The 6 Best Pilates Reformer Machines, Tested and Reviewed By Editors

Reported by Women's Health Magazine.

The Pilates reformer has officially graduated from bougie studio accessory to legitimate home gym staple — and the market has exploded to match. But not all machines are built equal, and buying one without context is an expensive mistake. According to Women's Health Magazine, six reformers stood out after rigorous editor testing, and the differences between them are dramatic enough to change your entire practice.

At the top sits the Balanced Body Allegro 2 ($4,345), the clear frontrunner for serious practitioners. NASM-certified fitness editor Talene Appleton has logged nearly two years of consistent use on hers — two to three sessions per week — and the machine still looks brand new. Commercial-grade construction, five color-coded springs, and a steel foot bar with ten position options give it a versatility that most competitors simply can't match. The catch? It weighs 157 pounds, spans eight feet, and took Appleton and a friend two full hours to assemble. This is not a casual purchase. She also warns that beginners may feel lost without an instructor calling the shots on resistance and positioning — YouTube and TikTok tutorials from Balanced Body and East River Pilates became her unofficial coaches. For those who want studio quality at roughly half the price, the Your Reformer emerged as a compelling alternative: five thick, smooth-gliding springs, durable straps, and enough carriage width to move freely through every position.

For Smaller Spaces and Tighter Budgets

Apartment dwellers and beginners have real options here. The AeroPilates Reformer 287, priced under $300, comes pre-assembled and surprised entertainment editor Amy Wilkinson with its sturdiness. The trade-off is real though — three resistance cords limit progression, and the missing reformer box rules out entire exercise series. The AeroPilates Reformer 4420 solves the space problem with a foldable design that can slide under a bed, plus four color-coded cords that span beginner to advanced levels, and a built-in cardio rebounder for good measure. If vertical space isn't an issue and you want to seriously advance your practice, the Merrithew At Home SPX Reformer Bundle adds a foldable tower for deeper flexibility work and more muscle-group variety — though at 96 inches long and 115 pounds, it's a true commitment.

For those who want cardio baked directly into their reformer sessions, the AeroPilates Pro XP 557 is the standout: the only full-sized model tested with a built-in rebounder at the foot bar. Associate visual editor Berkeley Brooks found it held steady through explosive movements, praised its interchangeable springs and sleek wood detailing, and noted the wide 23-inch platform felt genuinely spacious — though that footprint makes it a non-starter for tight apartments.

The right reformer is entirely personal — defined by your square footage, your experience level, and how seriously you're ready to commit — but skipping the research and buying blind is the only real wrong move.

Read the original at Women's Health Magazine.