There are a variety of high and low end elliptical machines on the market today, so it is always worth your time to take a much closer look into the ups and downs of each before choosing one. This can be especially true when considering one that also has a higher price tag. So, we will be looking at a machine developed by Yowza Fitness, the Sanibel i35 Card io Core Elliptical. There are a lot of good things to be said about it, but is it really enough to make it worth the high cost for everyone? Read further and see what we found out about this high end elliptical machine.
What are the good sides?
The Sanibel i35 Cardio Core Elliptical is certainly well made, even down to the fittings, and it has a lot of added on features to make it a great draw for the serious fitness buffs. The first thing worth mentioning is its stride. It has an adjustable stride length from 18-26 inches, so really the entire family can make use of this fitness machine. It also has room for 9 different user profiles following along those same lines.The next big thing that really stood out with this choice is the capabilities for your upper body workout. Most ellipticals have handlebars that go in the same up and down directions; however this one has a unique side to side motion to give you a much more effective workout for your upper body. It also has a set of the stationary handlebars included to monitor your heart rate, of course. This is a pretty nice difference to see, as the upper body can sometimes get neglected during this kind of workout and a lot of people don’t have the time to do more than one type a day.
The downsides
The first thing to consider as an unwanted feature of this unit is the fact that even though it has an adjustable stride and incline, they do have to be adjusted simultaneously which can make it a little more difficult. Also, the Sanibel i35 only comes with 12 preset programs and 8 levels of resistance. This is slightly less than we would expect from a machine that comes at a premium price. Another item worth mentioning is that it takes up a good amount of room. It most likely would not be appropriate in a smaller house or apartment.
What else can we say?
Yowza has been a big name in fitness equipment for a good long time and they stand behind their machines with an awesome warranty. It includes a lifetime guarantee on the frame and braking systems, 5 year protection on parts and electronics, and 2 years on labor. The Sanibel i35 Cardio Core Elliptical is well made and very sturdy, weighing in at 226 lbs. It also measures 66x33x66 inches when fully assembled and it is rated to hold up to 400 lbs. This is machine that you are going to want to leave in one place once you get it put together. But, on the bright side, this machine is fairly easy to assemble. It’s also a relatively quick build for such a large machine, generally taking a couple of hours at the most.It has a rear drive flywheel mechanism which historically more durable then the other choices. It is also designed with an iPod specifically in mind making the sound quality stand out a little more than some other models.Even with the stride being somewhat difficult to adjust apart from the incline, it’s a pretty great feature to have one that goes from 18 to 26 inches. This is especially the case when several people of different sizes are going to be using it. In addition, not only does this unit have the really unique side to side handlebars, but, as stated, it can still keep track of your heart rate for you with the traditional stationary set.
Our verdict
The Sanibel i35 Cardio Core Elliptical, manufactured by Yowza Fitness has a lot to offer for the right person or family, keeping in mind the lack of resistances as the biggest downfall for a machine in this price range. It is backed by a well known company with a fantastic warranty, and is sturdy enough by far to keep you going for many years. It has a group of features that can really be beneficial for a family or group of house mates wanting to all get into shape and stay there. Despite all of this, it may not be the best option for someone that doesn’t need quite so much as far as programming, but chooses instead to have more adjustability or a smaller unit in their home.