You’d be forgiven for thinking that “Pilates” was some kind of code name for an underground sex club. Seriously, everyone is always on about Pilates – men and women. Who gets that excited about exercise? They bend over backwards to make it to Pilates class. Here’s the crazy part, it actually is exercise!
Why are people so crazy about Pilates? You don’t need weights and you don’t even have to move a lot. You use your own weight resistance to shape and tone your body with extraordinary results. The thing is, you actually have to go to a Pilates class in order to do it the right way – on a Pilates Reformer; the bench thing that you lie and stand on.
Up until now, Pilates at home involved a mat and a bunch of taught ropes and cords to try to replicate the type of resistance you’d get on a Reformer, but it’s not the same. Well hold on to your Pilates pants, you don’t have to go anywhere to get your Pilates on now! There are dozens of home Pilates Reformers on the market that allow you to do Pilates all on your own in the comfort of your own home.
Of course, once you take a look at one of these things, you can see how easy it could be to really hurt yourself on one if you don’t know how to use it. That’s why, before you DIY Pilates at home, actually go to a class or two so that you know how to do it right.
Now that you get the gist, it’s time to start searching for home Pilates Reformers. Fortunately for you, we’ve already done the leg work! We’ve come up with 9 of the best home Pilates Reformers on the market today that hit these marks: Portability, space-saving storage design, easy setup, and the ability to adjust for height and resistance.
Some are quite expensive; some are incredibly affordable for such a pricy piece of home exercise equipment. Take your pick – any of the Pilates Reformers on this list will get the job done!
9 Best Home Pilates Reformers
We’re not going to lie; this one is going to hit you in the wallet! But for what you get out of the Merrithew at Home SPX Reformer Bundle from STOTT Pilates, it’s actually a pretty good deal. It has everything that you need and is closest to using a Reformer at the gym. The downside is that it misses the mark for portability.
Once you set this baby up, that’s where it is – no way to fold it up and shove it in the closet. So if you have a home gym or space in a room in your house, you’re golden. If not, this could become a very cumbersome piece of equipment in your house. But before you move on, consider every other mark this Pilates Reformer not only hits but hurdles!
For one, it can hold up to 250 pounds of body weight. It is highly adjustable for height. Its head and shoulder rests, as well as the foot bar, are cushioned and adjustable for comfort, height, and resistance. It comes with every accessory you need including a couple of Pilates workout videos, the Reformer box used to increase resistance along with a Pilates pole. Bottom line is, if you have the space, this is the one you want.
Pilates Power Gym - The ‘Size Isn’t Everything’ Home Pilates Reformer
If you love our last Reformer but have decided that you just don’t have the space for it, we’ve got you! This is the Mini Reformer Exercise System from Pilates Power Gym. It comes already assembled – that’s how small it is. Don’t get it twisted though, small doesn’t mean less in this scenario.
Is it smaller than the standard Reformer, yes, but it can hold up to 300 pounds of weight and can be adjusted to give you up to 48 different levels of resistance – 48! Both men and women can work out on this one. The bench inclines up to three different levels. And it’s portable!
Since it is smaller than other Reformers, it can be slipped into a corner out of the way. Plus it has wheels on it, so when you are finished, just wheel it to the corner and call it a day. You also get a few free Pilates workouts included in this package for both beginners and Pilate’s pros.
Pilates regulars likely recognize this style of Reformer from the gym. How great is it that now you can own the Supreme Toning Tower from Beverly Hills Fitness and work out at your leisure anytime you want? We love this power-packed piece of exercise equipment. It combines two of the hottest exercise crazes – Pilates and the world renowned “Barre” style Reformer.
You gotta love the fact that there is no assembly required. This puppy is big but light. The bar adds a level of resistance that helps you shape and tone your arms and upper body while still getting the core and leg workout that you love from your Pilates.
Despite being made of both steel and wood, it is actually very lightweight. But what we love the most is that this tower of power home exercise machine folds into a nice flat pancake that can be stored in the closet somewhere. For our money, this Reformer hits all the marks!
Anyone with knee problems can watch a Pilates video and think that working out on a Reformer would be too hard on your joints, but you would be wrong! In fact, many physical therapists today use Reformers like the Premier Reformer from AeroPilates to help rehabilitate injured joints. We love how this one goes the extra mile to protect your joints.
First, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. It doesn’t look very portable does it? Well that’s because it is not. Like our first Reformer, you set this bad boy up and that’s basically where he’ll live. And you do have to put it together – not a lot of work, but some.
That said, everything else is beyond our standards. This Reformer comes with its own patented “Cardio Rebounder” that helps you do high impact cardio on your Pilates Reformer with minimum impact on your joints. It’s highly adjustable for resistance and height from the footrest to the headrest.
