Ardo Calypso (Double Electric Breast Pump): A Review
Most Portable Double Electric Breast Pump
Disclosure: This pump was received in exchange for my honest opinion. As always, I give my honest opinion and I do not recommend products that I don’t love myself. See the disclosure policy for more details. Or why I disclose here.
The Ardo Calypso Double Electric Breast Pump is a great and portable pump for mums who are on the go. It works with batteries or plugged in, so you can pump wherever you need. The system comes with a range of shield sizes and accessories, so you will have everything you need for your pumping journey!
Where to find the Ardo pump: The Ardo website (Australia) and select retailers
Where to find it internationally: The Ardo website (USA) and select retailers
Cost: $329.95 AUD (available now for $299.95AUD )
Ardo Australia’s Website//Facebook//Instagram
ABOUT THE ARDO CALYPSO BREAST PUMP:
Open or closed system? Closed.
Single or double? Double. (Capability for single pump, too, and manual pump with extra accessories)
Battery operated, plug in, adaptor? Both battery operated and plug in methods available.
Manual or Electric? Electric
Varying shield sizes? What are they? 3 shield sizes included with the pump: 26mm, 28mm, and 31mm shield sizes . 22mm breast shell inserts are available for purchase separately.
Soft or hard? Hard. However there is a optiflow insert which is soft and fits inside the 31mm breast shield, sizing it to 26mm.
How many phases? 1. However, both the speed of the pump (cycles) and suction (vacuum) are adjustable. You usually up the cycles and low vacuum when starting, and vice versa when your milk lets down.
Does it adjust speed/suction?
Price? $329.95AUD ($299.95AUD at the moment on special)
Where to buy? Rental Available? Ardo has the pump available on its website and rental is available through the website as well.
Features? Quiet, individual adjustments for speed and suction, vacuum seal technology, double or single express as desired, mains or battery operated,
Other products? Breast milk bags, steriliser bags, nipple shields, Kombikit (turns breast pump into a manual breast pump), various bags to carry their products, and glass bottles,
Compatible bottle system? The Ardo pump comes with bottles for collection, however does not include or have any nipples that go with the bottles.
Adaptors for other bottle systems? Most narrow next bottles should fit with the Ardo system.
My Experience
EASE OF — USE
Ease of use? I found the Ardo Calypso fairly straightforward to use. It was a little more work than other pumps, as you needed to adjust the cycles and vacuum to suit your needs, and there was no letdown/expressing button to automatically switch modes, but once you figure out what your needs are, it would be easy to adjust.
Easy to clean? All of the parts come apart nicely and clean out easily. You will just need a straw-type bottle brush to clean out the breast shell properly. There is one included with the box.
Easy to store? This pump is a little easier to store than other double electric pumps, as the motor itself is a little smaller. This was a much easier “on the go” pump to grab.
Easy to put together? It’s very straightforward putting this together, and all of the parts go where you think they would go. I glanced at the instructions, but they weren’t needed too much.
Parts come apart? Everything except the breast shell comes apart to be able to clean out thoroughly. This is why a straw brush or similar is needed.
FUNCTIONALITY
Quiet? The Ardo Calypso was a little quieter than some of the pumps. It wasn’t silent, but a lot less noise than some.
Quick? The Calypso was efficient and did the job fairly quickly. It definitely helps to have a double pump that can get the job done twice as fast, too.
Comfortable? I found the Ardo Calypso to be comfortable as they had plenty of choice for breast shell sizes, so I could get the proper fit. The soft portion for the breast shells may also help for comfort, however, I pumped without those.
Suction is sufficient? As it has adjustable suction and cycles, I found the suction sufficient and great for pumping. Since it has multiple levels, you can adjust the suction to suit you apart from the speed.
Portability? The Ardo Calypso pump is more portable than many other double electric breast pumps I have seen, because you can use batteries or mains power for the pump. It takes 6AA batteries.
Volume? The 150ml bottles are included. Or, you can buy 180ml breastmilk bags, or 130ml glass breast milk bottles.
OVERALL
Overall, I found this to be the most easy to grab “on-the-go” as it didn’t require mains power. I often pump away from a power source, and enjoy the freedom of not having to plug something in to power it up. Since it can be used plugged in or battery-powered, it does give plenty of options. The option to purchase a separate kit to turn the pumpset into a manual pump is also a great option to have as well. This pump pack includes so much including the three breast shell sizes and a brush to help clean the set, and I find that great! There are some great options with this pump, and it performs well. The price can be a little daunting, but you really do get a fair bit for the cost. One thing to keep in mind is that there are no actual feeing bottles in this set, so you will have to have another set of bottles for feeding. I love the versatility of this pump, and it seems like a reliable brand. I also find it awesome that they have breast pumps for hire on their website (not the Calypso, but a different one), so if you are not sure about how long you will need one, they offer that option. The closed system is a must for breast pumps, and this one is designed with that in mind, and no milk should get into the tubing or motor. The customer service for this pump brand is also great, and they are quick to response with your questions and so helpful!
CONSIDERATIONS
- You may need a pumping bra with a double pump, depending on if you want to be holding the pumpset while you pump or be hands free
- This set does not come with feeding bottles
- The Ardo Calypso does not have a letdown/expressing mode, and you need to manually switch it
- It takes 6 AA batteries if you wish to use batteries
