In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Medela Harmony with Flex Review

A budget-friendly choice for moms on the move or occasional pumpers, but it doesn't offer the same efficiency and user-friendliness as electric pumps
gearlab tested logo
medela harmony with flex breast pump review
The Medela Harmony is designed for single-breast pumping. It's not a double pump, so you can only use it on one breast at a time.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $42 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Medela
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Molly Bradac  ⋅  Nov 16, 2023
57
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 10
  • Efficiency - 35% 3.8
  • Comfort - 25% 4.9
  • Ease of Use - 15% 8.4
  • Portability - 15% 8.9
  • Hygiene - 10% 5.0

The Skinny

The Medela Harmony with Flex is an affordable and highly portable manual pump from our best breast pump review. Without the need for power sources, you can use it practically anywhere, whether traveling, at work, or out and about. Its discreet, straightforward operation makes it a top choice for the occasional pumper or a mom seeking a quiet, travel-friendly option. We think it's a helpful tool to have in your breastfeeding toolkit, stepping in to offer relief in certain scenarios where an electric pump might not be practical or convenient. However, if you're pumping regularly, an electric pump will make the pumping experience more enjoyable and with less effort.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Portable
Easy to use
Quiet
REASONS TO AVOID
Single breast pump
Hand-operated
Not for frequent use
Not as customizable
Editor's Note: On November 15, 2023, this individual gear review was updated by our team. We detail how this pump compares to the competition, especially as the breast pump review received a significant update.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Best Value Award Top Pick Award  
Price $42 List
$23.94 at Amazon
$216 List
$199.99 at Amazon
$190 List
$189.99 at Amazon
$33 List
$24.94 at Amazon
$23 List
$12.94 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
57
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 portable option for on-the-go moms or those who don't frequently pump, though it does demand more effort compared to electric pumpsA 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 Medela Harmony with... Spectra S1 Plus Baby Buddha Lansinoh Manual Bre... Haakaa Gen 1
Efficiency (35%)
3.8
9.6
7.9
5.7
3.2
Comfort (25%)
4.9
7.8
6.9
5.9
2.4
Ease of Use (15%)
8.4
8.0
7.4
8.2
7.4
Portability (15%)
8.9
5.5
7.6
8.3
10.0
Hygiene (10%)
5.0
6.0
5.0
8.0
8.0
Specs Medela Harmony with... Spectra S1 Plus Baby Buddha Lansinoh Manual Bre... Haakaa Gen 1
Measured Ounces per Minute 0.13 0.55 0.45 0.28 0.19
Measured Suction 240 mmHg 250 mmHg 290 mmHg 200 mmHg n/a
# of Suction Settings 2 12 14 2 1
Measured Weight of Pump with Two Bottles 0.4 Ibs (one bottle) 3.1Ibs 1.1 Ibs .2 Ibs (one bottle) 0.2 Ibs (one cup)
Available Flange Sizes from Manu 24mm 20mm, 24mm, 28mm, 32mm 21mm, 24mm, 28mm, 32mm 21mm, 25mm, 30.5mm, 36 30mm
Open/Closed System Open Closed Closed Closed Open
Capability Single Double Double Single Single
Power Source Manual Rechargeable Battery Rechargeable Battery Manual Manual
Manufacturer Claimed Battery Life n/a Up to 3 hours Up to 1 hour n/a n/a
App No No No No No
Night Light Feature? No Yes No No No
Measured Weight .3 Ibs 2.9 Ibs .8Ibs .3 Ibs .2 Ibs
Included Bottle Holder or Base? Yes - bottle base Yes - one built-in bottler holder Yes - bottle base Yes - bottle base No - n/a
What's in the Box 1 Harmony Breast Pump
1 PersonalFit™ (24 mm) Breast Shield
1 5 oz/150 mL Breast milk bottle with lid and stand
1 Valve
1 Instructions for use and Breastfeeding Information Guide
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

Originating in Zug, Switzerland, Medela has grown to be a globally recognized brand, selling breast pumps and accessories in over 90 countries. As a family-run business, they place a strong focus on helping women breastfeed their children and began a program called the "Corporate Lactation Program" to educate companies to support women breastfeeding and pumping at work. With a track record spanning over decades, they have been selling pumps in the US and have become a go-to brand for many.

Performance Comparison


medela harmony with flex breast pump review - in our tests, the medela harmony felt less hand-friendly, and the...
In our tests, the Medela Harmony felt less hand-friendly, and the spinning feature didn't provide much benefit during use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Efficiency


The Medela Harmony with Flex underperformed in our efficiency tests compared to the competition. While it has strong suction and efficient milk expression at times, it exhibited inconsistency and one of the lowest expression rates. We noticed that a slight adjustment could compromise the latch, causing it to cease functioning effectively.

