I know the topic of calipers has been discussed before but my question is a bit different. I’ve seen many recomendations for types and brands but my concer would be the location of testing. Do these calipers usually require someone to test and read for you? What calipers can be used entirely without assistance. If I need to test my back I don’t think I’ll get a good reading. Also what do you people use for testing spots that tend to get accurate readings without forcing you to strech or flex to reach or read?
Without a partner, it is very difficult or impossible to get decent results from the arms or the back of the body. The Jackson-Pollack male 3 site skinfold is the best one I have seen for someone doing it on their own. You measure the abdomen, thigh and chest. All of these are fairly easy to do by yourself. Accumeasure makes a good, cheap pair and the skinfold number in millimeters is left on the caliper by way of a slide rule. This way you don’t have to watch the numbers on the calipers. Go to www.enforcergraphics.f2s.com/ bodyfat.htm to enter your data and if you want more information let me know or check out another post I wrote last week entitled “Why you don’t like your body comp numbers”. It should still be on the board somewhere.
Loke:
It’s not so much the calipers as the particular formula you decide to use. I think any set of calipers are going to give you difficulty in areas like your back, shoulder blades and triceps. So, as the previous poster indicated, your probably stuck with a 3 site measurement. Just keep in mind that the less sites, the less accurate - it’s only remotely accurate if you fit the mold that the formula is based on. Another option, if you can swallow it, is to just measure as many sites as you can reach, and add up the numbers. You won’t get an absolute body fat measurement that way, but at least you can see if they total is going in the right direction (the lower the total, the lower your bodyfat).
Good luck,
Steve