Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-302

The Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-302 gets excellent reviews from professional testers and environmental bloggers who appreciate the scale's eco-friendly credentials. The Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-302 does not require batteries or electric power, but is instead powered by a solar cell that works with either sunlight or interior lighting. In addition, the scale's plastic is made with biodegradable resins that will break down in a landfill. Reviewers say the scale is accurate and consistent, and it's backed by a three-year warranty. The Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-302 has a weight capacity of 330 pounds, which is measured in 0.2-pound increments up to 200 pounds and 0.5-pound increments from 200 up to 330 pounds. The Tanita scale displays weight only, and unlike some other bathroom scales, it does not track weight loss over time or store weight readings for multiple users. This scale is a new model from Tanita, and it's currently only available online; CompetitiveEdge.com is the authorized distributor for Tanita products in the United States. If you prefer a scale with weight-tracking features, the Weight Watchers Glass Memory Precision Scale WW43D (*Est. $40) also gets good reviews.

ConsumerReports.org is the best source of information on the Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-302. The organization tests the scale along with 11 other bathroom scales, rating each one on accuracy and consistency. South Africa's FairLady magazine also conducts a professional test of the scale, and Good Housekeeping evaluates the Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-301, the predecessor to the HS-302. Reviews at two newspapers: The Huntsville (Ala.) Times and The Independent (U.K.) focus mainly on features, while several environmental blogs comment on the scale's eco-friendly status.