Various Skinfold Calipers

Booklet from BodyTrends.com
$4.00

Simple Calipers
$11.00

One of the major differences between the calipers is the jaw area and spring tension, however, all have a jaw pressure of approximately 10 gm./sq.mm. Of greater importance than any differences in calipers is the technique used in measuring skinfolds. It is very important that the proper procedures be used.

Skinfold calipers usually come with instruction books that describe the procedures in detail with illustrations. In addition most fitness and wellness textbooks cover skinfold measurements in detail as well. Sometimes companies will include instructioanl videos that make it easy for anyone to use most any skinfold fat calipers. These instructional videos are also available seperately if desired.

The following is a brief description of the calipers listed in order of ascending order of approximate price.

1. Simple Caliper - $11.00
   This inexpensive caliper is a simple device that can be a valuable tool in monitoring body fat increases and decreases. It requires a certain familiarity with the caliper method of body fat measurement. Order a Simple Skinfold Caliper from BodyTrends.com
    
2. AccuMeasure $ 20.00
   This caliper has a sliding indicator that you reset to the side before the measurement. It has a tab on the spring arm which the user pushes through a notch when applying the caliper to the skinfold. The idea is that it gives an audible click or feel to tell the user that the reading was established. After feeling the click, you may release the caliper, and the indicator stays at the measurement for easy recording. Accumeasure Personal Body Fat Tester from BodyTrends.com
    
3. Slim Guide - $20.00
   Much lower priced than any of the above calipers yet will produce results that are almost as accurate. This is the only low cost caliper accurate enough to be used for professional measurements and is the most widely used professional caliper in the world. Its primary disadvantage is that it does not look professional, high tech or sophisticated. Easy to use with convenient pistol grip and trigger. It is made of ABS plastic and is the most durable of all calipers. 5 year warranty, the longest of any caliper. Slim Guide Skinfold Caliper and book from BodyTrends.com
    
4. Fat Track Skin Caliper $45.00
   This computerized skinfold caliper is accurate down to millimeters with a measuring range to 60mm. It stores each measurement in memory and then calculates body fat percentage instantly and accurately. Data can be stored for up to three separate people at a time. FatTrack also has a "self-calibration" feature that maintains a lifetime measuring accuracy.  Order from Fat Track Digital Skinfold Caliper at BodyTrends.com
    
5. Body Caliper - $70.00
   These skin fold calipers are plastic and include video instructions, protective case and tables. This caliper is good quality at an affordable price. The Body Caliper claims to be as accurate as the well-known Lange caliper. Body Calipers from BodyTrends.com
    
6. Lange - $240
   This is the best selling of the high priced calipers. It has been manufactured since 1962 and is widely used in schools, colleges, fitness centers, etc. This is one of the lower cost professional calipers, and, because of our very high sales volume, we are able to discount it heavily. Convenient size and easy to use. 1 year warranty. Lange Body Fat Caliper from BodyTrends.com
    
7. Skyndex II - $250
   This is basically the same as the Skyndex I except it does not have the built in computer. It has an easy to read digital readout and a "hold" feature. When the user is satisfied with the reading the hold button can be pushed and this will lock the reading on the digital display until it can be written down. A second push on the hold button returns the caliper to "0". 1 year warranty. Skyndex I and II Skinfold Calipers from BodyTrends.com
    
8. Harpenden - $425
   This has been the standard research caliper for many years. Virtually all the data, equations, tables, etc., relating skinfold thickness to percent body fat in use today are based on studies done using the Harpenden. It is also the most accurate being within + or - 0.2 mm. and can be read to the nearest 0.1 mm. although this accuracy is far greater than is necessary for ordinary percent body fat determinations. 1 year warranty. Harpenden Skinfold Calipers from BodyTrends.com
    
9. Lafayette Skinfold Caliper - $440
   This caliper is one of the most accurate and durable calipers available today. It was designed with the assistance of Dr. Andrew S. Jackson, co-author of the widely used Jackson-Pollock skinfold formulas. Lafayette's unique skinfold design has an adjustable zero-point which allows you to reset the pointer back to zero and a measurement range of 0-100mm. Other skinfold calipers cannot be easily adjusted and need to be sent back to the factory, which can cost $45 or more. Lafayette Skinfold Caliper Model 01127A from BodyTrends.com
    
10. Skyndex I - $500
    This unique caliper has a built in computer which calculates and displays percent body fat directly on its LCD digital readout, thus eliminating the necessity to add the skinfold readings and compute the percent body fat from formulas or tables. Ideal for those who need to measure a lot of people quickly or want to reduce the chance of errors. Available with Durnin, Jackson-Pollock and Slaughter-Lohman formulas. Only one program is in each caliper and the desired formula needs to be specified when ordering. The calipers can be furnished with 2 formulas and a selector switch for an additional $75.00. 1 year warranty. Skyndex I and II Skinfold Calipers from BodyTrends.com