AeroPilates reformer models compared: 287 vs 4420 and which to buy

Every AeroPilates reformer comes from Stamina Products' home line, which runs from under $500 to $1,000+, and the model numbers (266, 287, 4420, 651, 700, 557) tell you almost nothing. The real differences come down to three things: cords or springs, floor or stand, and whether the Cardio Rebounder is in the box.

This guide lines up the models side by side so you can pick the one that fits your budget, body and space.

The short answer

• Best for most beginners: the 4420. It has four cords and the rebounder in the box, and it still folds (Stamina).
• Lowest cost: the 287. You can add the rebounder later.
• Easier on and off: the Premier Studio 700, on a 10-in. stand.
• Closest to a studio feel: the Pro XP 557, with steel springs.

The AeroPilates lineup at a glance

Tap the diagram to enlarge

All six models below list a 300-lb user weight limit on Stamina's spec pages (the 651's specs come from a retailer reproducing Stamina's listing, because the official page is no longer live).

Stamina's current AeroPilates collection also includes Precision Series and Pro Series machines (such as the 610, 565, 556 and 5615) plus a Pilates chair and Cadillac. This guide sticks to the six models shoppers compare most. When we checked on October 6, 2026, Stamina's own store listed the 4420 as sold out; we didn't verify Amazon stock.

AeroPilates reformers are sold on Amazon, at Stamina's own store and at specialty retailers such as Pilates Reformers Plus. Prices can differ from store to store, so it's worth comparing a few listings before you buy.

4 ways AeroPilates reformers differ

1. Cords vs. springs

Most AeroPilates reformers use elastic bungee cords rather than the steel springs found on studio machines. According to Stamina, the 287 and 266 have three cords, while the 4420, 651 and Premier Studio 700 have four. The Pro XP 557 is the exception: Stamina lists four steel springs on aluminum rails with ball-bearing wheels.

Cords are the main trade-off of the line. Women's Health lists "cords instead of springs" as a con of the 4420, even while praising its "effective resistance despite affordable price point." If you want springs without paying for the Pro XP 557, see our VEVOR Pilates reformer review.

Cords also change over time. Stamina's beginner's guide says new cords are stiff and "will relax a little with use and may even need to be retied and replaced after 24 months of very regular use." The brand says a stretched cord can be re-knotted under the machine.

2. Floor height vs. a stand

Tap the diagram to enlarge

• On the floor: The 287 and 4420 sit low. Today.com lists "sits on floor" as a con of the 4420.
• On a 10-in. stand: Stamina says the 266, 651 and Premier Studio 700 come with a stand that raises the reformer 10 inches.
• On a 15-in. frame: The Pro XP 557's frame sits 15 inches off the floor, with oak wood trim, according to Stamina.

If getting down to the floor and back up is hard for you, a stand model is the more comfortable choice.

3. Rebounder included or extra

The Cardio Rebounder is a small trampoline that swaps in for the foot bar so you can do jumping work lying down.

• Included: 4420, 266, 651, Pro XP 557, and the Premier Studio 700 (which comes with what Stamina calls a taller rebounder).
• Sold separately: 287. Stamina lists the Cardio Rebounder 55-0011 as an add-on.

Some retailer bundles and reviews describe a 287 with a rebounder or four cords, so check the exact listing and model number before you buy.

For rebounding, Stamina's guide suggests landing "with soft bent knees" and trying "to jump silently."

4. Size, folding and user height

Sizes and weights per Stamina (651 via a retailer copy of Stamina's listing). NBC Select gives the Premier Reformer's weight as 109 lb. For the XP 557, Stamina's page and Amazon listings disagree, so expect roughly 130–160 lb.

All the cord models fold and have wheels. The Pro XP 557 doesn't: Stamina describes it as a non-folding reformer. (For other brands that fold, see our best foldable Pilates reformers.) Women's Health says the 287 folds to about 42 inches. Stamina says the Premier Studio 700 folds to 44 x 20 x 9 inches once it's off its stand.

User height: Stamina's spec pages don't list a maximum user height. Women's Health reports that AeroPilates says the 287 fits people up to 6'4", but its 5'11" tester, Amy Wilkinson, said even her height was pushing the machine's limits: "I imagine anyone much taller than I am would feel a bit crunched." If you're tall, look at the Pro XP 557. Stamina says the XP 557's 9-inch longer aluminum rails (69 in. of platform travel) make it "especially useful for taller practitioners."

