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Finding a perfect breast pump for a working mom or exclusively pumping mom can be very confusing. There are various breast pump models in the market, often with similar features. How do you know which breast pump will work best for you? One easy way is to compare their key features.
In this article, I would talk about the detailed comparison between Motif Luna vs Spectra S1. Both of them are rated as hospital-grade breast pumps and well-loved among pumping moms. Is there any difference between them, except the shape? Of course yes. So in this post, I would go into detailed comparison between Motif Luna vs Spectra S1.
Similarities between Motif Luna vs Spectra S1
1. Hospital-grade strength.
Both Motif Luna and Spectra S1 are rated as hospital-grade breast pumps. That means they are powerful and heavy-duty enough to endure daily frequent pumping. They also have pretty high maximum suction power. These breast pumps would be a great option for those needing to pump often daily, up to 12 times a day.
2. Closed-system breast pump.
Both Motif Luna and Spectra S1 are closed-system breast pumps. It means the breast pump has a barrier that prevents breast milk to go into the pump motor. This is important because it prevents moisture to enter the pump body and thus hinders the growth of mold inside.
3. Low noise level.
Both Motif Luna and Spectra S1 are quiet breast pumps, with noise levels around 45 dB or less. Rest assured it is quiet enough to use in the work setting or during nighttime when the rest of the family is asleep.
4. Flexible pump setting.
Motif Luna and Spectra S1 allow the user to adjust the cycle speed (how often the breast pump pulls) independently in expression mode. This is a superior feature because most breast pumps only allow vacuum strength adjustment (and the cycle speed is automatically adjusted with the vacuum strength). This also means you can get a combination of high vacuum strength and fast cycle speed with these breast pumps.
Both Luna and Spectra S1 have 5 vacuum levels in massage mode and 12 vacuum levels and 5 cycle speeds in expression mode.
5. Similar suckling sensation.
If you have pumped with Spectra breast pump before, you will know that Spectra has this unique vibration sensation when the pump pulls so it mimics a nursing baby better. This unique feature helps moms to respond to the pump better by getting let down faster, and yielding more milk.
Does Motif Luna have similar vibration? The answer is yes.
6. Built-in battery for portability.
Both Motif Luna and Spectra S1 have built-in battery. How terrific it is! You can pump anywhere you want.
Please note that the built-in battery feature in Motif Luna is fairly new. The first version of Motif Luna does not have built-in battery. So if you end up buying Motif Luna, please make sure it is the new version with a built-in battery.
For both breast pumps, the battery will last for around 2-3 hours pumping.
7. Night light for easy night-time pumping.
Both Motif Luna and Spectra S1 have a night-light for nighttime pumping.
8. Similar spare parts.
The spare parts (including breast shields) of Motif Luna and Spectra S1 are interchangeable. You can use Spectra’s part for Motif Luna and vice versa.
Similarly, you can use other universal breast shields (such as Medela / Maymom / Pumpables ) as long as you keep the pump closed-system (you may need to buy the long stem backflow protector or flange adapter to do this).
Difference between Motif Luna vs Spectra S1
1. Size and weight.
I think, one of the stark differences between Motif Luna and Spectra S1 is the size. Spectra S1 has a raised handle and therefore is bulkier. Motif Luna, on the other hand, is slimmer than Spectra S1. Here are the dimension and weight of each breast pump:
Size and Weight of Motif Luna vs Spectra S1
| Â | Motif Luna | Spectra S1 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimension | 7″ (L) x 8″ (W) x 2.25″(H) | 7.9″ (L) x 7.9″ (W) x 6.7″ (H) |
| Weight | 2.3 pound | 2.7 pound |
In terms of weight, Spectra S1 is slightly heavier than Motif Luna. For this reason only, a lot of moms prefer Motif Luna, because it takes less space, whether in their pump bags or their desks / pumping station.
2. Brand.
Spectra is a better known brand because it has been in breast pump industry for several years earlier than Motif. But that does not mean you cannot trust Motif. Both have great customer service and pretty helpful.
3. Vacuum power.
Spectra S1 has a vacuum power up to 270 mmHg whereas Motif Luna has a vacuum power up to 280 mmHg.
But, wait! This does not mean Motif Luna is always better than Spectra S1.
After all, you will only use that maximum vacuum power if you are using the maximum vacuum level while pumping. And honestly, most of us don’t need that max level. But for moms pumping at the highest suction strength, this could be something to consider.
4. Availability of spare parts and the price.
Spectra has been around for several years. Thus, its pump spare parts can be easily purchased online or in retail stores. Motif, on the other hand, is a new-comer in breast pump markets. You may have better luck getting their original spare parts online, from Amazon or from its website.
In terms of price, Motif’s spare parts are cheaper than Spectra. So if you have a chance, it’s a good idea to stock up on Motif’s spare parts. Having said that, you can always use other brand spare parts as I mentioned above, as long as you keep the breast pump closed-system.
