Blogs

BASI Systems and Merrithew (the company behind STOTT Pilates and the SPX reformer) are the two most compared premium Pilates reformer brands for studio buyers in the US. Both are at the upper end of the market, both are used in serious teacher training programs, and both have decades of presence in the professional Pilates community.

But they are built for different studio priorities — and this comparison explains what the real differences are. For available commercial reformer options, see our commercial Pilates reformers collection.

The core technical difference: the EPS spring bar

BASI's most significant differentiator is the patented EPS (Easy Platform System) spring bar. On a standard reformer — including Merrithew's SPX line — changing spring combinations requires physically removing springs from the bar, repositioning them, and re-attaching them. This takes 45–90 seconds with both hands.

BASI's EPS allows instructors to change spring combinations with one hand while springs remain attached to the bar. This is a genuine workflow improvement in studio environments running back-to-back private sessions or transitions within a group class. It is not a minor convenience — instructors who work with the EPS regularly report that it materially changes how quickly they can transition clients through programs.

Whether this matters depends entirely on your session format. For teacher training programs or advanced private sessions with deliberate, unhurried transitions, the EPS is a convenience. For high-throughput group classes or studios with tight back-to-back private schedules, it is a meaningful operational advantage.

Carriage travel: BASI's longest-in-class range

BASI reformers offer carriage travel at the longer end of the market — designed to accommodate the full BASI repertoire for all client body types including taller users. Several advanced BASI exercises require carriage travel range that shorter reformers cannot provide.

Merrithew's SPX reformer uses standard carriage length — adequate for the full STOTT repertoire and appropriate for the vast majority of clients. The limitation is felt only at the extreme tall end of the client population, or when running specific advanced exercises that require the additional range.

Manufacturing and craftsmanship

BASI reformers are handcrafted in California from rock maple and aircraft-grade aluminum. The handcrafted process means natural wood grain variation between units — minor visual differences are considered normal and are excluded from warranty claims. Lead times reflect the production reality: 6–8 weeks standard, up to 12 weeks for custom finishes.

Merrithew reformers are manufactured to consistent commercial specifications with tighter visual uniformity across a fleet. For studios outfitting 8–12 reformers and wanting them to look identical on the floor, Merrithew's production consistency is an advantage over BASI's handcrafted variation.

Teacher training alignment

Both brands have major teacher training programs attached to them. BASI teacher training (Body Arts and Science International) requires the full BASI apparatus suite including the BASI reformer. Studios running BASI certification must own BASI equipment.

Merrithew's STOTT Pilates certification is one of the most widely recognised in the US and internationally. Studios hosting STOTT training require SPX or V2 Max reformers. Studios hiring instructors certified through STOTT often maintain Merrithew equipment for equipment familiarity alignment.

If you have already chosen a certification brand, this decision is often made for you.

Comparison at a glance

Frequently asked questions

Related: BASI Systems collection · Merrithew collection · Pilates Cadillacs