Quick Start
If you’re not sure whether Willow 360 (3.0) is good for you or not, check this guide. First, I have to admit that the Willow 360 is much more expensive – up to almost $500, even double priced compared to most other double-electric wearable breast pumps.
If you’re looking for some wearable breast pumps to offer convenience and mobility in your breastfeeding journey, there are some cheaper options. The Willow 360 (3.0) outperforms in the smart features, not just the app-controlled design, but also a few other smarter functions than the average of most electric wearable breast pumps.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll delve into the various aspects of Willow 3.0, comparing it to competitors and exploring its suitability for different user preferences and needs.
Who is it Good for
What Moms Need It
Parts & Design
What parts does it include
Settings & Performance
How to use it to empty milk
Pros & Cons
What are the awesome points
Customer Reviews
What moms say about it
Atlernatives
Some other good options
Willow 360 (3.0) is good for
Thanks to its wearable and lightweight design, app-controlled function, 100% leak-proof, quick charge, and fewer parts to clean, the Willow 3.0 (360) wearable breast pump is ideal for:
1. Busy moms who need to pump while on the move or multitasking, such as working moms or mothers with busy schedules. Quick charge and four parts to clean provide ensure this.
2. Tech-savvy moms who prefer to customize the pumping settings via a mobile app for convenience and enjoy integrating technology into their breastfeeding routine.
3. Active moms who lead modern lifestyles and require a discreet, hands-free pumping solution that allows them to stay mobile and engaged in kinds of activities.
Willow 360 (3.0) Pump Parts and Design
Style
Wireless
Flange Size
21 mm and 24 mm
Parts to Clean
3
Dimensions
141 x 112 x 85 mm
Per Cup Weight
355g
Carry Bag
Yes
Willow 360 is A Hands-Free Wearable Breast Pump
The Willow 3.0 sets itself apart as a wireless wearable breast pump for its fashionable and 100% leak-proof design. The pump is a whole piece without a bottle or container, but a whole piece with a clean and stylish white color.
Not like other portable breast pumps, the Willow 360 uses milk storage bags directly to collect the expressed milk, ensuring 100% leak-proof, better than those with containers or bottles with which you’ll need to pour the expressed milk into storage bags in the fridge.
This design mirrors that of competitors like the Elvie Pump, Momcozy M9, and Zomme Fit, providing users with the freedom to pump discreetly and hands-free. However, it’s worth noting that the Willow 3.0 is slightly heavier at 355g per pump, which may impact comfort during extended wear compared to lighter alternatives.
Also, the milk storage is not reusable and you’ll need to purchase additional milk storage bags for every pump. That absolutely increases the costs of pumping. Every pump needs two milk storage bags; 5 pumping sessions every day means 10 bags.
For exclusive pumping moms, using the Willow 360 needs 3650 milk storage bags. However, the other portable wearable breast pumps will tear and damage for a certain period as well, like three to six months.
Willow 360 (3.0) Pump Parts
Comprising four essential components seamlessly integrated into one piece, the Willow 360 (3.0) has the least parts to assemble for pumping. They are the pump, flange, Flextube, and milk bag.
That’s the least part of an electric wearable breast pump. The pump does not need to be cleaned and the milk storage bag is not reusable, the Willow 360 (3.0) has two parts for cleaning, the flange and Flextube.
That’s also the least part to clean among wearable breast pumps.
The design of the Willow 360 breast pumps is a genius and a real game changer in wearable breast pumps.
Both the Willow Go and Willow 360 breast pumps feature a I want to say ‘vertical’ design. The pump part where the motor is located is an outer shell in a whole piece, making the appearance clean and simple.
The washable parts are generally the Willow 360 replacement parts, including the flange and the Flextube, which are sold at the same $29.99 price. The flange inserts are cheaper, $19.99 for 2 sets in the same size. Explore more on different sizes of Willow 360 Flange in the coming section.
The Willow 360 uses the milk bag to collect the expressed milk. With the design that attaches the milk bag between the pump and flange size, we can expect that the capacity of the Willow 360 milk bag won’t be big, only 4 oz. That’s the smallest storage among wearable breast pumps.
Willow 3.0 Container
As we know, the Willow 3.0 includes only 24 BPA-free 4 oz. milk bags for collecting the expressed milk. The milk bags are not reusable. As we calculate above, you’ll need 3650 of these types of customized milk bags for one-year use.
