Looking for a good list of metal detecting gear? It can be tough to find good information on the internet. A lot of blogs recommend products that they haven’t even tested. This is not a good way to decide what gear to buy.
We believe you should get the most out of the metal detecting items you buy. You can do this by making the right purchase decision.
We’ve gathered a list of the best metal detectors for you. You’ll also find guides to specific accessories we’ve reviewed to simplify the selection.
Now let’s get started.
Essential Metal Detecting Equipment
Metal Detector
If you want to start metal detecting, you need a beginner-friendly detector. This type of detector is easy to use and will help you learn the basics of metal detecting. You can play around with its settings to better understand how it works.
Metal detectors are easy to use. We recommend practicing with them in your house, backyard, driveway, etc. You can explore other good places to metal detect later on.
You will learn how metal detectors work and what to do to get better results.
A metal detector and a digger are two things that work well together.
After finding some treasures with your detector, you’ll often put it down and start digging. You’ll need a tool to help you get the treasure out of the ground. The most common tools are a trowel, shovel, or sand scoop.
Choose a digging tool that is durable. If possible, get a tool that can make clean and small holes. This will help conserve the environment in places like public parks.
Some detectors are loud enough for you to hear their signals without headphones. But metal detecting headphones can help you hear the signal better if it is faint.
But wait until you go hunting in noisy places like state parks and beaches. You’ll curse why you haven’t bought one yet.
If you’re not using headphones, you might miss some quality signals. Quality headphones improve your experience.
A pinpointer is another tool you might want to use when detecting. It is helpful because it can get into tight spaces that your detector might not be able to reach. This will save you time because you can trace the target quickly using the pinpointer.
As you get closer to your target, the sound from the pinpointer will become louder. This is helpful because it will tell you how close you are to the target. You can also use the gadget to probe loose soils near the hole you just dug.
You need to be organized when you metal detect. This way, you won’t get stressed out when you lose something. You can use a pouch to keep your finds safe. Most of them have zippers so you can lock away old coins, jewelry, and other targets you find.
Metal detecting can be addictive, so you’ll want to try out many different spots, like beaches and state parks. You’ll need a storage bag to carry your detector.
You can invest in a metal detecting backpack to keep your other tools. Having at most two bags will help you to stay organized.
Accessory Coils
You will only get one coil with most metal detectors. The size of the coil can be 8, 9, or 12″.
There are benefits and downsides to using small or large coils. Smaller coils are less sensitive to deep targets, but they cover more ground. Larger coils are more sensitive to small targets, but they don’t detect as deeply.
Small coils are good for finding small targets. They are also very sensitive to these targets. This is helpful when there is a lot of trash around.
You might want to invest in two coils to test. You can change them more depending on the ground conditions.
Coil Cover
Many detectorists, like me, love to hunt on hiking trails or rugged terrains like forests.
Coil covers are affordable and don’t compromise the detection depth, thanks to their thin sizes.
Housing Cover
Do you reside in a region with frequent precipitation? If so, you must acquire a machine housing cover.
The weather can also surprise you when you detect it in the forest, on the beach, or in other areas. The cover on your machine’s core unit will protect it from the rain.
If you want to buy a detector but don’t have one yet, I suggest buying a weatherproof one like the Fisher F22 or Fisher F44.
Extra Batteries
You won’t know how important backup batteries are until your detector runs out of charge during a heated hunting session. This is really frustrating because it probably means you’re far away from home or a store where you can buy new batteries.
Most detectorists use a good balance between regular AA batteries and rechargeable models.
You can save money on batteries by buying rechargeable ones if your smoke detector uses several Alkaline batteries.
Bonus Accessories
Now let’s see what equipment you might want to take on your hunt.
We have very heavy detectors and can tire your arms and shoulders if you use them for a long time. The best way to avoid getting tired is to use a metal detecting harness. This will help distribute the detector’s weight evenly, so you won’t get tired as quickly.
Most beginner-friendly detectors are lightweight, so you don’t need to use a harness when you first start using them. However, if you find the detector too heavy to swing, don’t hesitate to buy a harness.
Metal detecting can find old coins, relics, and jewelry. You might also be interested in finding gold nuggets. To do this, you will need a gold panning kit. This can include a simple gold pan or a more advanced tool like the Gold Rush Nugget Bucket.
