The 7 Very Best Pumping Bras

Function:Nursing and pumping |Flange hold:Tissue opening |Type of closure:Hook and eye |Materials and features:76% polyamide and 24% elastane, Oeko-Tex certified fabric, convertible straps, front strap adjusters, sizes S–XL

Of all the pumping bras I tested, the Bodily Do Anything bra was my absolute favorite because it’s the most comfortable, the nicest-looking, and the easiest to adjust and use with a pump. It is also one of the least bulky bras on this listand the bra that was most recommended to me by other moms, including Strategist lead editor Lauren Levy and senior editor Winnie Yang.

It’s stylish enough to be worn poking out from beneath a tank or in full view while walking around the house under an open top. Unlike most nursing and pumping bras that have two layers, the Bodily Do Anything bra has a single layer of fabric with openings for pump flanges; the cups can also be unclipped and folded down for nursing. It’s made of slinky fabric with lots of stretch that feels cool and smooth against sensitive nipples and skin, making it an especially good option for anyone who runs hot, has periodic hot flashes, or is planning to pump throughout the summer.I got mine in the middle of July and wore it as frequently as proper hygiene would allow. I breastfed my son for nearly three years and used a breast pump for two of those years. During that time I wore this bra the most often, sweating through the fabric while pushing or carrying my son in the summer and leaking an upsetting amount of breastmilk into the fabric. But every time I washed it, the stains would come out with little effort, and the fabric still looked great. Even after I stopped pumping, I still wore it as a regular or nursing bra and often slept in it because it was so comfortable.

Yang owned three Bodily Do Anything Bras while breastfeeding her third child, preferring them to other pumping bras because they were the most comfortable and effective, as well as easy to wash. A lot of pumping bras are machine washable, but not many do well in the dryer. Yang washed and dried her Bodily bras every week for around ten months, even twice a week sometimes, and they held up surprisingly well.

One caveat of this bra is that it isn’t great for use withwearable breast pumpslike the Willow or the Elvie; my testing confirmed that the weight of wearable pumps is much better suited to more structured pumping bras like the Kindred Bravely or Simple Wishes, below. And some sources I spoke to reported that the Bodily bra didn’t create as tight a seal between flange and breast as some other pumping bras. This was not the case for me and I appreciated that it was easy to tighten the straps with the front adjusters, or position them straight or crossed in the back, to get the best and most secure fit. For reference, I wear a size 36B in regular bras and ordered the Bodily bra is size M. You can purchase the bra individually for $58, but if I were to do it all over again I would definitely buy a three-pack to save 15 percent on my order.

Function:Pumping only |Flange hold:2-layer tissue opening|Type of closure:Zipper |Materials and features:83% cotton and 17% spandex, Oeko-Tex-certified fabric, can be worn strapless or with straps, available with a 1” band extender, sizes XS–XL

This more affordable, tube-top-shaped pumping bra is a longtime favorite of breastfeeding parents and lactation experts for its tight fit that holds pump flanges securely in place and creates a good seal. It was the only pumping bra that Yang used with her first two children, and it is one of three pumping bras I used on a regular basis, despite finding it pretty unattractive and more of a hassle to use than the Bodily Do Anything bra.

Though the zip-up style of the Simple Wishes bra can get annoying on a day-to-day basis because it’s really only good for wearing during pumping sessions, it is the one I wish I had brought with me to the hospital because it would have been easy to throw on under my gown, and the shape makes it feel less revealing than other bras, which would have been helpful with the constant parade of nurses, doctors, and other staff who came in without knocking. It also comes recommended by two lactation experts —Betty Greenman, an internationally board-certified lactation consultant, or IBCLC, andMeema Spadola, a certified lactation counselor and postpartum doula. “This bra has an impeccable design with maximum support,”Greenmansays, adding that the extra support helps many people produce more milk. (If you’d prefer a bra that works for nursingandpumping,Greenmanalso likes the all-in-one nursing and pumping bras from Simple Wishes, one of which is discussed below.)

Function:Nursing and pumping |Flange hold:Tissue opening|Type of closure:Hook and eye |Materials and features:Outer fabric is 94% nylon and 6% spandex; inner fabric is 84% nylon and 16% spandex; expandable cups; wide straps; back-closure extender included; sizes XS–2X and cup sizes B through K

Though it wasn’t my personal favorite of the pumping bras I tried — I found it too stiff and constricting — this Kindred Bravely pumping and nursing bra has a loyal following, especially among people with larger cup sizes. It also comes recommended by Sierra Woods, IBCLC and founder ofMelaMama Maternal Wellness, and is the only one a lot of my breastfeeding friends used, including one who said it was comfortable and supportive for her “huge knockers.”Margaret Rogers, a Strategist contributor and mom of two, told me about this bra after using it while exclusively pumping.The front fabric is gathered at the center to accommodate enlarged breasts and fluctuating cup sizes, and the size range is the most inclusive on this list by far. There are actually three cup-size ranges— “regular,” “busty” and “super busty” — that translate to B-D, E-H, and I-Kcup sizes, respectively. And each of those ranges can be purchased in XS–2X sizes. Plus the bra’s shoulder straps and band are also wide by design, to better distribute weight and keep you comfortable.

