The Ultimate Sizing and Features Guide to Pilates Reformers

Whether you are an enthusiast or a professional, Pilates Connector has equipment to meet your needs. With equipment that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional, we offer only the top quality brands for the high-end home gym or professional fitness center. Read on to see a summary of the brands we sell, all of their sizing and features in one place, and find the equipment that is right for your practice today.

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Below you'll find specs broken out by brand for Merrithew, Sportline, Peak Pilates and Lagree reformers and cadillacs.

Peak Pilates Reformers Comparison Chart

Whether you choose a model with classic handcrafted woods, or an innovative metal design, Peak Pilates crafts all their equipment with beauty, function, and tradition in mind. They use traditional wood, sustainable bamboo, and modern metals to preserve the integrity of authentic Pilates exercises with unparalleled product performance, versatility, and safety. 

For the high-end home gym, the Casa model is a lightweight and affordable machine-engineered for high quality performance, and backed with the quality, dedication and innovation found only with Peak Pilates.

Merrithew Pilates Reformers Comparison Chart

For over 30 years, Merrithew Reformers have been found in Pilates studios, fitness centers, and high-end home gyms around the world. Their versatile pieces of equipment are built to withstand years of use, and to accommodate diverse client needs. The SPX Max Reformer and the V2 Max Reformer feature a patented Retractable Rope System and self-locking cleats that allow for quick and precise rope adjustments, along with custom crafted Merrithew high precision springs that are made with the highest quality materials.

A high-precision gear bar is available on select packages, and can be added as an upgrade at the time of purchase, for 6 gear bar positions that offer superior ergonomics and precision. 

The At Home SPX model gives you a boutique studio experience in your own home, delivered 90% assembled and built with the same high quality as professional Reformers. A patented carriage rolling system delivers a consistently smooth and silent ride, and a traditional rope system works ideally for a single-user when regular adjustments aren&#;t needed.

Sportline Reformers Comparison Chart

Produced in Turkey and sold in Europe and the United States, Sportline products are produced with European standards. They offer original single-piece wood for the cases of their products, crafted with 100% hornbeam or beech wood, which makes them sturdy and moisture-resistant. High quality imported vinyl coated leathers and chromium metal parts don&#;t show dirt or stains, and their Reformer beds are meticulously designed to provide silent driving. 

Their Reformer model has handles that are designed with a fabric ideal for superior hand grips, and offers 3 different spring resistance settings, 3 graded height and load settings for different neck angles, all in a sleek and elegant design. The Tower Reformer adds non-slip/non-rotating foot bars with an easy zipper replacement system, and chromium metal that resists rust along with multiple other tower features. We also offer their ladder barrel and split pedal chair with handles, all with cases crafted from single-piece wood. 

AeroPilates Reformers Comparison Chart

Produced by Stamina Products in Springfield Missouri, AeroPilates was first developed as a brand alongside Pilates expert Marjolein Brugman and was a groundbreaking at-home reformer.  There's many benefits to this brand, and they have patented numerous no-impact exercises and equipment that can greatly expand the types of exercises available on the standard reformer.

The reformer models include their patented Cardio Rebounder, which is a small trampoline that allows users to recreate activities such as jogging or jumping with an extremely low to no-impact exercise. The affordability and amount of models available also help make this a safe solution for families looking to begin their journey.

Private Pilates Reformers Comparison Chart

Private Pilates is a machine brand locally produced in Turkey, and founded by Erhan Gurbaca, who had over 25 years of experience as both a Pilates instructor, and studio manager before entering the world of Pilates apparatus production and consulting.

Private Pilates has been producing equipment under their brand name since , and they pride themselves on designing equipment that takes both quality, usage, and cost into account. This makes for effective, yet affordable equipment that is perfect for enthusiasts looking to start their journey in Pilates.

Lagree Reformers Comparison Chart

Lagree Fitness currently holds 74 patents for its Megaformer apparatus, the second generation of equipment from the company. This unique training apparatus is traditionally used in a class environment, built for heavy usage by users of all fitness levels, ages, and body types. The Megaformer&#;s unique technology makes it ideal for fast-paced workouts, with each model offering a distinctive platform, carriage, and handlebar design. You can also mix and match various elements to create your own custom apparatus. 

Align Pilates Reformers Comparison Chart

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Align Pilates was founded in and while they initially got their start focus on mat-based products, they've since expanded their product line to include a full range of studio-quality reformers. This brand maintains a careful balance of affordability and quality and so remains a strong option for those looking to build a home studio.

Fitkon Pilates Reformers Comparison Chart

Fitkon is a Turkish Pilates brand that specializes in innovative and user-friendly designs for high-achieving athletes. Crafted by a team of athletes, designers, and engineers, these machines are meant to work with you to increase your ability and also add a unique stylistic touch to your home or studio.

If you&#;ve been to a Pilates studio - or you&#;re a studio regular - you&#;ve likely been introduced to a host of Pilates equipment, otherwise known as the apparatus. Nowadays, it might seem as though the Pilates Mat exercises play second fiddle to the apparatus, but it's actually the other way around.

