Tanita BC554 Ironman Glass InnerScan Body Composition Monitor Elite Series
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List Price: Our Price: $124.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of Tanita BC554 Ironman Glass InnerScan Body Composition Monitor Elite Series
Customer Review: Great for weight, good for tracking trends.
Summary: 4 Stars
This scale measures weight very accurately. As far as that goes, it's the most accurate (consistent) scale I've ever owned. You can get on and off over and over, and it will give you the exact same weight every time. Be sure to put on a hard, flat surface. If you put it on a bathroom rug, the scale will be way off for some reason.
All the other measurements are fun to look at, but I have no way to verify if they are accurate or not. The readings can vary wildly depending on time of day and what you have been doing. I've found if you go out the night before and drink a little bit too much alcohol, the scale thinks you are in fantastic shape. On the other hand, if I have a long run (15 to 20 miles), the next day the scale thinks I'm fat and lazy. Obviously, the more you mess with your body, the more it messes with the scales readings (This is informative in its own way, and as I mentioned earlier, pretty entertaining).
In order to overcome the daily fluctuations, I weigh myself first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything. I also created a spread sheet in Excel to track my readings. That way I can average the numbers over a month and then track my changes from month to month. This is much better than trying to compare these numbers day to day anyway. Realistically, your muscle mass or your bone density is not going to change at all on a day to day basis.
Hope this helps.
Customer Review: Great Scale - sans the 'known' LCD problem
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this scale over three years ago from Amazon when I started my fitness program. I really loved it and it showed me how I developed over the years. I am really not sure about the BMI readings, as others have commented, what I do know is that the scale is very accurate when it comes to weight. I also like the additional options, such as the met age. It always makes me feel good when it tells me I am 30! I also like the fact that I can store multiple profiles in the scale so my dad can use it as can my son because the profiles are customized for their height and age.
The only problem is that the right side of the LCD stopped working. This is apparently a known problem experienced by other reviewers, as well. I wouldn't dock too many stars for that though, since I still got 3 years of service but really these things should last and last. Since I am abroad, I won't be able to send this back to Tanita until I am back home though I have every intention of doing so assuming it's still under warranty (I have no idea if it is or not actually). It is also pretty heavy, so I can't ship it back either.
Great scale but if your needs are simpler, I would recommend any of the Tanita units under $50.
Customer Review: Great scale, fair body composition. Fun!
Summary: 4 Stars
I think it's fun! It seems quite good on accuracy, as far as consitently reporting readings that are close to each other, from one weighing to the next. Like other reviewers, I was at first dismayed to find that it reported almost double the % body fat when I put it in male standard mode versus male athletic mode. % body fat should be % body fat right (regardless of whether you're an athlete or not)?! But upon further reading and thinking, I realize that they are using some measure of water versus tissue to calculate body fat, and that they have to change the calculation equation for athletic types who tend to be 1) more muscular, and 2) less hydrated.
Thus, there is a somewhat reasonable explanation in that they have to base their equations as calibrations from a population of individuals of the two different body types. So it won't be perfectly accurate, especially if you happen to be an individual that deviates from the norm of the population you are in (athletic group or standard group).
But the important thing is being able to measure change in yourself over time, and I think it does this quite well.
Customer Review: Ironman scale packs a lot in a stylish package!
Summary: 4 Stars
I can't verify the dead on accuracy for anything but the scale function, but you can easily use the other values to reference progress in your diet or physical fitness program. It's easy enough to program, but you will need the manual the first time through. Subsequent use is simple - just touch your "personal" button (the scale can track several people), wait for the pound display, and step on the scale. Various things can affect the fat readings, such as putting your hands on your hips, touching something else while it's scanning, and state of hydration. I don't think you should live or die by the numbers, but you can tell if things are getting better or worse over time. Some day I would like to have all the measurements done in a doctor's office and then compare the results with this scale. Would recommend - especially if you're into useful gadgets.Customer Review: Tanita BC554
Summary: 4 Stars
Weight, body fat and visceral fat, all quite important, appear to be accurate. Some variation of fat and body compositions dependent on hydration, as stated in easy-to- use manual. As I'm 65 years old, some disappointment that metabolic rate reads only up to 50 years, regardless of possible actual rate over 50. Also, bone density only a relative measurement, not much comparison data given. All told, a useful measuring and motivational tool, easy to set up and use for small or even sizable family. Glad I bought it, though it isn't exactly inexpensive.