Foldable Or Non-Foldable Reformer?

Are you dreaming of studio-quality Pilates workouts at home but worried your living room isn't big enough? It’s the ultimate dilemma for home fitness enthusiasts: do you sacrifice precious floor space for a permanent setup or risk buying a machine that is a hassle to pack away?

This guide dives deep into the hidden realities of choosing a foldable reformer versus a non-foldable reformer, exposing what the finer details mean for workouts, safety and storage space.

Specifications: foldable vs non-foldable reformer

Before making your final choice, here’s a quick comparison of the fundamental differences you will experience between these two design styles:

Foldable and non-foldable reformer benefits and limitations

Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each design can help you choose a reformer that suits your available space, preferred features and workout routine.

Pros of a foldable reformer

• Requires less permanent floor space
• Can be stored between workouts
• May have wheels for easier movement
• Can suit apartments and multipurpose rooms

Cons of a foldable reformer

• May take time and effort to fold
• Can have a smaller carriage or lower frame
• May create a noticeable join beneath the carriage
• Some designs limit compatible accessories

Pros of a non-foldable reformer

• Remains ready for regular workouts
• Often provides a longer, uninterrupted frame
• May offer greater compatibility with platform extenders, jump boards and other accessories
• Can suit users with a dedicated Pilates space

Cons of a non-foldable reformer

• Requires a permanent area in the home
• Can be more difficult to move between rooms
• May not fit through narrow doorways once assembled
• Vertical storage depends on the model and the manufacturer’s instructions

Choosing between a foldable and a non-foldable reformer

Your available space, training frequency and storage needs should guide your choice more than the reformer’s appearance or price alone.

When to buy a foldable reformer

A foldable reformer may be suitable if you live in an apartment, exercise in a multipurpose room or need to store the machine after each session. Before buying, confirm that you can fold, move and store the selected model comfortably. Check that its carriage size, resistance system and accessory options also support your preferred exercises.

When to buy a non-foldable reformer

A non-foldable reformer may be the better choice when you have a dedicated workout area and plan to practise regularly. Its fixed frame remains ready for use and generally provides uninterrupted carriage rails. Compare the machine’s dimensions, transport wheels and approved storage method if you may occasionally need to reposition it.

Can I slide a foldable reformer under the bed?

There are Pilates Reformer machines which are small and lightweight so that sliding it under the bed is a possibility. However, to achieve this, the carriage bed is dimensionally small, meaning you feel cramped. These Pilates Reformers use rubber bands instead of springs for resistance, which need to be replaced more frequently due to wear and tear. Each of these features can limit the exercise range you wish to achieve.

Lightweight means less material is used, which begs the question, ‘what strength tests have been done to test the weight limits and longevity?’

Can I wheel into the cupboard?

Cupboard storage is usually possible with most models. The real question here is ‘how easy is it to fold and wheel’?

One of the most obvious requirements for most clients purchasing a foldable Pilates reformer is easy foldable abilities. The last thing you want after your workout is to then have a second workout trying to fold your reformer back up. Some models even require you to remove the carriage first and then lay the reformer on its side to fold.

When looking to buy a foldable reformer for home, keep an eye out for demonstration videos available online showing how the reformer folds.

Can it have longer legs?

You may have noticed some foldable reformer options available with extension legs, raising the height of your reformer. The issue here will again be how can you fold and put it away? It is now a giant ‘A frame’ which won’t fit in the cupboard or under a bed.

Often, wooden foldable reformers with legs are screwed into the wood with small wood screws, which cannot handle the side directional movement made when using a reformer. No use having legs that will simply fall out and become unusable.

Wooden Folding or Aluminium?

Be wary of reformers made from beech wood! Though lighter than Maple, it is not as strong and quite orange in appearance. As mentioned before, wood is not the best supporter for screw in components such as legs and hinges, often becoming loose in the long term.

Forgetting to support the jump board with the foot bar, can be detrimental to your wooden reformer, as the weak joinery cannot handle this type of pressure.

Will I feel a bump during use?

The simple answer here is yes. However, when you consider the range of movements within the Pilates repertoire, for the most part, the wheels of the carriage should work either side of the join. However, when using a Jump Board, you will feel a bump in most cases as you’re extending the carriage to the end of the runners.

There are some Foldable Pilates Reformers like the Align-Pilates F3 which have a clever way of not crossing the centre join. Unfortunately, removing the inconvenience of the ‘bump’ also removes the convenience of having the option to add a platform extension mattress. In the case of the Align-Pilates F3 Reformer, we have provided a fixated wide anti-slip platform at the end of the reformer to compensate.

Should you buy a foldable reformer?

If you desperately need to fold away your reformer machine due to space issues, then a foldable Pilates reformer is a suitable choice. Keep in mind, foldable doesn’t always mean more affordable, and often, the difficult process of folding the reformer will mean you’ll never fold it anyway.

It may be worth considering the Align-Pilates H1 Reformer. The H1 is a home designed reformer, is affordable, and can easily stand vertically without leaning on a wall, which is great even for those conscious space savers!