Pilates Bar Kits: Are They Worth It?

The Pilates bar is having a moment. According to Exploding Topics, searches for "pilates bar" reached about 22,000 a month, up 433% over the period it tracks. If it's showing up in your feed, here's what it actually is and whether it's worth buying.

These picks are based on the listings, ratings and number of verified reviews, not a hands-on test.

What a Pilates bar kit is

A bar, usually in three sections that screw together, with resistance bands attached at each end and a loop for your feet. You stand on the loop or hook it around your feet and pull the bar for rows, presses, squats and leg work. It packs into a bag, which is the whole appeal.

What it does well

Resistance on a budget. For about $20 you get adjustable resistance for arms, back and legs. Space. It fits in a drawer. Reformer-style strap work. Some moves mimic the pulling and pressing you do with the straps on a reformer.

What it doesn't do

It isn't a reformer. There's no moving carriage, no footbar and no springs, so it can't replace footwork or the stability challenge of the carriage. Bands also feel different from the springs on a reformer.

Our picks

Our first pick is the most-reviewed kit we checked: about $18, rated 4.5 stars from more than 1,300 reviews on Amazon. Check the band resistance listed before you buy, and replace the bands if they show cracks or tears.

Two close alternatives work the same way, with a bar in sections, two bands and loops for your feet: the Ayombo kit (about $18, 1,100+ reviews) and a kit with foot loops (about $20, 460+ reviews). Pick on price and on the band resistance listed.

The simpler alternative

If what you mostly want is glute and leg work, such as bridges, clamshells and side-lying leg lifts, a set of fabric loop bands covers most of it for the same price, with nothing to assemble. This three-pack is rated 4.7 stars from more than 3,000 reviews.

So, is it worth it?

Yes, if you want a cheap, portable way to add resistance at home or when you travel, and you like the pulling and pressing work. Skip it if you're hoping for a reformer substitute: for that, look at a board or a home reformer. And if you're new to Pilates, a few classes with an instructor will teach you the form before you add resistance.

A Pilates bar is a $20 resistance tool, not a $400 machine. Judge it on that, and it's a good buy.