The Skinny on SkinIold (BodyFat) Calipers

The Equipment Experts at Conditioning Specialists

For most trainers, either those who are just starting out or those who have been in the business
Ior years, at sometime or another you have to get something to measure your clients' body
composition. Most oI us decide to use skinIold calipers Ior many reasons: degree oI accuracy,
convenience, portability, and price. But with SO MANY calipers out there, which one is the
best? As with most questions in this business, this one can only be answered with more
inIormation. In selecting the right skinIold caliper Ior the job it is important to know the
diIIerences between them and which ones are worth the investment and which ones are better leIt
on the shelI.
Accu-Measure Body Fat Caliper

This caliper has gotten a lot oI press due to its recommendation
in Bill Philip's book Body-Ior-LiIe. Although I have not asked
Bill why he recommended this particular caliper, I do believe he
did so because oI its inexpensive price tag and its ability to hold
the reading Ior the user, enabling someone to measure their own
body Iat. The Accu-Measure Body Fat Caliper is made oI plastic
and had a slide rule that stops when the girth measurement has
been taken. This allows the technician (trainer) to look at the
reading aIter the teeth (ends oI the caliper) have been reset. The
Accueasure has been tested Ior accuracy and the results were
published in Journal oI Strength and Conditioning Research (
download a PDF copy here ).
Slim Guide Skinfold Caliper

This caliper is made oI a durable plastic and is much larger than the Accumeasure. Their price
points are very similar, but this one does not allow the individual to measure his or her body Iat
by themselves. The Slim Guide has the capacity to measure up to 85 mm. This skinIold caliper
has springs which exert a certain pressure on the skinIold, generally 10 gm./sq. mm.( Slim Guide
SkinIold Caliper with Booklet )
FatTrack Digital Skinfold Caliper

The FatTrack Digital SkinIold Caliper is a small caliper that automatically calculates body Iat
based on the Jackson-Pollock 3-site Iormula. There have been problems with its reliability in the
past, but the manuIacturer has reportedly Iixed them. Data can be stored Ior up to three separate
people at a time. FatTrack also has a "selI-calibration" Ieature that claims to maintains a liIetime
measuring accuracy.We Iound this caliper to be good Ior someone using it at home with a Iriend
or spouse.

Fat Gun

The Fat Gun has a more high tech look than the ones mentioned above, but you'll pay Ior that
image. The manuIacturer reports up to a 10 margin oI error with this particular caliper and due
to its rather heIty price tag Ior what you get, we do not recommend it Ior most trainers.
Body Caliper

The Body Caliper has a sleek design look that may be suitable Ior certain trainers. Although we
have not tested this model yet, the manuIacturer claims that it is as accurate as the Lange Caliper
(see below). This caliper is also made out oI plastic, but its highlight is actually the video that
comes with the caliper. When perIorming skinIold girth measurements, the margin oI error will
generally vary Irom technician to technician. This makes the Body Caliper with Video especially
attractive to new trainers who can utilize the video to get a better understanding oI how skinIold
girths should be taken.
Skyndex I & II

This caliper is widely used in both gyms and school setting due to its ease oI use and quick
readings. The caliper is made oI a durable plastic and has electronic readings to help reduce
measurement errors. The Skyndex comes already encoded with a body Iat Iormula (either the
Skyndex 1 Digital SkinIold Caliper - Jackson-Pollock Formula , Skyndex 1 Digital SkinIold
Caliper - Durnin Formula , or both) which will automatically calculate an individuals body Iat
percentage Ior you. This allows Ior less margin oI error during calculations and allows a
technician to perIorm skin Iold girths on large groups (athletic teams) with relative ease. The
Skyndex II Digital SkinIold Caliper 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" Ieature.
Lange Caliper

The Lange Caliper has long been used by proIessional strength coaches and in clinical settings. It
has been manuIactured since 1962 and is widely used in schools, colleges, Iitness centers, etc.
The Lange Caliper is accurate to /- 1mm and perIormed well under our tests. This caliper also
provides a high proIile look that some trainers are looking Ior with their equipment. It is made
out oI metal with an anticorrosive coating and comes with an attractive case. This is our choice
Ior a high end caliper and is a good investment iI you are conducting skin Iold girths Ior elite
level athletes or clinic applications. Due to its high price tag, it may be a bit much Ior the average
personal trainer.
Lafayette Skinfold Caliper

The LaIayette SkinIold Caliper 01127A (01127A is the model number) is a very sturdy, well
built, skin Iold caliper. It was designed with the assistance oI Dr. Andrew S. Jackson, co-author
oI the widely used Jackson-Pollock skinIold Iormulas. LaIayette's unique skinIold design has an
adjustable zero-point which allows you to reset the pointer back to zero and a measurement
range oI 0-100mm. Other skinIold calipers cannot be easily adjusted and need to be sent back to
the Iactory. It comes with a carrying case and instructions. This caliper is a good addition to a
clinical practice or a proIessional athletic team.
arpenden Caliper

This caliper is used in most clinics and universities Ior research.
The Harpenden SkinIold Caliper is also the most accurate
skinIold caliper made, being within or - 0.2 mm. and can be
read to the nearest 0.1 mm., and can measure up to 55 mm.
Virtually all the data, equations, tables, etc., relating skinIold
thickness to bodyIat in use today are based on studies done
using the Harpenden. Although this accuracy is Iar greater than is
necessary Ior ordinary bodyIat determinations.
These are but a Iew oI the skinIold calipers available currently, but should give you a decent idea
oI what is available. When making your decision on which to purchase, think oI who you are
going to be using the calipers with. Looks aren't everything, but in this industry perceived value
can mean the liIe and death oI a training business. II you have any questions, Ieel Iree to contact
the equipment experts at Conditioning Specialists: ExpertsConditioningSpecialists.com
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