Elvie Wave Manual Breast Pump review: a wearable manual pump that's ideal for travel

Our verdict

The Elvie Wave Manual Breast Pump, in partnership with Willow, offers a different approach to manual pumping, sitting inside the bra (as a wearable breast pump) rather than needing to be held against the breast throughout a session. Maisie found this made it much easier to use than other manual pumps she'd tried, particularly when she needed something quick or was away from home.

"The main positives for me were how simple it is to use, the comfortable fit, and not needing lots of extra equipment," she says. She mainly used the Elvie Wave for occasional pumping and to relieve fullness, including during a long, traffic-heavy car journey to Devon and when she was unexpectedly away from her son for longer than planned during a ‘marathon’ Pilates session.

The Elvie Wave also fitted easily around breastfeeding. Maisie usually prefers using a double breast pump to save time but found the Elvie Wave useful for pumping on one side while feeding on the other, without interrupting the feed.

There were some compromises. Maisie found the Elvie Wave "quite noisy", while the top flap sometimes came open and the pump could shift inside her bra, particularly when bending forward. She also didn't find the stimulation mode particularly useful.

Overall, Maisie would recommend the Elvie Wave for parents looking for something "simple, portable, and convenient for occasional use or travel". While she doesn't see it as a replacement for her main double pump or something suited to exclusive pumping, she found it particularly useful when she needed a quick, flexible pumping option.

The Elvie Wave manual breast pump is quick to set up and intuitive to use, with straightforward controls and no charging required.

How we tested the Elvie Wave Manual Breast Pump

Maisie, mum to a nine-month-old and two-year-old, tested the Elvie Wave Single Manual Breast Pump for around a week, using it every day alongside breastfeeding her nine-month-old son. At this stage, she mainly pumped occasionally and as needed, rather than as part of a regular pumping routine.

She used the Elvie Wave at different points throughout the day, including first thing in the morning, and tested it in a variety of settings including at home, in the car, at the office and even at a Pilates studio. This gave her the opportunity to assess how practical and portable it was in everyday situations.

Maisie's son is primarily breastfed, with one bottle of formula a day, and she used the Elvie Wave alongside breastfeeding to manage fullness and express milk when needed. She also tested it while feeding her son on one side and pumping from the other, assessing how easily it fitted around her normal routine.

Throughout testing, Maisie assessed the Elvie Wave across eight key areas: performance, quality and durability, ease of use, value for money, comfort and fit, noise level and discretion, portability, and hygiene and cleaning.

The Elvie Wave scored 87 out of 100, earning a five-star rating. It performed particularly strongly for quality and durability, ease of use, value for money and hygiene and cleaning, achieving full marks in each category.

What’s in the box?

The Elvie Wave comes with the main components needed to get started, including the following:

• 24mm breast shield

• Collection cup and back

• Gasket

• Valve

• Ergonomic handle

• 86cm of adjustable tubing

Maisie also received the Elvie Bottle & Pump Travel Cleaning Kit with bottle brushes and a drying rack, which she found particularly useful for keeping the different pump parts clean and organised.

The Elvie Wave comes with the essential pump parts, while the handy cleaning kit keeps brushes and accessories neatly organised.

Does it come with accessories?

The Elvie Wave doesn't come with the cleaning kit as standard, but Maisie also tested it with the Elvie Bottle & Pump Travel Cleaning Kit. She found the different-sized silicone brushes useful for reaching the smaller pump parts, while the drying rack provided a convenient place to air dry the components before sterilising them.

She particularly liked the compact design, which kept the cleaning accessories together and made them easy to take with her.

How easy is it to assemble and use for the first time?

The Elvie Wave was quick and straightforward to set up, with Maisie finding the instructions clear and simple to follow. From unboxing to full setup, it took around 10 minutes, plus additional time to sterilise the parts beforehand.

"The breast pump was very easy to set up overall. The instructions were simple and clear, and the setup felt quite intuitive," she says. The only part she found slightly unclear was when to attach the tubing to the main unit, which she felt "could have been explained a bit more clearly."

Maisie also felt that links to video demonstrations would be a useful addition but overall found the process "straightforward and easy to follow."

How does the Elvie Wave Manual Breast Pump look?

The Elvie Wave has a clean, simple design that Maisie felt looked practical without being overly complicated or over-designed. She was impressed by the quality of the materials and finish, describing it as "sturdy, and well made" with a robust feel without being bulky.

It's also fairly lightweight and easy to handle, although Maisie felt the pump was "a little long" and that a slightly smaller design might fit better in some bras.

The ergonomic handle and slider switches are easy to use and feel responsive, while clear measurement markings on the main unit make it straightforward to see how much milk has been expressed.

The Elvie Wave fits inside your bra for hands-free pumping, although Maisie found it was more noticeable under fitted clothing.

What’s the Elvie Wave Manual Breast Pump like to use day to day?