One of the main drawbacks of this bra is that, to provide such good support, it has to be made from sturdier material than the Bodily Do Anything bra (above) or the pull-on Larken X bra (below).I’ve heard from more than one person that it feels like the bra simply has too much fabric. But I have also heard from many fans of the bra that it softens over time. And for people in search of a similar but softer bra, Kindred Bravely also makes a bamboo version (more on that below) that is marketed for lounging and even sleeping — convenient for anyone who is pumping in the wee hours.

Function:Nursing and pumping |Flange hold:two-layer X|Type of closure:Pull-on|Materials and features:90% polyester, 10% spandex, Oeko-Tex-certified fabric, seamless design, sizes XS–2X

The Larken X bra has an innovative two-layer twist design that holds flanges securely when wearers separate the top and bottom layers to create a centralXthat twists around each flange neck.Strategist senior writer Lauren Ro wore the Larken X with her second son once she was past the newborn phase. Though she tried other all-in-one styles, Ro preferred the Larken X for pumping because it felt the most secure and helped her express milk more efficiently.

The fabric is very soft and stretchy, with a similar level of compression to a sports bra, Ro says. Like the Bodily Do Anything bra, Ro says the Larken X is comfortable enough to sleep in, so she could wear it all dayandall night. This is especially convenient for moms who are exclusively pumping or want to add a pump session overnight. To nurse, you either pull both layers down or lift them both up.Larken bras were also recommended to me by Jada Shapiro, the founder ofBoober, because they’re comfortable and simple to use: “They don’t have elastic, snaps, or zippers, and you can both pump and/orbreastfeedin them. So you never have to change into or out of it.”

Function:Nursing and pumping |Flange hold:Tissue opening|Type of closure:Pull-on |Materials and features:73% Bamboo viscose, 17% Nylon, 10% Spandex, adjustable straps, sizes S-2X and cup sizes B through K

Like the Larken X, this pull-on pumping bra from Kindred Bravely is designed to be comfortable enough to sleep in while providing lots of support for nursing moms and their pump flanges. It’s made from a blend of bamboo, nylon, and spandex that makes it supersoft and moisture wicking. And like the more structured Kindred Bravely bra above, it has a loyal online following and comes in an impressively wide range of sizes with three cup ranges. The straps are adjustable as well. The bra has two layers of fabric that can be pulled down to nurse; to pump, simply lift the top layer up to reveal a set of tissue openings where you can insert pump flanges.

Function:Nursing and pumping |Flange hold:Tissue opening, padding |Type of closure:Hook and eye |Materials and features:90% nylon and 10% spandex, Oeko-Tex-certified fabric, front strap adjusters, sizes 30A–44B

The Simple Wishes Supermom Silhouette is a newer version of the all-in-one nursing and pumping bra that I continued wearing on a regular basis long after I stopped pumping — the only difference between this bra and the one I originally tested is that you can now choose betweenfixed or removable pads. Though it is made by the same brand as my pick for the best less-expensive pumping bra, above, the two have very little in common except that they both provide excellent support.The Supermom Silhouette is essentially three bras in one: pumping, nursing, and stylish daily wear that feels like a regular wireless, lightly padded T-shirt bra.It gave me a wonderful sense of confidence both because it feels like a regular bra rather than a piece of medical equipment and because the padding assuaged my fears of leaking through my shirt. The padding also has the benefit of providing extra flange support when the top layer is folded down for pumping. I wore mine for a little over a year and had no issue with putting it in the washing machine, though I did hang it to dry. It’s not as comfortable as the Bodily Do Anything bra; I wouldn’t sleep in it, and I looked forward to taking it off at the end of the day. But it’s a very nice-looking option that could pass for a non-lactating person’s underwear.

Function:Pumping only |Flange hold:Tissue opening |Type of closure:Hook and eye |Materials and features:49% organic cotton, 32% Tencel modal, and 19% spandex, clips attach to most nursing bras, sizes in S–XL

If you already own several nursing bras with clips and don’t want to spend a lot of money on a pumping bra, the Bravado Clip and Pump bra accessory is a solid and affordable option. Ro used it to pump at work for her first son, keeping it at her office so she always had it handy. “I’d wear a regular nursing bra with clips to the office, and when it came time to pump, I folded the nursing flaps down, fastened the clip-on pump bra to the nursing bra’s hooks, then fastened it around the back. This meant I didn’t have to take off my bra in the office and change into a different pumping bra,” she says. The bra is made with a blend of organic cotton, Tencel modal, and spandex for a soft, breathable, stretchy feel.