Calipers vs. Tanita question

[Guest guest]

Are calipers a more accurate measure of body fat than a Tanita scale?

I’ve always figured the Tanita scale is more of a ballpark estimate than a fine calibration, so I had body fat measured using calipers at my health club today. I weighed (with workout clothes on) 129 with 20.6 percent body fat. Earlier this week using my Tanita scale I weighed 123 with 30% body fat. Quite a range.

Using yet another scale at the health club in the women’s dressing room, sans clothes, I weighed 123, so I think the scale connected to the bodyfat calculator at the club is off, which may result in a false (low) calculation of body fat.

I’m trying to set a goal to reduce body fat percent and it’s a little tricky with the current data I have. Which should I believe? I’m hoping to sidestep the $100 water tank dunk test.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Dixie