I’m currently comparing wood and aluminum Pilates reformers for home use, and I’m curious about people’s real experiences.
Which one would you choose in terms of stability, durability, maintenance, appearance and ease of moving or storing? Is there anything you particularly like or dislike about the one you use?
I was going back and forth about buying the NordicTrack reformer (latest version which is $5000). I couldn’t find any helpful information about it online so wanted to come and share my experience three weeks in.
For context I’m new to Pilates (not brand new but think maybe 10-15 reformer classes ever). I really liked it the few times I’ve done it but classes are such a far drive from my house, expensive and I have a busy job as a litigation attorney. I recently had my second (and last) baby, so decided to take the risk and add this reformer to our home gym. It allowed for 30 day return, so figured why not!
The reformer itself is beautiful. But it is definitely large. You need a big dedicated space to fit this in your home. I love the fact that the screen swivels. Especially as a newbie, it really helps to be able to see the instructor.
The classes have been great. The major difference I see is not at all in the quality of teaching but in the fact that nobody can correct my form. That being said as I take the classes I’m learning intuitively to correct my form - each class feels a little less like my limbs are foreign to me. I would say I’m generally athletic and coordinated so that may help!
It is a humbling experience. My abs and legs are still on fire from a workout I did three days ago. That’s exactly what I wanted from the machine so I’m glad I’m getting it.
Cons: you cannot access the classes on the NordicTrack app, only on the device itself. I find that super annoying from a planning perspective. I would like the opportunity to sit and scroll through classes, pick classes to calendar etc. it’s not realistic for me to spend an hour in front of the machine just looking through classes. I hope they fix this feature soon. I imagine it’s to prevent people taking the classes on non-NordicTrack machines. Wonder if they could figure out a way for people to view and calendar classes on the app, without being able to take the class.
Anyway, would love to hear other peoples experiences or answer any questions.
Hi
I am looking to buy balanced body nextgen reformer for home use. I was reading that it is a bit uncomfortable compared to alegro 2. ( for example shoulder blocks)
Most studios here have studio reformer or alegro 2. I just want to get opinion people who got next gen reformer.
Thanks
Sometimes the issue isn’t your shoulders it’s your setup. Moving slightly away from the shoulder blocks, reducing spring resistance, relaxing your upper body, and focusing on pelvic stability, breathing, and core engagement can make a big difference.
Pilates isn’t about using the heaviest springs. It’s about control, alignment, stability, and intentional movement.
Have you experienced shoulder or neck tension during reformer footwork? What adjustment helped you the most?
I’m a guy and recently tried pilates mainly because I wanted to work more on my lower body and core. The class was mostly women, so I did feel out of place at first to be honest, but I actually really liked the training itself.
It made me curious about other guys who regularly do Lagree/Pilates — what are you mainly going there to train or improve? Core, lower body, mobility, injury prevention, or something else?
And what makes you keep going to a studio instead of just doing similar strength/core work at a regular gym or maybe home gym?
Any at home foldable reformer recommendations for tall people? My boyfriend is 6’6 and I’d like to find one that we can both use. I’ve been looking at the yourpilates foldable reformer but haven’t seen any feedback on how it is for taller people.
The rooms we can put it in are pretty small, so trying to find something foldable.
Thanks in advance!
If you had asked me six months ago whether I would actually use the reformer sitting in my spare room, I probably would have laughed.
It was supposed to become my new favorite way to exercise, but instead it slowly turned into the most expensive place to hang clothes. The funny thing is, it wasn't because I didn't want to work out. I actually wanted to. My problem was that every time I looked at the machine, I had the same questions:
What workout should I do today?
Am I choosing the right exercises for my level?
Am I doing the movements correctly without a trainer watching me?
How do I build a routine instead of randomly doing a workout once every few weeks?
Most of the time, I would spend more time trying to decide what to do than actually exercising.
That's the reason I decided to try Lasta Fit. I needed something that would take away the decision-making part and just tell me: this is your workout for today.
After going through the setup and choosing my goals and experience level, I got a more structured approach instead of just scrolling through endless videos. Having a clear plan made a bigger difference than I expected.
Instead of thinking, "Maybe I'll work out today," I started opening the app and seeing exactly what I needed to do. A 20-30 minute session felt much easier to start when I didn't have to plan everything myself.
The biggest change for me has been consistency. Before using Lasta Fit, I could go weeks without touching my reformer. Now I actually have a routine. I still miss workouts sometimes because life happens, but I'm not constantly starting over from zero.
I also really appreciate the way the workouts are explained. As someone who trains at home without a coach, it's important to understand the purpose of each movement and how to perform it safely. The instructions help me feel more confident instead of just copying exercises and hoping I'm doing them right.
