is it worth forking out big money on body fat scales?

the groutch

been doing a bit of browsing, and was looking at some of the Tanita ones for €100-€150.
was wondering are they that much better than lets say a 40 quid one to justify spending the extra?

BobbyOLeary

the groutch wrote: »

been doing a bit of browsing, and was looking at some of the Tanita ones for €100-€150.
was wondering are they that much better than lets say a 40 quid one to justify spending the extra?

Nope. Save the money and buy a normal scales and a bodyfat calipers.

Zamboni

the groutch wrote: »

been doing a bit of browsing, and was looking at some of the Tanita ones for €100-€150.
was wondering are they that much better than lets say a 40 quid one to justify spending the extra?

There is an awful lot of negative press on BIA scales.
A lot of it is unjustified imo.
Salter and Tanita have produced some very good quality machines.
People tend to overplay the hydration issue.
The key is to use them in the same condition on a consistent basis. Example would be to use them naked, first thing in the morning, post services.

The use of calipers require training and most importantly, self honesty.
Which a lot of people do not have, especially when it comes to self measurements.
Scales are machines and objective and don't care about your body issues.

As with all various forms of measurements there are ups and downs, the key is to be consistent in the taking of the measurement so at the very least the rate of change is accurate.
What would you trust for consistency, yourself or a machine?

TommyKnocker

Zamboni wrote: »

There is an awful lot of negative press on BIA scales.
A lot of it is unjustified imo.
Salter and Tanita have produced some very good quality machines.
People tend to overplay the hydration issue.
The key is to use them in the same condition on a consistent basis. Example would be to use them naked, first thing in the morning, post services.

The use of calipers require training and most importantly, self honesty.
Which a lot of people do not have, especially when it comes to self measurements.
Scales are machines and objective and don't care about your body issues.

As with all various forms of measurements there are ups and downs, the key is to be consistent in the taking of the measurement so at the very least the rate of change is accurate.
What would you trust for consistency, yourself or a machine?

While I would agree with most if not all of this an accumeasure body fat callipers is total simplicity. Costs around €15 delivered from Amazon, which is way less than a good quality BIA scales. You only measure 1 site, so easy to self use. Personally I dont really bother about the actual numbers tbh.

When I am looking to drop fat, I just want to see that the measurement is going down every two weeks or so. And when I am trying to gain lean weight, I just check to see that the measuremetn is staying constant or at least not increasing too much.

Cheap and cheerful. When I want to know my actual BF% I will get a 7 site test done in my gym. This is close enough for me. Though mostly I just use how my clothes fit as my guide


M

Banks

BobbyOLeary wrote: »

Nope. Save the money and buy a normal scales and a bodyfat calipers.

+1

UCD dude

B-Builder wrote: »

While I would agree with most if not all of this an accumeasure body fat callipers is total simplicity. Costs around €15 delivered from Amazon, which is way less than a good quality BIA scales. You only measure 1 site, so easy to self use. Personally I dont really bother about the actual numbers tbh.
M

Anyone else think these are good? I'm considering it.

Banks

UCD dude wrote: »

Anyone else think these are good? I'm considering it.

Yeah I have a pair, got mine on ebay for 7 euro!! They are the best of the lower standard of calipers.

rubadub

B-Builder wrote: »

Costs around €15 delivered from Amazon,

You have to spend £25 to get free post to Ireland with amazon, you can combine things to get free post, like buy a cheap DVD to bump up the price.

They can be got on ebay cheaper this is only $5 incl delivery, pretty sure its a fake though as I see no logo and other sellers have similar ones.
http://cgi.ebay.ie/Body-Fat-Caliper-Tester-ACCUMEASURE-ACCU-MEASURE-/110580677929?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19bf1f3d29

I have seen genuine ones cheap too but ebay is acting up and I cannot search properly.

UCD dude wrote: »

Anyone else think these are good? I'm considering it.

I see that brand recommended a lot. I got a slimguide calipers with a spring device on it so it would be more consistent, i.e. no cheating and squeezing it tight to get a low result.



I haven't used it in ages though. It seems many people already have their minds made up with their BF% is, then check a device and if its off they moan that its wrong. With the electrical resistance based ones you can test it throughout the day to see if the results are the same.

SanoVitae

We have a Tanita Body Composition Analysis Machine. It cost about €1200 and we use it with members, as well as for Corporate Open Days.

It prints off a receipt of all the results so it's fun for people in companies to compare their results with those of their colleagues. However, I wouldn't recommend investing in one. Get a good trainer to measure your bodyfat% using a calipers and then go forward from there.

I also recommend taking photos because sometimes the calipers don't tell the whole story when it comes to physique improvement. Much like a bodyweight scales, people can often get too hung up with numbers.