Elvie Curve vs Haakaa

Trying to decide between Elvie Curve vs Haakaa manual pumps to help build a milk supply and avoid waste?

Then let us help you decide with our Haakaa vs Elvie Curve review!

Building up a supply of breast milk is helpful for days out, working moms, and those times when breastfeeding just isn’t possible. But building up that supply isn’t always easy, especially if you notice a lot of milk goes to waste during regular feeds! 

Many moms turn to manual breast pumps to catch leaks and aid let down. These manual pumps offer suction on one side while your baby nurses on the other, ensuring nothing gets lost. 

If you’re looking for a manual pump to catch let down milk, it’s hard to resist the reputation of the Haakaa. But how does the premium Elvie Curve compare?

In this guide, we’ll weigh up the pros and cons as well as features such as suction of the Haakaa versus the comfort of the Curve, to help you find which pump is right for you.

And if you love our Elvie Curve vs Haakaa Ladybug review, then you love these guides on Elvie Curve vs CatchElvie Stride vs Elvie PumpMomcozy vs Elvie and Freemie vs Elvie. Or even our on the best manual breast pumps!

This post contains affiliate links. See our full disclosure here

Best Hands Free Manual Pump
Best Suction Manual Pump
  • 4.6
  • $27.93
  • Pros:
    • High suction for manual pump
    • Just one piece for easy cleaning
    • Low cost
    • Open flange allows the Haakaa to fit all shapes and sizes
    • Easy to empty
  • Cons:
    • Suction can be too powerful some moms
Best Hands Free Manual Pump
3.9
$39.99$37.41
Pros:
  • Wearable - Easily fits into a bra
  • 4 oz capacity
  • Manual suction
  • Easy to clean
  • Dishwasher safe
Cons:
  • Weak suction
Best Suction Manual Pump
4.6
$27.93
Pros:
  • High suction for manual pump
  • Just one piece for easy cleaning
  • Low cost
  • Open flange allows the Haakaa to fit all shapes and sizes
  • Easy to empty
Cons:
  • Suction can be too powerful some moms
03/26/2024 05:03 pm GMT

Elvie Curve Vs Haakaa

Let’s start by seeing what the Elvie Curve and Haakaa can do.

All About Elvie Curve

Elvie came to prominence as a company that rethought pumping, making electric pumps that really could be used on the go. So, it’s no surprise that the Elvie Curve manual breast pump is designed for ease, discretion, and comfort.

A simple two-part design, the Elvie Curve uses a shaped soft cup attached to a frame. This all-in-bra design fits over the nipple, with a quick press of the cup starting suction. Able to hold 4 oz of milk, it’s designed to be used during let down, preventing wasted milk. 

When the cup is full, simply use the Valve to detach the pump, and balance it on the soft front while you sort out your storage. Easy to empty and easy to clean, the Elvie Curve is ideal for busy moms who need their hands free! 

The major downside to the Elvie Curve is the lack of suction. It’s a gentle suction that feels comfortable, but isn’t great at emptying the breast. The Curve also comes with the Elvie price tag — it’s several times more expensive than its competitors. 

Pros

  • The small and shaped cup of the Elvie Curve allows it to easily fit in a bra, for hands-free pumping.
  • Thanks to the wearable design, the Curve is kick-proof, and can be used during breastfeeding.
  • The comfort control Valve adjusts suction, and can be used for a pain free release.
  • Dishwasher safe, but easy enough to clean by hand.
  • The soft silicone front allows you to balance the Curve stably, and avoid spills.

Cons

  • The suction is gentle, and you might struggle for full drainage.
  • The Curve is costly for a manual pump.
03/26/2024 05:03 pm GMT

All About Haakaa

Haakaa is one of the biggest names in manual breast pumps, helping moms to easily collect every drop of milk.

The Haakaa breast pump has a one piece design, with a moveable flange attached to a silicone base. To use, fold the flange back, squeeze the base to start the suction, and position the flange over the nipple before unfolding. When you release the base, suction starts, and your milk gets flowing!

