Equipment ReviewSeptember 2026
Merrithew At Home SPX Review (2026)
The Studio Reformer's main rival — an honest deep review of the real Merrithew Amazon listing.
Read → 11 min readEquipment Review·Balanced Body
Balanced Body Studio Reformer Review (2026):
The Real Amazon-Sold Flagship, Honestly Assessed
Updated September 2026 · 11 min read
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This machine is often searched for as the "Allegro 2," but we could not find a live Amazon listing under that name. The Balanced Body reformer that is genuinely sold on Amazon, direct from Balanced Body, is the Studio Reformer with the Revo footbar, at $4,700. This review covers that real listing honestly: what it actually offers, one important correction — it does not fold — and how it compares to Merrithew.
What makes the Studio Reformer different
The Strata rock maple frame is the machine that populates certification centres and clinics, which is the strongest evidence of its build quality: it is the reformer a huge number of instructors trained on before ever considering one for home use. Five Signature Springs cover the resistance range end to end, and full tower compatibility means the machine can grow into a more complete apparatus station without needing to be replaced. This is the same positioning the Allegro line has historically held in Balanced Body's catalogue — the professional-grade reference machine — but it is important to be precise about which specific model that actually maps to on Amazon today, because product names in this category change and older reviews have not always kept up.
Here is the correction that matters most: this machine does not fold. It is a permanent-installation reformer, made to order, and it needs a dedicated footprint rather than wall storage space. If you came to this page expecting an upright-folding, wall-stored machine — a description that circulated for the "Allegro 2" — that description does not apply to the Studio Reformer, and we could not verify it applies to any current Balanced Body Amazon listing. Plan your space around a permanent installation before you order.
Balanced Body has built accessories for this platform for decades, and that is where the real, verifiable advantage over smaller brands shows up: sitting boxes, jumpboards, platform extenders and replacement parts are widely stocked and easy to source years after purchase. As a practitioner's practice deepens, the Studio Reformer accommodates tower work and box series without needing to replace the machine.
What we could verify
Sold by
Balanced Body, direct on Amazon
Price
$4,700
Frame
Strata rock maple
Springs
Five Signature Springs
Footbar
Revo footbar
Tower compatible
Yes — full tower compatibility
Storage
Does not fold — a permanent-installation machine, made to order
Not verified
No live Amazon listing exists for a model called "Allegro 2"; do not confuse this with that name
The honest case against the Studio Reformer
- —$4,700 for the reformer alone, before the box, jumpboard and other accessories most buyers end up adding. Budget several hundred dollars more for a realistic complete setup.
- —It does not fold. Unlike what older coverage of this category implied, this is a permanent-installation machine, not a fold-and-store option — a genuine constraint in a small apartment or multi-use room.
- —Made to order, so expect a lead time rather than immediate delivery — plan your purchase timeline accordingly.
- —No instruction included. This is professional apparatus; Balanced Body assumes buyers know how to use it or will get instruction separately.
- —Assembly takes real time and is best done with two people, which is standard for professional-grade reformers generally.
- —We could not verify exact weight or footprint dimensions for the current listing — check the live Amazon listing for these before ordering, rather than relying on figures quoted elsewhere.
The Studio Reformer and Real Accessories to Pair With It
Quick Picks — At a Glance
01The Real Listing
Balanced Body Studio Reformer (Revo Footbar)
$4,700A note before anything else: this is often searched for as the "Allegro 2," but that model is not a live Amazon listing — we checked and found no working offer for it. The Balanced Body reformer genuinely sold on Amazon, made to order and shipped by Balanced Body, is the Studio Reformer with the Revo footbar. It carries a Strata rock maple frame, five Signature Springs, and full tower compatibility — the same machine that populates certification centres and clinics. One important correction to older coverage of this category: the Studio Reformer does not fold. It is a permanent-installation machine, not a fold-and-store option, so plan floor space accordingly before ordering.
Shop on Amazon02Box Work
Balanced Body Sitting Box Lite
$150Short box, long box and seated work all need a box, and the Sitting Box Lite is the real, currently-live Balanced Body accessory for it — it sits on the carriage rather than mounting to the frame, so it works across Balanced Body's reformer line rather than being model-specific.