Maisie found the Elvie Wave simple to position correctly and comfortable inside her bra without much adjustment, while the slider switch made it straightforward to move between stimulation and expression modes. However, she didn't notice much difference when using stimulation mode, particularly compared with battery-powered pumps she'd used previously.

Her pumping sessions typically lasted around 15–20 minutes, and the pump felt easy to use from the start, without much of a learning curve. Maisie found that her milk output varied depending on factors such as her hydration levels, the time of day and how long it had been since her last breastfeed, rather than the pump itself.

"I felt confident using the pump and found it practical for everyday life," she says. She found it "really useful as a secondary pump for occasional use, travel, or quick pumping sessions."

Pouring and storing milk was also straightforward. Maisie found it "easy to pour the milk into another bottle without making a mess" and, on some occasions, put the collection container straight into the fridge ready for a later feed. The flat bottom made this particularly convenient.

The 150ml collection capacity was sufficient for Maisie's needs, although she notes that parents with a larger milk supply or those planning to pump both breasts may find the capacity more limiting.

How comfortable is it?

Maisie found the Elvie Wave comfortable to use and said it didn't feel "overly awkward or cumbersome". Her typical pumping sessions lasted around 15–20 minutes, during which she found the suction effective without being too intense. "The suction felt like the right level for me," she says.

She didn't experience any pain or discomfort while using the pump, and the included 24mm breast shield worked well for her. Positioning it correctly in her bra was straightforward and helped it feel secure and comfortable.

The in-bra design also made it easy for Maisie to carry on with everyday tasks while pumping. She found it comfortable both sitting and standing and particularly useful when feeding her son or supervising dinnertime.

There were some situations where the fit was less secure. Maisie found the pump could occasionally slip or move around if she bent right forward, such as when loading the dishwasher or putting washing in the machine. On a couple of occasions, she felt like it might fall out. "Squatting down rather than bending forward helped keep it in place!" she says.

The Elvie Wave is less noticeable beneath baggier tops, making it a practical choice for discreet pumping at home or on the go

How discreet and wearable is the Elvie Wave Manual Breast Pump?

Maisie says, "I found the pump reasonably discreet, although it was a little noisy. Because of the noise, I probably wouldn’t feel comfortable using it in a public space or open-plan workplace, but I would be happy to use it in a separate room at work."

She found the Elvie Wave was visible under clothing and could look a little bulky under more fitted or figure-hugging tops. However, she found it "much less noticeable under looser or baggier clothing" and felt it worked best with nursing bras or larger bras with enough room to accommodate it comfortably.

"It didn’t significantly affect my movement, but I did have to remember to sit and stand fairly upright, as leaning too far forward could cause it to shift position or feel less secure." She found shirts, looser tops and lower-cut necklines easiest to wear with the pump, as these made positioning and access more straightforward.

Overall, Maisie found the Elvie Wave wearable and practical for everyday use, particularly "at home, in the car, or in private spaces", but the noise and visibility under clothing mean it isn't completely discreet.

How hands-free and secure is it?

Maisie found the Elvie Wave stayed securely in place during most everyday activities when fitted correctly. She did notice that it could shift when bending or leaning too far forward, but this wasn't generally an issue during normal use.

"I experienced a small amount of leaking on a couple of occasions when it wasn't positioned properly, but once I became familiar with fitting it correctly this wasn't really an issue," she adds.

The hands-free design was particularly useful. "I felt confident using the pump while carrying on with everyday tasks and looking after my active toddler. I regularly used it while preparing meals, tidying up, supervising playtime, and feeding my baby."

She was also impressed by the build quality, describing the Elvie Wave as "sturdy and well-made overall". The parts held together well throughout testing, with Maisie noting, "I didn’t experience anything loosening or wearing down during use, which gave me confidence in how it is built."

How adjustable is it?

Maisie found the Elvie Wave fairly basic in terms of adjustability and customisation. She only tried the included flange size, which fitted her well, although additional flange sizes are available if needed.

There are two modes: stimulation and expression. Maisie didn't notice a big difference when using stimulation mode, but found the settings simple to switch between rather than highly customisable.

In terms of fit, the included flange worked well for Maisie, although she notes that people with larger nipples may need a different size for better comfort and efficiency. For her, the Elvie Wave is better suited to straightforward, occasional pumping than highly tailored pumping needs.

The Elvie Wave features a simple two-mode design and intuitive controls, with minimal setup required before use.

Are there any smart features?

No, the Elvie Wave doesn't have app connectivity, tracking or other smart features, keeping its controls simple and straightforward.

Maisie says, "This breast pump does not have any smart features, app connectivity, or tracking functions, and the controls are very basic."

The good news? For Maisie, the lack of smart features wasn't a drawback. "This simplicity actually suits it well for quick, straightforward pumping sessions. I personally didn’t miss any smart features, as it keeps the pump easy to use and convenient, especially when I just need something fast without extra setup or technology."

