Home Reformer Accessories: Jump Board, Sitting Box, Loops and Mat, Matched to Your Machine

Buy accessories made for your reformer's model, not generic ones. AeroPilates ties its Cardio Rebounder to two model numbers, Balanced Body makes a different jumpboard for each reformer it sells, and Merrithew lists exactly which boards, boxes and risers go with the At Home SPX. Below is what each maker says fits what, which accessory to buy first, and how they say to clean the machine.

We haven't tested these; the picks and fit statements come from the makers' product and care pages and the Amazon listings, and from our tested home reformer review, which covers the machines themselves.

Find your model number first

AeroPilates uses numbers such as 55-4286 on the frame label, Merrithew uses stock numbers (the At Home SPX package is ST-11010), and Balanced Body names its reformers and makes accessories per name.

Merrithew adds a caveat on its At Home SPX package page: reformers made before December 2011 may need a Metal Spring Holder Upgrade Kit first. Its riser kit is "only compatible with the At Home SPX Reformer models (ST11010, ST11089, ST11090)."

The box comes first

If you buy one accessory, make it the sitting box. It opens the short box series (round back, flat back, side sit-ups) and the long box (pulling straps, swan), a large share of a reformer class you can't do on the bare carriage. Balanced Body describes its Standard Sitting Box as adding "prone and abdominal strength exercises, side stretching and more comfortable options for seated exercise." It is 29.5 by 16.75 by 11.5 inches and 17.6 lb.

Merrithew ships one. Its At Home SPX package includes a "Reformer Box with Footstrap," along with a padded platform extender, a metal roll-up pole and double loop straps, so SPX owners can skip this section. Balanced Body also sells the Sitting Box Lite, a 4.5 lb foam version it says fits every Balanced Body reformer.

AeroPilates sells its box with a pole: Stamina's Box & Pole page lists a wood-frame box with padded vinyl upholstery, 26 by 15 by 10 inches, plus a steel pole, a strap and a workout video. On Amazon the set was offered by a third-party seller when we checked, so buy it from Stamina. For a reformer whose maker sells no box, a generic padded box such as the VEVOR works if it fits between the shoulder rests and sits flat on the carriage; measure both first.

Jump board or rebounder

A jump board turns the foot end into a vertical floor. Merrithew's Jumpboard SPX/SPX Max is "a firm, padded jumping surface that allows for biomechanically sound foot placement for plyometric and aerobic exercise," and the maker adds that it also works "for footwork as a flat secure surface." It is dense EVA foam on a tubular steel frame, 23.8 inches wide, 30.6 inches tall and 23 lb. Balanced Body's padded jumpboard for the Allegro 2 is 31.5 by 20.5 inches and is made "for supine, side lying or plank-style jumping." The maker sells a separate version for each reformer, so the Amazon listing has to name your model; the Allegro 2, Allegro, Rialto and Metro IQ versions are all sold by Balanced Body Inc.

Cord machines handle jumping differently. AeroPilates uses a trampoline-style Cardio Rebounder that "installs in place of the interchangeable foot bar" on models 55-4286 and 55-4287, per Stamina; our reformer review found the Precision Series ships with one, so this is an add-on for the older frames.

Jumping works the springs harder than footwork, and Merrithew's 2019 maintenance post says to replace reformer springs every two years regardless. A jump board also needs the frame to stay put; see floor protection below.

Loops, straps and handles

Home packages include a pair of loops, but they wear, and the maker's spare is often the first replacement an owner buys. Balanced Body's Double D-Ring Loops are a "2-in-1 accessory": the short loop is 10 inches and the long one 15.75 inches, and clipping both D-rings to the rope shortens it. The padded pair is sold on Amazon by Balanced Body Inc. Its Y-Loops, with fleece inside and a Velcro closure, are "for anyone who has trouble keeping feet in loops."

Care is specific. Balanced Body says to "wash all loops regularly in cold water and air-dry," and warns that "all sales of Loops are final and non-returnable," so check the attachment on your reformer (D-ring, snap clip or rope) before you order. We'd buy the maker's loops for a Balanced Body or Merrithew machine and reserve generic double loops for frames the maker no longer supports.

