Can you handle the truth? Picking the most accurate bathroom scales

If you're making a concerted effort to watch your weight, it can be a real pain if your scale gives you inconsistent measurements. If you're using an older stand-on mechanical model (the kind that displays weight with a needle and a dial), our updated bathroom scale report notes that your next scale should be digital. You'll get easier to read, more accurate and more consistent readings in most cases.

Digital scales typically measure weight in 0.2- or 0.25-pound increments. Most analog scales measure weight in 1- or 2-pound increments, so they aren't nearly as precise. Furthermore, digital scales can be a lot easier to read, since manufacturers can use large display screens rather than trying to fit a bunch of numbers on a tiny dial.

Of course, the downside to digital scales are that they need batteries, but even that is changing. We found great reviews for a new Tanita scale that runs on solar power (either sunlight or plain old interior lighting). Plus, the Tanita HS-302 is made of biodegradable plastic, so it'll break down faster in a landfill once it's outlived its usefulness.

Want to learn more? Read our newly-updated report on bathroom scales.