While the Willow provides additional purchases for this, $29.99 for 48 milk bags, that means you’ll need to spend over $2000 for the milk bags. That’s a lot of money, much more than the Willow 3.0 breast pump itself.
So the manufacturer launched the Willow 3.0 container set, which includes two reusable containers.
The Willow 3.0 costs $49.99 and lasts for 90 days which is suggested by Willow. If we follow the manufacturer’s suggestion, that means we’ll spend $200 for the Willow 2.0 reusable containers. Far less than the non-reusable milk bags.
Pay attention to the size when choosing the Willow 3.0 reusable containers. It matches the Willow 3.0 breast pump’s flange size.
Flange Size and Inserts
The Willow 360 comes with only one flange size: 24mm, along with 21mm size flange inserts. This limitation may pose challenges for users with unique breast sizes or shapes, as finding the perfect fit is crucial for comfortable and effective pumping.
However, there are smaller flange inserts ranging from 13mm to 19 mm for purchase if you have small breasts.
It’s a pity that the Willow 360 is not as friendly as the Elive Pump for moms who have large breasts. The latter is equipped with 28 mm-sized flanges.
Every flange insert set (2-pack) is sold at the same price, up to $19.99. That’s very expensive as well as the Willow 360 pump. As a comparison, the Momcozy 4-piece flange insert is for $12.99 only on Amazon.
Willow 360 is a Portable Breast Pump
Do fewer parts mean more lighter? Not really.
The Willow 360 is more lightweight than its predecessor, the Willow Go, weighing 355g for each pump vs 385g for the latter. That’s the second heaviest among the wireless wearable breast pumps. The Willow’s two pumps rank the #1 and #2 for their weight.
Other wireless wearable breast pumps weigh a bit lighter, like the Evlie Pump for 255g, the Momcozy M5 for 230g, and the Zomee Fit for 263g.
However, this does not mean that Willow 360 is not a good portable breast pump.
It features a cordless design. No wire is used to connect the motor and collector or bottle. This design is more hidden and friendly for moms who prefer private pumping surroundings. People won’t know that you’re pumping with the breast pump covered by the nursing bra.
Measuring 141mm x 85mm x 112mm per breast pump, the Willow 3.0 is still considered more compact than some bulky wireless wearable breast pumps like the Momcozy S12 Pro and Lansinoh Wearable Breast Pump.
The advantages of the compact and cordless design benefit more than the small negative affect of its weight, making the Willow 360 still one of the best portable breast pumps.
It’s a pity that the default package does not include a Willow Pump Anywhere case or bag If you want to take the Willow 360 for outside use like at the office or traveling around, you’ll need to spend extra money to get one.
The case is $59.99 and the bag is $179.99. Or you can get some cheaper cases and bags on Amazon to store the Willow 360 for on-the-go purpose.
Digital Display
The Willow 360 distinguishes itself by forgoing a traditional digital display and touch screen for control. Instead, moms can customize the pumping settings and track the pumping status on their phones via the mobile app.
The only digital thing is the battery light located on the breast pump’s top, near the ON/OFF button, to indicate the battery remaining. This approach streamlines the pump’s interface, minimizing complexity while retaining functionality.
Check the pumping settings via the Mobile app below.
Willow 360 Pumping Settings
Suction
245 mmHg
Modes
Stimulation, Expression, and 2-Phase
Levels
7
Battery Life
5 sessions
Auto Shutoff
25 mins
Warranty
1 year
Modes and Suction Level
Like other wireless wearable breast pumps, the Willow 360 supports single pumping, with each pump controlled by the motor itself.
With two distinct modes—Stimulation and Expression—the Willow 3.0 offers versatility to accommodate different stages of the pumping process. The Stimulation mode features short, quick sounds to encourage let-down, while the Expression mode employs slower, quieter sounds for efficient milk extraction.
Additionally, users can adjust suction levels within each mode, 3-level adjustment for stimulation mode, and 7-level adjustment for expression mode, ensuring a personalized pumping experience tailored to individual preferences and comfort levels.
Even though the pumping settings are customized via the mobile app, the Willow 360 is less smart than the Elvie Pump, which features SmartRhythms for four additional pumping settings.
