How does the Flexia Sitting Box Compare to Other Brands?

A sitting box, also known as a Pilates box is a reformer accessory used to enhance your reformer workout. The sitting box can be used for a variety of exercises, ranging from stretching, to modification use, to upping your workout intensity. 

Why use a sitting box?

While you can get an amazing full body workout without a sitting box, having one gives you more options and increases the versatility of your reformer.

Below are some of the reasons why you may want to use a sitting box in your practice.

The sitting box makes it easier to modify many Pilates exercises.

Got tight hamstrings that make it hard to sit up straight?

You can sit on the sitting box for seated arm work to improve your posture and therefore form, so you get the most out of the exercise.

The reformer box can also be used to modify exercises like the Pilates roll down. For example, if you tend you feel your lower back during that exercise, practicing it on the sitting box can improve your spinal mobility and core activation. 

The sitting box gives you more exercise options.

We love the Pilates reformer, but when you add a sitting box, you get even more options.

Here are some of the ways that a reformer box can enhance your workout:

• You can practice exercises on your stomach to strengthen your upper back muscles and glutes (aka all those muscles that give you good posture!)
• You can do exercises lying on the box to build maximal core strength, including the Teaser, Series of 5, and creative plank variations.
• The reformer box give you more options for standing balance and strength work.

This is all to say that if you want to get the most out of your reformer workouts, it is worth investing in a sitting box. 

Wondering which sitting box is best for you? Keep reading. 

What are the pros and cons of the different styles of Pilates sitting boxes?

Pilates boxes are commonly made out of wood and are upholstered for comfort. They may also be made out of foam. Depending on your specific needs, you might find that certain sitting boxes work better for you than others.

How the Flexia sitting box compares to other wood and upholstered boxes.

Our sitting box is constructed out of wood with padded upholstery designed for comfort when sitting or lying down on the box. While most sitting boxes are solid wood covered in upholstery for the entire outside of the box, the sides of our sitting box are constructed with wood slats.

These slats make our box lighter than the average wood and upholstered sitting box, which can be quite heavy. The slates also offer you multiple options for holding and adjusting the box, making it easier to handle than many other sitting boxes. This is particularly beneficial if you have a wrist, shoulder, neck, or lower back issue where you need to be thoughtful about how you pick up and move things. 

You might think that the slats would make our box less sturdy, but it actually has the same weight capacity as other wood and upholstered boxes and can support up to 350 pounds.

In terms of price, most upholstered and wood sitting boxes will cost from $350 to $475 with the Flexia sitting box falling within that range with additional savings if you take advantage of our reformer accessories package. 

How the Flexia sitting box compares to foam boxes

The biggest differences between a foam sitting box and a wood and upholstered box are the weight and the cost. Foam sitting boxes often cost about half of what a wood box will and typically weigh around 4.5 pounds as compared to the Flexia sitting box, which weighs 19 pounds.

However, the foam box does have a few downsides. First, it may not feel as sturdy or secure as a wood and upholstered box and may be more prone to sliding. Additionally, it is not padded, so it is not as comfortable to sit and lie on and may result in discomfort across your hip bones or sits bones during use. It also does not have very many options for holding it, so if you have issues with grip, you may still struggle to move the box despite its light weight. 

If you want the lightest or least expensive box, then the foam box may be the way to go. However, it won’t fit the Flexia reformer as well as our box, which was designed for the Flexia Reformer's specific dimensions. 

Conversely, if you want a box that has the sturdiness, comfort, and quality of an upholstered wood box, but is designed to be easy to handle, then the Flexia Pilates box may be a good option for you.

Thinking of investing in a smart reformer for at-home? Check out our Smart At-Home Reformer Buying Guide or learn more about our reformer!