AeroPilates 287 vs. 4420

These are the two models most people compare, and they share a lot. According to Stamina, both sit on the floor, fold on wheels, hold up to 300 lb and carry a 3-year frame / 90-day parts warranty.

Source: Stamina Products spec pages. Women's Health lists the 4420 at 69 lb; this table follows Stamina's figure.

The 287's carriage is 17.5 inches wide. Stamina lists the 4420's overall width as 21 inches but doesn't give a separate platform width.

Choose the 287 if you want the lowest-cost way to try reformer work at home and don't care about rebounding yet.

Check 287 price on Amazon

Choose the 4420 if you want a fourth resistance option and the rebounder in the box, while keeping a floor-height machine that folds. If the 4420 is out of stock, the 287 plus the separately sold Cardio Rebounder (55-0011) gets you closest. It has one fewer cord.

Check 4420 price on Amazon

One correction worth knowing: Today.com describes the 4420 as having "four tension springs," but Stamina's own spec page lists four elastic cords. We've followed the manufacturer.

AeroPilates reformer reviews by model

Reformer 287: lowest cost, 3 cords

According to Stamina, the 287 has a black steel frame, a 17.5-in. vinyl carriage, a 3-position headrest, foam shoulder pads, foam hand and foot straps and a padded foot bar. It uses three heavy-duty cords with clips for quick rope-length changes. Instead of DVDs, it comes with a wall chart and online access to a "Full Body AeroPilates" video.

Women's Health named the 287 its best budget reformer and says it ships pre-assembled, though its foot bar isn't adjustable. Today.com quoted Barry's instructor Robyn Williams: "Beginners will have a breeze of a time familiarizing with this reformer without feeling overwhelmed by its structure."

Foldable Reformer 4420: 4 color-coded cords plus rebounder

Stamina says the 4420 has four color-coded cords (two black regular, one red extra-heavy, one yellow light) and "upgraded pulleys and ropes." It adds oversized foam shoulder pads, furry hand and foot straps, a 3-position headrest and a wisteria-colored platform. In the box: the Free-Form Cardio Rebounder, padded foot bar, equipment mat, four DVDs (Primer, Basic, Stretching and Fat Burning Cardio) and a wall chart.

Women's Health named it the best compact reformer. Today.com's Robyn Williams said "the DVD exercises are a great catalyst for any first-timer."

Reformers 266 and 651: on a stand

These two models raise the reformer on a 10-in. stand and include the rebounder.

• 266: According to Stamina, it has three cords, a 17.5-in. padded platform, a silver Cardio Rebounder that swaps with the foot bar, and two DVDs with four workouts plus a wall chart. It weighs 90 lb.
• 651: Stamina's listing (reproduced by a retailer) describes four cords, a wider 20-in. padded platform and adjustable pulley height. It includes a Primer Plus DVD, online workouts and a wall chart, and weighs 100 lb.

We didn't find major-outlet reviews of either model, so the notes below come from the specs alone.

Check 266 price on Amazon Check 651 price on Amazon

Premier Studio 700: wider platform, stand, folds

Stamina says the Premier Studio 700 has four cords, a silver steel frame, a 10-in. stand, a flared 24-in. padded platform and a 24-in. curved, padded foot bar. It also includes a taller Cardio Rebounder, a head and neck pillow, two DVDs, three online workouts and a wall chart.

NBC Select named the "Stamina AeroPilates Premier Reformer" its best budget pick in January 2024. It cited the 300-lb steel frame, the legs that raise it 10 inches, padded parts and the foldable frame with wheels.

An Amazon listing titled "AeroPilates 701 Premier" may be a successor model; Stamina's site doesn't confirm that.

Check Studio 700 price on Amazon

Pro XP 557: springs and a longer carriage

This is the most studio-like AeroPilates in this comparison. Stamina lists four steel springs, aluminum rails with ball-bearing wheels, 69 inches of platform travel, a 23.25-in. padded platform and a taller, padded foot bar that's removable and adjusts to three positions. It also includes the Free-Form Cardio Rebounder, two DVDs, three online workouts and a wall chart. Its frame warranty is 5 years (90 days on parts), compared with 3 years on the cord models.

Stamina says the 9-inch longer aluminum rails make it "especially useful for taller practitioners," and calls it a non-folding reformer.

