Just like every other great hobby-turned-fascination, metal detecting has come a long way and is no longer for just a few. With some knowledge of history, a little patience, and the right kind of metal detector, you can dig up everything from long-lost coins to centuries-old jewelry! While location does matter, so does the brand and kind of metal detector. Some of the best meta; detector brands in the world make a wide range of machines to suit a wide range of budgets. In fact, it’s this choice that makes it easy for people at different stages and internet levels of metal detecting to choose a product that suits them best. Broadly speaking, the more expensive the machine, the more it can differentiate treasure and trash.
You might not want to break the bank with a metal detector, but you don’t want to buy the absolute cheap ones either. For instance, spending more than $150 on detectors from well-known brands such as Fisher, Minelab, XP, and Garrett will save a lot of disappointment and time in the field. That’s why we’ve also included a handy guide for buying the best in the business. To that end, here are the 13 best metal detector brands to buy.
How To Choose The Best Metal Detector Brands
Some of the world’s best metal detector brands are XP, Tesoro, Teknetics, Minelab, Makro, Garrett, and Fisher. What should you look for while investing in these brands and how exactly would you choose? Read on to know more.
Personal preferences
In the end, metal detectors boil down to personal preferences in terms of weight, location, and features. For instance, you need to decide whether you’re going to a prime location and hunting for hours or whether you’ll use it occasionally in the local park. Secondly, would you rather carry a simple and lightweight detector but are fit enough to take on a heavy-duty metal detector with all the bells and whistles? Finally, do you want a basic beginner of a metal detector or do you want a top-of-the-line one? Before you invest in a good metal detector, it’s best to list your techniques and tendencies so that you go for the right one.
Usage
Secondly, you need to establish what exactly you’re hoping to find since everyone’s idea of a treasure is different. So, you need to try and prioritize the features you’re looking for and narrow down your field of focus. For instance, if you’ll be looking for precious metals such as silver and gold, then your metal detector will require tons of manual ground balancing in the form of a manual focus on the camera. On the other hand, if you’re looking for historical relics, coins, and glass bottles, then you’ll want one with more of an autofocus approach.
Location
A big part of choosing the best metal detector brands is determining where you’re going to be looking for “treasure.” One of the major decisions is whether you’re going to be predominately in water or on land. While all metal detectors possess waterproof coils, it doesn’t make them underwater metal detectors. The models that are entirely waterproof have fewer openings in the control box, don’t have a meter display, and work via an audio signal.
If you’re going to be wading about in the water, then you’ll also need to invest in one of the Best Wading Boots.
Budget
Finally, we come to the budget part of the puzzle. One of the biggest myths is assuming that used metal detectors are cheaper. But, that’s not always the case. The price of a metal detector is directly proportional to the number of features it has. Additionally, when you’re budgeting for your metal detector, you’ll also want to consider the prices of the accessories, because they are vital to and enhance your experiences. You’ll need not only a pair of headphones with volume control for a noiseless and focused experience but also a bag for storing it when it’s not being used. You’re also going to need a coil cover, sand scoops, trowels, and pinpointers.
What Metals Cannot Be Detected By A Metal Detector?
Metal detectors can detect the following easily – bronze, silver, gold, lead, tin, aluminum, brass, copper, nickel, and iron. General-purpose metal detectors can find buried metal objects including coins and jewelry using a process called “discrimination” that distinguishes between different alloys or metal targets. What’s more, newer metal detectors can even pick up Titanium easily, especially if you have ground balance and the right settings. Finally, they can help find most grades and types of stainless steel items, but the process isn’t easy since it doesn’t have magnetic properties and has low electrical conductivity.
Minelab
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Minelab is one of the world’s best metal detector brands and has been around for 35 years. Engineered and designed for discovery, Minelab’s products are rugged and tough and designed to withstand all sorts of environments. In fact, their products are all ISO 9001-certified and are manufactured to military-grade standards. That’s why Minelab’s detectors are used by everybody from the world’s military forces to miners to locate everything from life-threatening landmines to unearthing history. If you live by the beach or are going to hunt for treasures on a coastline, then go for the Minelab Vanquish 540 ProPack. The sleek and black-colored ProPack has two coils, a 12inch and an 8-inch one for greater precision and depth. If that wasn’t enough, the coils are waterproof up to 3.3 feet, while the water-resistant control pod comes with a rain cover.
Pros:
- Great for every type of soil.
- Multi-IQ tech.
- Comes with two search coils.
Cons:
- Expensive.
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Garrett
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Yet another excellent brand is Garrett, which was founded by Charles Garrett, who’s amongst the key figures in the development of modern metal detectors today. The electrical engineer began metal detecting as a hobby in the 1960s, ultimately developing his own brand of products. As the world moved into the 21st century, the company only improved and bettered its products, including the value-for-money Garrett AT Pro. Costing $550, the all-terrain metal detector is completely submersible up to 10 feet. and comes with 40 varied discrimination settings. Hailed as one of the most versatile modern detectors, the AT Pro also comes with an audio mode that allows you to “hear” the target’s properties. What’s more, it also has a digital target ID and even has a nifty Iron Audio which can correctly identify the target.
