A Pilates reformer is a bit of apparatus designed to offer an intense full-body exercise by way of small, sluggish actions. Delivering the entire advantages of Pilates, these particular machines are crafted to boost the exercise and enhance your power, flexibility, coordination, and steadiness. However it’s typically inconvenient and costly to hitch a reformer class at an area studio.
The perfect Pilates reformers for residence use allow you to reap the advantages of Pilates from the consolation of your house. When looking for a reformer, Pamela Trujillo, NASM-CPT, a licensed private coach and Pilates teacher at SLT, recommends on the lookout for high-quality craftsmanship, a comfy carriage, and a padded foot bar.
Key Specs
Dimensions: 96.5 x 25 x 99 inches | Weight Capability: 250 kilos | Options: Weighted roll-up pole, reformer field, pulleys, foot bar, straps, adjustable five-spring resistance, noise-reducing spring covers | Our Total Ranking: 4.9/5
Who It is For
Finest for frequent Pilates practitioners of all expertise ranges who need a steady, comfy exercise, even throughout hard-core, sweat-inducing periods.
Why We Love It
Out of all of the reformers we examined, Merrithew’s At House SPX Reformer Bundle was the sturdiest, most versatile, and best to place collectively, making it our high total choose. We like that the bundle consists of a number of equipment and that a lot of the reformer machine comes pre-assembled for a fast and easy setup. Throughout exams, the reformer stood out for its sturdy construct and easy, steady efficiency, notably throughout high-intensity exercises, and we beloved the adjustable foot bar and the five-spring resistance that make it versatile sufficient for all expertise ranges.
We discovered the carriage well-padded, with breathable, cushioned hand and foot straps and a agency but comfy shoulder pad that stored our head and backbone aligned for optimum type. We like that the again platform might be adjusted to 6 positions—and you should use the included platform extender to make it even longer if wanted.
The reformer set additionally comes with a weighted roll-up pole bar, hand grips, and a reformer field that can be utilized to change exercises or alleviate strain on tight hips. All these equipment can help you carry out over 250 workouts, plus you get 60 days of entry to digital exercises on Merrithew Join and a lifetime guarantee—a worthy funding for any devoted Pilates practitioner.
Potential Flaws
- The fixed-length straps on this reformer are tough to regulate with out flipping the machine on its facet to retie, making it much less ideally suited for sharing between customers of various heights.
- The shoulder pads are screwed in, making them difficult (although not unimaginable) to take away—limiting and inconvenient for once you need a flat carriage choice on the fly.
Most Invaluable Insights
“I really like how properly made it’s—the machine feels secure and steady, and the padding on the carriage, the foot bar, and the shoulder pads is mushy and makes for a snug exercise.” —Abby Moore, Verywell Match product tester
“It’s the most sturdy and secure reformer we examined. It’s a nice funding for frequent Pilates practitioners, though it’s expensive. It could possibly deal with high-intensity use and supplies a snug exercise expertise.” —Monica Saliu, PT, DPT, Verywell Match on-site skilled and product tester
Key Specs
Dimensions: 93 x 36 x 14 inches | Weight Capability: 350 kilos | Options: Pulleys, adjustable five-position foot bar, adjustable straps, three-position headrest, adjustable five-spring resistance, wheels for portability | Our Total Ranking: 4.5/5
Who It is For
Finest in case you’re a newbie who has ample residence health club house and needs an easy machine to get began with.
Why We Love It
Balanced Physique’s Allegro Reformer is our high choose for a machine with the user-friendly options wanted to get began with Pilates. When testing, we discovered it easy and steady throughout dynamic actions, due to an eight-wheel suspension system on the carriage, with no noticeable unevenness or shifting. The padded platform and foot bar had been comfy throughout workouts, and the easy-to-adjust straps and cleats supplied a safe match.
