Reformer Buyer's Guide

Balanced Body Studio Reformer

VERSUS

Fortus Pilates Maple Elite Studio Reformer

Included Accessories

As useful and versatile as a basic reformer is, having accessories can make all the difference in keeping your practice engaging, challenging, and diverse.  Key accessories you probably want to have are:

• Jumpboard
• Sitting box
• Platform extenders
• Foot strap

Here's where we can see the first major difference between the Fortus Pilates offering and the Balanced Body reformer.  While Fortus Pilates includes all of these accessories as part of our base package, each of these accessories is an optional add-on for the Balanced Body Studio Reformer, which drives the price up significantly.

The inclusion of both the jumpboard and platform extenders gives a distinct edge to the Fortus Pilates Maple Elite Studio Reformer.  Adding those options to the Balanced Body Studio Reformer will add almost $600 to the base price for that machine. 

Advantage: Fortus Pilates

Quality & Durability

There's a huge difference that comes with using a studio-quality reformer over a reformer of lower quality.  A high-quality studio reformer should offer users an exceptionally quiet and smooth carriage glide, premium feel, and durability to withstand for years of use.

Both the Balanced Body and Fortus Pilates reformers definitely hit the mark when it comes to overall build quality and durability.  Either reformer will perform exceptionally well in a studio environment, and be stalwart through years of rigorous use. 

Advantage: Tie

Price

Price matters.  While the purchasing decision, especially when it comes to studios, should not be based solely on price, you still don't want to pay more for no benefit.

Price is perhaps one of the starkest areas of contrast between the Balanced Body and Fortus Pilates studio reformers.  While the Fortus Pilates Maple Elite Studio Reformer will run you $2,495, the Balanced Body Studio Reformer rings in at $4,400, almost double the price of the Fortus Pilates reformer.  

And, as discussed above, the Balanced Body Studio Reformer does not include the jumpboard or platform extender, accessories which will add a little under $600 to your purchase to bring the total cost of a Balanced Body machine to just shy of $5,000. 

Advantage: Fortus Pilates

Multi-tier Spring System

It goes without saying that the spring system is a key part of any reformer.   Poorly quality springs can lead to inconsistent resistance, noise, and ultimately breakage.

The Balanced Body Studio Reformer uses 5 springs (3 heavy, 1 medium, and 1 light) and a single-tier attachment system.

The Fortus Pilates Maple Elite Studio Reformer, in contrast, uses 6 springs (2 heavy, 2 medium, 2 light) and a 3-tier attachment system.  The net result is the ability to configure resistance across a much wider range of options with the Fortus Pilates reformer.  At the heaviest setting, the resistance of the Fortus Pilates reformer is almost double that of the Balanced Body reformer in the same configuration.  At the lightest setting, the resistance of the Fortus Pilates reformer is equal to the Balanced Body reformer in the same configuration.

Advantage: Fortus Pilates

Return Policy

The purchase of a reformer represents a sizeable investment.  As a buyer, you want to make sure you are protected in the event that you, after using your new reformer for a time, decide that it isn't the right machine for you.

Balanced Body excludes all their reformers from being eligible for discretionary returns, except in the case of damage during shipping.  You cannot return a Balanced Body reformer if you decide that, after using it, it doesn't meet your needs.

Fortus Pilates, on the other hand, stands 100% behind our reformers.  Fortus Pilates offers customers up to 30 days to request a product return for any reason.   This gives the customer lots of time to make sure they are happy with their purchase, and protection in case they are not. 

Advantage: Fortus Pilates

Upholstery

The upholstery is another key aspect of your reformer.  You want the upholstery to feel soft and supple, but you also want the material to last through years of demanding workouts.

Balanced Body uses vinyl as the material for all their reformers.  Vinyl is well suited to the task as it is fairly durable without being too rigid, although it can feel a little like plastic to the touch.

In contrast, Fortus Pilates uses premium microfibre leather for its reformers.  Microfibre leather has the advantage of feeling like top-grain soft leather while still maintaining impressive durability.  The only downside to microfibre leather is the cost, which is typically substantially higher than vinyl.   

Advantage: Fortus Pilates

Warranty

A manufacturer should confidently stand behind their product with a strong warranty.  This provides protection for the customer, and also speaks to the manufacturer's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. 

When it comes to reformers, warranties typically break out into the following categories, each with their own specific level of coverage.

• Frame
• Carriage and rail system
• Springs
• Upholstery
• Wear items (straps, loops, ropes, etc.)

While both Balanced Body and Fortus Pilates offer warranties for all their reformers, there are some important details in the fine print.  Here's what the two warranties each cover.

The Fortus Pilates warranty is much more extensive in its coverage, specifically as it relates to the carriage and rail system and wear items, such as upholstery, straps, loops, and ropes.  Both companies offer similar warranties on the reformer frame. 

Advantage: Fortus Pilates