On average, it expressed 0.13 oz of milk per minute in our tests. It achieved a maximum suction reading of 240 mmHg on our pressure gauge. However, it faces limitations due to the handle distance, which restricts the speed because it hits the bottle, and this reduces the amount of pumps you can do in a minute. It's important to remember that this pump is designed differently than an electric pump, and inherently, it will perform differently, so expectations should be adjusted.

medela harmony with flex breast pump review - the medela harmony features a soft, smooth, and flexible rim. this...
The Medela Harmony features a soft, smooth, and flexible rim. This rim is designed to enhance comfort and create a better seal against the breast.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort


This pump has a two-phase design: expression and stimulation. Using the shorter side, the expression phase stimulates letdown (when your milk begins to flow) and creates faster, shorter sucking cycles, similar to that of a hungry baby. The longer lever creates slower, longer, and stronger pulls on your breast to express your milk. Also, the soft and flexible silicone rim hugs the breast, providing a more comfortable experience compared to flanges with hard plastic.

The Medela Harmony with Flex has two modes. To activate the stimulation mode, press the smaller handle section. For the expression mode, switch to the longer part of the handle.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The Medela Harmony with Flex has no interface or system to learn, and this makes this pump more straightforward and intuitive. With no complex interface to learn, you can get to pumping quicker. However, you will want to reference the manual beforehand to know which part of the hand controls which mode.

While this hand-operated pump allows for various hand positions to help prevent hand fatigue, we found the handle to be uncomfortable after some time. The ability to swing the 105-degree handle around is annoying when you are pumping for a long time.

With this manual pump, you can only empty one breast at a time, and your hand serves as the motor. The manual nature of the pumping process means it can take time and be physically taxing after a while. It's important to consider your physical comfort and limitations, as a manual pump could cause discomfort or strain.

medela harmony with flex breast pump review - the medela harmony handle isn't as comfortable as some manual pumps...
The Medela Harmony handle isn't as comfortable as some manual pumps. It rotates 105 degrees, but the spinning feature feels flimsy.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Portability


Portability is one of the many positive attributes of a manual pump, as it can easily fit into a carry-on or personal bag. The Medela is lightweight and portable, weighing 0.3 lbs. With this setup, you don't have to worry about finding an outlet, charging battery packs, or malfunctions. It's also relatively quiet, except for a noise when the handle hits the bottle. Since this pump does not come with an insulated bag for storing expressed milk, you will need to plan accordingly or have access to a refrigerator.

Cleaning and assembling the Medela Harmony with Flex can be somewhat...
Cleaning and assembling the Medela Harmony with Flex can be somewhat involved due to multiple parts. It may require a similar amount of effort as cleaning an electric pump.
The Medela Harmony has roughly eight parts to keep track of.
The Medela Harmony has roughly eight parts to keep track of.

Hygiene


The Medela has eight parts, which is more than your typical manual pump, and right up there with an electric pump. The amount of effort it takes to clean this pump mirrors the effort you'd put into it with an electric pump. While assembly is easy, you still deal with several parts. We do appreciate that the parts are top-rack dishwasher safe, which can help the cleaning process. Unfortunately, another aspect that kept this pump from scoring higher is its tiny o-rings. They're easy to misplace, and if you lose them, the pump might not work correctly.

medela harmony with flex breast pump review - the medela harmony with flex is as small of a setup as you could get...
The Medela Harmony with Flex is as small of a setup as you could get while still being attached to a bottle.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Should You Buy the Medela Harmony with Flex?


The Medela Harmony with Flex is not the best solution for those who need to pump both breasts multiple times a day regularly. The manual nature of this pump can lead to long pumping times and hand fatigue. It also didn't measure up to the award-winning handheld, the Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump, which is more efficient and easier to clean. We suggest passing on the Medela for a higher-scoring manual option.

What Other Breast Pumps Should You Consider?


The Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump is a better handheld option that's efficient, affordable, and convenient for those who travel or only need to pump occasionally. We prefer many aspects of this pump, not the least of which is a quieter operation. The Haakaa Gen 1 might also appeal to you. It's a passive milk collection system that's efficient, easy to clean, and portable. It's also great for leaking or engorgement. If you want something more portable, and that is why you were considering a handheld pump, the Baby Buddha is an affordable electric pump for budget-conscious moms. This pump can be worn while you do other things and works efficiently without breaking the back. Because it has a good battery life, it can work well for away-from-home pumping.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD and Molly Bradac