REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Portable
Easy to use
Quiet
REASONS TO AVOID
Single breast pump
Hand-operated
Not for frequent use
Not as customizable
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
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
By Molly Bradac ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ March 11, 2025
Contributions From: Juliet Spurrier, MD
RELATED: The Best Breast Pumps of 2025
Our Verdict
The Medela Harmony with Flex is an affordable and highly portable manual pump from our 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.
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 placed 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 over decades, they have been selling pumps in the US and have become a go-to brand for many.
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 similar manual competitors. While it has strong suction and efficient milk expression at times, it exhibited inconsistency and one of the lowest expression rates in the group, even with the other manual pumps. We noticed that a slight adjustment could compromise the latch, causing it to cease functioning effectively, and we suspect some moms will get frustrated before finding a consistent sweet spot.
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, which isn't too shabby. 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.
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. As our tester stated, “I did think the flange was comfortable and the suction didn't hurt.”
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 over time. The ability to swing the 105-degree handle around is annoying when you are pumping for extended periods and might end up moving it without intending to.
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.
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. There is no insulated storage bay, so plan to bring your insulated container or plan for refrigeration.
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.
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, the Baby Buddha is an affordable electric pump for budget-conscious moms. You can wear this option while doing other things. It has a good battery life and can work well for away-from-home pumping.
Manufacturer Video
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