How efficient is the Elvie Wave Manual Breast Pump?

It works pretty well for a manual breast pump that doesn't need charging. Maisie found milk expression fairly quick and felt the Elvie Wave emptied her breasts well.

"I found the pump to be reasonably efficient and effective for my needs. The suction felt strong enough to express milk comfortably without being too intense, and it worked well for my typical pumping sessions."

The Elvie Wave is simple compared with some rechargeable wearable breast pumps, which can offer multiple suction levels and more detailed control. For a manual pump, though, Maisie felt it delivered good results without needing a battery, charger or complicated setup.

"I found it emptied my breasts well for occasional use and felt comfortable throughout, but I would say it’s best suited to quick sessions or travel use rather than frequent, high output pumping."

Compared with her main double pump, the Ardo Calypso, Maisie found the Elvie Wave slightly less effective in terms of efficiency and output. However, its combination of portability, ease of use and no need for charging made it a convenient option when she needed to express quickly.

How portable is it?

Very.  Its compact, lightweight design makes it easy to take with you, and there's no charger to pack. "I found the pump very portable and travel friendly. It’s lightweight and easy to carry or use day to day, although a small travel pouch would be handy to keep all the parts together when packing it away."

Maisie tested the Elvie Wave at home, in the car, at the office and even at a Pilates studio, so had plenty of opportunities to see how it worked away from home. She also felt it would be a practical option for holidays.

"As it's not battery operated or electric, charging isn’t an issue, which also makes it more convenient for travel and on the go use."

"I would definitely feel comfortable using it while travelling or on holiday, as it’s simple to transport and easy to use whenever needed without worrying about cables or charging."

How easy is it to clean?

The Elvie Wave is straightforward to take apart after each use, with the collection cup and breast shield suitable for top-rack dishwasher cleaning. The tubing and handle can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.

Maisie found cleaning easy to fit into her routine. "I found the pump easy to clean and maintain overall. It was simple to disassemble and reassemble, which made cleaning quick and straightforward."

She mainly hand-washed the parts and used a UV steriliser, but didn't have any issues with milk residue building up. The small bottle brushes she used were particularly helpful for cleaning the smaller components.

"All parts needed cleaning after each use, but this was easy to manage given how simple they are to take apart. Replacement parts also seem easy to source directly from Elvie if needed."

There were no particularly fiddly components to make cleaning difficult, and Maisie found the pump simple to maintain throughout testing.

What is the standout feature of the Elvie Wave Manual Breast Pump?

Maisie found the Elvie Wave's main advantage was the freedom it gave her compared with other manual pumps she'd used.

"The standout feature of the Elvie Wave, in my opinion, is that it’s a manual pump that still fits inside the bra. Unlike other manual pumps I’ve used, such as the Ardo manual pump, which needs to be held in place, this allows much more freedom of movement and makes it easier to carry on with other tasks while pumping." She also found it more versatile than the Haakaa manual breast pump which she felt offered less control and adjustability.

"Compared to the Haakaa pump as well, which is simple and hands free but relies on suction with little control or adjustability, the Elvie Wave feels more versatile and secure in both fit and function."

The two modes provide some additional flexibility, although Maisie didn't notice a significant difference between them. For her, it was the combination of portability and being able to leave the pump in place that made it particularly practical.

"Being able to leave it in place also makes it more discreet and much easier to stop and start without fully removing or repositioning it. Overall, compared to other manual pumps, this combination of portability, in-bra use, and flexibility is what really sets it apart and makes it especially practical for everyday life."

Is the Elvie Wave Manual Breast Pump good value for money?

Yes, at around £40 for a single pump or £70 for a double, the Elvie Wave sits at a competitive price point.

"I think it’s a good, competitive price for a well-known, trusted brand like Elvie. I’ve tried a lot of different breast pumps, and for what it offers as a portable, easy to use option, it sits at a fair price point."

"While it is quite a simple pump compared to more advanced or double electric options, it performs well for its purpose as a convenient secondary pump. The build quality feels solid, and it’s easy to clean and maintain, which adds to its overall value," she says.

About the author

Tammy Jacks has over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, holding key roles such as Managing Editor and Health & Beauty Editor for Woman & Home magazine in South Africa, and Assistant Editor for Living and Loving - a parenting title focused on children’s health and development.

She has contributed to a wide range of lifestyle publications (including magazines, journals and newspapers) and has edited books for fitness influencers and health professionals. As a researcher and writer, Tammy specialises in children’s development, wellbeing and safety. Over the years, she has reviewed countless toys and developmental aids, as well as essential baby products for everyday family life, from baby monitors and sleep aids to feeding equipment and nursery must-haves, alongside baby travel gear such as baby carriers, child bike seats and lightweight strollers.