A Pilates reformer is a bit of apparatus designed to supply an intense full-body exercise by means of small, sluggish actions. Delivering all the advantages of Pilates, these particular machines are crafted to boost the exercise and enhance your power, flexibility, coordination, and stability. 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 searching 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 secure, comfy exercise, even throughout hard-core, sweat-inducing periods.
Why We Love It
Out of all of the reformers we examined, Merrithew’s At Dwelling SPX Reformer Bundle was the sturdiest, most versatile, and best to place collectively, making it our prime total decide. We like that the bundle contains a number of equipment and that a lot of the reformer machine comes pre-assembled for a fast and simple setup. Throughout assessments, the reformer stood out for its sturdy construct and clean, secure efficiency, notably throughout high-intensity exercises, and we liked 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 switch exercises or alleviate stress on tight hips. All these equipment 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 troublesome to regulate with out flipping the machine on its aspect to retie, making it much less superb for sharing between customers of various heights.
- The shoulder pads are screwed in, making them difficult (although not inconceivable) to take away—limiting and inconvenient for whenever you need a flat carriage possibility on the fly.
Most Beneficial Insights
“I really like how nicely made it’s—the machine feels protected and secure, and the padding on the carriage, the foot bar, and the shoulder pads is comfortable and makes for a snug exercise.” —Abby Moore, Verywell Match product tester
“It’s the most sturdy and protected reformer we examined. It’s a nice funding for frequent Pilates practitioners, though it’s dear. It may well deal with high-intensity use and supplies a snug exercise expertise.” —Monica Saliu, PT, DPT, Verywell Match on-site knowledgeable 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 the event you’re a newbie who has ample residence fitness center area and needs an easy machine to get began with.
Why We Love It
Balanced Physique’s Allegro Reformer is our prime decide for a machine with the user-friendly options wanted to get began with Pilates. When testing, we discovered it clean and secure throughout dynamic actions, because of an eight-wheel suspension system on the carriage, with no noticeable unevenness or shifting. The padded platform and foot bar have 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 totally different health ranges, and the intuitive foot bar adjustment makes transitions simple, particularly for inexperienced persons. 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 optionally available sitting field, foot strap, and soar board to advance your exercises as you progress over time.
Observe: this reformer sits low to the bottom, so when you’ve got mobility challenges or decrease physique joint points, there’s an optionally available 14-inch leg equipment offered 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 inexperienced persons.
- Whereas largely simple, the meeting directions felt incomplete and will have been extra detailed for inexperienced persons.
Most Beneficial 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 stable and secure, and the constructed supplies really feel high-quality, so I am certain it’s going to be very sturdy.” —Amy Kwan, Verywell Match product tester
“It’s a terrific product for inexperienced persons and people with ample area. It’s secure and stable, however the spring resistance shouldn’t be labeled, which might be complicated for customers.” —Monica Saliu, PT, DPT, Verywell Match on-site knowledgeable 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 a terrific exercise anyplace for a cheaper price than different choices on our checklist, making it our prime decide for finest worth. Light-weight and transportable, this machine has a smooth, compact design that’s nice when you’ve got a small residence studio area or choose to take your Pilates apply on the go. Designed particularly for the Lagree technique, this small however mighty machine foregoes hand and foot straps and a conventional carriage to deal with energy, power, and stability work in your apply.
Because it arrived almost totally assembled, we solely wanted to connect the handlebars, which made it simple to start out our exercise straight away. We discovered the color-coded, four-spring settings simple to regulate and difficult for concentrating on smaller muscle groups throughout a variety of workouts. The machine is comfy and secure, with padded handlebars and a well-cushioned, clean gliding platform.
Potential Flaws
- Throughout set up, we observed that one aspect of the handlebars was fairly wobbly, however we nonetheless felt secure 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 sophisticated stage of stability, core power, and hamstring flexibility and mobility. Additionally, as a result of lack of foot bar adjustability, we discovered it is likely to be difficult to realize full extension throughout planks when you’ve got a shorter body.