The progression has also felt natural. I started with easier workouts and slowly moved into more challenging sessions as I became more comfortable. I never felt like I was being pushed too quickly, but I also didn't feel stuck doing the same beginner exercises forever.
One thing I didn't expect to enjoy so much is the mobility work. Adding short stretching sessions to my routine has helped me feel less stiff, especially after sitting at a desk all day. Sometimes those few extra minutes make a bigger difference than a longer workout.
Of course, it isn't exactly the same as having a live instructor in the room. A trainer can notice small details and correct your form in a way an app can't. But for home training, having a structured program is a huge advantage.
So, does Lasta Fit work for me? Yes.
It didn't magically transform my fitness overnight, but it solved my biggest problem: actually using my reformer consistently. I'm stronger, I move better, and the machine in my spare room finally feels like a good investment instead of a piece of furniture.
I put together a lifespan guide for the main reformer parts because I think buyers often assume the whole machine either “lasts forever” or needs replacing after a few years. In reality, the frame and the wear parts are very different.
Assuming fairly heavy use — about 5 days a week, 2 hours a day — here’s a practical estimate:
The biggest thing I learned is that a good reformer should be viewed more like a car than a disposable fitness machine.
The frame should last a very long time. What you replace periodically are the normal wear items: springs, ropes, wheels, stoppers, padding, and sometimes bearings.
Maintenance makes a huge difference too. Dirty rails, worn wheels, direct sunlight, humidity, harsh cleaning chemicals, and loose hardware can shorten the life of a reformer significantly.
For wooden reformers, keeping the frame clean and waxing it every 6–12 months can help protect the wood for decades.
I’m curious what studio owners and long-time reformer users have experienced — what part have you had to replace most often?
Hey , just wanted to vent a little , had a really bad reformer ‘align’ class and just wanted to check I’m not crazy.
Instructor I’ve never had the timetable to match up with before so to me this was a first time with their methods.
Basically 45 minutes of joint stress , inappropriate technique , no adaptations and ‘embrace the trembles’ was the go to phrase.
This was a clearly a mis-labelled strength-endurance conditioning class.
I could have had a safer and more enjoyable session next door on the cable machines.
Woke up this morning with a really sore back and aching pecs/delts.
Issues I had:
•nobody asked for pre-existing conditions or injuries
•one guy was allowed to train barefoot without grip socks
• I’m a tall broad heavy male (6’2” , 42” chest , 95kg) so I have the classic long levers and top heaviness .
• many of the techniques severely punished my lever length and were exhausting
• badly selected exercises for my frame type some techniques were impossible for me ••kneel on carriage , 30degree y press with hands in straps to above head? I would have faceplanted through the carriage gap , and that would tear my rotor cuff with my lever length creating crazy torque. I ended up self modding that to chicken wing shrugs which was just weird
•• weird v-sits and diagonal crunches on the bed with ball between scapula . . I didn’t fit . My butt was perfectly in the gap regardless of carriage position. I had to put my feet on the floor as well and that removed the target of the exercise . I should have just done sit-ups on the floor
•the instructor was inconsistent with her requests
•• feet to edge of foot rest, externally rotate , knees in line with shoulders , and push away. So for us tall folk , If i externally rotate my knees go SO much wider than my shoulders. So which is it ? Don’t rotate ? Or bring my feet into the centre of the bar ?
I ended up targeting different muscle groups throughout the class than was intended , inventing my own mods to make the exercise work and prevent injury , and felt like the problem child .
Won’t be going to that class again but it made me think this particular gym chain has a poor middle ground of reformer category
‘Foundation’ - beginners , with understanding the bench and basic movements
‘Recovery’ - my fave with those deeeeep isometric stretches for minutes , reprogramming the neuro response to a stretch. Perfect for my itb etc.
‘Athletic’ big reps, big muscle chain recruitment .
And everything else is align . Which is useless because you’re at the mercy of an instructor who teaches what they want .
They need at least a conditioning category, a dynamic category , and a true align category that looks at isometric posture and balance changes to identify and address imbalance in our bodies
Last night was just a sweat shop .
Anyone else been to classes that don’t fit the bill and make you feel like you don’t belong ?
I bought a Flo Pro Reformation equipment for $199, it is more expensive than the standard Flo Reformed. I was expecting what they advertise as a free course, portable using at home. However I was disappointed. You bought the tool and you have to pay for subscription courses over the app as $180+ yearly and they just give you a month for free use while it took 3 weeks to deliver the tool. Ok. If It was fine , I guess I need to pay for the instructors to run the course. However the second disappointment came right after, all courses used the standard reformation not the Pro. It Makes me think hard and slowly to follow what the instructor guides. I couldn't exercise as smoothly.