In fact, Joseph Pilates invented the Mat repertoire first, and these exercises serve as the foundation for his entire method. That doesn't mean the apparatus and the accompanying exercises are any less important, though. After all, the equipment serves as stepping stones, with the ultimate goal of getting the body ready for the Mat exercises. Think of the apparatus as a vital part of your Pilates toolkit.

A Bit of Equipment History

Joseph Pilates first came up with the idea for his equipment in , while he was stationed at an internment camp at the start of WWI. It was there that Joe began to crystallize the Pilates method, &#;testing&#; it out on some of his fellow internees. In an effort to help rehabilitate bedridden German soldiers at the camp, he rigged springs to their metal hospital beds so they could, too, do his exercises and &#;return to health.&#;

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It wasn&#;t until Joe emigrated to the U.S. in that he filed the first patent for what he dubbed The Universal Reformer, inspired by the bed contraptions he had created more than a decade earlier. Being the innovator that he was, it wasn&#;t long before Joe invented more equipment, such as the Cadillac, Wunda Chair, and Guillotine, at his studio in New York City.

With the exception of the Barrels, Joe designed the apparatus to operate with spring-based resistance, to simultaneously deliver support and challenge to the body as it moves through the exercises.

Get to Know Your Pilates Equipment

Fast-forward to , a period of time in which we&#;re lucky enough to have access to a handful of reputable manufacturers of Pilates equipment. While there are those that aim to stay as true as possible to Joe&#;s original designs, others have chosen to put a more modern spin on them. These &#;evolved&#; versions feature new materials (wood in place of metal, for example) and features that offer increased adjustability and versatility via technological upgrades. Both &#;camps&#; have their merits, and it all boils down to choosing the one that best suits your needs or preferences.

What Equipment is Need for Pilates?

Although you&#;re probably more familiar with Pilates equipment like the Reformer, Cadillac and Wunda Chair, which are staples in most Pilates studios today, there are a handful of other types of apparatus, each with unique, specific purposes. The various pieces are meant to be complementary, with each playing an integral role in the Pilates system. (More on them in a bit...)

Want to learn more about the apparatus? Read on for a primer on the Pilates equipment.

Pilates Equipment Glossary

Don&#;t know the difference between the High Chair and the Baby Chair? Well, you will soon!

Reformer

The first piece of equipment Joe invented, the Reformer, features an elevated bed-like frame, either made from metal or wood (or a mix), that houses a gliding, cushioned platform called a carriage; the carriage moves along rails by way of a pulley system. On one end, the carriage is attached to a set of springs that deliver resistance and can be customized to accommodate any fitness level.

The Reformer also features a footbar at one end, shoulder blocks, and a movable headrest at the other, and comes with a variety of accessories such as a Sitting Box (a box-like platform that elevates the carriage).

Revered for its incredible versatility, the Reformer allowing for a vast variety of exercises in all body positions (i.e., lying down, sitting, kneeling, standing).

Cadillac

...aka the Trapeze Table

Wunda Chair

Aptly named after the car company, the Pilates Cadillac is considered the ultimate apparatus. It looks like a canopy bed, with a four-post metal frame and a cushioned mat. At one end, there&#;s the push-through bar, which can be loaded with springs; arm and legs Springs, as well as a roll-down bar, can be hooked up to the opposite end. A slider bar at the top of the canopy houses the trapeze bar, which accommodates everything from those cool acrobatic movements for advanced students to supported stretching for more fragile clients.

Don&#;t let the name fool you; there's no just sitting around in this chair! One of the most challenging pieces of Pilates equipment around, the Wunda Chair features a cushioned &#;seat&#; - a small base with little support - and a pedal that can be spring-loaded.

Tower

...aka the Wall Unit Fusing elements from the Reformer, Cadillac and mat, it&#;s no surprise that group classes on the Tower have been rising in popularity.

The Barrels

This group of Pilates equipment includes the Ladder Barrel, the largest of all the barrels that are connected to a ladder, the Spine Corrector and the Small (or Baby) Barrel. Designed to provide support for the spine against gravity, the Barrels are great tools for promoting breath capacity, flexibility and better posture. (Fun fact: Pilates legend has it that they were inspired by kegs of beer!)

High Chair

Think of the High Chair as the Wunda&#;s taller cousin. It offers more support, thanks to a high back and handles (that may or may not be removable).

Baby Chair

... aka the Arm Chair

Like the High Chair, the Baby Chair has back support. But instead of a pedal, it features springs at about shoulder level. The Baby Chair is great for beginners, since it helps teach proper engagement of the powerhouse.

Guillotine

Although less common in more modern times, the Guillotine&#;which is a tower-like frame (either mounted to the ceiling or freestanding) over a mat&#;was a fixture in Joe&#;s studio back in the day. Its vertical nature makes it especially effective for clients looking to increase stability, flexibility and spinal/pelvic articulation.

Ped-O-Pull

This often-overlooked apparatus brings the work to a vertical plane, challenging the body against gravity while in a standing position. The Ped-o-Pull is essentially a spring-loaded T-shaped pole attached to a small, square base.

Now you know the ABC's of Pilates equipment, give each one a go. You're sure to find a new favorite way to move. At Pilates Anytime you can search for classes by apparatus, level, duration, and other categories. Whatever your interest or level, there's a class for you.

The company is the world’s best classical pilates reformer supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.