Most Beneficial Perception
“I like how easily the platform glided with every motion. Even when the resistance was greater, the wheels on the platforms have been quiet and clean to push. It felt nicely made. It is also good how compact it’s when you’ve got restricted area.”–Abby Moore, Verywell Match product tester.
Bonus Favorites
Though we haven’t examined these Pilates reformers, they nonetheless have comparable, high-quality options to the reformers we have been capable of take a look at. Protecting knowledgeable suggestions in thoughts, we expect these are value contemplating although 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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Easy, quiet experience
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 desires a machine that may be simply maneuvered by one particular person.
Why We Love It
Align Pilates’ F3 Folding Reformer is our prime decide in the event you want a compact machine that simply folds up. It may well even be finished one-handed. Screw-in knobs on all 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 ft on the underside so you may make certain the machine sits flat and secure. And we like that it may be simply rolled out of the way in which when it is folded up.
Align Pilates’ Reformer additionally options rope risers with three top 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 clean experience.
Potential Flaws
- Some customers have discovered that it takes two individuals 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 when you’ve got area for a bigger reformer, particularly if you need entry to exercise lessons.
Why We Love It
If you happen to’re searching for a totally loaded, high-tech, stunning machine (and you’ve got the price range to splurge), Body Health’s Pilates Reformer is our prime decide. It arrives through white glove supply, so there isn’t any prolonged setup or meeting course of. A really luxe piece of apparatus, this reformer options dual-spring expertise, eliminating the necessity for 2 platforms. Colour-coded, adjustable spring weights (providing as much as 260 kilos of resistance) help you simply management your motion and stage up whenever you want a problem. It additionally comes geared up with straps, pulleys, and a foot bar for a totally customizable exercise.
We love that Body Health’ Reformer has a built-in touchscreen that swivels and is sweat-resistant for streaming lessons. If you buy the model’s $39 month-to-month membership, you will get entry to personalised 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. When you’ve got the area and price range to splurge, we extremely advocate investing on this top-quality Pilates reformer that can maintain you coming again for extra.
Potential Flaws
- This reformer has a big footprint in comparison with others on our checklist, so we do not advocate it for small areas.
- You may’t entry the model’s coaching suggestions or exercise lessons until you put money into an extra 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, soar 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 provide help to stage up your apply much more. We advocate Sportline’s Superior Cadillac Reformer, a studio-grade reformer with a built-in sitting field and a soar 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 together with your buy, like a pair of ropes, a pair of hand grips, a strap, and 10 springs. This array of equipment would possibly sound overwhelming. However as a result of you possibly can combine and match them to deal with a spread of dynamic workouts, they’ll provide help to get essentially the most out of your reformer. We like this machine’s smooth, chrome design and its wooden base that dampens sound to attenuate noise throughout your exercises. When you’ve got the area and the price range, this stunning reformer can significantly elevate your Pilates program.
Potential Flaws
- This reformer could be very massive and heavy—the model recommends buying its meeting service to attenuate frustration after it is delivered.
- It is also a lot pricier than most of our different prime picks, though we expect it is definitely worth the funding in the event you’re trying to find a really all-in-one reformer.
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One-touch adjusters
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Light-weight
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Studio top
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 advice 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 top, 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 which you can simply customise utilizing the reformer’s one-touch adjusters, which let you alter the size of the reformer’s straps with only one hand. It additionally has a three-position headrest which you can transfer for the right match and really feel. We like that together with your buy, you get a two-month subscription to the Pilates Undertaking app, the place you possibly can entry on-demand lessons designed for all health ranges.
Potential Flaws
- We want this reformer had the next 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 haven’t got a devoted residence fitness center area and wish a extra compact Pilates reformer.
