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TODO Pilates Reformer Review: Springs, Cords and a Height Limit
By Jack Atkins, Home Gym Equipment Specialist · Updated 23 September 2026
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Home reformers split into two groups: bungee-cord machines like the AeroPilates, which are quiet and forgiving but never feel like a studio, and spring machines that try to copy the real thing. The TODO sits in the second group and adds cords on top, and at £254.99 (down from a £299.99 list price) it undercuts the similar ZERELEK reformer by £145.
So what did TODO leave out to get there? Mostly nothing you'd notice from the spec sheet. What you do need to notice is one line in the listing: the shoulder pads have two positions "suitable for users between 4' and 5'9''".
How we review
This review is built from TODO's Amazon UK listing and specifications and direct comparison with the ZERELEK and AeroPilates reformers we've already reviewed. Where the listing is vague or contradicts itself, we point it out rather than filling the gap.
Who it's for
Beginners and returners under about 5ft 9in who want studio-style spring resistance at home without spending £400 or more. If you've done a block of reformer classes and want to keep going between them, this has the parts you'll recognise: a sliding carriage on springs, a footbar, straps on pulleys and a jump board for cardio work.
Taller users should skip it. The machine is 197cm long, but the shoulder blocks decide where you lie on the carriage, and TODO only offers two positions.
Check price on Amazon£254.99Pros
- Four 22lb springs plus five 13lb cords, 153lb in total
- Jump board included
- Footbar with four angles and pulleys with three heights
- Steel frame rated to 400lb (about 181kg)
- Folds for storage and arrives about 90 percent assembled
- £145 cheaper than the ZERELEK with a similar spec
Cons
- Shoulder pads suit users only up to 5ft 9in, per TODO
- Spring tensions are single-weight, so fine adjustment is limited
- Around 32kg packed, so it's a two-person carry
- No detail on padding density or spring lifespan
Springs and cords
The resistance is the strongest part of the spec. Four springs at 22lb each hook onto the carriage, and five cords at 13lb each add lighter increments, which TODO totals at 153lb. On a studio reformer, springs come in different colours and tensions so you can make small jumps; here every spring is the same, and the cords are what give you the in-between settings. It's a sensible workaround on a budget machine.
Springs matter because they behave differently from bungee cords. A spring's pull rises steadily as the carriage moves out, and it snaps back fast if you lose control, which forces you to slow the return. That controlled return is most of the work in reformer Pilates, and cord-only machines like the AeroPilates 287 make it easier to cheat.
Adjustment and fit
The footbar sets at four angles, the pulleys at three heights, and the rope length adjusts from underneath the machine. That's enough adjustment to run a full beginner routine: footwork, bridging, leg circles in the straps, rowing and arm work. Our reformer Pilates exercises guide walks through seven of those moves with spring settings.
The fit issue is the shoulder pads. With only two positions and a stated range of 4ft to 5ft 9in, a 6ft user will lie with their feet too close to the footbar, which cramps footwork and bridging. TODO is at least honest about it, which is more than a lot of listings manage.
| Length | 77.6in (197cm) |
|---|---|
| Resistance | 4 springs at 22lb, 5 cords at 13lb (153lb total) |
| Footbar | 4 angle positions |
| Pulleys | 3 height positions |
| Shoulder pads | 2 positions, users 4ft to 5ft 9in |
| Max user weight | 400lb (about 181kg) |
| Carriage | 8 wheels on a steel frame |
| Extras | Jump board, non-slip pads on folding legs |
| Packed weight | About 32kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
What reformer Pilates will do for you
The evidence is decent, and recent trials have looked at reformers specifically. An eight-week randomised trial in 47 overweight and obese women found three reformer sessions a week improved body composition, grip strength, trunk endurance and anxiety scores against a control group (reformer Pilates trial in overweight women). A six-week trial in 54 women with chronic low back and neck pain found two 45 minute sessions a week reduced pain and fear of movement and improved sleep quality (reformer Pilates trial in chronic pain).
Both compared reformer Pilates with doing nothing, so they don't show it beats other exercise. For that comparison, a meta-analysis on back pain found Pilates matched other exercise rather than beating it (meta-analysis of Pilates for low back pain). What a home reformer gives you is a way to train that people enjoy enough to keep doing, and that's worth more than any single study.
Against the alternatives
The ZERELEK is the closest rival: springs plus cords, a jump board, a 400lb frame and a fold. It costs £399.99, and on the spec sheet we can't find £145 of difference. The AeroPilates 287 is better padded but uses cords only and costs more than double. Every machine we rate is in our best Pilates reformer UK guide.
Check price on Amazon£254.99Recommended reads
Frequently asked questions
How much resistance does the TODO reformer have?
TODO lists four springs at 22lb each and five cords at 13lb each, which adds up to 153lb (about 69kg) with everything attached. You clip on as many as the exercise needs, so footwork might use three or four springs and arm work a single cord.
How tall can you be to use the TODO reformer?
The listing says the shoulder pads have two positions suitable for users between 4ft and 5ft 9in (roughly 122cm to 175cm). The machine is 77.6in (197cm) long, so a taller user will fit on the carriage, but the shoulder blocks set how far down the carriage you lie, and that is the limit that matters.
What is the weight limit on the TODO reformer?
TODO rates the steel frame to 400lb, about 181kg or 28 stone. That's the same figure ZERELEK quotes and more than the 300lb AeroPilates 287.
Does the TODO reformer come assembled?
TODO says it arrives about 90 percent pre-assembled, with a manual and a setup video for the rest. The package weighs around 32kg, so plan for two people to carry it in.
Is a £255 reformer worth buying?
For learning the basics at home, yes. It has the parts that matter: real springs for the carriage, an adjustable footbar, straps on pulleys and a jump board. It won't feel like a £2,000 studio machine, and the padding and spring quality are where cheaper reformers usually save money.
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