The 5 Very Best Pumping Bras

Function: Nursing and pumping | Flange hold: Tissue opening | Type of closure: Hook and eye | Materials and features: 93% micromodal and 7% elastane, Oeko-Tex certified fabric, convertible straps, front strap adjusters, sizes S–3X

Of all the pumping bras I tested, the Bodily Do Anything bra is 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 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 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 and cooling micromodal fabric that feels soothing 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 have now owned it for almost two years and have sweated through the fabric while pushing or carrying my son around Brooklyn and leaked an upsetting amount of breastmilk into the fabric. But every time I’ve washed it, the stains have come out with little effort, and the fabric still looks great. I still wear it as a regular bra and often sleep in it, even though I am no longer pumping.

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 with wearable breast pumps like 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. But I do appreciate that it is easy to tighten the straps with the front adjusters, or position them from straight to crossed in the back, to get the best possible fit.

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. (I’ve also heard from several sources that they have their eye on the similarly priced but nicer-looking seamless pumping and nursing bra from Quince, but it is currently sold out; I plan to test it as soon as I can get my hands on one.)

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, and Meema Spadola, a certified lactation counselor and postpartum doula. “This bra has an impeccable design with maximum support,” Greenman says, adding that the extra support helps many people produce more milk. (If you’d prefer a bra that works for nursing and pumping, Greenman also likes Simple Wishes’ All-in-One Nursing & Pumping bra discussed below.)

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

Once she was out of the early newborn stage, the Larken X bra was the only bra that Strategist writer Lauren Ro wore with her second son. It’s an all-in-one bra that works for both nursing and pumping, and though she tried other all-in-one styles, Ro preferred the Larken for pumping because it felt the most secure: “The Larken has a unique two-layer twist system that always held the pump flanges tight against my breasts, which helped me express my milk in an efficient manner,” she says.

Ro described the Larken as a very soft but just-supportive-enough sports bra that is also comfortable enough to sleep in, so she could wear the same bra all day and all night. To nurse, she would just lift the bra (you can also pull it down if you want), and then to pump, she would separate the two layers of fabric to create a central X that held each flange securely to her breasts. Larken bras were also recommended to me by Jada Shapiro, the founder of Boober, because they’re comfortable and simple to use: “They don’t have elastic, snaps, or zippers, and you can both pump and/or breastfeed in them. You never have to change into or out of it.”

Function: Nursing and pumping | Flange hold: Tissue opening, padding | Type of closure: Hook and eye | Materials and features: 80% nylon and 20% spandex, Oeko-Tex-certified fabric, front strap adjusters, sizes 30A–44B

The Simple Wishes all-in-one nursing and pumping bra is another bra I still wear on a regular basis, even though I am no longer pumping. 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. I got good results pumping with both but much prefer this one as it’s essentially three bras in one: pumping, nursing, and stylish daily wear that feels like a regular wireless, lightly padded T-shirt bra. I have never felt postpartum when wearing it, just like a person who could pump milk if necessary. Plus, it has the added benefit of extra flange support thanks to the padding in the top layer. I’ve had it for about a year now and had no issue with putting it in the washing machine. That said, I hang it to dry. It’s not as comfortable as the Bodily Do Anything bra; I wouldn’t sleep in it, and I look 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.