Allegro 2 Pilates Reformer with 14-Inch Leg Kit, Balanced Body Reformer

When I decided to purchase a reformer for my home, I searched for more than a year before deciding. Buying a reformer is a hefty investment, so I wanted to make sure I was being wise with my money. The things that finally tipped my hand toward the Allegro 2 with Tower, were the beauty of the machine, the moveable foot bar, and the friendly and prompt responses from Balanced Body customer service when I had questions. I am thrilled! The packaging is nearly as impressive as the machine itself. The reformer came in six boxes (I also purchased the box and the jump board) each of which arrived undamaged and which were neatly and intelligently organized. Uncrating takes a while and be prepared to have quite a stack of cardboard to recycle when you are finished. Warning: the frame is heavy. But, that also means it is sturdy. My husband and I were able to carry it down to our basement, but we broke a sweat doing it. If you are able to do so, consider enlisting a few friends to help with moving it. The rest of the pieces are sturdy, as well, but easily moved with two people. Assembly is so straightforward. I realize that there are instructional videos on how to do this, but we found the printed material sufficient. Explanations are clear and easy to follow. The trickiest part was engaging the foot bar the first time, but even that was pretty easy--especially once we understood how the tilting mechanism worked. Again, the packaging was helpful during the assembly process because of the logical organization of parts. I will be using this at home for myself and my husband to be able to do more frequent workouts. I have been going to local studios several times a week and have become such a Pilates addict that I want to do more. I finally decided to make the jump to buying a reformer when I realized that, with the cost of classes, the machine will pay for itself in less than a year. And with Balanced Body online classes available, I can now workout anytime or as much as I want. I am one happy customer! If you are in the market for a reformer for either your home or your studio, strongly consider the Allegro 2 with Tower. It is a work of art.

I bought the Allegro 2 as a way to transition out of Pilates classes. I originally looked at buying cheaper equipment but couldn't find anything that had enough features. My options were to buy multiple inexpensive items or invest in a fully functional reformer/tower/mat combo unit. I'm really pleased that we decided to invest. The equipment is sturdy and classroom quality. It was easy enough to put together, especially with the video that Balanced Body provided. I've been using Peak equip in class and it's been a simple transition to the Allegro 2. There are a few differences but the videos they provide help you get familiar with the features. I'm really pleased with the additional features that the A2 provides and am having fun building new routines. Speaking of their videos. My package included 2 videos (for mat/tower and for reformer, since I bought a reformer/tower combo) plus we found the Balanced Body channel on YouTube. Jackpot! There are not only short vids for folks who want to exercise, there are also vids for teachers. These are really helpful because they go into more detail on the mechanics of the workout and the equipment. For those who want to understand the whys of Pilates movement, these are a huge benefit. Pilates equipment (and classes) are not cheap but I've found them to be invaluable in staying healthy and strong as I age. I'm a Pilates fan and willing to invest; I'm really happy I invested in the Allegro 2. During the purchasing/shipping process, I've spoken with Balanced Body several times and found them to be informative and friendly. The whole experience has been great; when I need more equipment, I'll definitely buy from them.

I've had back problems for 20 years. Training with a private instructor for six months brought about my first extended period of relief from back pain or injury. I decided that it was worth the cost of the reformer and continuing training. I was drawn to this model because of it's design and features. I found a pilates studio 45 minutes away that uses this model, and I scheduled a session to try it out. The reformer I had been working on is a Peak, and I was blown away by how smooth the Allegro 2 is in comparison. Also, the transition from carriage to mat is an absolute snap, especially in comparison to the Peak model. I strongly recommend adding the $40 shipping charge of having them unbox the reformer and parts and carry them into your house. It's incredibly heavy. I would also recommend not trying to put it together by reading the manual: instead, check youtube for the balanced body tutorial on how to put it together. There's one for the reformer and one for the tower. Both were essential. I'm very happy with this purchase. I've used it everyday. I'm not sure it's supposed to be fun, but it is.

I have been doing Pilates reformer for the past 25 years mainly in a studio/class setting. I am glad that I had so much practice in a class prior to purchasing the machine. I’ve used quite a few different types of reformers including the peak Pilates foldable with tower. I decided on the allegro 2 with tower based on the reviews even though I had never personally tried it. After all the years of being on other reformers, this is hands down the most amazing, quiet and smooth reformer I’ve ever used. I’m dumbfounded at the excellent quality. This is so much better than what I was using in the classes. The customer service is also extremely excellent. I received a phone call less than two hours after placing my order online through their website to assist in customizing my order. I ordered the 14 inch leg kit (essential for me to perform more movements), the wheel kit (essential due to weight of the machine), and also the tower. I also ordered the sit box and other accessories. Yes it was a big order because I knew what I needed, which was basically **all the things** lol. Well, here I am doing Pilates in our at home gym. I am following along with some YouTube videos and getting great workouts already—just as good in a class so far. Yes it was a big investment but it was time to not spend $150/month in a class and the same amount on the actual equipment. No rushing to class, trying to fit it into my busy schedule (sometimes missing class). Regardless, the years of instruction in class have helped me feel more confident doing certain movements on my own without an instructor. This machine is the real deal and I would say to stay in classes and get good at Pilates before going and purchasing. It’s a big investment and you need the right space for the equipment. I’m glad I waited until the time was right. In comparison to other reformers, you absolutely can’t go wrong. Love the white, it’s gorgeous. I went with the classic gray in all the options. It looks so good with the matching infinity bar. Also, it’s order through the website if you want a custom color. FYI, assembly was not easy! I had my husband thankfully and he had to pull out a wrench for the hex wrenches from the garage. There is no way I could have done it myself. A few tricky spots! It took us a solid 3-4 hours start to finish over two days!

I bought this exquisite exercise machine to use at home, without an instructor, after years of using a less expensive model almost every day. The rare times I used a Pilates reformer in a gym with an instructor, I was astonished by how much smoother the reformers were and how much more I enjoyed them. After using the Tower of Power at a gym while I was on vacation, I felt I couldn't live without it. So, as a reward for losing 15 lbs in fat camp this year, and graduating from college with my third degree at age 60, I treated myself to this fabulous fitness tool. Because I've used DVDs to train on reformers at home, using the DVDs that came with the Allegro 2 Tower of Power were easy for me. This reformer is beautiful to look at and offers a much broader range of activities than the reformer without the Tower of Power. As a pretty fit baby boomer, I use my reformer at least 5X a week, and it's helping me get in shape for the NYC Marathon in November. I highly recommend this equipment if you want to whittle your waist, develop upper and lower body strength and flexibility, and live a long and healthy life! My only caveat: The company ships the reformer set up to use alone, so you have to undo machine-driven bolts to put in the tower. Despite being very handy with power tools, this job was long and arduous and required brute strength in lieu of power tools. I've recommended to the company that they provide assembly service for an additional fee. Alternatively, they could have shipped the reformer after removing the bolts that prevent the tower from being attached. Don't let that deter you, however. Just have a pair of strong arms ready for several hours of unbolting and bolting, then enjoy this beauty for years to come!

Balanced Body is the best!