Last on our list, we went with the fancy-looking, oak trimmed AeroPilates Pro Reformer from Stamina. Frankly we think it’s one of the most handsome machines on our list but of course that wouldn’t make it one of the best of the best. What makes it tops is all of the features.
Not only does it sit 15” off of the ground, it is also longer than the others on our list. The patented cardio Rebounder is bigger, even the adjustable pads are bigger; standing higher and spreading wider than the rest. If you are tall like a lot of athletes who use Pilates Reformers for rehabilitation, this is the ticket.
You can adjust or remove the foot bar. Along with the super strong springs that allow you to alter your resistance level, it is padded using high-density foam to protect your head, neck and shoulders. Three different Pilates workout DVDs for beginners are included with this Reformer.
One of the things we love the most about the Reformer 651 from AeroPilates is that they take everything from their original Reformer and then throw in the kitchen sink! When we say this thing has everything, it really does, including portability.
The platform itself is wide and padded to maximize comfort. It uses thick, strong adjustable bungee cords to change the resistance level. Of course it includes AeroPilates exclusive Rebounder technology and it stands high off the ground so you can do even more exercises on it.
Adjustable head, neck, and foot rests improve comfort. You can adjust the pulley ropes based on height and resistance and you get some handy workout routines to boot. Plus, we think that this Reformer is pretty damn good looking. Best of all, when you are all finished with your work out, the entire frame folds up onto wheels that make it easy to slide it into the closet, under the bed, wherever.
When we saw this Reformer, we knew it had to be on the list for two reasons. For one, the Fit Reformer from Peak Pilates is unique from all of the other ones – you can jump on it! There is space for a jump board so that you can jump up and down while lying flat on your back to protect your joints.
Secondly, it is literally stacked with all kinds of features that you would only find using a Reformer at a gym. There are guides to help you to align all of your cords and ropes the right way. It uses a color-coded system so that you can adjust the springs to your specific desired resistance level.
This thing is so stacked that you could use it to train others in your own private studio. The risers retract so that you can either stack the platform or use it standing. For Pilate’s pros, this Reformer is right up your alley.
Can you tell that we love a lot of the Reformers put out by AeroPilates? Well we love this one too – the Stamina Pro Reformer from AeroPilates. Like all of their other Reformers, this one comes equipped with their patented cardio Rebounder. But this one stands higher off the ground than all of the other Reformers; 15 inches high!
It’s big and strong which means it’s not going to be portable at all. This is another Reformer meant for your home gym or garage. If you’ve got the space, you’re going to love how professional it is with its thick bungee cord ropes and pulley system.
All of the pads, including the neck and shoulder pads are extra wide for optimal comfort and support. The cords and pads are all highly adjustable for height and resistance. On top of all of that, you get three different Pilates workout videos, and we think that the wood accents are a nice aesthetic touch.
Were you wishing after reading about the last Reformer that there was one just like that, only portable? Good news – we found one that is pretty darn close. Besides not being 15” off of the ground (this one is pretty low to the ground for a Reformer), the Reformer Plus 379 has everything else you want in a Reformer.
Need to flatten out that tummy for bikini season? Like all of the other AeroPilates Reformers, this one comes with the patented Rebounder that makes ab work easier than ever. One improvement to this one from the others is that the pads are made of dense foam, making them firmer which is better for aligning the body properly.
You can adjust the color-coded cords to ramp up the resistance or to pull back on it. And you can adjust your pulleys based on your height. After your workout, the frame folds up into a nice rectangle on wheels that can be stowed away easily.
Top 3 Home Pilates Reformer Accessories
Before you go to check out, we think you should check out some of these must-have accessories for your Pilates Reformer:
You may not have thought about the impact that working out on a Reformer may have on your hardwood floors or plush carpet. Fortunately we have! One of the most popular accessories for Home Pilates Reformers is the Fold-to-Fit Folding Equipment Mat from Stamina. Simply lay it down underneath your Reformer and this non-slip mat will keep it from damaging your pretty floors.
A lot of the workouts that come with the Reformers on our list are for level 1 beginners. We thought, ‘What about the more advanced crowd?’ Heck, you’re buying a freaking home Reformer, you must really know your stuff! We’ll see. The Pilates Reformer Challenge with Fitness Circle from STOTT Pilates begins at intermediate and goes up to advance and includes 19 different workouts! All you need is to buy the Fitness Circle separately.
The Pilate’s box and pole are designed to enhance your Pilates Reformer. You sit the box on the platform pad and then lie face down on it. These both help you to improve your flexibility and increase your range of motion.
We pick the AeroPilates Box and Pole from Stamina as a must-have. It’s made of hardwood and steel, covered in vinyl and padded to make it as comfortable as possible. Plus there is a workout video included to show you how to use the box and pole without injuring yourself.
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