Value for Money

Salter Easy View Body Analyser Scales €54.99

Leaving aside the high tech wizardry, what we liked most about this scales was the display which was crystal clear and worked without messing every time. The black glass platform is nice and sleek - at least straight out of the box, but come back to us in six months - and it has all manner of fancy functions. There’s the athlete’s mode which delivers more accurate readings for active people - clearly not Pricewatch - and four user memories that we will surely have forgotten about by the time this goes to print. It measures BMI, body fat , and highlights how hydrated your body is and the state of you muscle mass. Some people will love it but at this price it’s not for us. All we want to know is how much we weigh.

Verdict: High tech, high price

Star rating: * * *

Grundtal Scales from Ikea €25

This is a very funky scales and we can’t think of any bathroom that wouldn’t look that little bit hipper is this was added. the surface is clearly lacquered which makes it easier to wipe clean than many of the competition. We were mildly taken aback by the price. While €25 is hardly hideously expensive, the price does seem high from a shop which can sell watering cans for less than a quid and entire flat-packed kitchens for under a grand. After trying the high end Salter option we were mildly disappointed that all this did was tell our weight.

Verdict: The cool option

Star rating: * * * *

Hanson LCD screen bathroom scales €19.99

This scales seemed to think we were heavier than the others which was not, in truth, the best start to our relationship. It is grand without being in anyway outstanding. The glass surface is nice when new but it can get kind of tatty looking and the surface will need to be wiped down frequently. It was the cheapest of the products we tried but we reckon you’d have yourself a better product if you added an extra fiver and went with the Ikea option.

Verdict: Average

Star rating: * * *

Brabantia Solar Powered Scales €34.99

The most appealing thing about these scales is the promise that we will never need to buy batteries for it thanks to the double solar cells which, the company assures us, will deliver a quick start in both sunlight and artificial light for ever and ever (we may be embellishing the promise slightly). This is certainly the scales for the more ample individual as it takes weights of up to 180kg - 30 kilos more than any of its rivals. It’s extra large backlit display makes it easier to read and we were impressed by the non-skid protection caps which kept it stable even after it had been given an accidental shower. A bit too dear for us, maybe.

Verdict: Pricey

Star rating: * *