What Is a Good Metal Detector for Beginners

Metal detectors can be great fun—hunting for treasure is, after all, an exciting hobby with the lure of finding potential riches (or just a cool old coin or rare bottle cap). But they can also be practical, allowing you to gather up discarded nails, screws, and other supplies or even helping you locate an important relic or memento that might have gotten accidentally buried on a job site.

Check out quick reviews below of the top five metal detectors, then keep scrolling for helpful buying info and full reviews of these and other great models.

Best for Beginners

Fisher F22

Lightweight and durable, this is a beginner model you will want to hold on to.

GREAT VALUE

Garrett ACE 300

amazon.com

$299.95

$254.95 (15% off)

The ACE delivers a great screen display and many accessories for a reasonable price.

Top-of-the-Line Sophistication

Minelab Equinox 800

Hunt more accurately with the Equinox's four search modes and customizable profiles.

Simple and Portable

National Geographic Pro Series

A collapsible design makes it easier to search on-the-go.

Excellent Accuracy

Sunpow Professional OT-MD02

Sensitive and accurate, this detector is worth the extra weight.

What Type of Detector Do I Need?

The type of metal detector you choose will depend mainly on what type of loot you are searching for and where you will be looking for it. There are generally three types of metal detectors for different purposes—land-based coin and relic hunting, beach and underwater detecting, and prospecting for gold.

Beach and underwater detectors tend to be more robust and rust-resistant to help fight corrosion from sea air and salt water. They're also waterproof (or have waterproof components) and designed to detect through water and sand, which have different properties than dry dirt.

Gold detectors use higher frequencies to detect the differences between gold and other metals. These are best suited to gold-rich areas in the U.S. (generally, the West Coast because you are unlikely to find any natural gold elsewhere).

A multipurpose metal detector is best for beginners. It can find coins and other metal objects and can sometimes even sniff out some gold. If you are unsure of what type of detector to get, a multipurpose one is often the way to go as it will give the most options for what and where it can hunt.

Other Considerations

Ease of Use vs. Sophistication

Some metal detectors (especially those at the upper end of the price range) offer plenty of high-tech features like touchpad LCD display screens, intuitive menu selections, and detailed search modes. These might appeal to the serious user but could prove overwhelming to a casual hobbyist. A more streamlined, basic model will often be easier to use and likely the better choice for a beginner.

Weight

You will be lugging this thing around, possibly while hunched over, and perhaps in a range of landscapes and all types of terrain. A detector that's on the heavier side might quickly become a source of aches and pains.

Depth Detection

A detector that can find items that are buried deeper underground offers the opportunity for exciting finds that might get overlooked by less sensitive models. But detectors with higher depth capabilities often come with higher price tags to match. Keep in mind variables, such as the size of a buried object and soil composition, impact depth detection.

How We Evaluated

In assessing a wide assortment of metal detectors, I've partly drawn upon my own experience. As the former owner of a construction business, I've used metal detectors on job sites for more than a decade to identify discarded supplies and various pieces of scrap. From a more leisurely perspective, my husband and I have taken our kids treasure hunting on a variety of beaches along the East Coast, and in forests throughout the Northeast. We've also searched for buried treasure in our own backyard; We live in a house built in the 1800s and still occasionally find random items apparently discarded by previous owners years ago.

We consulted manufacturer listings for relevant specs related to weight, maximum detection depth for small objects, and settings options. Finally, we considered the observations from thousands of reviewers on Amazon, The Home Depot, and other retail sites.—Bobbi Dempsey

---

—BEST FOR BEGINNERS—

Fisher F22

Weight: 2.3 lbs | Maximum Depth Detection: 9 in.

F22

Fisher amazon.com

$220.35

• Lightweight
• Inexpensive

• Can't detect gold

Like any new hobby, chances are you might not want to spend a fortune on something that you have never tried. This metal detector comes in under $225 and is equipped with everything you need to get treasure hunting. The Fisher features a weatherproof exterior and weighs only 2.3 pounds, so it's durable and lightweight. It has 10 frequency levels that can detect up to 9 inches underground, along with preset levels, such as jewelry, artifact, and coin, that can come in handy when first learning how to use your detector. However, it doesn't have the ability to detect gold. When it comes to use, the end can be submerged in water, but the control box is not waterproof, so be sure to keep it dry. It also has a pinpoint mode, though it is not quite as accurate as an actual pin-pointer. If you still aren't sold, consider the five-year warranty that guarantees you plenty of time with your new tool.

---

—GREAT VALUE—

Garrett ACE 300

Weight: 2.8 lbs | Maximum Depth Detection: Not specified

ACE 300

Garrett amazon.com

$299.95

$254.95 (15% off)

• Includes headphones and protective covers
• Big LCD screen

• Beginners might need time to learn controls

Although the Garrett ACE 300 is near the price of the Fisher F22, it comes with more useful accessories. Along with the metal detector, you will receive a pair of headphones, a weather cover, and a coil cover, as well as features similar to competing models. As a multipurpose detector, it can find everything including coins, relics, and gold in environments like iron-rich areas and shallow water. It also features a digital target ID which detects the conductivity of the object and displays it on the screen from a scale of 0-99. The higher conductivity will usually point to gold, while a lower number will present small jewelry, iron, and steel.

