The Ardo Calypso is marketed for its extra-quiet pump and unique suction method, and those claims hold up for most reviewers and users I aggregated. This pump appears to be a workhorse travel or everyday pump that uses a unique, gentler suction method but shouldn’t compromise supply. [A quick note that Ardo has a new pump out that is more portable, the Alyssa, but it’s so new that I didn’t feel like I had enough reviews available online to get an accurate view of the pump without being able to get one myself. Perhaps I’ll include it in next year’s Mammary Madness or do a review individually later on.]
Comfort doesn’t seem to be an issue with the Calypso. In fact, the pump’s suction is so comfortable that it led some reviewers to question if the pump was going to be strong enough (it was). The pump works with a piston-driven suction that once started, never fully releases suction between sucks.
This is supposed to more closely mimic a baby’s latch. As a result, vlogger Charlotte Jonsie said the standard flanges were able to stay in place for her without holding them. The vacuum’s maximum setting is 250mmHg, which is plenty strong (if not too strong for many breasts).
The Calypso’s hardware comes with buttons to turn it on/off, to turn the vacuum strength up/down, and to turn the cycle length up/down. This means there’s no letdown/stimulation mode button that switches automatically between stimulation and expression, but it’s simple enough to simulate a stimulation mode by choosing low vacuum and high cycle and then switching after a letdown to high/medium vacuum and low cycle. This option for more finer control could be a pro for some people, while other people might see it as a burdensome quality because they want to be able to have a pre-set stimulation cycle. There is also no software or app with this pump.
At just over a pound and about seven inches long, this isn’t exactly a tiny pump. You wouldn’t be able to put this in your pocket or clip it anywhere on your body, so you’ll be carrying this around (granted, one-handed) if you want to walk around. The generous battery life of 5 hours for a medium-vacuum pump means you’ll realistically get two to three pumps from each round of batteries, based on real-life reviews. This makes it a great work or travel pump, but it isn’t ideal for doing chores around the house or chasing a toddler. I would hesitate to even call this a “wearable” pump, but you can walk around your house with the pump in one hand, so it passes the portability threshold that I’m looking for with this unscientific grouping.
When the Calypso works, it works very well. Like other pumps, some reviewers seem to get less milk from some pumps, and one place users might be getting tripped up are the flanges. Some users said they feel loose at times and others said they didn’t realize at first the resizing flange inserts have to be twisted into place to be used properly. Other than that, reviewers seem thrilled by this super silent pump. At 46 dB, it’s just a hair louder than a quiet library or a babbling brook, but quieter than a regular conversation. My personal favorite feature is their “Shabbat mode” which is a set of instructions to make the Ardo Calypso accessible to Jewish women who cannot turn on electronics during this weekly religious sabbath but need to pump. Any brand that considers the diverse needs of customers and works to bring a greater awareness of the need for accessibility deserves a shout-out for those efforts. I hope to see more awareness toward disabled pumping parents as I continue researching pumps.
At $155.99, this is a lower price than most portable/wearable pumps. It’s not the cheapest but it’s hard to find such a portable pump for under $200. This is also covered by many insurance providers, so it could be free depending on your insurance.
My metric for measuring a company’s customer service is to see if I can get a human to answer a question of mine within 24 hours, using various methods. Within four hours of reaching out, I got an email from a lactation counselor who was willing to video call with me to workshop any issues I was having with the pump.
Stats:
Price: $155.99
Sound: 46 dB
Size: 7.4 in x 5.1 in x 2.9 in
Weight: 1.2 pounds
Suction: 37mmHg to 250 mmHg
Vacuum levels: 8
Cycles per minute: 30 C.P.M to 60 C.P.M.
Flange sizes: 26 mm and 31 mm flanges included with pump; 28 mm flange insert included with pump; 22mm and 36mm flanges available for purchase
Amazon popularity rating: 4.2 stars out of 5 stars
Closed system: Yes
Battery life: 5 hours (on medium vacuum)
Battery type: 6 AA batteries
Number of pieces to clean: 4 plus bottle
Rating:
Comfort: 5/5
User interface (hardware and software): 4/5
Portability: 2/5
Function: 4/5
Price: 4/5
Customer Service: 5/5
Total: 24/30
The winner is…by a hair… the Ameda Mya Joy! At the end of the day, the Ardo Calypso’s size is what tipped the scales in this first heat.
Thank you for reading. What has your experience been with these pumps? Let me know in the comments!
Do you have predictions for next round’s competitor, the Baby Buddha and BabyBella wearable?
Sources:
https://www.manualslib.com/download/1824179/Ameda-Mya-Joy.html
https://www.apriadirect.com/ameda-mya-joy-portable-electric-breast-pump