Metal Detectors That Give Value For Money 2023
Metal detectors are really impressive tools. When used well they turn out to be helpful. In this guide, we shall see the best metal detectors that you need to purchase. Read through this guide to find out, as you read through, do it keenly.
What is a metal detector?
A metal detector is a device that detects the presence of metal nearby. Metal detectors are used for many purposes, including archaeology, mineral prospecting, and treasure hunting. They can be hand-held or stationary devices.
What are the 5 benefits of metal detectors?
- It is a great way to get exercise and fresh air while you are having fun!
- You can find all kinds of cool stuff that people have lost over the years, like coins, jewelry, or even old tools from long ago
- Metal detectors help kids learn about the history
- They make for some really interesting conversations with other people
- If you’re lucky enough to find something valuable it could be worth a lot of money
Buyer’s Guide For Metal Detectors
Purpose
What will you be using the detector for? Are you going to start treasure hunting? Or are you looking for security options or is it just for around the house or workshop? Whichever it is we’ve structured the website to make shopping easy for you. You can also filter by category, price, or brand. On each product page, you will find tabs for descriptions, specifications, and reviews.
Budget
Do you have a set budget in mind? Is this your overall budget including the detector and accessories or just for the machine alone? Some essential accessories you will need for treasure hunting are gloves, digging tools and a cover to protect your search coil. Find out what you need in a basic kit for a day out in the field here.
We are always looking to find the best possible value, but choosing a metal detector based on cost alone can be problematic. We prefer to select well-known brands with a proven track record and plenty of feedback from satisfied users. Real value for money comes from metal detectors that live up to the claims made for them, and that display long-term reliability.
No idea where to start? We recommend comparing this purchase to what you would spend on other hobbies or sports. Oftentimes it also comes down to a matter of personal preference. Are you the type of person who just wants the basics? Or do you want the latest and greatest with all the bells and whistles. This also has to be taken into account when choosing a metal detector.
Versatility
Sometimes people are looking for a specific type of device. A metal detector for gold, or a deep metal detector, for example. However many buyers, particularly beginners, want a metal detector for the beach or backyard that can identify a variety of different “treasures.” A big part of the pleasure is the suspense of not knowing exactly what you will dig up. With that in mind, we tried to ensure each of our best metal detectors could find as wide a variety of items as possible.
Ease of Use
Metal detectors use features like “sensitivity,” and “discrimination” to fine-tune search parameters. Different frequencies might be used, or pre-set modes. We look at these in more detail in the “Things to Consider” section below. While each of these features can allow the metal detector to focus on particular types of treasure, it’s important that the basics are straightforward so that people can get started as quickly as possible. We have tried to choose metal detectors that have a high degree of intuitive control, so users can learn while they hunt.
| NAMES | SPECIFICATIONS | WHERE TO BUY |
Bounty Hunter Tracker IV
|
|
GET ON AMAZON |
Garrett Ace 300
|
|
GET ON AMAZON |
Minelab Equinox 800
|
|
GET ON AMAZON |
National Geographic Junior Metal Detector
|
|
GET ON AMAZON |
Fisher Gold Bug Pro Metal Detector
|
|
GET ON AMAZON |
SunPow OT-MD02 Metal Detector
|
|
GET ON AMAZON |
Nokta Makro Simplex+ Waterproof Metal Detector
|
|
GET ON AMAZON |
Minelab SDC 2300
|
|
GET ON AMAZON |
Minelab Vanquish 440
|
|
GET ON AMAZON |
Wedigout MD-790
|
|
GET ON AMAZON |
Best Metal Detectors
Bounty Hunter Tracker IV
The Bounty Hunter Tracker IV is an excellent metal detector for both beginners and seasoned hobbyists. It has a very budget-friendly price of about $85, so if you decide that metal detecting isn’t your cup of tea, you don’t won’t have wasted a lot of money. With its separate modes for ferrous and non-ferrous materials, you can hunt for everything from scrap steel and aluminum to gold jewelry and silver coins. The 8-inch detection coil is water resistant so you can search damp areas, streams, ponds, and beaches worry-free.
The control box has simple dials and an easy-to-read meter for adjusting sensitivity and metal identification of objects buried up to 2 feet underground.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Garrett Ace 300
The Garrett ACE 300 is a great metal detector for anyone who is just starting out in the hobby. It has a lightweight and telescoping design, coming in at 5 pounds, and is extendable up to 51 inches, so it’s easier to handle. It also comes with a coil cover, an environmental protection cover, and a pair of headphones. The 10-inch detector coil is waterproof, allowing you to search for metal items in damp soil, streams, oceans, and lakes. It is able to detect objects buried up to 8 inches deep to help you search for coins, jewelry, and other small items.
