Just about every time I have ever gone to the beach, I have seen some guy with a metal detector. If you have ever dreamed of being that guy, you should invest in a quality metal detector that will ensure you’ll end the day with some booty. Below, we selected some of the best beginner metal detectors to get you started on your treasure hunting journey.
Check out quick reviews below of the top Four metal detectors, then scroll deeper for more helpful buying info and full reviews of those models.
Our Top Pick
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The Best Metal Detectors List 2020
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Best Buy Metal Detectors Online Reviews
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Buyer’s Guide Terminology & Definitions
Like every great hobby, metal detecting is an activity that is filled with special words that outsiders may have a hard time understanding. Here we will define some of the words you may not be very familiar with.
Metal detecting experts, feel free to skip ahead to the next section.
- Ferrous: Metals that contain iron. Non-ferrous metals are metals that are not magnetic, like brass, gold, silver, nickel, tin and lead.
- Frequency: Frequencies vary on metal detectors and the different frequencies are used for different types of detecting. The frequencies are measured in Kilohertz and measure the number of magnetic fields sent to the ground. Different metals react to different frequencies based on the characteristics and conductivity of that metal.
- Mineralization: The amount of iron and salt in the ground. Examples of mineralized ground include black sand on beaches (from iron), redness in dirt (iron), and the salt in the sand on saltwater beaches.
- Interference: Anything with an electromagnetic field, like cell phones or power lines, can interfere with the detector’s signal.
- Control box: Contains the controls, speaker, batteries and processor of a metal detector.
- Search coil: This is what “sees” the metal in the ground. Different search coil sizes and shapes perform differently. Generally speaking, smaller coils are most sensitive while larger coils can penetrate deeper underground.
- Discrimination: You can filter out different types of metal or objects by adjusting your settings.
- Ground balance: Adjustments made to the detector for different types of soil and mineralization.
- Target separation: How well a detector identifies targets that are close to one another.
Evaluation Criteria When Choosing a Metal Detector
There isn’t one metal detector that’s better than all the rest, although there are a few stand-out detectors in multiple categories. This buyer’s guide for the best metal detectors will examine the specific features that make for a good detector in a number of those categories. We will make recommendations based on many category-specific criteria, as well as some criteria that are common between several categories.
We will examine factors like:
- Weight
- Size
- Ergonomics
- Ease of use
- Durability
- Reliability
- Price point
- Customer ratings and reviews
- Warranty length
- Weatherproofing
- Waterproofing
For each category we evaluate, we will recommend three different detectors:
- Best of the best
- Best for beginners
- Best value
In addition to sharing our expertise in each of these categories, we asked our customers to share their opinions as well. We surveyed our customers to find out which detector they consider to be one of the “best metal detectors” in each category. You can see their responses at the end of each category. Some categories had a clear-cut favorite among our customers, but some categories were not so cut and dry. Presenting this data alongside our opinion gives you yet another way to evaluate machines in each category.
Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned professional, this guide will help you make an informed decision on which metal detector is the best fit to become your next detector. After all, once you’ve been bitten by the metal detecting bug, there is no such thing as owning just one metal detector.
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