The Five Below Pilates board has been all over social feeds, and searches for "pilates board at home" are climbing with it. If you have around $30 to $50 to spend on home Pilates gear, should it go on a board or on a kit of small props? Here is a fair look at both.
Full disclosure: Pilamie sells a home Pilates kit and we link to it below. We do not sell a board and are not affiliated with Five Below. Product details below come from the retailer listing at the time of writing. Check the Five Below site or your local store for current price and stock.
What is the Five Below Pilates board?
It is sold as the Series-8 Fitness Pilates Reformer Board. The listing shows a price of $30 and says the box contains one board, two resistance tubes, two push-up bars, one knee and elbow pad and an instruction sheet, with a stated weight limit of 220 lb. Stock varies by store.
Despite the name, a board like this is not a reformer. There is no sliding carriage or spring system. It is a flat board with anchor points for resistance tubes and slots for push-up handles.
What a Pilates board is good for
- Pulling and pressing moves. Tubes anchored to the board let you do rows, presses and curls with a fixed base.
- Push-up and plank variations. The handles change your hand position.
- One piece of equipment. Set it down and go.
Where a board falls short
- Space. A board is long and rigid. It does not fit in a drawer or a tote bag.
- One or two resistance levels. You get the tubes in the box.
- Not the tools most mat Pilates classes use. Many follow-along mat Pilates videos call for a ring, a ball or loop bands, not a board.
- Weight limit. Check it before buying.
Pilates board vs prop kit, side by side
| Five Below Pilates board | Pilamie Home Pilates Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $30 (listing at time of writing) | $49.99 |
| What you get | Board, 2 resistance tubes, 2 push-up bars, knee/elbow pad, instruction sheet | Ring, ball, 5 loop bands, long band, figure-8 band, arm and thigh toner, stretching strap, 2 pairs grip socks, bag |
| Resistance levels | Tubes in the box | Five loop band strengths plus other bands |
| Storage | Rigid board | One carry bag |
| Routine included | Instruction sheet | Free 28-day beginner plan, 31 illustrated moves |
| Where to buy | Five Below stores and site, stock varies | Online, free tracked US shipping |
Which should you buy?
- Buy the board if you want tube-based strength moves and push-up variations, you have somewhere to store it, and your local store has it.
- Buy a prop kit if you follow mat Pilates videos or a plan, you are short on space, or you want several resistance levels to grow into.
- Buy both if you have the budget and the floor space. They do different jobs and do not overlap much.
If you go with a kit
The Pilamie Home Pilates Kit packs 14 pieces into one bag for $49.99, ships free from our US warehouse and has 30-day returns. The free 28-day plan tells you what to do with each prop from day 1.
More comparisons: Pilates equipment for home and Pilates in a small apartment.