Equipment ReviewMay 2026
Balanced Body Allegro 2 Review (2026)
The SPX Max's main rival — an honest deep review of the Balanced Body Allegro 2.
Read → 12 min readEquipment Review·Merrithew
Merrithew SPX Max Review (2026):
The Flat-Folding Professional Reformer, Honestly Assessed
Updated May 2026 · 12 min read
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The Merrithew SPX Max is the machine that STOTT PILATES instructors train on, teach on, and recommend to serious home practitioners — a full professional spring reformer that folds completely flat and stores under a bed. At approximately $2,199–$2,599 before accessories, it costs meaningfully less than the Balanced Body Allegro 2 while matching it in almost every functional category. This review explains where the SPX Max genuinely leads, where it concedes, and exactly who should choose it over the Allegro 2.
What makes the SPX Max different
Where the Balanced Body Allegro 2 has four springs, the SPX Max has five: Blue (light), Red (medium), Green (heavy), Yellow (extra-heavy), and a half-spring. The additional spring allows finer resistance gradation — particularly in the lighter range used for rehabilitation exercises, pregnancy Pilates, and early post-surgical recovery. The STOTT PILATES certification program has standardised these color conventions across its global instructor network, which means a STOTT-trained practitioner anywhere in the world works within the same resistance language. For clinical Pilates practitioners and physiotherapy-adjacent work, this precision matters considerably. For general home practice, the difference relative to the Allegro 2 is less significant — both cover the full reformer repertoire — but the additional spring is an advantage worth noting at this price point.
The flat fold is the SPX Max's definitive practical advantage over the Allegro 2. The machine folds completely flat on integrated casters and rolls under a standard bed. This eliminates the wall clearance requirement of the Allegro 2's upright fold entirely — a real and material difference in small apartments, multi-use rooms, and living spaces where a reformer sitting upright against a wall is not a viable option. The Allegro 2 folds upright; the SPX Max folds horizontal. These are not equivalent solutions for small-space practitioners, and it is worth being direct about that: if under-bed storage is your primary constraint, the SPX Max is the machine.
Merrithew developed the STOTT PILATES method — a contemporary, biomechanically refined approach to Pilates emphasising natural spinal curves (neutral spine) rather than the imprinted spine of classical Pilates — and the SPX Max is the machine used in STOTT PILATES instructor certification training worldwide. For practitioners who have trained with STOTT-certified instructors, which accounts for a large proportion of the contemporary Pilates community, the spring color conventions, carriage feel, and machine proportions are exactly what they have been taught on. Moving from studio to home on the same machine eliminates a significant variable. STOTT PILATES is also the most widely recognised contemporary Pilates certification outside of classical lineages; if you have trained with a certified instructor in the last decade, there is a high likelihood they hold a STOTT credential.
Full Specification Sheet
Frame
Aluminum and steel construction
Springs
5 color-coded — Blue (light), Red (medium), Green (heavy), Yellow (extra-heavy), half-spring
Carriage
Sealed roller system — smooth, quiet
Storage
Folds flat on integrated casters — stores under a standard bed
Weight
Approximately 115 lbs (52 kg)
Footbar
Multiple height positions
Accessories
Box, Jump Board, Vertical Stand — sold separately
Methodology
STOTT PILATES — the reference machine for certification training
The honest case against the SPX Max
- —Weight: At approximately 115 lbs (52 kg), the SPX Max is substantially heavier than the Balanced Body Allegro 2 (approximately 66 lbs). It rolls on casters but is not a machine one person carries between rooms or floors. If your storage plan requires carrying the machine up stairs, this is a significant practical barrier.
- —Carriage feel: Most experienced practitioners who have compared both machines side by side note that the Allegro 2's Ultra-Glide carriage has a marginally smoother, more refined feel. The SPX Max carriage is excellent — sealed rollers, quiet, and consistent — but there is a perceptible difference to trained practitioners with extensive time on both machines.