The reformer has 5 color-coded spring resistance ranges to problem completely different health ranges, and the intuitive foot bar adjustment makes transitions simple, particularly for rookies. Pilates newbies additionally get to take pleasure in entry to free tutorial movies on the Balanced Physique streaming video platform and a lifetime guarantee. Light-weight and maneuverable, this reformer has built-in wheels for portability, and we like that it may well stand upright when not in use. As a newbie, you possibly can additional improve your Allegro reformer at checkout with an non-obligatory sitting field, foot strap, and bounce board to advance your exercises as you progress over time.
Notice: this reformer sits low to the bottom, so in case you have mobility challenges or decrease physique joint points, there’s an non-obligatory 14-inch leg package bought individually that elevates the reformer off the ground for improved accessibility.
Potential Flaws
- The colour-coded spring resistance ranges aren’t explicitly labeled on this reformer, which might be complicated for rookies.
- Whereas largely easy, the meeting directions felt incomplete and will have been extra detailed for rookies.
Most Invaluable Insights
“This reformer is nice for small areas within the residence as it may be positioned and saved upright in opposition to the wall when not in use. It feels very strong and steady, and the constructed supplies really feel high-quality, so I am certain it will be very sturdy.” —Amy Kwan, Verywell Match product tester
“It’s an amazing product for rookies and people with ample house. It’s steady and strong, however the spring resistance is just not labeled, which might be complicated for customers.” —Monica Saliu, PT, DPT, Verywell Match on-site skilled and product tester
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Spring settings are simple to regulate
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Light-weight, transportable design
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Nicely-cushioned platforms and handlebars
Key Specs
Dimensions: 71.1 x 18.5 x 5.5 inches | Weight Capability: 250 kilos | Options: 360-degree foot and hand bar, headrest, adjustable four-spring resistance, rear and entrance handles (upgraded bundle), rear platform (upgraded bundle) | Our Total Ranking: 4.8/5
Who It’s For
Finest for superior Pilates practitioners who need a difficult machine for small areas or on-the-go use.
Why We Love It
With Lagree’s Micro Microformer, you may get an amazing exercise wherever for a cheaper price than different choices on our listing, making it our high choose for greatest worth. Light-weight and transportable, this machine has a glossy, compact design that’s nice in case you have a small residence studio house or desire to take your Pilates apply on the go. Designed particularly for the Lagree methodology, this small however mighty machine foregoes hand and foot straps and a standard carriage to deal with energy, power, and steadiness work in your apply.
Because it arrived almost absolutely assembled, we solely wanted to connect the handlebars, which made it simple to begin our exercise instantly. We discovered the color-coded, four-spring settings simple to regulate and difficult for concentrating on smaller muscle tissues throughout a variety of workouts. The machine is comfy and steady, with padded handlebars and a well-cushioned, easy gliding platform.
Potential Flaws
- Throughout set up, we observed that one facet of the handlebars was fairly wobbly, however we nonetheless felt steady when utilizing the reformer.
- This reformer lacks hand and foot-stretching straps, a supportive carriage for the backbone, and a small platform, requiring you to have a complicated degree of steadiness, core power, and hamstring flexibility and mobility. Additionally, because of the lack of foot bar adjustability, we discovered it is likely to be difficult to attain full extension throughout planks in case you have a shorter body.
Most Invaluable Perception
“I like how easily the platform glided with every motion. Even when the resistance was larger, the wheels on the platforms had been quiet and easy to push. It felt properly made. It is also good how compact it’s in case you have restricted house.”–Abby Moore, Verywell Match product tester.
Bonus Favorites
Though we haven’t examined these Pilates reformers, they nonetheless have related, high-quality options to the reformers we had been capable of take a look at. Maintaining skilled suggestions in thoughts, we predict these are price contemplating despite the fact that we weren’t capable of take a look at them out ourselves.
