Bathroom scale

[cbo111]

Can anyone here recommend a good bathroom scale that is not digital and is not powered by a battery? We have gone through two modern scales that become inaccurate and fail within a few years of use. I'm looking for an old-fashioned dial scale.

 

[Time2]

I can't be of any help, but I sure like the scales at Publix!
Sadly, "The scales at Publix stores are a nostalgic feature that allows customers to weigh themselves for free, a practice that started when the chain was founded in 1930. However, the manufacturer of these scales ceased production in 2015, and while they are still maintained, they will eventually be phased out."

 

[JoeWras]

Floor based dial scales are notoriously bad. We have a Detecto slide weight scale. We also got a digital floor scale (which you don't want) and it is 100% spot on to the Detecto, so for now we put the Detecto away.

 

[audreyh1]

My digital floor scale is almost 20 years old and no problems with accuracy. I rarely have to replace the 9V battery - like years.

 

[mystang52]

Floor based dial scales are notoriously bad. We have a Detecto slide weight scale. We also got a digital floor scale (which you don't want) and it is 100% spot on to the Detecto, so for now we put the Detecto away.

Because of this thread out of curiosity I Googled "analog floor scales." The 1-star reviews of random ones I looked at shared an inaccuracy trait. As in, not just inaccurate but inconsistent inaccuracy. So it seems that one can't deduct 5 pounds to get the right number because it may not read 5 pounds heavy each time. Other complaints mentioned they were physically too small and it felt unsafe to step on them. I also have a digital scale that I'm happy with, and it's at least 5 years old with only one battery change. I suggest to OP to reconsider digital scales, and maybe just view them as disposable if/when it goes on the fritz.

 

[Sunset]

I don't have much luck with scales, they all seem to read too high

 

[Time2]

I thought I was happy with our scale, it is very consistent, as in, I can weigh myself 3 times in a row and get exactly the same number. Today it is 163.4 lbs. However, I added 2 oz, no change, 4oz no change, 6oz and it changed to 164.0 lbs. Then I subtracted 2 oz, no change, 4oz, no change 6 oz, no change. Then I get back on the scale and I now weigh 164 LBS. Sheesh!

 

[Midpack]

We have one of these (older model), it’s accurate and bullet proof - it will last the rest of your life, no matter how old you are…

seca 750 | seca Shop

Mechanical scale with robust steel housing

us.secashop.com

Amazon.com

or similar but cheaper

Amazon.com

 

[Jerry1]

Personally, I wouldn’t worry too much about accuracy as much as consistency. As long as I know what direction my weight is going the scale serves its purpose. I’d compare my weight to a scale at a doctor’s office right after an appointment and make the adjustment in my head. I do the same thing with my blood pressure monitor. Again, I’m just looking for a good monitor of change versus absolute accuracy.

 

[MichaelB]

I distrust bathroom scales. They lie too much and too often.

 

[rk911]

Floor based dial scales are notoriously bad. We have a Detecto slide weight scale. We also got a digital floor scale (which you don't want) and it is 100% spot on to the Detecto, so for now we put the Detecto away.

We have two old-er Weight Weight Watchers branded battery operated. floor scales. Both are within a pound or two of the scale used in our doc's office. Close enough for us.

 

[HFWR]

With minimal clothing, my bathroom scale says I weigh the same as fully clothed at the doc’s office. Mebbe +3, but I’m going with the lower value.

 

[rk911]

Between our 6-month doc visits all we're really interested in is trends...weight going up or down. A pound or two...or three difference between home and doc's office is unimportant. Same goes for my A1C. I use Walgreen's home A1C tester to check my trends between my 6-month visits.

 

[Qs Laptop]

I thought I was happy with our scale, it is very consistent, as in, I can weigh myself 3 times in a row and get exactly the same number. Today it is 163.4 lbs. However, I added 2 oz, no change, 4oz no change, 6oz and it changed to 164.0 lbs. Then I subtracted 2 oz, no change, 4oz, no change 6 oz, no change. Then I get back on the scale and I now weigh 164 LBS. Sheesh!

I've noticed this too. I've also noticed that my scale never shows an odd number in the tenths of pounds digit. There is never 164.3 or 164.7 lbs., only 164.4 or 164.8. Finally, it seems my scale's resolution is 0.4 lbs. as my weight day-to-day never changes by 0.2 or 0.6 lb, it's always 0.4 or 0.8 lbs, or some multiple of 0.4 lbs.