Suction Strength
Even the Willow 360 boasts that it allows for hospital-grade suction, the real suction strength is 245 mmHg at most.
That’s a bit lower than most wireless wearable breast pumps at 260-300 mmHg. If the Willow 360 is a hospital-grade breast pump, then its main competitors would be hospital-grade breast pumps as well.
Of course, the suction strength of different breast pumps might differ among brands. But the real digit is determined by hundreds of tests and given by the manufacturer.
However, the maximum strength is not the only factor affecting the real pumping experience. The Willow 360 works efficiently to comfortably express milk for most moms.
Battery Life
Equipped with a rechargeable battery, the Willow 3.0 ensures convenient and hassle-free operation for on-the-go pumping sessions.
It takes around 2 hours to fully charge and every full charge can ensure the Willow 360 lasts for 5 pumping sessions. That’s good among the wireless wearable breast pumps, as good as the Elive Pump, and a huge improvement compared to Willow Go, which goes for only 3 pumping sessions after 2 hours of full charge.
The better point is that the Willow 360 is the only wireless wearable breast pump that supports quick charging, allowing you to resume pumping in as little as 20 minutes.
Almost all electric wearable breast pumps come with a USB Type-C cable, but none of them have this capability.
Additional Settings
In addition to its core functionalities, Willow 3.0 offers several supplementary settings to enhance user experience and convenience.
While specific details such as noise levels are not specified, the pump features an auto-shutoff function after 25 minutes of continuous use, promoting energy efficiency and safety.
Furthermore, the pump can be controlled via the accompanying app, though integration with Apple Watch or last-setting memory features is not available. Despite these limitations, the Willow 3.0 remains a versatile and user-friendly option for modern mothers seeking efficient and discreet breast-pumping solutions.
Warranty
The Willow 360 is covered by a one-year warranty. That’s the same as the affordable breast pumps, not as competitive as its high price.
Wilow 360 Reviews from Customers
Worth every penny. Life is too short to be tied to a wall and especially when you just had a baby and want to spend as much time with them as possible and attend to them whenever they need you! I love the portability it gives me so I can wash bottles and dishes, feed baby, change diapers etc. It even increased my milk supply because I was able to easily add in my middle of the night pump while feeding my baby, whereas before I was too tired/ sleepy to spend that extra 20-30 minutes pumping after I’ve fed my baby. One con I do have is there’s a learning curve in the beginning, but make sure you watch all their videos on the app and read the instructions it comes with. Also, there’s willow support groups on Facebook you can join and is pretty helpful. I bought the reusable containers which I was annoyed at first because I got error messages, but I learned that the valve is super sensitive so make sure it’s completely dry and you will be solid. Make sure you rinse the container with hot water after each use to get rid of any fatty milk residue! You can always get a q-tip to absorb any moisture as well on the valve and that will usually do the trick to avoid any error messages. Usually it’s user error for me and once I adjust something it goes away pretty quickly. I now love my containers! The flip to finish is confusing at first and you might spill some milk, so make sure you do flip to finish over a bottle so you don’t lose any liquid gold! It’s a learning process but once you have it down, it’s easy peasy 🙂
Just buy it. I read all the reviews. Compared other wearable pumps. Talked to those I knew who tried this brand and others. After much consideration I tried it. I work in a warehouse setting. Im a manager and only get one 30ish minute lunch break for my entire 9 hour day. So I needed something discreet, portable, and successful at expressing my milk for my little squish. Seeing many of the reviews had me worried this pump wouldnt express my milk as well as a standard pump, but after only 3 uses I noticed I was getting almost double what I was able to with my medela! Its smart technology just works for me and gets the most milk out. It is a learning curve. Do your research because it is nothing like a regular pump. I read the manual front to back. Had someone else read it. Watched all the videos. Read articles. With all that I still had a hard time figuring out how to use it at first. (Look up flip to finish) now though I will never go back to any other pump. If you are a "just enougher" this pump might not be for you. It is almost gauranteed to waste a couple drops because of the design. The Willow pump site is a great resource for any issues you may have and a library of videos if youre a visual learner. If youre getting this solely for the app aspect first make sure your phone is compatible. Many still aren't. Mine isnt and even tho I dont like the idea of the app it would have been neat! I wear mine with my nursing bras (which is what willow reccomends) and its secure. Iv fed my baby. Held my toddler. Cooked. House chores. Grocery shopping. Iv never had an issue. Now it isn't as quite as advertised but it doesnt wake my sleeping baby laying in my arms right beside it. Also I 100% recommend the containers which is what I mostly use. Even tho theyre not 100% spill proof like bags iv found theyre pretty hard to spill milk out of anyways. All in all I highly recommend this pump.
