If you are confused by the different options available then this guide will give you the clarity for the results and goals you have.
Whether you are a high-performance athlete, body builder or just want to lose some excess weight, tracking your body fat will be vital in achieving your goals. Many people fall for the myth that simply keeping track of their weight will give the best results.
There is a big problem you will find with this. If your aim is to lose weight, and you do regular exercise, what will happen is that you lose fat and gain muscle. This is a great thing and will improve your health. But muscle weighs more than fat.
So, you can be in a situation where regularly weighing yourself will seem to indicate that you are not making any progress. How do you know whether the extra weight is fat or muscle?
The solution is simple. No matter what your personal goal is, if you keep track of your actual body fat then you will be able to tell exactly how you are doing to achieve that goal over short and long periods of time.
In this article, you will find out about two specific types of calipers that are most common. By understanding the pros and cons you will be able to make a much better decision. The two types are:
- Digital Fat Caliper
- Analog Fat Caliper
How Digital Calipers Work
As you can see from the description, a digital device will have some electronic components that help with the measuring and calculating. The goal is the same. Essentially you want to know the thickness of a skin fold, as this will tell you how much fatty tissue is stored below the skin.
Most digital devices will look similar to their analog counterparts, in that they have two small arms coming out of one side. When you press the measurement button on the device those arms, or calipers to be precise, will start moving together.
They will keep moving together up to a certain resistance point, and then work out the thickness of the skin that is caught in between each side. This thickness calculation is then used to work out your overall average body fat percentage.
Pros
One advantage is that there are models that have built in data storage. This means that you simply take the measurement, and it is stored on the device and you don’t need to write it down.
Secondly, you can buy a digital model that has different formulas built in. This means that once you have finished taking all the values needed, the device will automatically calculate your fat percentage. You do not need to take them and manually enter into an app or online calculator.
You will also have a clear picture of your results over a given time span.
Cons
Firstly, they are prone to error, especially once the battery starts to run a little low. We have found that you might see some fluctuations that are down to the measuring device, rather than your actual body fat.
Secondly, when they do run out of battery, you have no way of taking a manual measurement until you replace the battery. You should have a spare one at hand, but that is something you might end up forgetting.
Next, all your data is on one device. If that device breaks you lose all your progress information. It would be a good idea to keep track of your results either on your phone or computer as well.
They will cost you a lot more than an analog model. A great analog one will be about a $30 to $50 investment. In order to get a decent digital one, you are looking at over $100 to ensure good results.
How Analog Calipers Work
As mentioned above, you will find that an analog device will look very similar to a digital one. The main difference is that you do not have an electronic components or batteries.
The most common models have two arms going out one side and then a trigger like set up. When you pull the trigger, the calipers move apart. Then a spring makes sure that they are brought back together for measurement.
Other models use a resistance set up where you have to push the two sides together. Usually you will hear a click sound once you are ready to take a reading of the skinfold.
Let’s take a look at how you might benefit from one.
Pros
These devices are really simple to use and you will not have to read an instruction manual to navigate different set up options. You either pull a trigger or squeeze the calipers and you are good to go.
Secondly, they don’t require batteries and are much more resistant to being knocked around a gym bag.
Most importantly though, they are extremely reliable and accurate, giving you the benefit of having confidence in the results.
Cons
You do have to write down all your results and then put them into a calculator app or website. This does take a little bit of extra time, but is not really significant.
Secondly, you have to store your data separately rather than having everything in one place. This could be inconvenient if you are on an extensive training program where you are taking very regular measurements.
Our Recommendation For You
If you are a gadget geek then it is quite likely you will be tempted to buy a digital device. However, in our experience athletes are getting much better results by staying analog as there are far less breakdowns and questionable measurements.
The last thing you want is a situation where you start questioning whether past percentages are right or wrong. This can throw off your entire training and diet plan and will mean a big hit to your moral and enthusiasm. You can check out the top devices we have found for both men and women.
Conclusion
Keep your focus on your goals and you will achieve them. To get the most consistent results you should not be tempted into fancy electronic devices. Professional fitness instructors and coaches still rely on high quality but simple analog calipers for their athletes, so you should do the same.
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