Home body fat measuring kits

[Syringer]

Anyone have recs on good ones? I'm looking for a not so expensive one..

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Syringer
Anyone have recs on good ones? I'm looking for a not so expensive one..

Look up some calipers online. If you're just looking to keep track of your BF %, then you could use a simple electric one which won't be precise, but will be good enough to track overall progress.

 

[KoolDrew]

Slim Guide ftw

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Look up some calipers online. If you're just looking to keep track of your BF %, then you could use a simple electric one which won't be precise, but will be good enough to track overall progress.

Seconded. Calipers > bio-impedance (the electronic one where you hold two metal contacts/stand on a scale). Provided you do the caliper measurements correctly, that is.

The electronic method has so much variability attached to it, including hydration status, whether or not you've eaten, whether or not you have urinated, if your palms are sweaty or not, blah blah blah...

A bit of an anecdotal note: I used one of these and estimated my BF% at around 28% (it's actually probably closer to 10%). I then did forty-five minutes of cardio and without drinking any water. Stepped back on the scale, it said I was at 33%. That's right, I gained five points (wildly inaccurate) by exercising.

I've done the experiment over and over on various scales and meters and found that every single one has varied wildly, between 10-15%. That's a huge difference.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Kipper

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Look up some calipers online. If you're just looking to keep track of your BF %, then you could use a simple electric one which won't be precise, but will be good enough to track overall progress.

Seconded. Calipers > bio-impedance (the electronic one where you hold two metal contacts/stand on a scale). Provided you do the caliper measurements correctly, that is.

The electronic method has so much variability attached to it, including hydration status, whether or not you've eaten, whether or not you have urinated, if your palms are sweaty or not, blah blah blah...

A bit of an anecdotal note: I used one of these and estimated my BF% at around 28% (it's actually probably closer to 10%). I then did forty-five minutes of cardio and without drinking any water. Stepped back on the scale, it said I was at 33%. That's right, I gained five points (wildly inaccurate) by exercising.

I've done the experiment over and over on various scales and meters and found that every single one has varied wildly, between 10-15%. That's a huge difference.

An even easier test is to just drink a large glass of water. Note the difference in body fat before and after.