I am a mom of twins, postpartum 2 months, so pumping is key. I find this to be the solution during the day & use my spectra pump at night. The portability is great. I bought this early on so that I could feel comfortable wearing them as well as get use to them before I head back to work. Things I’ve run into: Not a good suction at times requiring stopping, unlatch & relatch. A good latch is key to great suction. When I’ve had a good latch, I’ve pumped to the max 4 oz in minutes & the pump stopped requiring me to switch out bags. (Most pumped in one session is 11-12 oz.) Be careful at the end of the session as you are rotating to get the milk out of the flange. I did spill milk the first couple of times. I have it down to a science now, but it takes a few tries to get it down & on occasion still spill. Other than that, I love my Willow Pump. I use it when pushing the twins in a stroller & walking the dog, right after feeding to increase my demand, cooking dinner, or when driving to a girls night or traveling.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Smart control with mobile app
- Wearable and wireless for hands-free pumping
- Quick charge ability for fast resume pumping
- Least parts to clean
Cons
- Higher price up to $500
- No digital display
- Smaller capacity for collecting milk
- Milk bags are not reusable
Alternatives
Momcozy M9
Why is it better than Willow 360?
- Cheaper price ($269.99 vs $499.99)
- Higher suction (300 mmHg vs 245 mmHg)
- More modes (5 vs 3)
- More levels (15 vs 7)
- Lighter (302g vs 355g)
- Bigger container (5 oz vs 4 oz)
Why is it Worse than Willow 360?
- Fewer flange size (24 mm vs 21/24 mm)
- More parts to clean (4 vs 2)
Willow Go
Why is it better than Willow 360?
- Cheaper price ($349.99 vs $499.99)
- Higher suction (280 mmHg vs 245 mmHg)
- More levels (9 vs 7)
- Lighter (302g vs 355g)
- Bigger container (5 oz vs 4 oz)
Why is it Worse than Willow 360?
- No quick charge feature
- Shorter battery (3 sessions vs 5)
- Heavier (385g vs 355g)
- More parts to clean (4 vs 2)
Elvie Pump
Why is it better than Willow 360?
- More flange sizes (24/28 mm vs 24 mm)
- Longer battery (6 sessions vs 5 sessions)
- Lighter (225g vs 355g)
- Bigger container (5 oz vs 4 oz)
Why is it Worse than Willow 360?
- Higher price ($549.99 vs $499.99)
- Weaker suction (220 mmHg vs 245 mmHg)
- No quick charge feature
- More parts to clean (5 vs 2)
Willow 360 FAQs
Can I use Willow 3.0 without a bag?
Yes, of course. The non-reusable milk bag can be replaced with the reusable Willow 360 container. However, if you have not purchased the milk container set, then the milk bags are necessary to collect the expressed milk.
You’ll make sure you have one, milk bag or milk container.
When did Willow 3.0 come out?
From the online news, the company announced its third generation, wearable, in-bra breast pump Willow Generation 3, in spring 2020.
Later, the Willow 3.0 breast pump changed name to Willow 360 breast pump for its leak-proof design and advanced technologies to provide a smart and productive pumping experience for mothers.
Is Willow 3.0 the same as Willow 360?
Yes, Willow 3.0 is now Willow 360. The company gives the Willow 3.0 breast pump a new name that celebrates pumping and living life from every angle. This hands-free breast pump is designed to be completely leak-proof.
Does the Willow 3.0 stop automatically?
Yes, Willow 3.0 breast pump is designed with an auto shutoff feature and turns off automatically after 25 minutes for every pumping sesssion. That’s quite near to the given pumping time for manual session.
How often do you need to replace Willow 3.0 pump parts?
The main parts like the pump (with motor included) could last for the longest time. According to the company, the Willow 3.0 has a 273-hour operation life.
However, the washable parts like the flange and Flextube will have a shorter life, due to regular clean and rinse after every pump. For optimal output and comfortable pumping experience, replace these parts every 90 days (or when you notice discomfort or signs of wear).
