Getting started
Pilates equipment names explained
The short answer
The main Pilates apparatus are the reformer, Cadillac (or trapeze table), Wunda chair, ladder barrel, spine corrector and tower. Several have more than one name, which is the main source of confusion when comparing equipment.
The main apparatus
Five pieces make up the traditional studio, and every one of them does something the others do not.
| Apparatus | Also called | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Reformer | — | Sliding carriage with springs; widest repertoire |
| Cadillac | Trapeze table | Fixed frame with overhead springs; best for rehab |
| Tower | Half Cadillac | Vertical frame mounted to a reformer |
| Wunda chair | Pilates chair, low chair | Compact; standing and pressing work |
| Ladder barrel | — | Deep spinal extension and side-bending |
| Spine corrector | Step barrel | Supported extension, small footprint |
| Arc | Pilates arc | Lightweight curve; fits on a carriage |
Why names vary
Some pieces have a traditional name and a descriptive one — Cadillac and trapeze table are the same thing. Others acquired manufacturer-specific names that entered general use.
When comparing equipment between suppliers, work from the description rather than the name. A "combo chair" from one maker and an "exo chair" from another may be near-identical products.
What a full studio has
A traditionally equipped studio has reformers, at least one Cadillac, a chair, a ladder barrel and a spine corrector. Modern group-class studios often have reformers only, sometimes with towers.
Neither is wrong — they serve different business models. A group-class studio does not need a Cadillac; a rehabilitation practice very much does.
What to buy in what order
Reformer first, always. Then a chair, which adds the most new repertoire per square foot. Then an arc or spine corrector. A Cadillac or ladder barrel only if you have a specific need and the floor space.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a Cadillac and a trapeze table?
- They are the same apparatus. "Trapeze table" is the descriptive name and "Cadillac" the traditional one.
- What is a half Cadillac?
- Another name for a tower — a vertical frame mounted at the head end of a reformer, giving much of the Cadillac repertoire in reformer-sized floor space.
- What Pilates equipment should I buy first?
- A reformer. It covers the widest range of the repertoire of any single apparatus, and most taught programs assume access to one.
- Why do the same machines have different names?
- Some have both a traditional and a descriptive name; others carry manufacturer-specific names that entered general use. Compare by description rather than name.