The Warehouse Reformer Pilates Machine went viral last year – really down to the fact that it is a steal at $399. It’s back in stock again now, but, is it worth the hype?
Look. I’m not great with exercise. For most of my life I have done my very best to avoid it.
I’ve given in a few times and had a gym membership and have dabbled in yoga and Pilates, but then children and lockdown happened, and I justified the fact that I was running around and picking up little people constantly, so that surely was more than enough exercise?!
But then I found myself in my 40s and learning that I already have low bone density and can also see what all those people are talking about when they say you start to lose muscle mass in your forties. Ugh. I began to get that I was going to have to actually make friends with the devil I call exercise.
Just how are we supposed to make time to exercise though? How?! How do we fit it in between the working, the children, the wider family, the housework, the sleep, the everything?! I decided a ClassPass subscription might do the trick, where I could go to different places and try different classes at different times and see what worked best. I went to a couple of Reformer Pilates classes, which I have to admit I actually quite liked but quickly let it slide because I couldn’t fit it into my schedule.
It meant going at an outrageous time of morning (how am I supposed to prioritise exercise AND sleep?), or taking a good chunk of time out in the middle of the day. I found it increasingly difficult to juggle when I realised that I was spending more time getting to and from the classes than I was actually spending in them.
Which is when I saw that The Warehouse had restocked their Pilates Reformer machines which went viral last year.
And thankfully, our pals at The Warehouse said I could try one out.
Owning a Reformer machine is an idea I would never have entertained because when I googled them (I think around the same time I googled Infrared Saunas! Welp!) it was around $3,000. Even on TradeMe they were not cheap. The Warehouse version is a mere fraction of the price: $399.
But, is it any good?!?
Pros
It’s a reformer Pilates machine that is only $399. The sheer price of this is a win.
it’s in your house and you don’t have to leave the house to use it. This is a massive plus for me. It’s much easier to put aside a bit of time every second day – whether it’s 20 mins or 45 and get a bit of exercise done. There’s also loads of good Youtube videos with routines, so you’re sure to find something that suits you and your skill level.
It folds up reasonably compactly (although it is a bit of a mission to put away – you need a tool – and pull out again)
It features five heavy-duty ropes, that offer 11 different strength options, so whether you’re an absolute beginner with not too much strength, or you’re a super-strong pro, there’s the perfect option for you.
It’s a lot stronger and sturdier than I expected for the price. Honestly, once I had assembled this and gave it a go, I quite gingerly pulled and pushed on everything – but soon realised that I didn’t need to be so cautious: it was up for the task. In saying that, I do have to admit that when I looked out the window and saw my husband using it, putting all his weight on the handrail, I yelled out “nooooooo!’ and ran outside to stop him. I knew it wasn’t sturdy enough. Which is when he told me it was perfectly fine now because he’d fixed it (i.e.. He’d realised it was loose and had discovered I hadn’t assembled it properly or used all the parts. Oops!)
Cons
If you’re expecting it to be the same as the flash reformer machine you use at your pricey reformer classes, you’ll definitely find it a let-down. That’s not what this machine is, or is trying to be – it’s there to give you a pretty good experience at a low cost.
It’s a little tricky to move around and adjust. It comes in a gigantic box that weighs 35kg – so, once the machine is together, she’s heavy and pretty difficult to move around, even though it has wheels. There is a bit of assembly required – given the size of it, you probably should have two people on the job. I tried on my lonesome and then had to bring in my husband – and his tool kit, because I wasn’t getting very far with the Allen key and tiny wrench included. He also had to go back and re-do my “handywork” because the handrail I put together was a complete hazard.
Once it’s together, if you want to adjust something like the handrail to a different position, it’s not quite as simple as the flash machines – you need to get out an Allen key.
It’s perhaps best for people with a smaller frame and average height. If an exercise calls for you to be lying down on the main bed of the machine, it’s about 48cm in width and about 85cm in length, so if you’ve got a bigger frame or are tall, you might find it a bit of a squeeze. I have a pretty small frame but I’m 177cm and I found some exercises a bit tricky!
Make sure you use it on a firm, flat surface. I’d seen a few videos of people using this on carpeted floors, but I found it didn’t work quite as well on ours. It seemed to do the job best when on hardwood floors.
The TLDR:
Yip, The Warehouse’s Reformer Pilates machine is GOOD. For $399 it’s actually pretty darn sensational. Just make sure you’re not expecting it to be as good as the flash machines in your fancy reformer Pilates classes. You’re best not using it on carpet – make sure you’re using it on a flat, firm surface. And, it’s better suited to people who are quite petite – but there are still plenty of ways you can use it well if you’re lanky. Oh, and read the instructions carefully when assembling it. Don’t skip over anything!
(Disclaimer: we have a lovely little partnership with The Warehouse however this review piece is completely editorial with no influence or approval from The Warehouse!)