Despite the simple design, Haakaa has an impressive level of suction. You can really empty the breast with the Haakaa, and even moms with a lower milk supply should find the design useful. 

While the one piece build of the Haakaa is excellent for suction and cleaning, it does have a tendency to pinch. The bottle also protrudes significantly, making it less discreet, and more likely to fall off. 

If you want to learn more you can read our full Haakaa Breast Pump review!

Pros

  • The high suction of the Haakaa allows moms to pump efficiently.
  • With just one piece and a wide neck, the Haakaa is easy to clean (and dishwasher safe).
  • A low cost manual pump that delivers a premium performance.
  • The flange opening allows the Haakaa to fit all shapes and sizes.
  • The Haakaa is easy to empty, and the stable base allows you to balance the bottle while you get everything ready.

Cons

  • For some moms, the suction is a bit too powerful.
  • The flange opening can pinch.
Our Top Pick
Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump
$27.93

There is a lot to love when it comes to this simple yet mighty breast pump!

This award-winning and best-selling manual breast pump is hands-free and lets you express milk using the power of natural suction.

The lightweight pump is 100% portable and doesn’t require any cords, batteries or assembly.

It is smooth inside and extremely easy to clean and can be sterilized by simply boiling in water for 2-3 minutes.

It also comes with a suction base that sticks to flat surfaces to prevent accidental spills as well as a cap.

The Haakaa pump is FDA-approved, made from high-quality food grade silicone and is BPA, PVC and phthalate-free.


03/17/2024 11:03 pm GMT

Similarities And Differences Between Elvie Curve And Haakaa

The Elvie Curve and Haakaa have quite a few similarities, but the essential differences in design provide contrasting pros and cons. Let’s explore that in some more detail.

Suction

As manual breast pumps primarily designed to catch leaking, the Elvie Curve and Haakaa don’t have incredible suction. If you were planning on pumping exclusively, they won’t get the job done. 

But let’s take a look at what that suction can do.

The best thing about the Elvie Curve suction is the comfort. Once the pump is in place, a simple press to the silicone gets the suction going. When you need a little more, press again. The suction is gentle, but supportive. It can help during let down, but also comes in handy when you’re feeling full, and want to take the pressure off.

However, the Elvie Curve has a very weak suction. It won’t provide full drainage, so moms with less milk might be disappointed. In some ways, the Curve acts more as a replacement for a breast pad than as a pump.

The Haakaa offers the ease of the Curve, combined with a more powerful suction. It can take a few goes to learn how to fix the Haakaa comfortably into place, but once you’ve got the hang of it, this pump is easy to use. 

With the increased suction of the Haakaa, you can efficiently express milk.

Comfort

The Elvie Curve is incredibly comfortable to wear and use, with a thoughtful design to alleviate the worst parts of manual pumping. It’s soft against the skin, and the nipple opening has plenty of space to avoid pinching.

We also love the Valve on the Elvie Curve. This is a bubble at the top of the pump that can be used to adjust suction. And when you’ve finished pumping, a press on the Valve releases the Curve with no caught skin.

The Haakaa has a much stronger suction than the Elvie Curve. This has obvious benefits — you can achieve full drainage with the Haakaa. However, this powerful suction can make the Haakaa less comfortable, and potentially even painful.

The Haakaa pump also lacks the hands-free capability of the Curve. Okay, it is technically hands-free, but the Haakaa has a habit of falling off. And if you’re nursing on the other breast while using the Haakaa, watch out for wiggling baby legs kicking the pump away. 

The Curve, on the other hand, fits in a bra, and doesn’t protrude. Your little wiggler will have to try very hard to knock this one loose!

Cleaning

Made of just two parts, the Elvie Curve is relatively easy to clean. It can even go in the dishwasher! Or, you can use hot soapy water, and boiling water to sterilize.

