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One of the questions I get asked all the time is:
“If you were setting up a home Pilates studio from scratch, what equipment would you buy?”
There are a lot of good options out there these days, but after teaching Pilates for over a decade, owning studios, and spending thousands of hours on reformers, I definitely have my favorites.
If you’re thinking about investing in a home setup, here’s what I personally use and recommend.
My Favorite Reformer: The Allegro 2
If budget allows, my top recommendation is the Allegro 2 from Balanced Body.
I’ve taught on countless reformers over the years, and the Allegro 2 consistently stands out for its quality, durability, and user-friendly design. Everything feels intuitive, which is especially important when you’re working out at home without an instructor standing beside you.
I personally have the version with the steel footbar, not the carbon footbar. The steel version is heavier, which some people may not love, but I actually prefer it. It feels incredibly solid and sturdy during workouts, which gives me confidence when teaching and practicing more dynamic exercises.
It’s one of those purchases that feels expensive initially, but it’s built to last.
Upgrades Recommended
One upgrade I do recommend is getting the reformer legs. Raising the reformer off the floor makes a bigger difference than you might think. It’s easier to get on and off, more comfortable for certain exercises, and generally creates a better overall experience.
As for the extended platform, I consider that more of a personal preference than a necessity. You certainly don’t need it to have a great Pilates practice. The main benefit is having more space for standing exercises where one foot is on the platform, particularly front-facing lunges. Personally, I tend to do most of my lunges either off the side of the machine or facing the back, so I don’t find myself needing the extra platform space very often.
That said, if you enjoy standing side-facing work and like having a little more room for foot placement, it can be a nice addition. I just wouldn’t make it a priority over the reformer legs.
The Sitting Box I Always Choose
This might sound like a small detail, but if you’re buying a box, I highly recommend the Contour Sitting Box.
The rounded edges make a surprising difference.
Whenever you’re lying on your stomach for exercises like Pulling Straps or Swan variations, the box feels much more comfortable against the ribs and hips than traditional square-edged boxes.
It’s one of those upgrades you don’t realize you need until you’ve tried it.
My Favorite Straps
For straps, I’m a huge fan of the Double Loop Straps with the neoprene lining from Elements by Momentum World. For the link (and discount code), check out the bottom of this page.
They’re soft without feeling slippery, comfortable on the hands and feet, and they hold up incredibly well over time.
One of my favorite features is that they can be tossed directly into the washing machine. If you’ve ever owned straps that become fuzzy, pilled, or impossible to clean, you’ll appreciate this.
I’ve been using them for over 5 years now and they still look great.
Don’t Forget the Jumpboard
If you’re already investing in a reformer, I think a jumpboard is one of the best add-ons you can buy.
No, you don’t have to use it for intense cardio sessions.
I actually love it because it adds variety. It allows you to work the legs differently, challenge coordination, and bring a playful element into your workouts.
Many of my members are surprised by how much they enjoy jumpboard classes, even if they don’t consider themselves “cardio people.”
A Few Props Worth Having
If you’re building your home studio gradually, there are two props I use all the time and recommend adding to your collection: an inflatable ball and a Magic Circle.
For the ball, I like the 8–10 inch inflatable version. It’s incredibly versatile and can be used to support alignment, add feedback, increase challenge, or simply make certain exercises more comfortable.
One tip: don’t inflate it all the way. I prefer keeping a little bit of air out of it so it has some give. A slightly softer ball molds to the body better, feels more comfortable during exercises, and is less likely to go flying across the room when you’re trying to squeeze it between your ankles or knees.
It’s small, inexpensive, and you’ll be surprised how often it comes out during a workout.
The other prop I love is the Magic Circle.
There are two sizes you’ll commonly see: the regular circle and the mini circle. The regular circle is more versatile overall. It works beautifully when placing the legs inside the circle and gives you more exercise options.
The mini circle, on the other hand, can feel a little more comfortable when placing it between the inner ankles or inner thighs because it’s smaller and suits the proportions of the body better.
If you’re only going to buy one, I’d choose the regular Magic Circle. You’ll get more use out of it and have access to a wider variety of exercises.
My Advice for Building a Home Studio
If you’re slowly building your home Pilates space, I wouldn’t feel pressured to buy everything at once.
You can gradually collect accessories as your practice grows.
The nice thing about Pilates is that you don’t need a room packed with equipment to get incredible workouts. A few well-chosen pieces can take you a very long way.
And once your studio is set up, the next step is knowing what to do on it.
If you’re looking for guidance once your home studio is set up, you’ll find hundreds of Reformer Pilates workouts, programs, and plans inside Saran Pilates. Everything is organized by level, goal, and experience, so whether you’re just getting started or have been practicing for years, you’ll always know what to do next.
After all, the best home studio isn’t the one with the most equipment—it’s the one you actually use.
Gabrielle Saran
