Balanced body Allegro 2 Reformer 2024 Review

The Balanced Body Allegro 2 Reformer is one exceptional machine. Hands down, the Allegro 2 stands apart from all other Pilates reformers.

No matter what kind of athlete you are, whether you are a professional athlete, movement aficionado, Pilates beginner or master, or someone looking for overall wellness – quality matters! The quality of the equipment you invest in has an impact on the quality of your movement and progress. The Balanced Body Allegro 2 beams with – QUALITY!!!

OUR VERDICT

There are a handful of Pilates reformers on the market today that you can choose from, and from our perspective, the Balanced Body Allegro 2 reformer tops them all. Its smoothness, elegance, and innovations raise the bar for Pilates equipment.

Note: The Allegro 2 with optional legs is well worth the upgrade.

Upgrade your Allegro 2 Reformer with Legs –

• provides more space for storage beneath
• offers raised height that allows more range of motion for certain exercises that require more space: lunges, side extensions when using the sitting box.
• If you plan to store this equipment on its side, you will need to order the wheel kit.
• leg extensions are SOLIDLY secure!

The Allegro 2 reformer is an incredible work of modern engineering and architecture. I can’t help but think of the Guggenheim museum 😉

Aside from the architectural comparison, The Allegro 2 Reformer’s innovative design allows you to upgrade your traditional Pilates reformer routine. Not only is this reformer sleek and solidly built; it is a quality machine that will support your body’s incredible transformation with consistent practice. Check out this fun video for a peek at the many ways you can have fun on this equipment.

Is it a boy? Is it a girl? It’s an Allegro 2 Reformer!

I couldn’t be prouder 🙂 What a moment when I first unboxed this beauty.

The Allegro 2 Reformer, along with jump-board, and sitting box lite, arrived altogether. Each box was professionally packaged and wrapped securely. In the past, I had ordered a Balanced Body Pilates Springboard and Push Through Bar, and the top notch packaging remains to be consistent. Balanced Body Pilates does a fantastic job of ensuring that quality is not limited to their actual product, but the quality goes into their packaging, delivery, and customer service!

While I was able to assemble the Allegro 2 by myself, I did need the help of my husband to help with the unboxing and placement. We have been gradually building out a garage gym and have placed incredibly durable long lasting mats on the floor. (we recommend horse stall mats – you can find them at most tractor supply stores). As for the delivery, You can see how much foam the packaging contains. Helpful tip: Use some of the foam to prop up areas when assembling the foot-bar.

All necessary tools and hardware came with this purchase. Look over the assembly brochure to double check that you have everything you need.

The underside of the Allegro 2 reformer is quite impressive! I marvel at the engineering that goes into building a machine like this. Not to worry, the underbelly of this Pilates machine was already put together with everything in tact.

You’ll also notice the careful protective tape, styrofoam packing, as well as some plastic holders (not easily seen in photo) are all in place to protect the product during transit. You can trust that your Balanced Body Pilates products are cared for every step of the way!

And now…. let the assembling begin!

I DID IT ALL BY MYSELF!!!! (well, almost)

Allegro 2 Reformer Review Assembly

The shipment of this Pilates reformer is quite heavy. Fortunately, we had our delivered directly into a cleared space in our garage gym. You will likely need an extra helping hand to move this machine to your ideal location.

All hardware and tools came with the delivery.

For assistance in putting your machine together, I found a Helpful youtube video in addition to the provided assembly instruction brochure. You can also make use of Balanced Body Customer service for assistance in setting up your equipment.

While I put together the Allegro 2 mostly by myself within 3 hours (This would have been faster without taking photos documenting the process. And… I also will admit that while there were two brochures on how to assemble the machine, I did not realize I had the full detailed brochure until I was nearly finished with full assembly – OOPS!) Well, at least the brief brochure along with a helpful youtube video were clear enough for me to follow along. What I’m saying is, assembling this product was not as intimidating as I anticipated it to be. It was also kind of exciting and rewarding to be able to be part of the process of making this incredible machine a reality in my daily world 🙂


Points to be on the look out for while assembling your Allegro 2

Use the provided foam to help prop up the machine.

Follow instructions!

Inspect the bottom for any extra foam, tape, or small plastic place holders, or elastic that needs to be removed before continuing.

An extra hand does help for the initial placement and turning onto its side when called for.

Have patience when installing the foot-bar. Watch videos, read instructions, and have patience. You will get it!

The reformer also comes with a detailed brochure, as well as a warranty form.

Overall, I was quite impressed with how Balanced Body boxed up the Allegro 2 and the overall packaging for everything else.

Balanced Body Allegro 2 Reformer Review

If you are looking for a top quality, long lasting Pilates reformer, the Allegro 2 is a must! After 15 years of teaching Pilates and experiencing numerous Pilates reformers, I find this one to be the best!

