Most Accurate Bathroom Scales

[WriteDisney]

I posted this over at the Community Board but didn't get many replies. Looking at replacing an inaccurate bathroom scale, what do you use and does it work? I'm looking for something that will last longer than 6-8 months without becoming off by 5-10 pounds. I'm interested in accuracy and longevity the most.

I did just get a Tanita HD301 Solar Scale on Amazon, because it got a good amount of positive feedback, but after reading a few negative reviews I'm wondering if this was a bad decision (I have 30 days to return it). I have weighed myself on it and then at the gym and gotten the same weight (did this on the Wii Fit too), so it seems pretty accurate. Before that I had two Taylor scales from Target that were terrible. A digital one that worked pretty well, except that if I stepped on it four times it gave me four different readings. The analog was very bad. It weighed me about 8-10 pounds lighter then I was. This is really what I want to avoid. The analog started at 1-2 pounds lighter and gradually got worse over the course of 7 months.

Thanks for the help!

 

[llori7]

I posted this over at the Community Board but didn't get many replies. Looking at replacing an inaccurate bathroom scale, what do you use and does it work? I'm looking for something that will last longer than 6-8 months without becoming off by 5-10 pounds. I'm interested in accuracy and longevity the most.

I did just get a Tanita HD301 Solar Scale on Amazon, because it got a good amount of positive feedback, but after reading a few negative reviews I'm wondering if this was a bad decision (I have 30 days to return it). I have weighed myself on it and then at the gym and gotten the same weight (did this on the Wii Fit too), so it seems pretty accurate. Before that I had two Taylor scales from Target that were terrible. A digital one that worked pretty well, except that if I stepped on it four times it gave me four different readings. The analog was very bad. It weighed me about 8-10 pounds lighter then I was. This is really what I want to avoid. The analog started at 1-2 pounds lighter and gradually got worse over the course of 7 months.

Thanks for the help!

I got this one off of Amazon about a month ago: EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale w/ Extra Large Backlit 3.5" Display and Oversize Platform, Silver

I bought it b/c it has 4.5 stars after 800+ reviews. So far, I love it. I can get on and off a couple times and my weight doesn't change. My old scale would give me a different weight each time.

 

[FireDancer]

I was always under the impression that the kind of scales the Doctors use are the most accurate. If I needed accuracy I would just bit the bullet and get one of them. They are usually called mechanical or medical and they generally look like:

 

[wezee]

My scale tends to vary a pound or so from my Dr's scale, but over all gets me through. That is why I weigh myself every morning 3 times in a row and take the lowest weight. Sometimes I even take a pee between the 2nd and 3rd weigh-in!
My scale only weighs in pounds and I do not want a scale that weighs to the ounce....then I would really go crazy and prolly weigh myself 6-7 times each morning.

 

[MelanieC]

Hands down Tanita scales are the best and most accurate.

 

[Darsa]

I would like to expand on this question, and see if anyone can recommend a really good scale that can be purchased at a typical store in the United States? Meaning, like, WalMart, Target, KMart, Home Depot, Lowes....

 

[pjlla]

I bought my digital scale at Bed, Bath and Beyond maybe a year and a half ago. I was sick of squinting down at my dial scale! The brand of my new scale is "THINner". Not sure what model number I have, but I can check. I think I spent around $50 on it (maybe a bit more)... which is a lot for me, as I am notoriously cheap! But it has been worth the $$. I can get on it three times in a row and it reads the same every time (although it will vary hour to hour sometimes, but that could be my body!!). I am careful to move it to my "weighing" spot and then let it sit for a few minutes before I use it. (Somehow in my head it seems like a good idea, but maybe I'm just looney.)

The read out is large and easy to read and gives me tenths of pounds. It also has a BMI measuring type of thingie and other "extras" but I don't use any of them......................P

 

[WriteDisney]

Thanks! I think I'll stick with the Tanita for now. My biggest fear is that it will gradually become inaccurate like the other scale did. Not something you want to run into if you're trying to stay in shape. I'll just use the one at the gym every once in a while to double check.

 

[FireDancer]

Thanks! I think I'll stick with the Tanita for now. My biggest fear is that it will gradually become inaccurate like the other scale did. Not something you want to run into if you're trying to stay in shape. I'll just use the one at the gym every once in a while to double check.

Most scales will begin to drift away from a true 0 base weight over time. One of the other reasons a medical or mechanical scale are so accurate is that they have an adjustable counter weight to compensate for this. Also keep in mind that that laws of physics apply to scales. Where you are on the Earth can cause a scale to read a slightly different weight as can the temperature.

In the end though precision weighing isn't all that important for the human body because our weight will fluctuate throughout the day. A scale telling you that you weigh exactly 130 as opposed to 131 pounds is not important. You know you weight around 130 lbs and depending on the state of your body at that point in time.