Brand: | Yowza Fitness |
Expert Rating: |
The Yowza Pompano elliptical trainer is their lowest priced model with the patented Cardio Core Training option. This unique feature is only available on Yowza ellipticals, and it adds a whole new dimension to crosstraining. What has made elliptical trainers so popular is both the low impact workout and the combined upper and lower body exercise.
We need to give you a quick word on Yowza. This company used to be awesome, but things have fell by the way-side these last few months. We no longer feel they are a solid investment.
Yowza Fitness is OUT OF BUSINESS.
We are still waiting to hear more information about this company but it seems they are no longer producing machines.
Note: It’s a shame that the company has gone out of business. This Cardio Core technology is certainly unique. You may want to check out the NordicTrack SpaceSaver SE7i for another option.Your typical elliptical trainer has the dual handlebars that move back and forth in sequence with the elliptical stride. The advantage of the dual action is that you not only exercise more muscle groups, but you get a more intense cardio workout. Unfortunately, many people who workout on an elliptical trainer tend to go through the motions with the upper body exercise. They do not apply adequate resistance in order to get the full benefit. Also, the upper body workout tends to only target the arms and shoulders.
With the Cardio Core Training on the Yowza Pompano elliptical trainer you have a totally different concept with the upper body exercise. Rather than two handlebars moving in conjunction with the elliptical stride, you have a single T-bar handlebar that moves left to right. When I was at the corporate headquarters I tried the Cardio Core, and what I immediately noticed was how it worked the abdominal muscles.
According to the web site, “Yowza’s patented counter-rotational Core motion targets the muscles of internal and external obliques, rectus abdominus and serratus anterior like no other cardio machine.” For many of us, tightening our abs is one of our top fitness goals. We all want a leaner and tighter stomach, and an elliptical trainer with Cardio Core Training does a better job than your typical crosstrainer. I did feel that if I owned the Yowza Pampano I would probably switch back and forth from using to the cardio core training to using the stationary handlebars, because I found constantly using the Cardio Core Training was exhausting. Which is a good thing.
18″ Stride Length – You get a smooth and natural 18″ stride. The Yowza Sanibel and the Captiva have a variable stride, which you may want to consider if you are a taller individual. Yowza also uses fairly heavy flywheels, which further contribute to a natural elliptical stride.
Self Pivoting Foot Pedal with Soft Gel Technology – The pedal is designed to angle with the elliptical motion. It actually teeters based on the pressure from your foot. The advantage is that you have less heal lift, resulting in less strain on your ankles and less chance of numbness, according to the company. Combined with the Soft Gel covering on the pedals, it’s one of the more comfortable pedals we have tested.
“Each pad is anchored to our articulating pedal system that allows each foot pad to rock forward and backward intuitively throughout the elliptical motion. This creates the most comfortable and stress free design available in the market.“
Rear Drive – This is a rear drive design elliptical. The benefits are there are less moving parts that could result in service issues. (you do not have to clean the rollers, plus less noise). The only disadvantage is that the pedal distance can sometimes be further apart than on a front drive machine, which can be an issue for shorter woman.
Sealed Bearings – The sealed bearing feature on all joints is standard on this machine. Sealed bearings are very quiet and durable in comparison to bushings which wear more quickly.
Speakers and iPod Docking Station – When I was talking to the company president he mentioned that they wanted a speaker system that wasn’t embarrassing. I’ve got an elliptical where the speakers sound so bad I won’t listen to them. The Yowza Pompano elliptical speaker have a decent sound quality considering their part of an exercise machine. They opted to have an iPod docking station, rather than an MP3 plug-in because the sound quality is much better.
Warranty – Yowza falls inline with the industry, offering 5-year parts and 2-year labor coverage. The frame and braking system are covered for lifetime suggesting that the Yowza Pompano is durable and generally has few service issues. In fact, out of 330 reviews on consumer affairs, Yowza has a 4.5 star rating which is higher than anyone else in the industry at present.
In quality, the Yowza Pompano is equivalent to machines that typically sell for a much higher price. The cardio core training has been available for several years now and customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
We have yet to get a complaint from anyone saying they bought one of the Yowza ellipticals with the Cardio Core Training and did not like it. As previously mention, many people tend to go through the motions with your standard elliptical trainer. With the Cardio Core Training you are forced to twist back and forth, thus working your abs.
This new concept of cross training seems appears to becoming more popular. Since Yowza has had so many issues in the recent months, you may want to check out the NordicTrack SpaceSaver SE7i for another option.