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Compact
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Folds up with one hand
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Clean, quiet journey
Key Specs
Dimensions: 95 x 27.5 x 9 inches | Weight Capability: 265 kilos | Options: Adjustable foot bar, spring resistance, adjustable straps, rope risers
Who It’s For
Finest for somebody who has cupboard space constraints and wishes a machine that may be simply maneuvered by one particular person.
Why We Love It
Align Pilates’ F3 Folding Reformer is our high choose in case you want a compact machine that simply folds up. It could possibly even be executed one-handed. Screw-in knobs on both sides of the reformer lock the body in place, each in flat and folded positions, so the reformer stays safe throughout exercises and in storage. There are even adjustable toes on the underside so you can also make certain the machine sits flat and steady. And we like that it may be simply rolled out of the best way when it is folded up.
Align Pilates’ Reformer additionally options rope risers with three peak choices and a silent pulley system for a quiet exercise. The risers additionally detach and clip into the body for storage when the machine is folded up. Different nice-to-haves embody an adjustable foot bar with 4 positions, a three-position headrest, and double-loop handles. Plus, the carriage is uniquely designed so the wheels by no means cross the folding joint—creating an excellent easy journey.
Potential Flaws
- Some customers have discovered that it takes two folks to assemble this reformer.
Key Specs
Dimensions: 94 x 25.5 x 36 inches | Weight Capability: 350 kilos | Options: Pulleys, foot bar, straps, adjustable dual-spring resistance, built-in swivel touchscreen
Who It’s For
Finest in case you have house for a bigger reformer, particularly in order for you entry to exercise lessons.
Why We Love It
In case you’re on the lookout for a completely loaded, high-tech, lovely machine (and you’ve got the finances to splurge), Body Health’s Pilates Reformer is our high choose. It arrives through white glove supply, so there is no prolonged setup or meeting course of. A really luxe piece of apparatus, this reformer options dual-spring know-how, eliminating the necessity for 2 platforms. Colour-coded, adjustable spring weights (providing as much as 260 kilos of resistance) can help you simply management your motion and degree up once you want a problem. It additionally comes outfitted with straps, pulleys, and a foot bar for a very customizable exercise.
We love that Body Health’ Reformer has a built-in touchscreen that swivels and is sweat-resistant for streaming lessons. If you are going to buy the model’s $39 month-to-month membership, you will get entry to customized coaching suggestions, plus a library of over 100 stay and on-demand lessons—together with Pilates, yoga, stretching, cardio, and power exercises. With hidden wheels and a compact body, this reformer is simple to maneuver and retailer when wanted. If in case you have the house and finances to splurge, we extremely advocate investing on this top-quality Pilates reformer that may hold you coming again for extra.
Potential Flaws
- This reformer has a big footprint in comparison with others on our listing, so we do not advocate it for small areas.
- You possibly can’t entry the model’s coaching suggestions or exercise lessons until you put money into a further month-to-month membership.
Key Specs
Dimensions: 92 x 26 x 84 inches | Weight Capability: Not listed | Options: Straps, springs, Cadillac, roll-down bar, push-through bar, vertical and horizontal sliding bars, swing, bounce board
Who It’s For
Finest for intermediate to superior exercisers who need a professional-grade Pilates reformer.
Why We Love It
When you grasp superior Pilates workouts on the mat, it is time to put money into a reformer that may allow you to degree up your apply much more. We advocate Sportline’s Superior Cadillac Reformer, a studio-grade reformer with a built-in sitting field and a bounce board. It additionally comes with a roll-down bar, a push-through bar, a vertical sliding bar, a horizontal sliding bar, and a swing.
Plus, loads of equipment are included along with your buy, like a pair of ropes, a pair of hand grips, a strap, and 10 springs. This array of equipment may sound overwhelming. However as a result of you possibly can combine and match them to deal with a variety of dynamic workouts, they’ll allow you to get probably the most out of your reformer. We like this machine’s glossy, chrome design and its wooden base that dampens sound to reduce noise throughout your exercises. If in case you have the house and the finances, this lovely reformer can significantly elevate your Pilates program.
