Digital or Manual calipers

Quick question for you... I'm going to grab myself some calipers to keep track of my BF %. Not sure if I should got the cheap on the manual calipers of fork out a little for the digital ones.

Can I have you opinion on the two. Am I just paying for the electronics in a digital model or are they more accurate?
 
It comes down to which one you prefer.

There will be cheap digital and manual ones, and expensive digital and manual ones.

They both derive the same efficacy, just displays it by a different means..
 
Although calipers are not as bad as other methods, they are still woefully inaccurate. I saved my money and got the manual calipers and think they are just as good.
 
I wouldnt say "woefully inaccurate", because in fact they are actually quite accurate indeed, at least for subcutaneous fat. Its important to at least get someone experienced to take the measurements so you can obtain more accurate readings as well.
 
Matt's right on that... skinfold techniques sometimes cannot give an accurate measurement of visceral body fat. Calculating body fat via caliper method is still one of the most inaccurate methods available, even if you perform it utilizing the 7-site method, which is believed to be the most accurate skinfold method. I've read studies that concluded a stand deviation of +-10% body fat alone. I do not recommended it unless you've had formal training. And it is definitely not recommended that you perform on yourself because it is extremely difficult to get an accurate measurement that way.

Not sure of your reasons for to trying to find body fat percentage, but if it is just for normal in-home use, I'd go with a good bioelectrical impedance body fat scale (unless you have anything akin to a pace maker). But don't go cheap on them as they get less and less accurate the more cheaply they are made. To get a good reading that does not fluctuate, it is best to weigh yourself at the same time every day when your water content is the most uniform between days... normally first thing in the morning, as increased water in the system can cause a lower reading than what is actually true.
 
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