But you may find that last bit of milk tricky to flush away. This is due to the curved shape of the design, which makes it harder to get every spot rinsed. It isn’t a huge inconvenience, but it can be frustrating. 

The Haakaa is just a single piece, and it’s easy to clean fully. Like the Curve, it can be placed in the dishwasher, microwave, or sterilizer. But it’s also easy to wash and sterilize by hand, particularly if you buy a bottle brush. 

Discretion

When it comes to discretion, the Elvie Curve is the clear winner. Sculpted to follow the natural line of the beast, the Elvie Curve fits into a bra. Put a loose sweater on top, and no one would know it’s there! 

The curved shape is also beneficial when you’re using the pump. Because it’s hands-free and thin, it won’t get in the way as you get on with your day.

The Haakaa has a much more traditional breast pump shape, with the cup base protruding significantly from the flange. It’s hard to hide.

Price

Both the Elvie Curve and the standard Haakaa breast pump hold 4oz of milk, and are designed for manual pumping to catch milk during let down.

With this in mind, the Elvie Curve is roughly four times the price of the standard Haakaa pump. 

There are several variations of the Haakaa pump, including those with a suction base, a larger capacity, and a bottle stopper. Even these advanced models are typically cheaper than the Elvie Curve. By choosing the Haakaa, you can get a lot more for your money.

However, the comfort and hands-free capability of the Elvie Curve do partly justify the price tag. 

Our Top Pick
Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump
$27.93

There is a lot to love when it comes to this simple yet mighty breast pump!

This award-winning and best-selling manual breast pump is hands-free and lets you express milk using the power of natural suction.

The lightweight pump is 100% portable and doesn’t require any cords, batteries or assembly.

It is smooth inside and extremely easy to clean and can be sterilized by simply boiling in water for 2-3 minutes.

It also comes with a suction base that sticks to flat surfaces to prevent accidental spills as well as a cap.

The Haakaa pump is FDA-approved, made from high-quality food grade silicone and is BPA, PVC and phthalate-free.


03/17/2024 11:03 pm GMT

Final Thoughts On Haakaa vs Elvie Curve

Comfort or suction? That’s really the choice you have to make when deciding between the Elvie Curve and the Haakaa breast pump. 

We prefer the incredible convenience of the Elvie Curve. It’s more comfortable, it can be used hands-free, and the gentle suction (mostly) gets the job done. 

For some moms, the increased suction of the Haakaa makes it the winner. But this higher suction can be painful, and the Haakaa does pinch. 

The overall performance of the Elvie Curve is superior, but the increased suction of the Haakaa makes it impossible to dismiss. We hope this guide has helped you discover the differences between Elvie Curve and Haakaa, for a comfortable and efficient pump!

And if you’re looking for more great guides, make sure to check out these guides on the best lactation supplements, best collagen for breastfeeding moms, and best breastmilk storage bags. Or even this guide on the difference between a manual vs electric breast pump.

Best Hands Free Manual Pump
Best Suction Manual Pump
  • 4.6
  • $27.93
  • Pros:
    • High suction for manual pump
    • Just one piece for easy cleaning
    • Low cost
    • Open flange allows the Haakaa to fit all shapes and sizes
    • Easy to empty
  • Cons:
    • Suction can be too powerful some moms
Best Hands Free Manual Pump
3.9
$39.99$37.41
Pros:
  • Wearable - Easily fits into a bra
  • 4 oz capacity
  • Manual suction
  • Easy to clean
  • Dishwasher safe
Cons:
  • Weak suction
Best Suction Manual Pump
4.6
$27.93
Pros:
  • High suction for manual pump
  • Just one piece for easy cleaning
  • Low cost
  • Open flange allows the Haakaa to fit all shapes and sizes
  • Easy to empty
Cons:
  • Suction can be too powerful some moms
03/26/2024 05:03 pm GMT
haakaa vs elvie curve