- —Accessories add up: The full SPX Max setup — machine, Box, and Vertical Stand — runs approximately $3,200–$3,600, which is comparable to a complete Allegro 2 setup. The meaningful price advantage exists at the machine level; once you add equivalent accessories, the gap narrows significantly.
- —No instruction included: Like the Allegro 2, the SPX Max ships as apparatus only. Merrithew's instructional content is excellent and extensive — their video library and STOTT PILATES certification program are among the best in the industry — but it requires separate access. New practitioners should budget for instructional content or in-person sessions with a STOTT-certified instructor.
- —Assembly: Assembly takes approximately 2–3 hours and is ideally done with two people. This is standard for professional-grade reformers, but worth setting aside a proper window rather than treating it as a quick unpacking.
The SPX Max and Its Essential Accessories
Quick Picks — At a Glance
01The Benchmark
Merrithew SPX Max Reformer
From $2,199The Merrithew SPX Max is the reference machine for STOTT PILATES certified instructor training — the machine that teachers learn on, and the machine that replicates the studio experience most precisely for practitioners trained in the STOTT method. Five color-coded springs (Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, and a half-spring) provide the finest resistance gradation of any home reformer, with particular precision in the light-resistance range that rehabilitation and pregnancy Pilates require. The flat-fold mechanism is the SPX Max's defining practical advantage: the machine folds completely flat on integrated casters and rolls under a standard bed, eliminating the wall space requirement of the Balanced Body Allegro 2. At approximately $2,199–$2,599 before accessories, it represents the strongest value proposition in the professional home reformer category.
Shop on Amazon02Essential
Merrithew Reformer Box
From $249The Merrithew Box is required for the Long Box and Short Box series — Pulling Straps, Swan, the complete Short Box rotation, side stretches, and Teaser on the Box. These exercises form a substantial and distinct portion of the reformer repertoire; without the Box you are working with an incomplete apparatus. The Merrithew Box is sized for SPX carriage dimensions and remains stable during prone and seated loading. Budget this into the total purchase cost: the complete SPX Max setup (reformer + box) runs approximately $2,450–$2,850.
Shop on Amazon03Tower Add-On
Merrithew SPX Vertical Stand
From $799The Merrithew SPX Vertical Stand is the tower attachment designed specifically for the At Home SPX and SPX Max reformers. It attaches to the foot end of the reformer and adds a push-through bar (top and bottom loaded), roll-down bar, and arm and leg springs for the full STOTT PILATES tower repertoire. The spring color system matches the reformer, making resistance programming seamless across both. For practitioners who have progressed past the reformer repertoire and want to add tower work, the Vertical Stand is the natural SPX Max expansion — it converts the machine into a near-complete apparatus station without needing a separate floor footprint.
Shop on Amazon04Cardio Add-On
Merrithew SPX Jump Board
From $199The Merrithew Jump Board attaches to the foot end of the SPX Max and converts footwork into a low-impact jumping sequence. Jumpboard work on the Merrithew uses lighter spring settings (typically Blue or a single Red) and keeps the heart rate elevated without joint impact — a particularly useful addition for practitioners who want a cardiovascular component in their home sessions. The board accommodates parallel, Pilates stance, and turned-out positions. The STOTT PILATES jump board repertoire is well-documented in the Merrithew instructional library, making self-directed jumpboard training more accessible on this machine than on non-STOTT reformers.
Shop on Amazon05Safety Essential
Non-Slip Reformer Mat (Equipment base pad)
From $35The SPX Max's flat-fold casters make it easy to position and reposition — but on hardwood, tile, or polished concrete, the casters can drift during dynamic loading (particularly jump board sequences and standing exercises). A non-slip equipment pad placed under the reformer's base feet (not under the casters — place it so the machine rolls onto it when unfolded) anchors the machine securely without floor adhesives. A large non-slip yoga mat or purpose-made equipment pad works. This is a minor investment that removes a real safety variable for home practitioners without rubber studio flooring.
Shop on AmazonWho should buy the SPX Max — and who shouldn't
Buy it if
- +You have trained with STOTT PILATES-certified instructors and want the same machine at home.
