Best At-Home Pilates Reformers Under $500

I take my reformer classes in a studio, so I know what a studio machine feels like, and none of these is that. A studio reformer has a heavy carriage, a full bank of springs and an instructor next to it. What a home reformer under $500 can give you is a way to practice between classes, without the drive or the booking.

These picks are based on Amazon ratings, the number of reviews behind them, and the specs on each listing. I haven't tested them. For a purchase this size, a 4-star rating means little if it comes from five buyers, so the number of reviews weighs heavily here.

What to check before you buy

Springs or cords. Studio reformers use springs. Many home models use elastic cords instead, which feel lighter and less smooth at the end of the range. Weight limit. Check the maximum user weight on the listing. Folded size. A reformer is long: check that you have the floor space to use it and somewhere to store it folded. Returns. It's a bulky item, so read the return policy before you order.

Best overall: AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379

AeroPilates is Stamina's line of home reformers, and the Reformer Plus 379 is the most reviewed machine on this list, with a 4.5-star rating from more than 400 reviews on Amazon. It runs on four resistance cords rather than springs and comes with a cardio rebounder for jumping work.

Price is the catch. Stamina, the manufacturer, lists it at $699.99, but it's regularly discounted at large retailers to around $430, so check the current price before you buy.

The simpler AeroPilates: Reformer 287

If you don't need the rebounder, the AeroPilates Reformer 287 is the 379's simpler sibling: three resistance cords instead of four, a foldable frame with wheels, and a 300 lb user limit, according to the listing. It's rated 4.3 stars from more than 300 reviews and was listed at about $449 on Amazon when we checked.

Best budget pick: ZENOVA Foldable Reformer

At around $270, the ZENOVA foldable reformer is the cheapest machine here with a meaningful number of reviews behind it: 4.2 stars from more than 50 buyers. It folds for storage and is rated for users up to 300 lb, according to the listing.

Worth a look: two newer foldable reformers

Two other foldable models score well but have less history. The steel-frame reformer rated for 400 lb (about $400, 4.4 stars) is sturdier on paper, though its listing shows less review history. The apartment-size foldable reformer (about $284) shows a perfect 5-star rating, but from only 13 reviews, which is too few to judge durability.

Before you set it up

If you've never used a reformer, take a few studio classes first: an instructor will show you how to set the resistance, place your feet and use the straps safely. Then a home machine makes a lot more sense, and our cost breakdown shows how fast it pays for itself.

A reformer under $500 is a practice machine, not a studio machine. Buy the one with enough reviews to trust, and keep a few classes in the mix.