---

—TOP-OF-THE-LINE SOPHISTICATION—

Minelab Equinox 800

Weight: 2.96 lbs | Maximum Depth Detection: Not specified

Equinox 800

Minelab amazon.com

$949.00

• Fully waterproof
• Ability to save custom search profiles
• Advanced detection settings

• Expensive

This detector is an investment for the hard-core treasure hunter. It has four search modes, each of which can save two custom search profiles, allowing the machine to immediately recognize your individual search preferences for things like sensitivity, target depth, and volume. It's totally waterproof, making it a great choice for the beach or underwater excursions. And the Equinox can detect many types of metal, including gold nuggets.

---

—SIMPLE AND PORTABLE—

National Geographic Pro Series

Weight: 2.3 lbs | Maximum Depth Detection: 12 in.

Pro Series

National Geographic amazon.com

$159.99

• Collapsible design for portability
• Simple enough for kids

• False positives

If there's a name that conjures up visions of searching the world on exotic quests, it's National Geographic. It's fitting, then, that they should create this metal detector anyone can use—including young explorers-in-training. It's light and simple enough for kids but has sophisticated features adults can appreciate. The detection modes allow you to skip over "junk metals" so you can focus on more valuable buried treasures, but some Amazon users report that false positives and inaccurate results are fairly common.

---

—EXCELLENT ACCURACY—

Sunpow Professional OT-MD02

Weight: 6.84 lbs | Maximum Depth Detection: 8.7 in.

Professional OT-MD02

Sunpow amazon.com

$129.99

• Enhanced technology
• Anti-interference features to prevent errors

• Slightly heavier than some comparable models

This Sunpow model boasts upgraded technology that the manufacturer says allows for greater search range and more powerful sensitivity. It offers three operation modes designed to help improve accuracy and can detect a range of different types of metal. Go with the "All Metal" setting if you want to see any type of metal object, or use the DISC ACC/REJ mode to select specific types of metal you're interested in. If the detector finds something, you can use the pinpoint function to zero in on its exact location. Amazon users appreciated its accuracy and easy-to-use design and suggest this would be a great choice for beginners.

---

—AFFORDABLE ACCURACY—

RM RICOMAX GC-1037

Weight: 2.3 lbs | Maximum Depth Detection: 8 in.

GC-1037

RM RICOMAX amazon.com

$169.99

$130.99 (23% off)

• Waterproof search coil
• Lightweight and easy to carry

• Search depth shallower than some other models

For a detector that weighs so little, this model packs a big punch. It offers six operating modes to let you zero in on exactly what types of treasure you hope to find. For example, you can set it to specifically detect metals that would likely be iron or adjust to a different mode if you want to look for copper and silver. The lightweight, ergonomic design means you can avoid aches and strains even when using this detector for long periods of time.

---

—BEST BASIC CHOICE—

Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV

Weight: 4.2 lbs | Maximum Depth Detection: 6 in.

TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector

• Affordable
• Easy to use

• Lacks the sensitivity and sophisticated features of some pricier models

This detector is a good starter option or a fine choice for casual users who don't need a lot of bells and whistles. It has a solid, sturdy feel that assures you it can hold up in challenging environments. Amazon users recommend it as a perfect choice for beginners because of its simplicity. It has a detection depth of up to six inches for smaller targets and up to two feet for larger items.

---

—MULTIPURPOSE—

Fisher F75

Weight: 3.5 lbs | Maximum Depth Detection: 16 in.

F75

Fisher amazon.com

$549.00

• Good in iron-infested areas
• Easy-to-read screen

• Expensive

The Fisher F75 is certainly a bigger investment than the F22, but it also comes with some considerable upgrades. First of all, its multipurpose design means that it is capable of detecting coins, relics, gold and more, and the detector can produce accurate readings through a variety of surfaces. Although it's more than a pound heavier than the F22, the F75 is balanced and easy to navigate with. "Most importantly, the detector does a great job of finding relics and coins even in iron-infested areas," says HuntingForMetal.com. "This is due to the dual-filter discrimination modes, which allow you to ignore iron signals." And despite its higher cost than some other beginner options, this model also features an 11-inch coil so you can scan larger areas faster.

---

—BEST FOR UNDERWATER DETECTION—

Garrett Pro-Pointer AT

Weight: 6.5 oz | Maximum Depth Detection: Not specified

Pro-Pointer AT

Garrett amazon.com

$149.95

$127.45 (15% off)

• Ultralight
• Flashlight feature

• Not versatile

Whether you like to scan your local lakes or pilfer through streams, this submersible detector can help you find some lost treasure. About the size of a flashlight, the Pro-Pointer AT can function underwater up to 10 feet and has three sensitivity settings to help you pinpoint small targets. The bright orange color is easy to see underwater, and its flashlight will help illuminate the ground underwater. It also has a fast retune button that can narrow your detection field for more precise pinpointing of larger targets.

---

—BEST FOR KIDS—

Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D.

Weight: 1.5 lbs | Maximum Depth Detection: 6 in.

Junior T.I.D.

Bounty Hunter amazon.com

$69.99

• Lightweight
• 1-year warranty

• Kids will outgrow

When your kids are young, they want to do everything you are doing—take advantage of that fleeting time and teach them a new hobby that could last a lifetime. This junior metal detector is easy to use and ideally sized for kids under the age of 10. It features an easy-to-read screen that will let them know when they have found something and how deep it is buried. The coils can be placed in the water or in wet environments, and it can detect objects such as coins and gold. While it is certainly more advanced than your typical children's toy, be aware that it does only come with a one-year warranty.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

What Is a Good Metal Detector for Beginners

Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gear/a32968255/best-metal-detectors/

Share this post