Spring Information
What Size Spring Do I Need?
Align-Pilates offers 3 sizes of springs: 47cm springs with larger eyelets for our Pilates Reformers and the shorter springs on Full and Half Cadillacs, 47cm springs with smaller eyelets for our Combo Chair, and 64cm springs which are the longer springs used on Full and Half Cadillacs.
Reformer Springs/Short Springs for Cadillacs:
- Extra Light Spring (47cm)
- Light Spring (47cm)
- Medium Spring (47cm)
- Strong Spring (47cm)
- Spring Set (47cm)
Long Springs for Cadillacs:
Springs with Small Eyelets for the Combo Chair:
What Springs Come With Align-Pilates Reformers?
The Springs that come with Align-Pilates Reformers varies depending on the Reformer. Commercial Reformers come with 1 Strong Spring, 2 Medium Springs, and 2 Light Springs, which offers a range of resistance level options, depending on which springs you choose to attach at any one time. Our Home Reformers, such as the F3 Folding Reformer, come with 2 Strong Springs, 1 Medium Spring, and 1 Light Spring, additionally the R8-Pro, which — as a ‘Light Commercial’ Reformer — comes with the same spring setup as a Home Reformer, but with space to add an optional fifth spring. Align-Pilates also offers an Extra Light Spring, which is an optional extra available for all Reformers.
What Do The Spring Colours Mean?
Align-Pilates uses consistent colour-coding for Spring strengths:
Reformers/Cadillac Short Springs:
- Yellow: Extra Light
- Blue: Light
- Red: Medium
- Green: Strong
Cadillac Long Springs:
- Yellow: Extra Light
- Purple: Light
- Red: Strong
Combo Chair:
- Green: Strong
- Black: Extra Strong
How Strong Are The Springs?
Reformer Springs vary in strength depending on the amount of extension, as the extension increases, so does the resistance. The Reformer springs have the following resistance strengths (in kilograms) for the range 5cm to 90cm of extension:
- Extra Light: 1-7kg
- Light: 3-15kg
- Medium: 4-20kg
- Strong: 5-30kg
How Do Align-Pilates Springs Compare To Other Brands?
Most leading brands offer data on the springs resistance by kg/cm or Lbs/Inch, which makes comparison relatively easy to undertake. In the majority of cases the Align-Pilates standard set up offers as low a resistance as other leading brands standard set ups, up to a slightly higher resistance than most, so few will need to change from the standard set up.
How Long Do The Springs Last?
We recommend that all of our Springs be replaced after 2 years or 2000 hours of use (whichever comes first). Pilates springs showing any sign or wear, kinking or distortion should not be used and should be immediately replaced.
More Information
For more information please view our blog post on Reformer Springs: Strength & Comparison.