Metal detecting is a popular hobby and there are a lot of different detectors to purchase at prices that range from less than $100 to above $1000. Before you go to the shops there are various things to take into account if you are going to get started in the right way with your new leisure pursuit and not become frustrated and give up when you fail to achieve success in finding valuable treasure. Choosing the best metal detector can be difficult and you should take into account some of the information we’ve collected here.

All the metal detectors you can buy have common components and parts. These always include a stabiliser to keep the machine steady as you sweep it from side to side, a box to house the circuits, batteries, speaker, controls and microprocessor, a shaft which connects the the coil to the control box and a coil which detects the target.

Some Things to Consider Before Choosing a Metal Detector

What treasure will you be looking for?

Some types of treasure you may hunt for include gold, coins, jewelry, relic etc. Features on different detectors are intended to make them better for different types of targets. For example some detectors are designed specifically for coin shooting or gold nugget hunting although it’s usually best to start with a general purpose detector.

What type of locations do you intend to hunt in?

Will you be detecting on gravel or other types of soil, on the beach or in the surf. A metal detector for use on the beach should have good ground balancing, a detector to use in the surf or an underwater metal detector of course needs to be waterproof.

What is your skill level?

For those new to treasure hunting a general purpose detector with a few features would be easier to get used to. Veteran treasure hunters usually buy a more expensive detector with an extensive choice of features that will be harder to learn but produce more success with perseverance. For children there are some cheaper detectors available that are easy to use.