Bathroom Scales that don't suck?

[dave_the_nerd]

So I keep buying the "normal" bathroom scales at Menards or Target, spending $20-$40, and they all last for a year or two before they go wonky and start giving me weights that are basically random numbers (what I know my weight is, plus or minus 20 pounds.). I've replaced the batteries, done resets, etc.

Looking to buy one that is reliable long-term, even if it means spending a little more. Either I lost 13 pounds since last weekend, or this one is the fourth to need retiring in the last seven years, so I don't think I'm coming out ahead by buying cheap ones.

Also, telling a 135 pound female runner that she weighs 150 pounds today is bad. If we can avoid that I will be happier.

Needs:
Capacity 300lbs+, at minimum, more is better. (Assuming a higher-capacity scale will longer and be more accurate in the middle of its range.)
Accurate at low end for weighing pets/luggage.
Long lifespan.

Fitbit integration or other bells and whistles are nice but not necessary.

TIA.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Balance scales don't change more than a few grams ever.

 

[deadlyapp]

I'd think more about your logic of span vs sensitivity. It's not the same as monitor resolution, where if you buy a super high definition monitor and watch low definition TV it looks better.

Get a scale that only goes as high as you need to. Buy a separate scale for things like cats and luggage. I've been using the same glass top weight watcher branded scale for 5+ years with absolutely no issues and it's always been very accurate, within a couple pounds of a doctors balance scale and a few pounds from a X-ray density scan.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'd think more about your logic of span vs sensitivity. It's not the same as monitor resolution, where if you buy a super high definition monitor and watch low definition TV it looks better.

Get a scale that only goes as high as you need to. Buy a separate scale for things like cats and luggage. I've been using the same glass top weight watcher branded scale for 5+ years with absolutely no issues and it's always been very accurate, within a couple pounds of a doctors balance scale and a few pounds from a X-ray density scan.

We weight the cats by standing on the scale with the pet, then again without the cat. Same for luggage, usually. It doesn't require the scale to be accurate in the 10-50 pound range, but it does require it to be consistent in the 100-250 pound range.

Link to your scale? 5+ years and good accuracy sounds like what I want.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Balance scales don't change more than a few grams ever.

Some of those actually look affordable. I just think it might be a bit much for the corner of the bathroom.

Plus, I really want to build a corner cabinet and I wouldn't have room for both.

 

[deadlyapp]

We weight the cats by standing on the scale with the pet, then again without the cat. Same for luggage, usually. It doesn't require the scale to be accurate in the 10-50 pound range, but it does require it to be consistent in the 100-250 pound range.

Link to your scale? 5+ years and good accuracy sounds like what I want.

I think this might actually be the one I have. It has some bad reviews, but I suspect it's from people who aren't putting it on a firm, level surface, or aren't standing on it appropriately. I've always used it on a hard surface (tile, linoleum, wood) and have no issues with it reading differently or not turning on at all, but YMMV.

https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Watch...07584285&sr=8-2&keywords=weight+watcher+scale

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I think this might actually be the one I have. It has some bad reviews, but I suspect it's from people who aren't putting it on a firm, level surface, or aren't standing on it appropriately. I've always used it on a hard surface (tile, linoleum, wood) and have no issues with it reading differently or not turning on at all, but YMMV.

https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Watch...07584285&sr=8-2&keywords=weight+watcher+scale

Thanks!

 

[ArchAngel777]

I have had good luck with Tanita scales. Just don't put stock in their body fat %. While it might be an accurate 'ball park' figure, bio-impedance is just not reliable for obtaining accurate BF%. That said, it is a good tool to see if you are moving in the right direction, so long as you average out the results over weeks. In any given day, my bio-impedance can vary by 4% BF. For someone @ 180 that is 7-8 pounds of pure fat difference depending on whether the reading is high or low. Hence, taking multiple readings over the course of time and being consistent with those readings is useful as a 'tool' but beyond a tool to determine direction, it isn't all that useful.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Funny, I just ordered this one from Amazon the other day, should receive it tomorrow.

I've had a Detecto beam scale (without the height measuring bar) for about 15 years, paid around $150 for it back then. And it absolutely sucks. You can get it to balance over a range of about 1.5 pounds, depending on how you work the slider. It's just not precise. I try to be very consistent with how I work it, and I think I get fairly consistent readings, but I'm never really sure.

 

[momeNt]

I have an Ikea scale that is 10 years old, still on original battery, and appears to be very precise, accuracy i have not verified, but what I care mostly about is whether or not I am gaining or losing weight, so the accuracy does not matter that much unless you are using it to weigh in for certain types of events.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Funny, I just ordered this one from Amazon the other day, should receive it tomorrow.

I've had a Detecto beam scale (without the height measuring bar) for about 15 years, paid around $150 for it back then. And it absolutely sucks. You can get it to balance over a range of about 1.5 pounds, depending on how you work the slider. It's just not precise. I try to be very consistent with how I work it, and I think I get fairly consistent readings, but I'm never really sure.

I received the scale this afternoon, a day early. Set it up by my Detecto beam scale and compared the two. Very surprised that the difference was less than 1/4 pound. I'm more surprised by the number that my old scale gave me, to be honest.

Tomorrow I'll play around with it and see how consistent it is. I can use my kitchen scale to weigh small things up to a few pounds, so I'll check my weight and then see what happens when I weigh myself with the objects of known weight. I also have a few weight plates sitting around, so maybe I can see how it does with relatively low weights.