Customer Reviews

Skin Fold Caliper

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a very accurate method of tracking body composition changes and the Slim Guide Skin fold Caliper with the Booklet is a GREAT tool for doing this. I have used a few tools over the decades and for the price...this is a great tool!

The booklet DOES give you answers for 1, 2 and 4 location tests instantly without any complex math. (see P.S. at bottom.)

This is best used by taking measurements over a period of time and tracking changes. If your interest is simply to monitor your body composition over time for general health, once every one to three months is a good interval. If, on the other hand, you have a specific goal or are in an intensive nutrition/training cycle, you may wish to track once a week.

If you are looking to lose weight (by losing excess fat) ...measuring Lean Body Mass and Body Fat is the only way to insure you are not losing muscle and water.

Many diets cause massive losses of water and muscle (very low calorie and low carbohydrate diets for example)...leading to a quick regain of pounds at some point. If you are on a diet program, and nobody is measuring your Lean Body Mass and Body Fat, you simply do not know what your body is doing.

So you know my credentials, I have been involved in health and fitness for over 20 years as a Body Builder, Body Sculptor, Trainer, Consultant, Coach and many other positions in the field. I am currently the Director of Personal Success Now.

For the best accuracy with this...

You should have the same person take the measurements at the same time of day. You should take your body weight (needed to determine Lean Body Mass and Body Fat) on THE SAME SCALE at the same time of day every time. The first time, you should measure how far down the Biceps and Triceps you take the measure and make a note. Make a picture diagram of where you take the other two measurements (below the shoulder blade and the side of the waist.) There are directions and diagrams to help you in the book, so don't worry about a thing.

Also, note what cloths you were wearing when you weigh yourself on the scale...always wear them for the weigh-in. Take a photograph of yourself now!! It is very helpful to see images of yourself at 30% bodyfat, then at 25%, then at 20%, then at 18%! If you feel shy, take them yourself in front of a mirror!

You will be glad you did. Just trust me on that.

If the program you are following is not giving you results in three weeks, something is not right. Get some help from a knowledgeable and qualified trainer. They can help you shorten the time it takes to reach your goals and be Your Personal Best.

Always ask potential program managers/trainers how they will help you achieve your goals. If they will not be using these components to help you...consider finding someone else:

1) Food and Nutrient intake monitoring
2) Cardiorespiratory Training
3) Resistance Training
4) Personal Assistance including Body composition monitoring

Additionally, if you are looking to lose body fat, you should consider removing foods with flavorings, colorings, additives, and preservatives from your diet at this time, as clinical tests have demonstrated that some of these can adversely effect bodyfat mobilization (i.e. fat burning) and some even enhance fat storage and stimulate the appetite.

Wishing you Personal Success Now!

P.S.
It is important to know up front that you will need another person to help you if you wish to get the most accurate results using this method of body composition monitoring. To more accurately determine your Lean Body Mass and Body Fat, you take caliper measurements from 1, 2, 3, 4, or 7 (or even 9) locations on the body. 2 of these are from behind: Just below your shoulder blade and the back of your arm (which you can reasonably do alone.) There is an option to use a measurement from only one location (front of the arm) to determine bodyfat, however this is not as accurate as taking it from multiple (3+)locations.

There are on-line calculators that will allow you to use a 3-site measurement that 1 person can do alone. Here is one such: linear-software.com/online.html. Since this is based on a mathematical calculation, you can do it yourself if you are interested...here is the information:

The 3 Skin fold sites required for Men are:
Chest, Abdomen, Thigh;

The 3 Skin fold sites required for Women are:
Triceps, Suprailiac, Thigh.
There are illustrations on the website given above.

You must determine body density:
Body Density for Men:
1.1093800-(0.0008267*(sum 3 skinfolds))+(0.0000016*(sum 3 skinfolds)^2)-(0.000257*age)

Body Density for Women:
1.0994921-(0.0009929*(sum 3 skinfolds))+(0.0000023*(sum 3 skinfolds)^2)-(0.0001392*age)

To Calculate Body Fat %:
(457/Body Density)-414.2

If you are looking for a fancy caliper to show off at the gym or infront of your clients this is not for you, however if you want to get the job done, I don't see any reason why you should spend one dollar more, this caliper does what its supposed to do and does it well.
If you are not familiar with using calipers, you can find instructional resources online ( video and written), a lot of people make it sound like its very hard and complicated but lets face it, this is not rocket science.
The booklet included shows you with some black & white picture illustrations how to use the calipers, after you get the numbered measurements you use the data at the end of this booklet to get your body fat %. The method used in this book is called ( the Durin & Womersly) and is based on 4 skinfold measurements:
1) Back of upper arm
2) front of upper arm
3) back below shoulder blade
4) side of waste

If you are a male athlete with bodyfat below 12% or female athlete with bodyfat below 15%, you will have to use the (Jackson Pollock) date, this data is not included in the booklet however the formula is in the booklet.
The Jackson Pollock method relies on skinfold measurement of the chest, abdomen and thigh for males and tricep,suprailiac and thigh skinfolds for females.
I would have given this item 5 stars if it included the Jackson Pollock data.
:-)

The Slim Guide calipers are a decent alternative to the Lange or other, higher end calipers. While not quite as accurate, you will get a similar reading on this $20 version as you do on the $150-$300 calipers, as long as you are a reliable, experienced tester.

While I recommend spending the extra money for the best calipers that produce the most accurate results, these aren't bad for someone just starting out.

The calipers are fine, and easy to read. The booklet has some strange graphs/tables which don't really provide you with all the information you might want. However, that is a small issue since there are plenty of places on the internet with detailed instructions and formulas for finding your BF with calipers. Over all I think the product is ok, if a bit expensive for what you get, considering it is just some plastic. Hence the four stars.

This product works fine. Because I do my own measurements, it's a bit difficult to read the numbers because they're sideways (esp. stomach and chest) but I just crane my neck a bit and it's ok.

As someone who has been professionally trained and has trained others on the proper administration of skinfold tests, let me first say that if you're purchasing this as an amateur, looking to evaluate your body fat percentage, you're wasting your time here. Skinfold testing is extremely precise and depends almost entirely on the skill of the tester. Without proper training, your results are going to be very inaccurate, and for all intents and purposes useless in determining markers of your health.

However, if you've used a skinfold caliper before, and know what you're doing, you cannot beat the value of this product. Obviously body fat percentage calculations obtained from skinfolds pale in comparison with methods such as DEXA, in terms of precision and validity, but that's a completely different ball game. While it isn't incredibly accurate (compare to the Harpenden caliper, the best money can buy), in the right hands the Slimguide Caliper is reasonably accurate at a fraction of the price. In the hands of someone who knows how to use it, these calipers are suitable for anything short of clinical and research applications, and are highly recommended.

I have used this caliper for 18 months now, and it has been worth every penny. The readings are accurate and consistent, and the quality of this caliper is more then serviceable for individual use.

Body composition assessment by determining body fat percentage is a more accurate method of determining the state of one's health. This is an easy to use caliper that measures your body fat by taking skin fold measurements.

There is a learning curve before you are able to use it accurately; however, it is valid test if you are using the same method over a period of time. You cannot assess body fat utilizing one modality (bodpod or hydrostatic weighing) and go to this method, it needs to be the same over time.

Using the guide and some practice and this caliper works well. Its solid construction has lasted me over 10 years, now.

If you are concerned about your weight, don't. Assess your body composition, instead.

This arrived very fast and was just what I expected. I still have not mastered the skill of obtaining consistent readings, but I imagine that will come in time.

seems sturdy enough and will work well for the occasional use. Shipped in good shape and timely and as described.