Cadence Pilates Review: A Home Pilates Kit Tested for Eight Weeks

Pilates is one of the few exercise methods that suits almost everybody: it is low impact, focused on core strength and postural control, and easy to adapt for injuries or age. It is also intimidating from the outside. Studios use large reformer machines, the terminology is unfamiliar, and it is hard to tell whether you are doing a movement correctly.

Home kits promise a way in. Cadence Pilates sells a small range of equipment and a video library designed to work together. I followed its beginner programme for eight weeks, three sessions a week, to see whether the package holds together.

What Cadence Pilates sells#

The store sells individual pieces and bundles. The Starter Kit ($119) contains a 4 mm mat, a pilates ring, a set of three resistance bands and a small inflatable ball, with 30 days of access to the video library. The Studio Kit ($189) adds a foam roller and a set of grip socks. Individual items include the ring ($42), the mat ($48) and a bands set ($32).

The video library is included free for the first 30 days and then costs $14 a month. It consists of around 120 classes from 10 to 45 minutes, arranged in four progressive programmes.

How we tested#

I followed the eight-week Foundations programme, three 25-minute sessions weekly, using the Starter Kit. I also:

• Compared the mat and ring with a standard yoga mat and a budget ring from a general retailer.

• Stretched the bands at intervals to test loss of resistance.

• Watched a dozen classes for cueing quality and pacing.

• Contacted support and tested the trial return.

The equipment#

The ring is excellent. It has a firm steel core wrapped in dense foam, with padded grips that stay comfortable during 15-rep sets. It flexes just enough to feel like resistance without collapsing. My budget comparison ring buckled after three weeks; the Cadence ring showed no change in stiffness after eight.

The mat is 4 mm thick, which strikes the right balance for spine and hip work: soft enough for rolling exercises, firm enough that you do not sink into it. The surface grips well and does not slide on hardwood. It is not as thick as a yoga mat for kneeling, but Pilates rarely calls for that.

The bands are the weak link#

The three resistance bands are the disappointment. After four weeks of regular use, the medium band had stretched noticeably and the light band had developed a small tear along one edge. The store replaced them promptly, but you should not expect them to last. We would buy a better set of fabric-covered loop bands elsewhere.

The classes#

The video library is where Cadence stands out. Classes are led by qualified instructors who explain each movement calmly, offer modifications and repeat the important cues. The Foundations programme builds sensibly from breathing and pelvic alignment to fuller sequences, and I noticed improvements in control and posture by week four. Sessions are short enough to be sustainable, and the production is clean with no distracting music.

Two drawbacks: there is no printed guide, so you need a screen near your mat, and the library subscription is an ongoing cost after the free month.

Shipping, service and returns#

The kit shipped within two days and arrived within five, in a single carton with minimal padding. Support answered a question about using the kit with a bad wrist in under four hours, with a thoughtful list of modifications from a Pilates teacher.

Complete kits come with a 30-day trial. I sent one back on day 25 as a test: the label was emailed immediately and the refund arrived within a week. Individual items can be returned unused within 30 days, and shipping is free on kit returns.

Price and value#

The Starter Kit at $119 is fair value: buying the mat, ring and bands separately would cost $122, and the video library alone is worth the trial. After the free month, the $14 subscription is comparable to other online platforms.

Who should buy, and who should skip#

Buy from Cadence Pilates if you are starting or returning to Pilates and want a structured, affordable path with good instruction.

Skip it if you are a confident practitioner who only wants equipment, you dislike subscriptions or you prefer to work from printed guides. To make the most of your mat, look at the leggings in our Flow Theory review.

The verdict#

Cadence Pilates earns 4.2 out of 5. The ring and mat are excellent, the classes are clear and progressive and the trial is fair. Weak bands and the subscription after the free month stop it from scoring higher.

Disclosure: we bought the kit ourselves. Some links on this site are affiliate links. See our review policy.