5. Differences in available pump setting (IMPORTANT!)
Although both Spectra S1 and Motif Luna have more flexible pump setting compared to other pump models, they do have differences in terms of available cycle speed. In general, Motif Luna offers slower cycle speed ranges compared to Spectra S1.
To be more specific, in massage mode, the cycle speed is fixed at 70 CPM in Spectra S1 vs 60 CPM in Motif Luna. Similarly, in expression mode, they offer different ranges of cycle speed. Spectra S1 cycle speed varies between 38-54 CPM whereas in Motif Luna between 30-46 CPM.
How this difference affect you?
As you know, moms respond differently to various cycle speed. Some moms respond better and pump more breast milk when using slower cycle speed, whereas others respond better with a faster speed. Which one you need? It may differ from one mom to another, but choose the speed that mimics your baby’s sucking rhythm best.
6. The mode you are at when you turn on the breast pump.
Spectra S1 always turns on in expression mode. Some mothers find this a little bit inconvenient because we usually start pumping in massage mode.
On the other hand, Motif Luna turns on at the last mode you are at. That means, if the last time you used Motif Luna, you were in massage mode, it will turn on in massage mode and vice versa. So a good trick in using Luna is to always switch back to massage mode before you turn it off.
7. Night light.
Motif Luna has 3 levels of night light whereas Spectra S1 has 2-level night light. Some moms prefer Luna’s nightlight because it is dimmer and not too bright to use in the dark.
8. Price point.
At the moment, Spectra S1 is slightly cheaper than Motif Luna. You can check the exact price here for Spectra S1 and here for Motif Luna.
Having said that, note that these breast pumps can be covered by insurance. So please check with your insurance provider whether you can get the breast pump free of charge, or with some additional fee.
Which One To Choose? Motif Luna vs Spectra S1
Now that I’ve explained the detailed similarity between Motif Luna vs Spectra S1, it is time to decide your choice. Should you choose Motif Luna or Spectra S1?
Here are some things to consider:
1. Price and insurance coverage.
If you are on a tight budget, it is wise to choose the one cheaper or more affordable through insurance. After all, they are pretty similar in terms of features.
2. Portability.
Does size matter a lot to you? If yes, Motif Luna is much more compact than Spectra S1 so it won’t take so much space on your pump station or pumping bag. Do you need to bring your breast pump around or on the go? In this case, weight matters. Motif Luna is slightly lighter than Spectra S1.
3. Cycle speed.
I have discussed previously that Motif Luna offers a slightly slower cycle speed than Spectra S1. So if you respond better with a slower cycle speed, Motif Luna is your best choice. On the contrary, Spectra S1 would be better suited for moms responding better to faster cycle speed.
Conclusion: Which Breast Pump Is Better For You?
I think there’s no universal answer for this. The best breast pump choice will depend on how you respond to a breast pump as well as your other needs in terms of portability and affordability.
If you still cannot decide which one is better for you, I’ll give you some pointers:
1. Have you used any other breast pump before?
If you are a newbie and has not used any breast pump before, focus on the portability and affordability factor. Think how you want to use the breast pump and whether you have any insurance that can cover them.
2. If you have been using a breast pump before, in addition to portability and budget factors, observe your pumping pattern.
– Do you think you will get a better yield with a slower cycle speed or a faster one?
– Do you usually use the maximum vacuum power?
Hopefully, these questions will help you decide whether Motif Luna or Spectra S1 would work best for you.
Do You Know?
Motif Luna and Spectra S1 are not the only breast pumps that allow independent cycle speed control. If you are not on tight budget, you may also check out Super Genie breast pump, another hospital-grade pump with up to 16 cycle speed settings, plus ability to record your own pump program. Interested? Click here to read my Super Genie breast pump detailed review.
We have come to the end of comparisons between Motif Luna vs Spectra S1. I have tried my best to discuss the comparison between Motif Luna and Spectra S1, including some pointers on how to choose which breast pump would work better for you. I hope these comparison would be useful for you.
Still Want to Read More Reviews? The Following Pages May Help You
- Spectra S1 Detailed Review | My Personal Experience
- Spectra S1 Moms’ Review in Amazon
- Motif Luna Moms’ Review in Amazon
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll try to answer to the best of my knowledge.
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Now onto you.
Have you used Motif Luna or Spectra S1 before?
How was your experience pumping with it?
Share your pumping experience with us, who knows your experience may benefit other pumping mamas who’s still in the beginning of their pumping journey.
ED says
Do you think the faster cycle speeds with the Spectra would be more effective? Would it be easier to achieve a let down potentially with a higher speed?
How does the motif suction speed compare to a baby or other pumps? It seems like it might be a bit on the slow side.
I have never pumped before as this is my first baby so not sure how I would react to certain speeds, so just trying to get a sense!
Thanks for your help.
Rina says
Hello ED,
Faster speed usually works great for a let-down.
For expression, every mom has different preferences. I myself prefer faster cycle speed such as those in Spectra S1 or Super Genie, while others prefer slower cycle speed such as in Motif Luna.