Mat converter and platform extender

Merrithew's Mat Converter turns the At Home SPX into "an elevated, stable and cushioned Matwork surface": 22 by 52.2 inches, 2.375 inches thick, 18.5 lb, with a stated 425 lb capacity. The pitch is space: mat work on the reformer, and "supported planks that are easy on wrists and shoulders" with the footbar. The smaller Padded Platform Extender, 22 by 10 inches, gives "a raised padded surface for kneeling, sitting or standing Reformer exercises" and comes in the At Home SPX package; Balanced Body sells an Allegro 2 platform extender for the same job.

A towel on the carriage

Studios wipe the vinyl after every class; at home, a towel under your head and shoulders is the simpler fix. Balanced Body's Reformer Towel is 30.5 by 23 inches of microfiber made for its Studio Reformer; a folded gym towel does the job on a home machine, and grip socks keep your feet off the foot bar.

Floor protection and height

Balanced Body's Non-Skid Strips "keep your wood reformer in position on wood floors and low-pile carpet": eight 5.5 by 1 inch strips, two per leg. Merrithew sells High-Traction Reformer Feet "designed for all SPX Max & MPX Reformers," for Merrithew equipment only. Either matters once you add a jump board.

Height is the other common upgrade: Balanced Body's Leg and Post Kit "converts a standard 9" Allegro 2 Reformer into a 15" studio height." If a higher carriage is the point, read our AeroPilates vs Balanced Body comparison before buying legs for a low machine.

Cleaning the machine, per the makers

Merrithew publishes the clearest instructions, on its product care page:

• Vinyl: "For day-to-day cleaning we recommend wiping vinyl surfaces using warm water with mild soap, and rinse with clear water." It adds that soap residue can leave surfaces slippery.
• Rails and rollers: "Clean channels, rails and rollers daily with a damp cloth," without spraying liquid directly, and "never use oil lubricants as they may damage rollers."
• Cleaners: "We do not recommend using chemical-based products," and it warns that chemical cleansers around the reformer feet "may cause permanent marking on floors."

Its 2019 maintenance post sets the rhythm: rollers and rails daily, vinyl "with a wet rag on a daily basis or after every client," ropes, hook and cleats checked daily, springs replaced every two years. A separate rails post describes wrapping a microfiber cloth around a cleaning stick between roller and rail, with one rule: "Always roll the carriage away from the cleaning tool." For disinfecting a shared machine, Merrithew's 2020 cleaning post gives a diluted bleach option with a rinse and warns that "even when diluted, bleach can remove or change fabric colors."

Accessories follow the same rules: Merrithew says to wipe its jumpboard with diluted soap and water, and Balanced Body's loops get cold water and air-drying. We didn't find a separate care page from Stamina for AeroPilates, so follow the manual that ships with the machine.

Which to buy first

A box, then a jump board or rebounder matched to your model, then spare loops when the originals fray. Mat converters and risers are for people who know their reformer is staying. If you're still choosing the machine, our home reformer review and is a reformer worth it come first, and our what to wear to Pilates guide covers what scratches vinyl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a Balanced Body jumpboard fit an Allegro 2?

Only the Allegro 2 version. Balanced Body says jumpboards "are available for our Allegro 2, Bravo, Rialto, Metro IQ, CenterLine, Clinical and Studio Reformers," each as a separate product, so match the listing to your model.

Can I use a sitting box on any reformer?

A box has to fit between the shoulder rests and sit flat on the carriage. Balanced Body states its Standard Sitting Box fits all its wood reformers, the Allegro 2 and the Allegro Nextgen; Merrithew includes a box with the At Home SPX package; Stamina sells a Box & Pole for AeroPilates. For anything else, measure first.

How do I clean a Pilates reformer at home?

Merrithew's care page says to wipe vinyl with warm water and mild soap and rinse, clean rails and rollers daily with a damp cloth, avoid chemical-based products, and never put oil lubricants on the rollers.

Availability changes; check Amazon for current details. As an Amazon Associate, FlexWearLab earns from qualifying purchases.