What to Pack in Your Pilates Bag: Essential Accessories

To go to a Pilates class, you only need five basic items: comfortable clothing, non-slip socks, a water bottle, a personal towel, and, if you practice on a reformer, a specific non-slip reformer towel. With these five in your bag, you're ready for any class, whether on the mat, reformer, or complementary apparatus.

But if you've been practicing for a while or want to get the most out of each session, there are other accessories that make a real difference. At Bellman Pilates, we work with practitioners of all levels in Spain, from beginners who have just stepped on the reformer for the first time to advanced students with three weekly sessions, and we've learned what truly belongs in the bag and what ends up forgotten at home.

The 5 Essentials for Any Pilates Bag

• Tight-fitting, breathable clothing: Loose clothing can get caught in the reformer straps or make it difficult for the instructor to correct your posture. Opt for technical fabric leggings and a tight-fitting shirt or top. In Spain, many students combine medium compression fabrics for the legs with light tops depending on the time of year.
• Non-slip socks: These are mandatory in most Pilates studios in Spain for hygiene and safety reasons. Those with grip on the sole help maintain stability on the floor and on the reformer platform.
• Reusable water bottle: Pilates is a low-cardiovascular intensity practice, but hydration is still essential. A 500–750 ml bottle is sufficient for a 55-minute session.
• Personal towel: To wipe your face or neck during class. A small microfiber towel takes up little space and dries quickly.
• Non-slip reformer towel: This is the most underestimated and most missed accessory. It is placed on the reformer carriage to prevent you from slipping and to maintain the machine's hygiene. It's the differentiating element between a safe and comfortable session and one where you're worried about slipping instead of connecting with the movement.

The Non-Slip Reformer Towel: Why It's the Most Important Accessory

In our experience with clients from Pilates studios in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, the non-slip reformer towel is the accessory most often purchased after starting classes, not before. Most discover it through their instructor's recommendation or because the first session without it is uncomfortable.

A well-designed non-slip reformer towel fulfills three simultaneous functions:

• Grip: The non-slip base secures the towel to the reformer carriage, so it doesn't move during leg or abdominal exercises.
• Hygiene: It creates a barrier between your body and the machine's upholstery, which is shared by several students daily.
• Comfort: It slightly cushions contact with the rigid surface of the carriage, especially in spinal or hip exercises.

A fact that surprises many students: Pilates studios in Spain do not always have reformer towels available for loan or rental, and when they do, they usually charge between €1 and €2 per session. With your own towel, the cost is amortized in fewer than ten classes.

Optional Accessories Worth Considering

These are not essential to start, but if you've been practicing regularly for more than a month, they can enhance your experience:

• Resistance band: Useful for warm-ups or additional mobility exercises. Takes up virtually no space in the bag.
• Small Pilates ball (overball): Some studios provide it, but having your own ensures hygiene. It's used in core activation and hip stabilization exercises.
• Foam roller: More common among advanced practitioners. Ideal for mobility work before or after class. It's bulky, so many students leave it in the car.
• Pilates mat: If your studio doesn't provide one or you prefer your own for hygiene. Specific Pilates mats are thinner than yoga mats (3–5 mm vs. 6–8 mm) to facilitate connection with the floor.
• Hair tie: A practical detail that is almost always in the bag of any regular practitioner. Loose hair can interfere with some supine exercises.

What You Don't Need to Carry (and Will Lighten Your Bag)

One of the most common mistakes among beginners is carrying too much. These items are not necessary in a standard Pilates class in Spain:

• Athletic shoes: Pilates is practiced barefoot or with non-slip socks. Shoes stay outside the studio.
• Grip gloves: not used in Pilates; they are typical of other disciplines such as CrossFit or weightlifting.
• Supplements or energy bars: the intensity of Pilates does not require caloric replenishment during class.

Summary Table: Pilates Bag for Reformer vs. Mat Pilates

Accessory	Mat Pilates	Reformer Pilates
Non-slip socks	✅ Essential	✅ Essential
Personal towel	✅ Recommended	✅ Recommended
Non-slip reformer towel	❌ Not needed	✅ Highly recommended
Own mat	✅ If studio doesn't provide one	❌ Not needed
Water bottle	✅ Always	✅ Always
Resistance band	⭕ Optional	⭕ Optional

How to Choose the Best Non-Slip Reformer Pilates Towel

Not all non-slip reformer towels are created equal. Before buying, consider these three criteria:

Dimensions

Most reformer carriages measure between 55 and 65 cm wide and 90 and 100 cm long. A 60 x 180 cm towel covers the entire carriage and has room for shoulders and feet.

Non-slip base

Look for a silicone or rubber base that adheres to the reformer upholstery without damaging it. Towels with a smooth textile base tend to shift during dynamic exercises.

Absorbency and quick-drying

The top side should absorb sweat during class and dry in a few hours so it can be reused the next day. Microfiber or technical blend fabrics are the best option.

At Bellman Pilates, we design our non-slip reformer towels with exactly these three points in mind, with measurements adapted to the most common reformers in Spanish studios and a silicone base that doesn't move even if you change position twenty times in the same session.

If you're looking for the non-slip reformer towel that will become your companion for every class, discover Bellman Pilates non-slip towels and choose the one that best suits your practice.