Pilates Reformer Accessories: What to Buy First
By Mateara . 7 min read . Updated September 2026
A home reformer arrives with the bare minimum: a carriage, a footbar, and stock loops that most owners replace within months. The accessories that follow are not impulse buys, they unlock exercises, protect the machine, and fix the small daily annoyances of stock parts. Start with the Balanced Body Short Box for Reformer if you own a Balanced Body machine, then work through loops, cardio, spring storage, and neck support in the order most owners actually need them.
Quick answer
The Balanced Body Short Box is the single most valuable reformer accessory, unlocking seated and supine exercises the flat carriage cannot support. After that, replace worn hand and foot loops, such as STOTT Pilates Flex-Band Loops, add a padded jump board for cardio, and store springs in a dedicated bag to prevent rust and kinking.
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What is the single most valuable reformer accessory to add first?
The Balanced Body Short Box for Reformer is the first accessory most home reformer owners should buy, since it sits on the carriage to create a flat, elevated surface for seated and supine exercises that the bare carriage alone cannot support.
It is built specifically for Balanced Body reformers, including the Allegro and Studio lines, and it is the standard box used in certified Balanced Body teacher training. If you own a different brand of reformer, check the box dimensions and rope attachment points before ordering, since it will not fit a STOTT or Merrithew carriage the same way.
This single accessory unlocks more of the classical Pilates exercise library than any other add-on, which is why it is worth buying before loops, jump boards, or storage.
Balanced Body Short Box for Reformer
The most essential reformer accessory, a short box that sits on the carriage to create an elevated, flat surface for seated and supine exercises not possible on the bare carriage. Built for Balanced Body reformers including the Allegro and Studio Reformer lines.
Which reformer loops are worth upgrading from stock?
The STOTT Pilates Flex-Band Loop Handles are the practical second purchase for STOTT and Merrithew reformer owners, replacing the low-quality nylon loops that ship standard on most home machines with padded, fleece-lined loops and stainless-steel snap clips.
The upgrade matters most in the arm and leg series, where stock loops without padding can dig into wrists and ankles during longer holds. The stainless-steel clips also connect and release from the reformer ropes without the fumbling that comes with cheaper plastic hardware.
Confirm clip compatibility with your specific reformer model before ordering, since loop and rope attachment styles differ between STOTT, Merrithew, and other brands.
STOTT Pilates Flex-Band Loop Handles
Replacement hand and foot loops for STOTT and Merrithew reformers, with padded handles and stainless-steel snap clips. The loops that come standard with most home reformers are low-quality; these are the upgrade most home owners make early.
How do you add cardio intervals to a home reformer?
The AeroPilates Jump Board for Stamina Reformers is built for AeroPilates and Stamina home reformers, replacing the footbar with a padded vertical surface so you can add low-impact jumping sequences to an otherwise mat-focused machine.
Supine jumping against spring resistance is genuinely cardiovascular while staying easy on the joints, which is why studios that own commercial reformers with jump board attachments use it for interval training. On a home reformer, this accessory is the one that turns strength work into a cardio session.
It is brand-specific to AeroPilates and Stamina fitment and will not attach to a professional Balanced Body or STOTT machine, so verify your model before buying.
AeroPilates Jump Board for Stamina Reformers
A padded jump board designed for AeroPilates and Stamina home reformers that replaces the footbar for cardio jumping sequences. Converts a mat-focused home reformer into a low-impact cardio machine for interval training and power work.
How should you store reformer springs so they do not rust or kink?
The Pilates Designs Reformer Spring Storage Bag bag is a small, inexpensive fix for a real problem: springs left loose on a shelf or floor kink, rust, and can snap back if grabbed by the wrong end while changing resistance.
The padded pockets organize springs by their resistance color and keep the hooks from tangling with each other, which matters if you change spring combinations often for different exercises. It fits springs from most major reformer brands, making it one of the few universal accessories on this list.
Pilates Designs Reformer Spring Storage Bag
A padded fabric bag designed to store reformer springs safely when not on the machine. Springs left loose can kink, rust, or cause injury when grabbed blindly; a dedicated storage bag organises them by resistance colour and protects the hooks from damage.
What reformer accessory helps with neck sensitivity during supine work?
The Merrithew Reformer Head and Neck Pillow is a slim, padded pillow that attaches to the reformer headrest to add cervical spine support during supine exercises, without raising the entire carriage the way a full headrest adjustment would.
