EquipmentMay 2026
Best Premium Pilates Reformers (2026)
Balanced Body Studio Reformer, Allegro Stretch, Merrithew At Home SPX, Align-Pilates C8-PRO and PersonalHour compared.
Read → 14 min read*Some links on this page go to Amazon. We earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
Quick Verdict
The V2 Max-family machine Merrithew actually sells on Amazon — a raised, clinical-grade frame with a built-in Vertical Frame. Worth it for clinics and rehab use; overkill for most home practitioners.
A note before the review: Merrithew's studio-line V2 Max and V2 Max Plus are sold direct and through dealers, not as their own Amazon listings. The V2 Max-family reformer you can actually buy on Amazon is the Rehab V2 Max Plus — a raised frame built for clinics, with the Vertical Frame included. That's what this review covers, priced honestly at $8,199, not the lower figure sometimes quoted for the studio model.
Verified specifications
Dimensions97″ L × 30″ W × 77″ H (height includes the built-in Vertical Frame)
Machine weight224 lbs
Price$8,199, sold by Merrithew on Amazon
FrameRaised — easier to mount and dismount, the reason clinics choose it
Rope systemPatented retractable — no rope management between exercises
Vertical FrameIncluded — most other Merrithew reformers sell it separately
Tower compatibleYes — Vertical Frame ships built in
ShippingMade to order; leadtime, not immediate stock
Specifications verified against the live Amazon listing (sold by Merrithew), September 2026.
What makes the Rehab V2 Max Plus different
The raised frame
The word 'Rehab' in the name refers to the frame height. It sits higher off the floor than a standard reformer, which makes getting on and off dramatically easier for clients with limited mobility, post-surgical patients, and older adults. This is the actual reason clinics and physiotherapy practices choose this specific model over the standard V2 Max Plus.
Built-in Vertical Frame
Most Merrithew reformers sell the Vertical Frame — the accessory that adds tower-style standing and spring work — separately. On the Rehab V2 Max Plus it ships built in, which is a meaningful part of why the price sits well above the At Home SPX. If you know you want tower work from day one, that's folded into the cost here rather than an add-on purchase later.
Patented retractable rope system
Ropes automatically store out of the way between exercises instead of needing to be repositioned by hand. In a clinic running back-to-back client appointments, this saves real time between sessions.
224 lbs of machine
This is a heavy, permanent-installation piece of equipment, not something you fold and slide under a bed. Budget a dedicated, load-bearing spot for it.
Rehab V2 Max Plus vs At Home SPX: The honest comparison
These are the two Merrithew machines actually sold on Amazon. They are not comparable price tiers — the Rehab V2 Max Plus costs roughly two and a half times as much — so the honest question is not "which is better" but "which one matches what you're buying it for."
| Feature | At Home SPX | Rehab V2 Max Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,349 | $8,199 |
| Sold by | Amazon.com directly | Merrithew (Amazon storefront) |
| Springs | 5 springs (4×100%, 1×50%) | High-precision spring package |
| Rope system | Standard | Patented retractable |
| Frame height | Standard | Raised — easier to mount/dismount |
| Vertical Frame / tower | Not included | Included |
| Machine weight | 115 lbs | 224 lbs |
| Included accessories | Box, roll-up pole, platform extender, straps | Vertical Frame |
Bottom line:the At Home SPX gets a serious home practitioner the full mat-and-footwork repertoire on genuine Merrithew springs for $3,349. The Rehab V2 Max Plus adds a raised frame and a built-in Vertical Frame for tower work — real, specific upgrades that justify the price if you need them (a clinic, a practitioner with mobility limitations, or someone who wants tower work from day one), and an expensive way to get standard reformer training if you don't.
Who should buy the Rehab V2 Max Plus
✓
Clinics and physiotherapy practices whose clients benefit from a raised, easy-to-mount frame
✓
Practitioners who want tower/Vertical Frame work included from day one rather than added later
✓
Merrithew-certified educators who want their home machine to match their teaching studio's clinical line
✗
Home practitioners who mainly want genuine Merrithew spring quality — the At Home SPX covers the core repertoire for well under half the price
✗
Anyone tight on floor space — at 224 lbs and 77 inches tall with the Vertical Frame, this is a permanent installation
Accessories worth adding
The Vertical Frame is already included on the Rehab V2 Max Plus. These are the accessories that add the most for the box and jumpboard series:
STOTT PILATES Merrithew Jumpboard (22")
Converts the reformer for cardio-based footwork and jump training.
Balanced Body Replacement Reformer Ropes with Clips
A reliable replacement set if your current ropes are fraying or stretched — fits most reformer rope-and-pulley systems.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths (24-pack)
For keeping vinyl upholstery and rails clean between sessions — a clinic detail that matters with daily client turnover.
Our Verdict
A genuine clinical machine — but the At Home SPX is the better value for most home buyers.
The Rehab V2 Max Plus is the real V2 Max-family machine Merrithew sells on Amazon, and its raised frame and built-in Vertical Frame are genuine, specific upgrades — not marketing gloss. For a clinic or a practitioner who wants tower work from the start, $8,199 buys real capability. For a home practitioner who trains a few times a week and mainly wants Merrithew's spring feel, the At Home SPX Reformer Package delivers the core repertoire for well under half the price, sold and shipped by Amazon.com directly.