With its five different detection modes, you can search for everything from iron horseshoes and silver coins to aluminum scrap and gold.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
|
|
|
Minelab Equinox 800
the Minelab Equinox 800 is an almost perfect option. It’s a high-end, exceptionally precise metal detector that can sense objects buried up to 18 inches underground so you can hunt for everything from coins and rings to scrap iron, aluminum, and even meteorites. The entire unit is waterproof and can be submerged in water up to 10 feet deep, so you can search rivers, lakes, ponds, and oceans for relics.
With its four different detection modes, you can accurately search terrain like sandy dunes and beaches, grassy fields, and rocky hills. You also can set up eight different detection profiles for faster gold, silver, and iron identification or for multiple users of the same unit.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Geographic Junior Metal Detector
This metal detector features a very lightweight design to be easier for little ones to carry. It can be adjusted up to 39 inches in length so your kids can continue to use it as they grow. The 7.5-inch detection coil is fully waterproof, allowing kids to look for coins and other treasures in sand, dirt, and streams; it can detect metal objects buried up to 6 inches deep.
The starter kit comes with the metal detector, guidebook, and even five gold doubloon replicas to bury and find. It also includes a small trowel shovel to help dig out found objects. The Junior Metal Detector is powered by 3 AA batteries, so you won’t have to worry about keeping special batteries on hand or your kids remembering to charge the metal detector.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
|
|
|
Fisher Gold Bug Pro Metal Detector
Fisher’s highly-rated Gold Bug line has been around for some time. The Gold Bug Pro now offers digital rather than analogue features, giving it improved accuracy. In All-Metal mode, the Fisher Gold Bug Pro can find coins, jewelry, and relics, but finding nuggets and small gold objects is where this machine excels.
Soil mineralization can be a problem for many devices, but this machine has a trademarked Ground Grab feature that is the most accurate automatic ground balancing of its type.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
|
|
|
SunPow OT-MD02 Metal Detector
The SunPow OT-MD02 is ideal for those who want to try metal detecting at minimal expense, or who just want a machine for occasional use.
Having a metal detector that can be loaded in the car or RV for camping trips or other vacations sounds like a great idea, but if it’s only going to be used occasionally then cost can be an issue. The SunPow OT-MD02 is a very affordable solution, and while it doesn’t offer the feature set of some, it’s a proper metal detector, not just a toy.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
|
|
|
Nokta Makro Simplex+ Waterproof Metal Detector
If you are looking for a metal detector with an extensive feature set for a modest investment will certainly want to consider the Nokta Makro Simplex+. Like most modern devices, ease of use comes by way of preset modes. In this case all-metal, field, park, and beach. The latter compensates for saltwater interference making it a top pick as a beach metal detector. The unit is also waterproof to IP68, so it can be fully submerged to 10 feet.
Nokta’s Iron Volume control is unusual in that it filters out iron signals in silent mode without alerting the user. Unfortunately, it can’t be used in all-metal or beach modes. Wide-ranging notch discrimination comes via target IDs. For night and underwater use, there is a backlit screen, illuminated controls, and a flashlight.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
|
|
|
Minelab SDC 2300
This metal detector was set with the task of having just one job to do – finding elusive sub-gram gold nuggets both on dry land and water.
This unit is not cheap and is aimed at those who are likely not new to the hobby but it doesn’t require excessive knowledge to get going. It uses Pulse Induction and Multi-Period Fast and is usable under 10ft of water.
It’s fairly portable compared to something like the GPZ 7000 and is smaller enough for carry-on luggage. As with many of the higher-end Minelab, it’s military-grade construction for dealing with tough conditions.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minelab Vanquish 440
Having a Minelab metal detector for affordable money is a good option for beginner detectorists.
The technology applied is Multi-IQ with three frequencies. The frequency range is customizable and combined with five Search modes, it provides decent flexibility in operation. The coil is 10” DD, and other coils are also compatible. The detector is waterproof and lightweight. It has a Depth indicator and Fixed Ground Balance.
| PROS | COONS |
|
|
|
|
|
Wedigout MD-790
Not all treasures are buried on land, so if you want to do a little underwater exploration for coins and other relics, you’ll need the Wedigout MD-790. This metal detector is incredibly compact and lightweight, weighing less than a pound and measuring just 14 inches long for easier travel and one-handed use. The 5.5-inch detection coil is filled with resin to protect the electronics from water damage and can detect objects up to 3 inches deep. The top of the coil also has a small LCD screen to show you battery life and signal detection strength.
The MD-790 also vibrates to let you know when it has detected something; and with the built-in flashlight, you’ll be able to use the metal detector in dim environments. It’s powered by a single 9-volt battery, so you won’t have to worry about remembering to charge it up before you go exploring, and the built-in lanyard keeps the detector from floating away if you accidentally drop it or lose your grip.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
In conclusion, with a metal detector, searching for any metallic object should not be an issue. So while choosing the metal detector, consider the buyer’s guide as well.