- +Flat-fold under-bed storage is your non-negotiable — it is the only professional reformer that achieves this.
- +You want 5 springs for fine resistance gradation: rehabilitation, pregnancy Pilates, or sports conditioning work.
- +You want professional quality at $900–$1,300 less than the Balanced Body Allegro 2 at the machine level.
Don't buy it if
- –You need to carry the machine between rooms or floors — at 115 lbs, this is not a portable reformer.
- –You have extensive experience on Balanced Body equipment and value the specific Ultra-Glide carriage feel above all else.
- –You want the widest possible accessory ecosystem — Balanced Body's range is broader and more interoperable.
SPX Max vs Balanced Body Allegro 2: the definitive comparison
On storage, the SPX Max wins decisively. It folds completely flat on casters and stores under a standard bed — an entirely different proposition from the Allegro 2's upright fold, which requires wall clearance and a dedicated footprint in your room. If flat-fold storage is the primary constraint driving your purchase decision, that decision is effectively already made. The SPX Max is the only professional-grade reformer that achieves under-bed storage at this quality level. On springs, the SPX Max's 5-spring system provides finer resistance gradation than the Allegro 2's 4-spring setup. The additional spring — and particularly the half-spring option — extends the light-resistance range that rehabilitation, post-surgical recovery, and pregnancy Pilates require. For general practice, both machines cover the complete reformer repertoire adequately, and most practitioners working outside a clinical context will not encounter a meaningful gap. But the SPX Max's spring system is the professional clinical standard for a reason.
On carriage feel, the Allegro 2 holds a genuine edge. The Ultra-Glide carriage system is the benchmark in the professional reformer category, and experienced practitioners who have spent significant time on both machines consistently note a marginally smoother, more refined glide on the Allegro 2. The SPX Max carriage — sealed rollers, quiet, consistent — is excellent for its price point, but the perceptible difference is real for those who have trained extensively on high-end equipment. On price, the SPX Max is the stronger value at the machine level: approximately $2,199–$2,599 versus the Allegro 2 at approximately $3,495. That is a $900–$1,300 difference before accessories. With equivalent accessories added — Box, tower, jump board — both setups reach a similar total investment, narrowing the advantage. The machine-level price difference, however, remains meaningful for practitioners who are not purchasing the full ecosystem immediately.
The clearest summary: the SPX Max is for practitioners trained in the STOTT system; anyone with small-space storage requirements; practitioners who want 5 springs for clinical precision; and buyers for whom the Allegro 2 price is the barrier. The Allegro 2 is for practitioners who value carriage feel above all else; those with more wall space than floor space; and those who want the broadest accessory and cross-compatibility ecosystem. Both machines are professional-grade, both are used in instructor training, and both will outlast most practitioners' motivation to use them daily. The decision is a question of which ecosystem you have already invested in, and what your space genuinely requires.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Merrithew SPX Max the same as the STOTT PILATES reformer?
Yes. Merrithew is the company behind STOTT PILATES, and the SPX Max is the machine used in STOTT PILATES instructor certification. The Merrithew and STOTT PILATES brands refer to the same company and the same equipment.
How does the SPX Max compare to the Balanced Body Allegro 2?
The SPX Max has 5 springs (vs Allegro 2's 4), folds flat (vs Allegro 2's upright fold), and costs approximately $900–$1,300 less at the machine level. The Allegro 2 has a marginally smoother carriage and a broader accessory ecosystem. Both are professional-grade; the choice depends on storage constraints and training background.
Does the SPX Max include a box?
No. The Box is sold separately at approximately $249 and is required for the Long Box and Short Box repertoire. Budget it into the total purchase.
Can the SPX Max really store under a bed?
Yes — this is a genuine, frequently verified feature. The machine folds completely flat on casters and the folded height is suitable for under-bed storage. Measure your specific bed clearance (minimum approximately 20cm) before purchasing.
Where do I buy the Merrithew SPX Max?
Through Merrithew authorized dealers (listed on merrithew.com) or on Amazon. Authorized dealers provide warranty coverage and access to servicing.
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