Innovated – Adjustable Foot-bar

Let’s get right to it. What stands out the most for this machine, compared to other Pilates reformers, is the adjustable sliding foot-bar. This truly is a game changer! It’s easy to move, it is secure once in place, and a wide array of new exercises on the reformer are now real possibilities.

• Foot-bar (at traditional location) has 3 settings: low, medium, vertical / straight.
• Sliding foot-bar slides to multiple clearly marked sections along the length of the reformer.
• Foot-bar adjustments accommodate different body sizes – including children.

The bar is uniform from top to side to bottom. To protect it from wear and tare, I covered it with a white cabinet liner that I cut to size. You can also purchase a foot-bar cover from Balanced Body. They have cushioned and un-cushioned versions. I’m ok with the DIY version I have, but my version is rather flimsy and is frequently moving around.

Straps | Adjustability

The Allegro 2 reformer has an improved strap system – Soft Touch Rope System. This makes adjusting the straps so much easier. There is a pulley tucked away near the head-rest, so you can even make adjustments while lying down. You can adjust one rope at a time, or both at the same time. At first, I didn’t think this was going to be ‘all that’, but once I experienced it for myself, I am impressed and satisfied with this innovation. It’s a time saver compared to other versions on different reformers.

Another bonus feature with these straps is the soft touch. The foot loops are soft for sure, but the entire rope system is without any clanky hardware; so when you’re moving around, the entire experience is much more quiet than when moving on other traditional reformers.

Jump-board

The jump-board is an accessory that you can buy. It’s a great addition for an overall workout that adds cardio, plyometric support, and extra fun to your routine.

This jump-board is big! It’s got a good width to it, so you won’t feel cramped.

As you can see in the photo, there are two handles that allow for ease in moving it around.

This is one of the easiest foot-bars I’ve worked with. You simply move the foot-bar out of the way (either to its lowest diagonal setting, or slide the bar mid way or all the way to the other end of the reformer. If you watch the video, you’ll be able to see how placing the foot-bar mid-way at the carriage, you can use it as a hand placement while jumping. It provides a bit more support as you have fun with jumps.

I almost didn’t purchase the jump-board because I thought the reformer along with the sitting box lite would be enough; but I’m glad I did. The jump-board adds a powerful dynamic to your Pilates routine.

If you need extra cushioning to the jump-board, you can purchase a cushion for it. I find that this jump-board is sturdy, mild cushion, and I don’t need anymore; but if you have specific needs for more layering, then it may be worth it.

Sitting Box Lite

Another great purchase! I love the sitting box lite! I love it because it’s light weight and I can move it around the house or easily take it to clients.

It also has an underbelly that is sectioned off so to match up with the shoulder rests when placed length-wise, or side ways. This feature offers more stability and prevents the box from sliding all over the place.

Having a sitting box (lite or traditional) is a no brainer. More exercise choices are added to your routine that will give you a whole body workout as well as offer you more therapeutic support that you might need.

Foot Strap / Adjustability

When you order a sitting box, the foot strap will come with your purchase. I almost overlooked this feature and thought I could do with out it. But I looked close and am pleased with the simplicity in this design. You can see in the photo that the foot strap loop can slide easily into different ‘hooked’ settings. If you’re familiar with other reformers and their foot strap system, this one offers ease and finesse.

Accessories

This bonus pad adds support and protection to my hands when placed at the foot-board. It’s also helpful when doing standing work. It stays in place and does the job.

Springs Enhancement

Last but not least, a small new feature that comes with the Allegro 2, are these spring collars. These little guys are actually a great feature that makes adjusting the springs easier and more gentle to the touch. It was a feature I nearly overlooked, but I think this is a great touch that people will appreciate.

FEATURES

Allegro 2 Reformer Specifications

Weight: 140 lbs (64kg) or 146 lbs (66kg) with legs.

• Height 9″ (22.5cm) or 15″ (37.5cm) with legs
• Length: 94″ (238cm)
• Width: 25.5″ (65cm)
• Footbar width: 31″ (79cm)
• Carriage width: 23″ (58.4cm)
• Carriage length: 33″ (83.8cm)
• Weight: 140 lbs (64kg) or 146 lbs (66kg) with legs.
• Retail: $3,045 – $3340 (no legs, vs. with legs).
  
  
  

Before I purchased this Allegro 2 reformer, I did research other reformers out there. Once I watched this video that went through all the features of this machine, I was sold. I’m pleased with this purchase and while I had been tempted to go for a lower cost, less featured reformer, I know without a doubt I made the right decision to invest in this quality, beautifully designed, solid piece of equipment. I’m a proud owner of an Allegro 2 reformer – now I just need a personal name for mine 😉