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Many of my fitness-obsessed friends swear by programs like Solidcore and SLT because the megaformer provides such an effective core workout. The combination of a moving platform and springs for resistance combines strength training and cardio in a way that’s undefeated for toning your body. But as effective as the bulky machine is, it’s also enormous, so the idea of using it at-home never occurred to me — that is, until I heard about Lagree.
Lagree is a popular ClassPass workout that also offers at-home equipment and online classes. The Microformer (starts at $62/month) is small enough to stow under your bed, on the wall, or racked like a bike. I’m a long-term Pilates loyalist but classes are expensive and instructors can be hit or miss, so I tested the Microformer for a month to see what kind of fitness experience it offered.
We like
- Offers a serious full-body workout
- You can choose your preferred difficulty level
- Gives detailed explanations of form
- You can customize your Microformer with accessories
We don't like
- No live classes
- Pace is uniformly slow in all classes
A Whole World of Configurations
While Lagree’s Megaformer, which clocks in at over $1,300 a month even on payment plans, is a serious investment both space- and money-wise, the Microformer doesn’t feel like a major life decision. A brand-new unit starts at $990 for the base (no accessories included). You can also opt for a pre-used, open-box model, which starts at $590. You can customize your Microformer with equipment add-ons (with a fully loaded version costing you $1,890), but none of them are necessary to get a great workout. I was sent the Black Cables ($240) with Handles ($55) and Front Handles ($190) to try out, but I mostly stuck to workouts that required just the base.
The Front Handles kept me from being able to wheel the machine, so that was a dealbreaker since I was using the Microformer in my living room and needed to move it out of the way when it wasn’t in use. If I could choose one add-on, I’d go for the Rear Platform ($290) because it opens up a lot of additional exercises that I wished I could have tried.
We like
We don't like
Setup and Storage
The Microformer arrived in a large box with the accessories shipped separately. As the machine was 60 lbs and 71” long by 18.5” wide, it was a little unwieldy to unpack by myself but still manageable for those of you who live solo. A big plus is that the base required no setup and was ready to use straight out of the box. The first thing I checked was whether it would fit under my couch — close, but no cigar, as the Microformer is 5.5” tall. If I were to keep this unit, I’d definitely buy the wall bracket ($35) to keep it hanging off the floor.
But for my month of testing, it was no big deal to leave it off to the side of my living room. The wheels underneath the front platform (you can see them in the above image, they’re red) made it easy to move the machine around by myself.
In the above image, you can see the four color-coded springs that are used to add weight to the carriage. Each color is a different weight and the On Demand workouts explain which combo of springs to attach for a given exercise. Speaking of…
Workout On Demand
Lagree on Demand costs $10/month or $100/year. You can learn individual exercises (like “The Sexy Back”) and/or create your own program. If you prefer the structure of a class, there are full body classes as well as leg-specific or abs & arms focused options. Since there are so many configurations of Microformer accessories, the On Demand platform makes it easy to filter by those options (see screenshot below), so when I wanted to try out the cables or only use the base, I was directed to the relevant classes.
If you’ve never used a machine with springs or a moving carriage before, I’d recommend starting with the Block videos. Blocks are thorough explanations of individual exercises that go into detail about form and what muscles you’re using. Even though I’ve used machines like this before, I found it really helpful to understand the reason behind the movement because in classes like SLT or Solidcore, there’s rarely much attention to form.
Slow Burn
Of all the boutique fitness classes I’ve tried, Lagree reminded me most of SLT because of the slow-burn pace. Lagree is not about maximizing the number of reps at all — the workout tests your willpower because you have to keep pushing yourself to slow down. The workouts I did were very lunge, inner thigh, and plank-heavy (there were options for lunge-free classes).
(A short detour to share my new favorite workout set from Losano. The leggings are super thin and easy to move in. I’m in love with the “baked clay” color, which is a departure from my all-black and pastel phases.)
You’ll learn Lagree lingo after a few classes: the “golden angle” is the 90-degree angle your knee should have when doing a lunge. The “silver angle” is when your chest is upright and your shoulders are aligned with your hips. Most of the On Demand classes include both an instructor who describes what you’re supposed to be doing and also a model who is executing the workout so you get plenty of direction even if you’re in a position that makes it hard to look at the screen.
Even on the easiest difficulty level of class, I started sweating almost right away. Lagree is definitely a mental workout and if you have a tendency to cheat during classes (guilty), it can be hard to push through. On days I don’t want to work out, this is not the type of exercise I could force myself to do because it’s very much a “what you put into it” class. In contrast, something like a dance cardio is easier (for me) to force myself through because it doesn’t require the same discipline.
Final Verdict
The Microformer gave me a great workout, but the overall approach of slow movements (for a lunge: minimum four counts in, and another four counts out) isn’t something I see myself doing more than once a week. If this type of workout is your cup of tea, then it makes sense to invest in a piece of equipment like the Microformer. But since I prefer something that allows me to move quicker, I’ll stick to doing Lagree at their location in Long Island City every now and again.
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