Best Metal Detector Reviews : full updated guide
best value
Garrett Ace 250
Premium Pick
Bounty Hunter
Time ranger
Best Choice
Garret Ace 400
When you mention the words ‘metal detectors,’ most people think about how airport security works. Yes, public access to airport terminals is scrutinized so people and every other item that enters the airport must go through the metal detectors.
Some people think of finding hidden treasure or coins on beaches when they think about metal detectors. Interestingly metal detectors also include the handheld metal devices used for scanning items at concerts and other public events.
The bottom line is that metal detectors have now become an an inevitable part of our lives. We are using these metal detecting devices for leisure as well as safety. Even your workplace would have metal detectors in place to ensure that no employee brings in fatal weapons inside the office.
More and more schools, commercial buildings and government agencies now have metal detectors for security purposes. However, this doesn’t mean metal detectors cannot be used by common people. You can easily find lots of consumer oriented metal detectors that allow you to find hidden treasures, of course after eliminating a lot of junk! Read our buying guide to find the best metal detector for you!
What Are Metal Detectors Made Of?
Metal detectors typically are made of just a few components.
You will find a control box that contains the important circuits, controls, microprocessors and of course, speakers and batteries.
There might be a stabilizer to keep the unit steady while you move it around. Some metal detectors have an adjustable shaft that allows you to set the component to a comfortable height. This shaft connects the control box with the coil – the part of the metal detectors that is responsible for all the searching.
The search coil is the part of the metal detector that does the most work. It is also known as the loop or antenna.Some metal detector models have a jack for connecting a headphone as well as a display unit.
How You Should Choose Metal Detectors
Finding the best metal detector can get tricky if you have no idea where to start. Detecting and finding metals has long been a favorite outdoor adventure for people. In fact, it is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States.
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Metal detectors can be fun to use, but the question is – how do you find the best metal detector for you?
The best metal detector can help you find the greatest treasures including coins and precious metals. Because there are so many different kinds of detectors out there, you should choose one that best suits your needs.
This post is a practical guide that’ll help you find the best metal detector that matches your personal preferences and of course, your budget. Before you jump onto the first product, you come across, take some time and ask yourself the following questions.
What Do You Want The Metal Detector To Find?
Simply put, you need to define your interests before choosing the best metal detector. You can use detectors to find jewelry, coins and even gold nuggets.
An interesting thing to note here is that you can find a number of all-purpose detectors these days that work for detecting everything from gold and coins to even rings and other jewelry. All-purpose detectors are perfect for beginners and seniors and they are quite affordable as well. The best example of all-purpose metal detectors is Garrett Ace 250. By many considered as the best metal detector.
Those of you who are looking for some exercise along with treasure hunting adventure would want to go for high precision all-purpose metal detectors. These products have exceptional pinpointing abilities and can eliminate junk and trash while you are busy coin and jewelry hunting.
If you want to search for buried treasures and relics, you need metal detectors that are made for serious hunters. As you can guess, metal detectors designed for pros are priced a little higher, but your investment will be totally worth it.
Gold nuggets and gold coins require metal detectors that operate at a higher frequency. A smart thing to do is invest in high quality all-purpose metal detectors that can identify natural gold, gold coins and gold jewelry.
What Is Your Preferred ‘Search’ Territory to go metal detecting?
You should think about the places where you will be searching majority of your time. If you hunting list includes parks, local fishing or hunting camps and other ‘dry’ sites, you can choose from the many all purpose detectors available out there.
However, if you plan to look for coins, jewelry and relics in deep water or where the entire detector has to be dropped or submerged in water, you should buy a waterproof metal detector. After all, the last thing you want is the detector signals being disrupted while moving from sand into water.
Here’s a friendly reminder. You are more likely to find gold rings and jewelry at ocean beaches than any other area out there.
How Often Will You Go metal detecting ?
Will you be hunting for gold on the weekends or you are looking to add jewelry hunting to your daily routine? There are chances that you become addicted to jewelry hunting like many other enthusiasts and if you are looking to head out for adventure often, make sure your metal detector stands up to repeated use.
Most all purpose detectors today can stand up to all the bumps and jolts they have to go through in the trunk of your car or if you accidently drop them on a rocky terrain. Before you buy any particular product, make sure you read the best metal detector reviews coming up later and make an informed decision.
How Much Experience Do You Have with metal detecting ?
Not all metal detectors are created equal. Most modern metal detectors can be used by beginners and make treasure hunting as simple as 1-2-3. All you have to do is push a button and use the pre-set settings to find gold coins, gold nuggets and other precious metals.
Some metal detectors allow you to automatically calibrate your device for different ground conditions and cancel out interference. The more advanced features can be used when you’re used to the device and metal hunting best practices.
There are a number of metal detectors that are simple, yet powerful enough to be used by a beginner or newbie. Garrett has some exciting products for operators of all experience levels. You will also find detectors with intuitive features. This is what makes them equally valuable for newbies and experienced adventurers alike.
How Much Money Are You Willing To Spend on a top metal detector ?
How much ‘$’ do you wish to invest at this point in time? Well, metal detecting is ahobby that can pay you back handsomely, so buying the best metal detector for your needs is more like an investment, not an expense. Once you buy a device, look forward to the limitless fun, adventure, and excitement opportunities for you, your friends and your family.
When you are starting out, buy the best metal detector that you can afford. Products that are more sensitive can penetrate deeper, but they are generally more expensive. However, the more expensive metal detectors also have more features, and they are more versatile and durable. You can find the best metal detectors for as low as $200. Similarly, there are pricier options that are more sensitive but add to your wealth really quickly.
What Are You Finding Today?
A single gold bracelet or an ancient coin with a rare mintmark can repay the money you spent on your metal detector. It’s more common for people to find valuable treasures at places they least expect to find them.
