For those who have tried to balance a piece of luggage the size of a Prius on the bathroom scale before heading off to the airport, there’s a solution from Tool Testing Lab: the GripScale.

According to the company the scale is ideal for the business aviation industry, where weight-and-balance calculations are sometimes critical and not easily calculated. Tool Testing has certified the digital scale to NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) requirements and is an aviation distributor for the item’s manufacturer, eBags of Denver.

The scale uses two 2032 wafer batteries and provides accurate weight in kilograms or pounds, from 0.25 kg up to 50 kg and 0.6 ounces to 110 pounds. There is an audible notification for the weights, including zero, and an automatic display shutoff after 30 seconds of inactivity. The illuminated LCD also has a low-battery indicator. The company claims weights displayed are accurate at any operable battery level.

GripScale comes with a one-year warranty, and annual recertification is available.

The certified scale is available from Tool Testing for $59.95, including batteries and storage tube. Without certification, the GripScale is available through eBags’ Web site for $19.95.

“This is a handy tool, especially for pilots and maintenance personnel,” said Beck. “It’s small, light, attractive and rugged, and a lot more accurate than the bathroom scale.”