Women's Health picked the Pro XP 557 (its entry is titled "AeroPilates Pro Reformer") as its best reformer with a cardio rebounder. It describes four interchangeable springs, a three-position foot bar and wood accents, and says tester Berkeley Brooks found it "stayed sturdy when executing explosive movements at fast paces." The listed con: it isn't compact enough for apartments.

Check 557 price on Amazon

Is an AeroPilates reformer worth it?

• Good fit for beginners: Today.com's expert, Barry's instructor Robyn Williams, called the 287 easy for beginners to learn and said the 4420's DVDs are "a great catalyst for any first-timer."
• Good fit for small spaces and tighter budgets: Women's Health named the 287 its best budget reformer and the 4420 its best compact one. The cord models fold on wheels, per Stamina, and five of the six models here fall in our under-$1,000 price tiers.
• Consider skipping it if you want a studio spring feel: Women's Health lists "cords instead of springs" as a con of the 4420, and its 287 tester said she "could see someone eventually progressing beyond the capabilities." Only the Pro XP 557 uses steel springs.
• Warranty: Stamina gives the cord models a 3-year frame / 90-day parts warranty, and the Pro XP 557 a 5-year frame warranty.

Which AeroPilates reformer is best for you

• Tight budget or small space: The 287. It's the lowest-cost and lightest of these six, and you can add the rebounder later.
• Want the rebounder and more resistance options on a floor model: The 4420.
• Find it hard to get down to the floor: A stand model. The 266 is the simpler option, the 651 adds a fourth cord, and the Premier Studio 700 adds a wider platform and foot bar.
• Want springs, or you're tall: The Pro XP 557, with steel springs and 69 inches of travel.

Not sure? The 4420 covers most beginners. If it's out of stock, the 287 plus the separately sold Cardio Rebounder (55-0011) is the closest match, with one fewer cord.

Check 4420 price on Amazon

To compare other brands, see our best home Pilates reformers guide, or browse all home reformer guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the AeroPilates 287 worth it?

It's the lowest-cost of the six models compared here: three cords, folds on wheels, 56 lb and a 300-lb weight limit, according to Stamina. Women's Health named it best budget, though its 5'11" tester said taller users may feel cramped and advanced users may outgrow it. A Today.com expert called it beginner-friendly.

What's the difference between the AeroPilates 287 and 4420?

Per Stamina, the 4420 adds a fourth cord (color-coded light, regular and extra-heavy), includes the Cardio Rebounder, a mat and four DVDs, and weighs a bit more (63 vs. 56 lb). Both fold, sit on the floor, hold 300 lb and carry the same warranty.

Do AeroPilates reformers use springs?

Most use elastic bungee cords. The Pro XP 557 uses four steel springs. Women's Health lists cords instead of springs as a con of the 4420.

Is AeroPilates a good reformer for beginners?

Reviewers think so. Today.com's expert, Barry's instructor Robyn Williams, said beginners will find the 287 easy to get familiar with and called the 4420's DVDs a great catalyst for first-timers. Women's Health named the 287 its best budget pick and the 4420 its best compact pick.

Can you do real reformer Pilates on an AeroPilates?

You can do reformer-style work, but most models use elastic cords rather than the steel springs on studio machines. Women's Health praised the 4420's "effective resistance despite affordable price point" but listed cords as a con, and its 287 tester said users may eventually progress beyond that machine. The Pro XP 557 uses four steel springs, per Stamina.

How long do AeroPilates cords last?

Stamina says cords relax with use and may need retying and replacing after about 24 months of very regular use. That's brand guidance, not an independent test.

What is the weight limit on an AeroPilates reformer?

300 lb on every model we checked: the 266, 287, 4420, 651, Premier Studio 700 and Pro XP 557.

Sources

• Stamina Products: AeroPilates Reformer 287
• Stamina Products: AeroPilates Reformer 4420
• Stamina Products: AeroPilates Reformer 266
• Stamina Products: AeroPilates Premier Studio 700
• Stamina Products: AeroPilates Pro XP 557
• Stamina Products: AeroPilates collection
• Stamina Products: AeroPilates beginner's guide
• Pilates Reformers Plus: AeroPilates 651 listing (Stamina specs)
• Women's Health: Best Pilates reformer machines
• NBC Select: Best Pilates reformers
• Today.com: Best Pilates reformers