Here are the best metal detectors today on the market
Best metal detector : ACE 250 By Garrett
This well designed masterpiece ensures great results for every user. The metal detector is fairly easy and convenient to use. There are exciting features that will assist you in your endeavors and give an excellent value for your money.
It is seen that the ACE 250 metal detector has a more focused search field and your life is made easier with an easy to read lcd screen. What features make ACE 250 worth buying? Continue reading to find out more.
Why Is the ACE 250 A Good Choice for a metal detector ?
- The device is easy to use and even beginners can use it to detect precious materials underneath the ground surface. Even seasoned metal hunters looking for the cheapest detector with excellent detection skills will fall in love with this product.
- Garrett ACE 250 is affordable and its detection abilities match the likes of those offered by high class, expensive detectors.
- Compared to other devices, the ACE 250 is small and more convenient. You can adjust the shaft to hold it easily. Another important thing is that the device weighs 2.7 pounds, which means you can easily carry it around.
- Garrett 250 has a compact control box and the thin yet powerful search coil makes it stand out when compared with other metal detectors.
- If you talk about battery life, the Ace 250 Metal Detector can go up to 30 hours without draining. This means you can be on the field for long hours without having to recharge the battery.
The bottom line is that ACE 250 is affordable, efficient and it can be extremely useful for beginners and seasoned hunters alike. It is also considered as one of the best metal detectors you can buy.
Bounty Hunter Time Ranger Detector
The Bounty Hunter Time Ranger has everything you need in a metal detector. If you want to collect some pieces of treasure, this is one piece of equipment you will find very useful in every activity. The model is reliable and easy to use.
One particularly interesting feature is the ‘sniff’ mode. Yes, the metal detector has a sniff mode that helps you eliminate unwanted items such as trash and junk. You will be pleased to know that the Time Ranger detector can detect metals even in deep water. The search coil is waterproof and allows to you achieve maximum depth without affecting discrimination modes.
Why Is the Bounty Time Ranger a Top metal detector ?
- Unlike other metal detectors, the Time Ranger guarantees accurate results and clearly indicates what type of metal you are digging for. Presence of metals including gold and silver is displayed on the lcd screen using numbers ranging from 1 to 299. You can easily confirm the presence of a target with the help of the beeping sound.
- The Time Ranger metal detector is accurate and displays the details just the way you want them to be. The LCD screen that comes with your device has detailed calibrations so you know what to expect once you start digging.
- The battery life is amazing the pair of 9 volts alkaline batteries that comes with your device remain functioning for more than 20 hours. This means when you are out for adventure, you no longer have to worry about low battery charge.
- Time Ranger delivers awesome results and the metal detector exists in four slightly different versions. The first version performs air measurement first and then enters the programming mode. The second version performs quite similar to version 1. The third version of Time Ranger features C cell batteries instead alkaline batteries. The fourth is the most recent release.
Garrett Ace 400 Detector
Garrett Ace is a reliable name in the world of high tech security devices. Moreover, this incredible five-pound metal detector is one of the best products you would come across.
If you have a look at the ACE 400 variant, you will find that the product is built with enhanced iron resolution. This improved iron resolution ensures that metal targets are efficiently separated from junk. The ace 400 is also very good at correctly determining how deep an object is buried.
What Makes the Garrett ACE 400 metal detector So Popular?
The device features electronic pinpointing which improves precision and accuracy. Because ACE 400 has indicators that display battery level and depth of target, you know exactly where to get started. This Garrett creation is user friendly and comes with an easy to understand user manual, DVD, a detector stand and an armrest.
The grip provided for ACE 400 is padded which makes it ideal for recreational coin and jewelry hunting. If you want to get hands on precious metals and valuables without operating any complicated device, this low frequency metal detector is the product you should go for. Garrett ACE 400 metal detector is also rated as the best metal detector for a beginner who want to search for coins, relics and jewelry in the lawn or at the beach.
Bounty Hunter Gold Digger Detector
If you are looking for the best metal detectors for kids or the most amazing metal detector for a beginner or newbie, look no further than Bounty Hunter Gold Digger.
What Makes Bounty Hunter Gold Digger Detector perfect for kids?
The product is ideal for kids and beginners who don’t mind missing a comprehensive display screen. You can set up the metal detector easily and use it around the beach and park for searching for missing wedding bands and gold coins.
Because the device only weighs about three pounds, you can carry it around without trouble. There is a one-year warranty, which makes your affordable purchase even more useful. The only disadvantage perhaps is that you will have to buy two 9-volt batteries before you can actually start using the device for searching gold coins.
Bounty Hunter BHJS Junior Detector
Teenagers in particular are interested in treasure hunting and this Bounty Hunter Junior metal detector is an affordable product that can meet their coin collection needs. Use of the device is simple and there are an excellent range of services.
Why Is This Considered as being a Perfect Metal Detector For Kids?
- This metal detector is affordable and the product comes with long lasting batteries and an headphone that you can use to listen to possible beeps as you move closer to the device. You would still be able to detect metallic objects when the batteries are about to run dry.
- The detector is fairly simple to use and it also features a relevant instructional manual for anyone who wants to find coins. It has a compact size and is made of lightweight, yet sturdy material, which makes it very convenient for children.
- If you are looking to buy a convenient and affordable metal detector to introduce kids to metal hunting, Bounty Hunter junior metal detector can be your best bet. It is one of the best metal detector for children or young adults
Conclusion : Finding the best metal detector for you
Therefore, in conclusion, if you are looking to get the best metal detector you can buy you should pick the metal detector that best suits your metal hunting needs. Remember, investing in a high quality metal detector will make it easier for you to precisely locate the metal you are looking for.