The 8 Best Pilates Reformer Machines for Men to Use in Home Gyms

fit man doing pilates side elbow plank exercises

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There’s no reason you shouldn’t be doing Pilates. Just because you’re a guy doesn’t mean the practice doesn’t fit your fitness profile.

For one, it’s really going to make you sweat and torch your muscles. “It’s a common misconception that Pilates is essentially a form of stretching, when in truth it’s a type of resistance training that was developed over 100 years ago to help wounded soldiers recover from injuries during World War I,” says Jordan Galloway, CPT (NASM), certified Pilates instructor and teacher at Good Day Pilates in New York City. As Galloway notes, while classic Pilates focuses primarily on core training, the modern version he teaches focuses on functional movement, and integrates stabilization, flexibility, muscular endurance, core, and strength training into each workout.

“Some benefits of the practice include better balance, improved strength endurance, and increased mobility,” she adds. And doing Pilates can also help you avoid injury. “One of the primary benefits of Pilates is that it puts an emphasis on building strength and mobility simultaneously, which allows you to become more flexible and increase your range of motion safely,” says Galloway. That, in turn, can reduce your risk of injuries, he says. Another reason it can lower your injury risk: Pilates “also focuses on helping people form proper length-tension relationships between their muscles so that they’re working optimally and [ensures] some aren’t overcompensating for others or putting unnecessary pressure on joints.” Finally, Galloway says, a big component of Pilates is proprioception, meaning the ability to sense your body’s movement in space without looking at it. “This helps improve your balance and prevent injury and falls.”

While Pilates may be more popular among women as a form of exercise, there’s no physical reason for that. “Quite a few guys come to take Pilates at the studio where I work, and every one that I’ve taught has told me at least once how challenging they find the classes. It’s not a workout that you can muscle through—it’s intended to make you go slow and ensure that you’re executing exercises using the correct primary mover muscles and stabilizers,” she says. But more than that, Galloway also appreciates that Pilates targets muscular endurance—so low-weight, high reps—which is often more challenging for men who are used to lifting heavier weights.

“In a lot of ways, Pilates is a perfect form of cross-training for guys who are used to weightlifting and doing cardio, which is why I think so many professional athletes, like LeBron James, for example, practice Pilates.”

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Sportline Superior Reformer Bundle

This sleek white reformer machine is among Galloway’s favorites. The carriage glides beautifully, and the set comes with a sitting box, jumpboard, a pair of ropes, a pair of hand grips, and more. Adjustable springs mean you can easily change how much weight you’re bearing during a workout. “Play around with the resistance,” says Galloway. “If you’re taking a pre-recorded class and the teacher cues a spring set up that isn’t challenging to you by the last two or three reps, consider increasing the load.”

Pilates Reformer Vintage

This whisper-quiet Pilates reformer machine is built-to-last, comfortable, and comes with adjustable headrest, shoulder rest, and ropes, as well as a pair of attached pulleys. “I love Pilates reformers for their versatility, and you can get even more out of yours if you think about it as a cable machine too,” says Galloway. She suggests moves like wood choppers and single-leg abduction while standing on the floor. Adjustable springs span four levels, ranging from very light to very hard.

Merrithew At Home SPX Reformer Bundle

This Merrithew reformer includes 4 full-tension reformer springs and 1 half-tension reformer spring for tons of resistance options. It also has extra-thick foam cushioning throughout with 3 headrest positions, a padded platform extender and adjustable 4-position foot bar.

Align-Pilates F2 Folding Home Reformer

If you’re looking for a Pilates reformer that folds up, so you can stash it out of the way when not in use, this is your best bet. It’s also got nice specs like removable rope risers with three height options, multiple wire spring options, double loop handles, an adjustable headrest and shoulder rest, and four foot bar positions. Even when you’re not doing a formal training class, there are plenty of strength-training moves to crank out with this beast of a machine. Speaking of which, no matter which reformer you settle on, “get creative with how you use yours outside of classes,” notes Galloway.

Stamina AeroPilates Pro XP 556 Home Pilates Reformer

The Stamina AeroPilates Pro XP 556 reformer has adjustable, 4-cord resistance for customized resistance during your Pilates workout. It also has a unique and patented cardio rebounder to get an added cardio workout between toning with the padded foot bar. It also has built-in wheels for easy transport or storage.

Gratz Pilates Universal Classic Reformer

You can get this professional grade Gratz Universal Reformer in an aluminum or wood frame in varying lengths from 80″, 86″, and 89″. The straps are made of natural leather with optional 27″ extension straps, plus 20″ foot straps.

Pilates Power Gym ‘Pro’ 3-Elevation Mini Reformer

This reformer requires no assembly, so all you need to do is unpack it and get practicing. Even though it’s a ‘mini’ reformer, it can hold up to 300 pounds and will fit guys up to 6’4″. It has 3 incline levels and 4 power cords that will give you 48 resistance settings.

Lagree Fitness Microformer Fully Loaded Bundle

This at-home reformer is specifically for the Lagree Fitness Method, a Pilates-esque strength studio. This Microformer is a smaller alternative to the Megaformer used in Lagree studios that can be used with a Lagree At Home subscription.

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