Potential Flaws
- This reformer may be very massive and heavy—the model recommends buying its meeting service to reduce frustration after it is delivered.
- It is also a lot pricier than most of our different high picks, though we predict it is well worth the funding in case you’re trying to find a very all-in-one reformer.
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One-touch adjusters
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Light-weight
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Studio peak
Key Specs
Dimensions: 97 x 25 x 16 inches | Weight Capability: 250 kilos | Particular Options: Pulleys, straps, hand bar
Who It’s For
Finest for exercisers who wish to complement their studio apply at residence with a machine that creates seamless transitions.
Why We Love It
Peak Pilates’ Casa Reformer is our suggestion for a studio-grade reformer that is designed with at-home use in thoughts. The compact reformer is light-weight however sturdy. And because it’s studio peak, it ought to really feel fairly acquainted for anybody who enjoys group Pilates lessons.
This reformer has all of the necessities, like an adjustable hand bar and two strap-equipped pulleys you could simply customise utilizing the reformer’s one-touch adjusters, which let you regulate the size of the reformer’s straps with only one hand. It additionally has a three-position headrest you could transfer for the proper match and really feel. We like that along with your buy, you get a two-month subscription to the Pilates Mission app, the place you possibly can entry on-demand lessons designed for all health ranges.
Potential Flaws
- We want this reformer had a better weight capability, contemplating its worth.
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Folds flat for storage
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Nice worth
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No meeting required
Key Specs
Dimensions: 53 x 26 x 26 inches | Weight Capability: 300 kilos | Options: Adjustable raised platform, push-up bar, foot strap attachments
Who It’s For
Finest for individuals who do not have a devoted residence health club house and want a extra compact Pilates reformer.
Why We Love It
Most of the reformers on our listing fold up or stand upright for storage. However if you’re actually tight on house, we advocate Pilates Energy Gymnasium’s Plus Mini Reformer for its compact design and fold-flat function. It is solely 53 inches lengthy—so even when it is in use, it does not take up plenty of ground house. And we like you could simply retailer it below a mattress once you’re completed exercising.
Although it is compact, this reformer nonetheless supplies a strong exercise, due to a three-position raised platform, a push-up bar, 4 resistance cords, and foot strap attachments. We love that it comes absolutely assembled, so you may get began instantly. The stress cords have a quick-release design that permits you to transition easily between workouts. The most effective values on our listing, Pilates Energy Gymnasium’s Plus Mini Reformer additionally comes with three DVD exercises led by celeb trainers.
Potential Flaws
- Some customers report that elements of this reformer, just like the carabiners, is probably not as sturdy as pricier choices.
- This machine does not include any equipment, though you should buy these individually.
Key Specs
Dimensions: 85.8 x 23.8 x 20.5 inches | Weight Capability: 350 kilos | Options: Straps, springs, rebounder, tower, push-through bar, roll-down bar
Who It’s For
Finest for intermediate exercisers who need the added versatility {that a} tower supplies in Pilates.
Why We Love It
AeroPilates’ Precision Cadillac Reformer is our favourite reformer that comes with a tower. We love that it is simple to make use of and supplies an amazing exercise. Like lots of our different picks, this machine comes with a rebounder. However the tower additionally encompasses a push-through bar, a roll-down bar, a set of springs, and a pair of straps you should use for various upper- and lower-body workouts.
We like that the tower’s peak is adjustable for a customizable expertise. And because the reformer’s platform is padded, it guarantees to be fairly comfy, too. Your buy additionally consists of free entry to on-demand, on-line exercise movies led by a licensed coach and designed particularly for the Cadillac to point out you all the extra workouts you are able to do with it.
Potential Flaws
- Some customers have famous that meeting might be difficult—you will most likely want a buddy that can assist you put it collectively.
- Others have discovered that the carriage might not glide as easily over the middle of the body.