Shop on Amazon03Cardio Add-On
Balanced Body Padded Jumpboard
$280Turns the Studio Reformer into low-impact cardio equipment. This is Balanced Body's own jumpboard rather than a generic aftermarket part — confirm it fits your exact footbar configuration before ordering, since mountings are not universal even within one brand's range.
Shop on Amazon04Maintenance
Balanced Body Replacement Reformer Ropes with Clips
$35Ropes lose tension gradually rather than failing visibly, and a stretched rope quietly changes the working length of every strap exercise. Order for your exact model and keep a spare set — spring and rope specs are not interchangeable across brands.
Shop on Amazon05Accessory
Eccentfit Pilates Grip Pads (4-Pack)
$7.99A grip pad makes the carriage feel secure for standing and kneeling exercises and protects the upholstery, which is the first thing to look tired on any reformer. Check the pad dimensions against your carriage width before ordering.
Shop on AmazonWho should buy the Studio Reformer — and who shouldn't
Buy it if
- ✓You have a dedicated floor footprint for a permanent-installation machine — this does not fold or tuck away.
- ✓You have trained consistently in a Pilates studio and know the reformer repertoire.
- ✓Reformer Pilates is a lasting part of your practice, not a temporary experiment.
- ✓You want the deepest, most widely-stocked accessory ecosystem for future expansion.
- ✓You plan to add tower work, box series, or jumpboard cardio over time.
Don't buy it if
- ✗You need a reformer that folds away — this machine does not, and we could not verify that any current Balanced Body Amazon listing does.
- ✗You are a complete beginner who has not yet had studio sessions — start in a studio first.
- ✗You want a lower entry price — Merrithew's At Home SPX Reformer Package is $3,349, a real step down.
- ✗You want to try reformer Pilates before committing — an entry-level cord machine for a year first is a cheaper way to test the habit.
Studio Reformer vs Merrithew At Home SPX: the real comparison
These are the two machines actually sold on Amazon in this category, not the names that circulate in older reviews. On price, the Studio Reformer at $4,700 sits well above the At Home SPX at $3,349. On springs, Merrithew's system is built around fine gradation at the light-resistance end — genuinely useful for rehab and prenatal work — while the Studio Reformer's five Signature Springs cover the full range with the frame and tower compatibility that certification centres rely on. Neither machine is verified to fold for storage, so if flat or under-bed storage is a hard requirement, treat that as unresolved and check current listings directly rather than assuming either machine solves it.
On ecosystem, Balanced Body's accessory range is wider and more widely stocked, developed over a longer period. The honest verdict: if budget and a lower entry price matter most, the At Home SPX is the real, cheaper, genuinely Merrithew-branded option. If you want the deepest accessory ecosystem and have the permanent floor space for it, the Studio Reformer is the correct purchase — just go in knowing it will not fold away.
Frequently asked questions
Is the "Balanced Body Allegro 2" sold on Amazon?
We could not find a live Amazon offer under that name. The Balanced Body reformer genuinely sold on Amazon, direct from Balanced Body, is the Studio Reformer with the Revo footbar, at $4,700 — that is the real machine this review covers.
Does the Studio Reformer fold for storage?
No. It is a permanent-installation machine, made to order. If you need a reformer that folds for storage, this is not it — check the current listing for any folding Balanced Body or Merrithew model before assuming one exists.
Does the Studio Reformer include a box?
No. A Balanced Body Sitting Box Lite is a real, separately-sold accessory that works on the carriage without mounting to the frame.
How does the Studio Reformer compare to Merrithew?
Merrithew's real Amazon-sold SPX-family machine, the At Home SPX Reformer Package, is $3,349 — a step below the Studio Reformer's $4,700 — and is built around Merrithew's five-spring system with fine light-end gradation, useful for rehab and prenatal work. Balanced Body's accessory ecosystem is deeper and more widely stocked. Neither machine is verified to fold flat for storage.
Where do I buy the Balanced Body Studio Reformer?
Direct from Balanced Body on Amazon, or through Balanced Body authorized dealers. It ships made to order, so expect a lead time rather than immediate stock.
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