The Right Apparels
The truth is, you don’t need a lot of clothing when treasure hunting. For example, you’ll need a hat, knee pads, and gloves if you’re going to the beach. The same goes if you’re going to other sunny areas.
You can also buy waterproof gloves and gumboots to wear in wet and muddy areas.
Cleaning Kits
It is common to find things while cleaning in the metal detecting world. You need the right tools for the job, so you should have a cleaning kit.
If you need to clean a small area quickly, we recommend using a small spray bottle filled with a friendly cleaning solution like water or lime.
If you find a lot of coins and want to clean them all at once, you should invest in a good rock tumbler like the Lortone 3A Single Barrel Tumbler.
Flashlight
People still hunt for treasure at night on sandy beaches and parks. However, we don’t think the LED light will be as bright as a flashlight. You can buy a tactical waterproof model for detecting in rivers or illuminating shaded areas.
GPS Navigator
It can be easy to ignore investing in a GPS navigator when going for a treasure-hunting expedition.
Nowadays, most phones have a navigator. But what if you go to a remote place with limited access to your phone’s GPS? The worst part is that you might not be able to find your way back.
A GPS navigator can help you find your way around and track where you have been. That way, you can come back to explore those places later on.
A Map
If you don’t have a lot of money to spend, you don’t have to wait to buy a GPS navigator. You can print out a map of the area you’ll be visiting. This will help you get to your detecting spot. You should study the map a few days before you go hunting.
Water Bottle
It’s never good to stop your hunting trip to look for shops for drinks. If you’re in a sunny area, walk with a water bottle. You can bring more if you drink more during the day.
Emergency Kits
Going on an outdoor expedition without carrying an emergency kit is risky. This is also true for metal detection trips.
What will you do if you go treasure hunting with your kids and one falls and gets hurt? You won’t be able to provide medical attention if you don’t have a first aid kit.
Bug Spray
You can expect to find bugs in the woods, on BLM land, in state parks, or near rivers and lakes. These bugs can cause skin irritation and infections. You can prevent this by using body repellant lotion before starting your journey.
Probing Screwdriver
After digging in the ground, you might want to look for more treasures. You will need a small tool like a probing screwdriver to do this. This tool can also scan cracks in rocks to see what is hiding inside. Be careful when using your screwdriver to don’t damage your finds.
Magnifier
Magnifiers are used to enlarge what you find. People use them to look at things more closely. For example, magnifiers can help you see the details on coins better. You can also see the purity marks on jewelry more clearly.
Final Thoughts
It is tough to choose metal detecting accessories. We made this monster guide to help you choose the most essential ones, like diggers, pinpointers, finds pouch, and storage bags. But you can also buy other accessories to help you become a pro hunter.
The accessories we’ve listed above will help you be as organized as possible. You’ll be able to find things easily, and your hunting trip will be much less painful than it would be if you didn’t have these gadgets.
To learn more information about Metal Detector, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Metal Detecting Gear
You will need some things to start detecting metals. You will need a metal detector, headphones, clothes, boots, something to dig with, and an optional pinpointer.
Metal detecting is a great hobby for seniors. It helps them stay sharp and mentally active by activating their imagination and requiring them to solve problems. They also need to be patient and persevering. What’s more, metal detecting can often be very lucrative!
To use your metal detector on a beach, you will need a permit from the local council.
Metal detecting in the woods is a great idea! Woods and forests are filled with treasures and relics dropped over the years. If you want to be successful, do some research first to learn the best tips and techniques.
The most popular metal detectors are the Nokta Makro Simplex, Garrett Ace, and Fisher F series. However, do not let features like an adjustable ground balance or advanced features scare you. These features will help you become better at using a metal detector.
You should store the device and its accessories in a dry and cool place. Keep the device out from direct sunlight. You mustn’t store your metal detector where it can get too hot or too cold because this can cause the device to malfunction.
There are laws in the UK about using metal detectors. It is illegal to use a metal detector without permission from the owner on private land. It is also illegal to use a metal detector on a scheduled ancient monument or in an area of archaeological importance.
Metal detecting at the beach is a fun way to find buried things. As you start your treasure hunt, you will quickly discover that the sand is easy to dig. It’s also enjoyable to be able to cool off in the water!