The scale was one of the top rated digital scales at Amazon, and I think it was about $29 when I bought it 10 years ago. In those 10 years I've only changed the batteries once, which is impressive.

 

[JoeWras]

I've noticed this too. I've also noticed that my scale never shows an odd number in the tenths of pounds digit. There is never 164.3 or 164.7 lbs., only 164.4 or 164.8. Finally, it seems my scale's resolution is 0.4 lbs. as my weight day-to-day never changes by 0.2 or 0.6 lb, it's always 0.4 or 0.8 lbs, or some multiple of 0.4 lbs.

The scale was one of the top rated digital scales at Amazon, and I think it was about $29 when I bought it 10 years ago. In those 10 years I've only changed the batteries once, which is impressive.

Probably an artifact of them basing everything on some fraction of a kilo. I see this with air pumps too. They base those on kPa, so the PSI jumps around.

It is fun to change my digital scale to Stone, just so I can speak British if need be.

 

[Pluperfect]

I can't be of any help, but I sure like the scales at Publix!

This one looks like it's tucked away somewhere. I remember one in Tampa that was located in the area where you enter and exit the store. No hiding your weight there!

They had a scale like that at Austin National Bank in downtown Austin back in the early 1990s. Right in the middle of the lobby. But I recall that it was a little fancier and less clinical looking--like black and gold, maybe?

Here's my scale. We got rid of pretty much everything when we moved into the motorhome, but this definitely made the cut.

I weigh myself in gyms as we travel around, and the owl seems to be accurate enough. More accurate than the digital one at a gym the other day that was reading about 100 pounds heavy. So it was obvious something was wrong, but if it can be 100 pounds wrong, who's to say it's not 2-1/2 pounds wrong? Precision is not the same as accuracy.

 

[cbo111]

I've noticed this too. I've also noticed that my scale never shows an odd number in the tenths of pounds digit. There is never 164.3 or 164.7 lbs., only 164.4 or 164.8. Finally, it seems my scale's resolution is 0.4 lbs. as my weight day-to-day never changes by 0.2 or 0.6 lb, it's always 0.4 or 0.8 lbs, or some multiple of 0.4 lbs.

The scale was one of the top rated digital scales at Amazon, and I think it was about $29 when I bought it 10 years ago. In those 10 years I've only changed the batteries once, which is impressive.

What is the brand name of your scale?

 

[cbo111]

Ok, op here. I am now willing to go with a digital model. Any good quality recommendations?

 

[Qs Laptop]

What is the brand name of your scale?

EatSmart, model ESBS-01.

I see that I bought it 8 years ago.

Amazon.com

 

[imjustawarrior]

scales

I have been very happy with this.

Some people have mentioned that their scales will read the same weight even though they change something. Some scales have a short memory which can fool you. The one I listed does not do that.

I have run some tests. I can drink 1 qt of water and see my weight change accordingly. The scale seems to be accurate. It gets very good reviews.

 

[Pointby2]

EatSmart, model ESBS-01.

I see that I bought it 8 years ago.

Amazon.com

That's the same scale we have. Amazon says we bought in in January 2012. It's been rock solid and I don't recall ever replacing the battery.

 

[Aerides]

I use a Withings scale. I like that it gives me not just weight, but fat/water/muscle/bone measurements, and you can program it and track - or not!

Probably had it about about 4 years, haven't touched the batteries since setup.

 

[rk911]

I've noticed this too. I've also noticed that my scale never shows an odd number in the tenths of pounds digit. There is never 164.3 or 164.7 lbs., only 164.4 or 164.8. Finally, it seems my scale's resolution is 0.4 lbs. as my weight day-to-day never changes by 0.2 or 0.6 lb, it's always 0.4 or 0.8 lbs, or some multiple of 0.4 lbs.

The scale was one of the top rated digital scales at Amazon, and I think it was about $29 when I bought it 10 years ago. In those 10 years I've only changed the batteries once, which is impressive.

On my scale this morning I weighed in at 200.1...3 comsecutive times, a few minutes between each weigh. The chips in other scales must be coded differently.

 

[rk911]

I use a Withings scale. I like that it gives me not just weight, but fat/water/muscle/bone measurements, and you can program it and track - or not!

Probably had it about about 4 years, haven't touched the batteries since setup.

That's amazing! How does the scale measure those other things?

 

[SnowballCamper]

Our bathroom scale is on a shelf. I needed to weigh a box of books to mail the other day and used the scale for the first time in over five years. It's back on the shelf. Any significant (to me) weight change will show up on my belt notch.