Pilates Reformers We Additionally Examined
Not all of the Pilates reformers we examined earned a spot in our remaining listing of suggestions. Though we favored a few of its options, the next Pilates reformer in the end didn’t impress us sufficient to be chosen for our listing of high picks.
- AeroPilates’ Premier Studio 700 is compact, with a glossy look. Nevertheless, we discovered it difficult to arrange, poorly constructed, and unstable, plus it had restricted spring resistance, straps, and adjustable options.
Verywell Match
Our Consultants
We consulted consultants at each stage whereas researching and reporting this story. These consultants helped us perceive find out how to use Pilates reformers, which options to search for in a high-quality machine, and the way to decide on the correct one to your residence. Some, like Trujillo, Driscoll, and McCollum, taught us what options and supplies one of the best Pilates reformers have and the way they need to carry out. Others, like Saliu, helped us create, refine, and conduct our testing course of. Though we select merchandise independently, recommendation from consultants influences our selections.
- Monica Saliu, PT, DPT, licensed Pilates teacher and bodily therapist at Tribeca Bodily Remedy in New York Metropolis
- Pamela Trujillo, NASM-CPT, NASM-certified private coach and Pilates teacher at SLT
- Erika Driscoll, licensed classical Pilates teacher by way of Energy Pilates
- Kamille McCollum, chief working officer at Bodybar Pilates
Verywell Match
Often Requested Questions
Is utilizing a Pilates reformer a type of power coaching?
Pilates has many advantages, together with elevated core power, toned muscle tissues, and higher psychological and bodily power, says Trujillo. Along with strengthening your core, it additionally encourages good posture—each are important to bettering steadiness. Pilates might be a superb strategy to construct power, and since reformers make it simple to customise your expertise, your strength-training exercises might be as strenuous—or as beginner-friendly—as you need them to be.
Is the Pilates reformer good for weight reduction?
Utilizing a Pilates reformer will help you construct power and work up a sweat—each of which can allow you to drop extra pounds. Some exercise applications and machines make it simple to include cardio bursts, which can allow you to burn extra energy, says McCollum.
How typically ought to I exploit a Pilates reformer?
In case you’re new to Pilates, you may wish to begin slowly—take into account alternating between utilizing a reformer and different tools, like steadiness boards or an elliptical machine. Typically talking, doing Pilates a number of instances per week is secure and efficient, relying in your health aim. All the time be certain that to speak to your major care supplier earlier than beginning a brand new train routine.
Can I exploit a Pilates reformer whereas pregnant?
You might be able to use a Pilates reformer whereas pregnant, however you should definitely speak to your major care supplier earlier than doing so (particularly in case you’ve by no means used one earlier than). Relying on how far alongside you might be in your being pregnant, sure modifications might allow you to get probably the most out of your Pilates apply.
How a lot does a Pilates reformer value?
You possibly can anticipate to pay between $800 and $8,000 for a high-quality Pilates reformer. Inexpensive choices is probably not as sturdy, they usually could also be lacking key options, like rebounders, bounce boards, and extra.
Verywell Match
Why Belief Verywell Match
Jessica Murtaugh, NASM-CPT, CNC, is a Los Angeles-based licensed private coach and a Verywell Match well being and health author devoted to recommending reliable merchandise and evidence-based practices to assist readers obtain sustainable wellness. An avid runner, she finds reformer Pilates useful in her cross-training for stretching and strengthening her total physique to fight accidents and overuse. For this information, she totally reviewed testing insights from Verywell Match’s Pilates reformers take a look at and solely really useful choices that obtained excessive scores, with options really useful by consultants.
Further reporting by Lindsey Lanquist
As a seasoned well being and health author for Verywell Match, Lindsey Lanquist understands how very important high quality product suggestions might be. She is cautious to advocate merchandise which are dependable, comfy, and genuinely well-reviewed by those that’ve tried them.

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