Know the ground.Then pickthe detector.
Buying guides for metal detectors, coils, pinpointers and digging gear, organized by where you hunt: parks, beaches, relic sites, goldfields and mineralized soil, with the permissions every site needs.
Hunt by ground
Parks, beaches, relics or gold. The ground decides the technology.
Detect smarter
Beach metal detecting guide: dry sand vs wet salt sand vs water, why multi-frequency and PI work best, waterproof ratings, sand scoops, tides and beach rules.
Compare metal detectors with waterproof coils and fully submersible control boxes for beach, shallow-water and rain use by depth rating and sealing.
Compare Double-D and concentric metal detector coils by search pattern, ground coverage, mineralized soil, pinpointing and detector compatibility.
- 04
Gold Prospecting Detectors: Frequency, Ground and Claims
Gold prospecting
- 05
How to Choose Your First Metal Detector
First detector
- 06
Metal Detecting Laws and Permission: Where You Can and Can't Detect
Laws and ethics
- 07
Metal Detecting Pinpointers: Why You Need One and What to Buy
Pinpointers
- 08
Metal Detecting on Public vs Private Land: Permission
Rules Permission
- 09
Metal Detector First Settings: Sensitivity and Ground Balance
Beginner
Metal Detecting Gear questions, answered
What is the best type of detector for the beach?
Multi-frequency or pulse induction, which handle wet salt sand and water.
Read: Beach Metal Detecting →Can I submerge a detector with a waterproof coil?
Only when the control box, headphones and other components are rated for the intended depth and conditions.
Read: Coil-Only vs Fully Waterproof Metal Detectors →Is a DD coil better in mineralized soil?
Some manufacturer guidance favors DD coils in mineralized ground, but performance depends on detector, coil and soil.
Read: DD vs Concentric Metal Detector Coils →What frequency is best for gold detecting?
High frequencies, often above about 40 kHz on VLF detectors, are most sensitive to small gold.
Read: Gold Prospecting Detectors →What metal detector should a beginner buy?
A light, easy-to-use VLF or entry multi-frequency detector with target ID, discrimination and ground balance, matched to where you will hunt.
Read: How to Choose Your First Metal Detector →Is metal detecting legal in national parks?
No. Metal detecting and removing objects are prohibited in US national parks.
Read: Metal Detecting Laws and Permission →Responsible detecting, always
Every recommendation starts with the ground you hunt and whether detecting is allowed there.
Each guide says who the gear suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The metal detecting gear index
- 01DetectorsBeginner VLF, multi-frequency and pulse induction metal detectors.4 pages
- 02By groundDetectors and setups for beaches and water, relic hunting and gold prospecting.4 pages
- 03Pinpointers & toolsPinpointers, digging tools, sand scoops, search coils, headphones and pouches.4 pages
- 04Hobby basicsLand-use rules, permission, code of ethics, cleaning and storing finds.2 pages
- 05Prospecting gearGold pans, classifiers, sluices where lawful, scales and storage for recreational prospectors.0 pages