In both settings, there are ten different intensity settings to help you customise your pump and keep things comfortable. The app will also monitor your milk production so you can keep track of how much you’re producing – especially handy if you’re combi feeding.
While the milk chamber fills up, you’re free to move around and get on with your life – there’s up to three hours of pumping time on offer before you need to recharge it. Don’t worry about it overflowing either, as it’ll automatically stop expressing when the chamber becomes full. Basically, no crying over spilt milk…
How much does the Elvie stride cost?
The Elvie Stride pump costs £169 for a single pump, and £299 for a double pump when bought full price. At the moment, you can buy a single for £126.75, and a double for £224.25.
Which is better, the Elvie Stride or the Elvie Pump?
Annoying answer alert, but it really depends. If you're looking for something super discreet above anything else (for example pumping during Zoom calls) then the original Elvie Pump is probably your best bet as it features Elvie’s most advanced technology. However, in terms of comfort, reliability and milk output, the Elvie Stride definitely comes out on top.
Personally, having used both the Elvie Pump and the Elvie Stride, I’d pick the Stride as it felt both more comfortable and reliable, which was more important to me than being completely wireless.
Elvie Stride review: final verdict
The Elvie Stride is undeniably a brilliant breast-pump. Comfortable, effective, hands-free, quiet – it ticked every single box for what I wanted in a pump.
Although it is slightly pricey, it’s worth paying for the cutting-edge tech to avoid wires, hanging bottles and sedentary pumping, which inevitably leave you feeling like a milking cow. Plus it saved me *so* much money on formula that it probably paid for itself.
This pump, on the other hand, still produces the good stuff without making you feel like a private dairy. And anything which makes you feel a bit more like yourself on maternity leave is a win, right?
FAQs
How to use the Elvie Stride
Once it’s charged up, place your nipple into the breast shield (top tip: tilting forwards helps with alignment) then put on your bra over it to keep it in place. Clip the hub onto your clothing, and then you’re all set.
Pumping is controlled through the Elvie app, where there are ten different intensity settings to keep things comfortable but effective. When the milk chamber is full, the pump will automatically stop, so there’s no need to worry about it overspilling.
What are the Elvie Stride parts?
The Single Elvie Stride pump is made up of the following part:
Hub
Cup front
Cup seal
Breast shield (24mm)
Cap
Extra-long tube
Valve
Diaphragm
Clip
Cover
Charging cable
Is the Elvie Stride easy to set up?
Yes, the Elvie Stride basically all clips together. It’s pretty intuitive, but if you do get stuck, the app offers a step-by-step tutorial that’s clear and easy to follow.
Does the Elvie Stride leak?
No, the Elvie Stride doesn’t leak as long as you stay vertical. If you bend over or lie down, there’s a chance some breast milk might escape. But you don’t have to stay still. Walking around with the pump in your bra (or even doing a light jog) is absolutely fine – no leaks in sight.
There’s also an easy-pour spout to ensure no spillages when you decant your freshly pumped milk.
Where can I buy the Elvie Stride?
The Elvie Stride is available direct from Elvie, as well as multiple other online outlets such as John Lewis, Boots and Amazon.
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