Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. If you’re a pilates princess, you already know what a reformer is, and you’re well acquainted with the many ways it delivers a low-impact, strength-building workout. However, if you’re a newbie, here’s a quick crash course: A reformer is a specially designed machine, originally developed by Joseph Pilates, that consists of springs for resistance, a moving carriage, a foot bar that you push or pull, and pulleys to hold onto or hook to your feet when performing pilates exercises.
In short and easy terms: an assist to finding your muscle engagement!” There are unique benefits to using a reformer that are hard to replicate in a pilates mat workout, or really any other type of workout. But that doesn’t mean you have to be advanced to start using one. The classical reformer stays true to Joseph Pilates’ original design; the machines are made of wood, and have springs that all have the exact same resistance level.
Purists are going to want to consider these machines. Contemporary reformers are an evolutionary riff on the original and often incorporate springs of varying resistance that can be adjusted. The dimensions also usually vary a bit from the OG classical reformer design.
While it used to be that reformers were only found in Pilates studios, more and more women are investing in a reformer as an addition to their home gym setup. There are also less intense reformer models on the market that are specifically designed for at-home use, and these generally come in at a fraction of the cost of a classical or studio-grade contemporary reformer. After testing a bunch of options, we narrowed down our picks to a variety of machines, including commercial-grade reformers and pared-down, reimagined reformers that are made specifically to take up less space and be more affordable.
After testing a handful of Pilates reformers, the contemporary-style Balanced Body Allegro 2 came out on top for its studio-quality, strong springs, durable build, and versatile foot bar. WH fitness contributor Talene Appleton has been using it two to three times a week to practice at home for almost two years, and it’s still in mint condition. Appleton says it’s built like a tank and is commercial-grade, so it’s the best you can get for your at-home gym setup.
Five springs are featured for varying tension to accommodate different levels—three high resistance (red), one medium resistance (blue), and one light resistance (yellow), while the steel, grippy foot bar glides effortlessly for 10 vertical and horizontal positions. It’s also large, at eight feet long and three feet wide, so make sure you have adequate space before splurging. It’s also not the easiest to set up.
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