It is especially useful for practitioners with neck tension and for prenatal clients who need additional head elevation during reclined series. It is sized for Merrithew and STOTT headrests, so check the fit against your machine before ordering, and the cover is machine washable for shared home or studio use.
Merrithew Reformer Head and Neck Pillow
A slim padded pillow that sits on the reformer headrest to support the cervical spine during supine exercises. Especially useful for practitioners with neck sensitivity and for prenatal clients who need additional head elevation.
Can a pilates ring double as a reformer accessory?
The Balanced Body Spring Circle is a tempered spring-steel reproduction of Joseph Pilates's original Magic Circle, and unlike most rings it is designed for dual use: as a standalone mat prop and as a resistance accessory used directly on the reformer during arm and leg series.
Its wooden handles and firmer, more progressive resistance than a fiberglass ring make it a natural fit for owners who want one prop that works both on and off the carriage, rather than buying a separate ring for mat work.
Balanced Body Spring Circle
An authentic reproduction of Joseph Pilates's original Magic Circle, handcrafted from tempered spring steel with wooden handles. Used on the reformer as a resistance prop in arm and leg series, and independently for mat-based toning work.
Featured in this guide
Balanced Body Short Box for Reformer
The most essential reformer accessory, a short box that sits on the carriage to create an elevated, flat surface for seated and supine exercises not possible on the bare carriage. Built for Balanced Body reformers including the Allegro and Studio Reformer lines.
STOTT Pilates Flex-Band Loop Handles
Replacement hand and foot loops for STOTT and Merrithew reformers, with padded handles and stainless-steel snap clips. The loops that come standard with most home reformers are low-quality; these are the upgrade most home owners make early.
AeroPilates Jump Board for Stamina Reformers
A padded jump board designed for AeroPilates and Stamina home reformers that replaces the footbar for cardio jumping sequences. Converts a mat-focused home reformer into a low-impact cardio machine for interval training and power work.
Pilates Designs Reformer Spring Storage Bag
A padded fabric bag designed to store reformer springs safely when not on the machine. Springs left loose can kink, rust, or cause injury when grabbed blindly; a dedicated storage bag organises them by resistance colour and protects the hooks from damage.
Merrithew Reformer Head and Neck Pillow
A slim padded pillow that sits on the reformer headrest to support the cervical spine during supine exercises. Especially useful for practitioners with neck sensitivity and for prenatal clients who need additional head elevation.
Balanced Body Spring Circle
An authentic reproduction of Joseph Pilates's original Magic Circle, handcrafted from tempered spring steel with wooden handles. Used on the reformer as a resistance prop in arm and leg series, and independently for mat-based toning work.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are pilates reformer accessories brand-specific?+
Many are. A short box, jump board, or hand loops built for a Balanced Body reformer may not fit the carriage width or rope attachment points on a STOTT, Peak, or Merrithew machine, and AeroPilates jump boards are sized for AeroPilates and Stamina machines specifically. Universal accessories like spring storage bags are the exception; always check fitment notes before ordering a box or jump board.
What is the first accessory I should buy for a home reformer?+
A short box, if your machine is a Balanced Body reformer. It unlocks seated and supine exercises the flat carriage cannot support and is used as the standard first accessory in certified teacher training. If you own a different brand, prioritize replacement hand and foot loops instead, since stock loops on most home reformers are low quality.
Do I need a jump board on my reformer?+
Only if you want to add cardio interval work to your practice. A jump board replaces the footbar with a padded surface for low-impact supine jumping against spring resistance, which is a genuine cardiovascular addition but not required for standard strength-focused Pilates sequences. It is also brand-specific, so confirm fitment before buying.
How do I know what spring resistance to use on my reformer?+
Most reformers use four or five color-coded springs representing light, medium, and heavy resistance, and your reformer manual or exercise program will specify combinations for each movement. Beginner footwork typically uses more springs for support, while arm and abdominal work uses one or two lighter springs. Replace any spring showing rust, kinking, or visible deformation immediately.
Is a reformer headrest pillow necessary?+
Not for everyone, but it is a worthwhile purchase for anyone with neck sensitivity or tension who does regular supine reformer work. It adds cervical support without raising the whole carriage the way adjusting the fixed headrest angle would. A folded towel can achieve something similar at no cost, though a fitted pillow with a washable cover is more practical for daily or shared use.