Then I decided to return as they said you can return within 90 days. Now it comes as super crazy policies.
To return your item, you would need to:
Cover the return shipping cost, which is typically around $60–$100 depending on your location
Wait for the item to go through a 10–15 business day inspection after it arrives at our warehouse
Please note that a 10% restocking fee will be deducted from your refund
Allow additional time for the refund to reflect in your account, depending on your bank’s processing time
Indeed, please be careful when you decide to buy. You don't want to return and keep it as you like or not. Otherwise you will lose money as I am . Think carefully before making payments for this equipment from Flo Reformed website
Okay. I’m not sure what the responses will be for this, but I need some advice, so here it goes.
I’ve never done reformer Pilates and it’s been years since I’ve done mat Pilates, but I and my children all have a rare neurological muscle disorder (hyperekplexia) that causes extreme stiff muscles, exaggerated startle reflex, and balance and coordination issues. We’ve done the standard physical therapy, AFO bracing for the toe walking, not Botox injections, etc.
I’m not asking for medical advice. But our condition is so rare we usually have to tell the neurologists about it instead of the other way around.
All of this to say, it’s a struggle to find exercise/sports/ physical activity that they can do without the possibility of falling. (which happens a lot with t his condition).
Pilates in general, but especially with the reformer, on paper looks like the best option to give their overworked muscles a break and their underworked ones a good stretch/workout. I am mostly just looking for improve in balance/posture/ coordination/core strength. We homeschool in part bc of their condition (lots of doc appts to miss school) and six of my eight children have this condition. So going and paying for studio Pilates doesn’t make financial sense.
I’ve found a couple websites that specialize in zoom neuro Pilates. There’s also a local place that does neuro Pilates locally Ik willing to go to occasionally for feedback, but it’s not financially feesible for everyone to be able to do t his regularly.
I’m willing to invest $3/4000 for a BB or Merrithew solid reformer since first off it would be solid and safe, and could withstand six people using it daily. Pl us the cost savings would be recouped early on versus cost of classes, including the $50/mo online neuro zoom classes.
I’ve done soooo much research and just want to help my kids and myself, but every time I look things up in a Pilates group, people are basically looked down on for trying things on their own and told how unsafe that is. I do understand the importance of an in person instructor, and hope to incorporate that least monthly, but given everything I’ve laid out, does this sound reasonable for our situation? Or should I scrap everything I’ve been researching because I can’t swing in person classes?
Thank you for any advice.
I'm curious how common this is because I see it discussed quite a bit.
One thing I've noticed is that many people try to lift their hips as high as possible. Once the hips have reached their available extension, continuing to push higher may mean the extra movement is coming more from the lower back than the hips.
A few cues that may help:
The goal of a bridge isn't necessarily the biggest range of motion it's quality of movement.
I recently put together a detailed article covering:
Question: When you do bridges, where do you feel the exercise the most—your glutes, hamstrings, or lower back? And what cues have helped you?
I realized a lot of people compare reformers the wrong way...
I'm the founder of PersonalHour, so I spend a lot of time discussing reformers with customers. One thing I hear all the time is: "This reformer is 90 inches long, so it should fit anyone."
Not necessarily.
Two reformers can both be 90 inches long and feel completely different because of how they're designed.
Here are the measurements I think people should compare before buying:
This is probably the most overlooked specification.
It's the distance the carriage can actually move during an exercise—not the overall frame length.
For taller users, this often matters more than whether the reformer is 88" or 90".
Two people can both be 5'10", but one has a 30" inseam while the other has a 35" inseam.
The second person will usually need more carriage travel.
A practical comparison formula I use is:
Recommended carriage travel ≈ Inseam × 0.60–0.65
Example:
30" inseam → about 18–19.5" travel
32" inseam → about 19–21" travel
34" inseam → about 20–22" travel
36" inseam → about 22–23.5" travel
This isn't an official Pilates standard—just a practical way to compare machines that have different geometries.
Most manufacturers don't list this.
But during footwork, that's the space your body actually uses.
If it's too short, your knees may start excessively bent before the exercise even begins.
A wider carriage isn't only for heavier users.
If you have broad shoulders, spend a lot of time in side-lying work, planks, or kneeling exercises, a wider carriage can simply feel more comfortable.
People often compare spring colors or lengths.
The important part is the working range.
As the carriage moves, the springs extend. That extension needs to be engineered for that specific reformer. Two springs with the same relaxed length can feel completely different because of:
I'm curious when you bought your reformer, what specification did you wish you'd known beforehand? Was there anything that surprised you once you started using it?
Hi all! I bought a Siluet a while back, haven't unwrapped it yet. This company appears to have disappeared! Are there any reformers similar to it, that we can order spare parts from if needed? This company was sketchy right from the start!