If you are new to metal detecting, you’ll quickly find that choosing your detector can be overwhelming. There are so many choices and such a wide assortment of price tags. The list of features seems never ending and you aren’t sure at this point what some of that terminology means anyway.
You are starting to wonder if metal detecting is right for you after all – you simply wanted a fun hobby, you didn’t want anything complicated.
But before you give up your dream of strolling the beach with a metal detector in your hand as you search for long-lost treasure, you can ask yourself a few simple questions to narrow your hunt for the perfect metal detector.
How Much Are You Willing to Spend On A Metal Detector?
This is the question you should start with. After all, if you were house shopping, you wouldn’t go tour a million-dollar home if your budget was a hundred thousand dollars. So you shouldn’t look at metal detectors that are out of your price range either.
There’s no point in looking at that $1,600 machine if you know you never could or would spend that much money on it.
If you have buddies who are already metal detecting, don’t let them talk you into getting a higher-end machine than you can afford. Sometimes detectorists think that they need a high-end machine to find anything good and that’s simply not true. You can find great treasure with low-end detectors too.
But to get a detector that you’ll be able to use for years to come as you become more comfortable with detecting and you want better features, you should start with a good mid-level unit if you can.
You’ll be able to find a great detector in the $300 to $600 price range. If you can’t afford that, you can always start with a $150 entry level machine and upgrade in a year or two when you’ve been able to save more cash.
What Items Are You Most Interested in Finding?
Detectors are generally able to find a big variety of different metals and items, including coins, jewelry and relics. But if you want to find a certain metal, like gold for instance, you’ll need to pony up some extra money for a machine that’s better than entry-level.
You don’t have to break the bank to afford a metal detector that’s great at finding gold though. There are some affordable options out there. You’ll just need to look for a detector that has a higher frequency than many of the entry-level machines.
Where Will You Be Looking?
If you’re landlocked and you have no desire to hunt in any lakes, rivers or oceans, you don’t need to look for a metal detector that can be submerged.
But if you can’t wait to dig up potential treasure on the beaches and coastlines, you have to buy a detector that can be submerged up to the depth you’re planning on diving to. You can get detectors like the Garrett AT Pro that can be submerged in up to 10 feet of water. If that’s not enough, you can find detectors, like the Minelab Excalibur II 1000, that can go up to 200 feet underwater.
How Much Do You Want to Learn?
Some higher-end metal detectors are incredibly intimidating to learn. That can suck the fun out of the hobby for people who hate to tinker with technology and don’t want to spend their time combing through an operating manual that makes War and Peace look like a child’s book.
If you want to enjoy your hobby without a steep learning curve, go for an easier-to-use entry level or mid-level machine.
You’ll Find the Perfect Fit
By answering those questions, you’ll be able to narrow your search enough to find a machine that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
