Accuracy of Accu-Measure BF% calculators

Hanley

Just got one of these today and my skinfold measurement's coming out at abotu 10mm. Which gives me a bf% of around 11%.

I wouldn't think I'm that lean.... Anybody used them? How do you feel about their accuracy?

Dr4gul4

Cant say i've ever tried them, but im actually itching to give them a go. however im not looking forward to what they will say

tribulus

Are you as lean still as some of the pics you had. If so I'd say it's fairly accurate.

Dragan

Yeah dude, you were looking pretty damn lean in those last pics, and if you've been for the last few weeks at the rate you normally lean out ( remember, heavy compound lifts do nothing to lean you out :rolleyes: ) then it could be on the money?

Linoge

Hanley wrote:

Just got one of these today and my skinfold measurement's coming out at abotu 9-10mm. Which gives me a bf% of around 11%.

I wouldn't think I'm that lean.... Anybody used them? How do you feel about their accuracy?

I'm sure the actual measurement readings are perfectly correct, its the user that might be a bit off!

With a 3 point test I found it to be accurate enough. Last time I used it I think I was 12.3%. Got the gym to measure me to see my accuracy (used a manual calipers) and I was 12.5%.

I would have thought that I would be about 14% but maybe thats down to poor self image:rolleyes:

Oh, forgot to say, why don't you post a pic of yourself holding your shoe on T-Nation.com asking what your bf is, they love that over there!!

g'em

I can't remember what brand my digital callipers are - I *think* they're Accu-measure - but they're reasonably accurate. I'd always look at the figure as being + or - 2-3% of the actual figure.

tbh I really use mine for the individual mm readings, not the bf% and track them over time.

rubadub

There are many different formulas you can use. I have varied between I think 9-20% on the same day with different formulas. You should measure in a good few places and list your figures as a number. Next time if you are up or down you know you have gained/lost fat. Look in the mirror and check if you are fat or not yourself.

I think the accu-measure clicks into place depending on how hard you pinch, so the harder your pinch the lower reading you will get. So always use the same pressure. I use the slimguide calipers which has a spring on it, so tension is always the same.
I imagine you could make your own guage easy enough, glue some long plastic rods onto a clothes peg. These would pinch with equal pressure. Then have a ruler glued on so when it opens & closes you can read a length. Doesnt matter if this ruler shows how much is pinched. i.e. it would be a finer scale if you pinched 5mm but the ruler gave a "reading" of 15mm. All that matters is you measure the same place in the same way with the same device and check if your numbers are up or down.

Hanley

THe accu-measure ones have a click system which tells you when you've enough pressure so you can get consistent readings.

I fully intend on tracking the mm readings, but I was just curious as to whether I was ACTUALLY that lean, because if I am I'm gonna be pushing for single digit bf% this summer.

The whole idea behind the accu-measure system is that one reading, from just above the hip is only very marginaly less effective than multi-site measuring and comes within 1.1% of underwater tests.

That's what they claim, not sure how true it is tho.

Dragan

We'll check it out on Saturday, the Little Big Man has a scary ability to judge bodyfat almost perfectly just by looking at people.

Experience i guess.

tribulus

He's not looking at me so! I think you can safely say your 11% Hanley, god help us if it said you were 15% or something.

Anything in particular we need to bring btw Dragan?

Hanley

Dragan wrote:

We'll check it out on Saturday, the Little Big Man has a scary ability to judge bodyfat almost perfectly just by looking at people.

Experience i guess.

Yeah I reckon he'll be the man to ask!

Anywho I have only been dieting for about 7 days so I think my leaness levels are comparable to my last sets of pics.

BUT I was 92kg yesterday evening... I blame it on creatine bloat.

brianthebard

Linoge wrote:

Oh, forgot to say, why don't you post a pic of yourself your shoe on T-Nation.com asking what your bf is, they love that over there!!

I love that thread!!! I'm scared to get a calipers to measure my bodyfat, I know its going to be over 15% at the very least and I'm sure its a good bit more than that.

daveirl

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Leon11

Well i honestly thought I was 30% and used the same calipers as yourself Hanley and i came in at 21-23% As Gem said give or take a couple of %,

Hanley

daveirl wrote:

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Hmmm.... well looking at it in conjuction with pictures I guess I COULD be. But looking at it in conjuction with the mirror I don't think I am.