Aldi’s Viral £150 Reformer Pilates Machine Has Already Sold Out

If you thought Black Friday was messy, wait until you see a group of Brits battling over a budget Reformer Pilates machine. Yes, Aldi’s £149.99 SpecialBuy Reformer has whipped shoppers into a frenzy — and not the peaceful, core-stabilising kind.

The chaos kicked off when the machine dropped in UK stores last weekend. Within minutes, they were gone. TikTok caught it all: queues snaking down the street, shoppers wrestling over boxes like it was the last turkey at Christmas. One viral video, posted by @LV_shz, shows just how far some were willing to go for a cut-price ticket to toned abs and glutes.

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The Aldi Reformer Pilates Machine. Image @10ways via Instagram

So what’s the fuss? Reformer Pilates classes are notoriously pricey — think boutique studio fees and memberships that make your bank account wince. So when Aldi dropped its sub-£150 version, fans of the cult workout saw a golden opportunity to bring the studio home. But is it actually any good?

One lucky reviewer got her hands on it early. “If you’re anything like me then your social media feeds have likely been flooded by people trying to buy Aldi’s Pilates reformer,” she wrote. And yes, the hype is real — this isn’t Aldi’s first time causing chaos. Their Australian drop earlier this year also went viral.

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She admits the machine is no featherweight. “Boy, is this heavy,” she says of the 35kg beast. Assembly took an hour, some toe-dodging, and the help of an Allen key — but once built, it impressed. “The machine itself is really sturdy, which is surprising for something I built.”

With a weight capacity of 125kg and size suitability from 4’11 to 6’3, it’s a solid option for most users. She tried a range of exercises from the manual and was pleasantly surprised: “The bands offered a great glide… and you can adjust the resistance underneath the machine to suit your needs.”

Image @fancynancy_fitness_
via Instagram

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Sounds promising — but what do the professionals think? Some instructors are raising eyebrows. Unlike studio reformers, Aldi’s version uses resistance bands, not springs. That’s not inherently bad, but it does mean the feel is different.

More importantly, instructors are worried about injuries. Jay Reinhold, a Pilates instructor-in-training, offered this plea on TikTok:
“I’ve just been seeing everyone buying these Aldi reformer machines… But guys, please, if you haven’t done Pilates before or anything just get some training first. Don’t go and injure yourself.”

Fair point. The takeaway? If you’re confident with reformer Pilates and know your form, this could be the best £150 you spend this year. If you’re a newbie, maybe pair your new toy with a few actual classes first.