Why We Love It
Most of the reformers on our checklist fold up or stand upright for storage. However in case you are actually tight on area, we advocate Pilates Energy Gymnasium’s Plus Mini Reformer for its compact design and fold-flat characteristic. It is solely 53 inches lengthy—so even when it is in use, it does not take up lots of ground area. And we like which you can simply retailer it underneath a mattress whenever you’re completed exercising.
Regardless that it is compact, this reformer nonetheless supplies a stable exercise, because of a three-position raised platform, a push-up bar, 4 resistance cords, and foot strap attachments. We love that it comes totally assembled, so you may get began straight away. The strain cords have a quick-release design that lets you transition easily between workouts. The most effective values on our checklist, 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 a terrific exercise. Like a lot of our different picks, this machine comes with a rebounder. However the tower additionally incorporates 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 top is adjustable for a customizable expertise. And because the reformer’s platform is padded, it guarantees to be fairly comfy, too. Your buy additionally contains free entry to on-demand, on-line exercise movies led by a licensed coach and designed particularly for the Cadillac to indicate 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 in all probability want a good friend 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 ultimate checklist of suggestions. Though we preferred a few of its options, the next Pilates reformer in the end didn’t impress us sufficient to be chosen for our checklist of prime picks.
- AeroPilates’ Premier Studio 700 is compact, with a smooth look. Nonetheless, we discovered it difficult to arrange, poorly constructed, and unstable, plus it had restricted spring resistance, straps, and adjustable options.
Verywell Match / Jessica Juliao
Our Specialists
We consulted specialists at each stage whereas researching and reporting this story. These specialists helped us perceive learn how to use Pilates reformers, which options to search for in a high-quality machine, and the way to decide on the suitable one on your residence. Some, like Trujillo, Driscoll, and McCollum, taught us what options and supplies the most effective 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 specialists influences our choices.
- 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 means of Energy Pilates
- Kamille McCollum, chief working officer at Bodybar Pilates
Verywell Match / Jessica Juliao
Continuously Requested Questions
Is utilizing a Pilates reformer a type of power coaching?
Pilates has many advantages, together with elevated core power, toned muscle groups, and higher psychological and bodily power, says Trujillo. Along with strengthening your core, it additionally encourages good posture—each are important to enhancing stability. Pilates might be a wonderful solution 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 can assist you construct power and work up a sweat—each of which can provide help to shed some pounds. Some exercise applications and machines make it simple to include cardio bursts, which can provide help to burn extra energy, says McCollum.
How typically ought to I take advantage of a Pilates reformer?
If you happen to’re new to Pilates, you would possibly wish to begin slowly—take into account alternating between utilizing a reformer and different tools, like stability boards or an elliptical machine. Typically talking, doing Pilates a number of instances per week is protected and efficient, relying in your health aim. All the time be sure that to speak to your major care supplier earlier than beginning a brand new train routine.
Can I take advantage of a Pilates reformer whereas pregnant?
You could possibly use a Pilates reformer whereas pregnant, however you should definitely speak to your major care supplier earlier than doing so (particularly in the event you’ve by no means used one earlier than). Relying on how far alongside you’re in your being pregnant, sure modifications might provide help to get essentially the most out of your Pilates apply.
How a lot does a Pilates reformer price?
You may count on to pay between $800 and $8,000 for a high-quality Pilates reformer. Inexpensive choices is probably not as sturdy, and so they could also be lacking key options, like rebounders, soar boards, and extra.
Verywell Match / Jessica Juliao
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 complete physique to fight accidents and overuse. For this information, she completely reviewed testing insights from Verywell Match’s Pilates reformers take a look at and solely beneficial choices that acquired excessive scores, with options beneficial by specialists.
Extra reporting by Lindsey Lanquist
As a seasoned well being and health author for Verywell Match, Lindsey Lanquist understands how important high quality product suggestions might be. She is cautious to advocate merchandise which might be dependable, comfy, and genuinely well-reviewed by those that’ve tried them.

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