Pros:
- Can be upgraded using Garrett’s proprietary wireless technology.
- Easy to use.
- Waterproof up to 10 feet.
Cons:
- No backlight.
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Nokta Makro (CU)
11
Innovation and technology come to the metal detector world in the form of Nokta Makro, one of the best metal detector brands. The brand’s journey began in Istanbul in 2003, which quickly became a rising star in the industry due to the quality and versatility of its products, which came in all shapes and sizes. One of the most loved products from this brand is the Nokta Makro Anfibio Multi, which is reliable, durable, and rugged. Waterproof up to 16 feet, the Anfibio Multi features an easy-to-use and simple design. What’s more, it’s extremely stable on both wet and dry sand, thus ensuring that you won’t pick up “junk.” Plus, nine search tones and an adjustable armrest make this comfy and great for finding a wide array of objects. Finally, it even has a “vibration” mode for the hearing impaired, and which is specific to Nokta Makro.
Pros:
- Deep mode provides ultimate depth.
- Waterproof up to 16 feet.
- Inclusive with a vibration mode for the hearing impaired.
Cons:
- Frequencies have to be adjusted.
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XP
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Trust the French to mix innovation, technology, and lightweight-ness in one package. Behold XP, a French-based metal detector brand with more than 20 years of experience. Why XP’s range of metal detectors is so popular is because it’s designed to respond to your real expectations. XP’s new generation of metal detectors not only boasts a user-friendly design but are also lightweight and fully wireless, such as the XP ORX Metal Detector! One of the best machines on this list for finding coins and gold, the ORX metal detector is also a great tool for beginners. It comes with a pinpoint function with target zoom, 20 levels of threshold, and 99 levels of sensitivity. The best part? It weighs just 1.7 lbs, making it the lightest machine on the market.
Pros:
- Extremely sensitive.
- X35 coil technology (35 frequencies).
- Very lightweight.
Cons:
- No target ID or GPS.
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Bounty Hunter
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Why Bounty Hunter is amongst the best metal detector brands is because it designs a complete range of thoughtfully designed and well-built detectors for deep treasure hunting, coin shooting, relic hunting, and gold prospecting. What’s more, they have a separate line of products for children, beginners, intermediate ones, and even the experts. One excellent metal detector for detecting treasures even in extreme ground conditions is the Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector. For starters, the preset ground balance neutralizes response to the ground’s mineral content, It has three modes, a two-tone audio mode, discrimination mode, and an all-metal mode. Rounding up the features is the notch/disc control for distinguishing between unwanted metals and targets.
Pros:
- Comes in three modes.
- Is available in various kinds of kits with bag, trowel, headphones, and pinpointer.
- Preset ground balance.
Cons:
- Some users said that it couldn’t detect from a farther distance.
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White’s (CU)
8
White’s has been designing and producing some of the best metal detectors since 1950. Made in the USA, White’s products are well-designed, innovative, and cater to the needs of various kinds of metal detecting hobbyists. And one of the best amongst them all is the White’s Treasure Master, which is a reliable and high-quality metal detector that’s been specially designed with the requirements of newbies in mind. Besides a smart discrimination mode, the product even has five search modes plus a pinpoint regime. Aside from being very lightweight, you’ll also find an adjustable armrest and length that makes your job even easier. Finally, the metal detector is versatile thanks to the multiple compatible coils and comes with a two-year warranty.
Pros:
- Five search modes.
- Large and clear LCD display.
- Adjustable armrest and length.
- Versatile
Cons:
- Not waterproof.
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Fisher
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One of the most popular and best metal detector brands in the market, Fisher has long been a leader when it comes to high-performing treasure and metal detectors. Since 1931, the brand has been designing everything from digital to analog and multiple frequencies to single-frequency ones, making them one hell of a reliable source for metal detectors. Offering the best ergonomics of them all is the Fisher F75 Metal Detector, which features a large LCD screen with a 0-99 numeric target identification display. Besides a double-D waterproof search coil, you’ll also find double-filter discrimination modes for searching in rugged and trash-filled areas. Equipped with a backlight, the non-volatile memory is perfect for low-light hunting conditions. Wrapping up the features is the powerful performance trigger-actuated target pinpointing.
Pros:
- Large LCD display with backlight.
- Target IDs.
- Double-filter discrimination modes.
Cons:
- The armrest cannot be moved.
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Teknetics
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For the deepest metal detectors in the world, try Teknetics which redefined the industry standard when it came to state-of-the-art metal detectors. Founded in 1983, Teknetics is famous for producing the hottest performing metal detectors of the era, including the Teknetics Delta 4000 Metal Detector. There’s a lot to like about this metal detector, starting with the fact that it can run up to a whopping 25 hours on a single 9V battery. Secondly, it comes in three modes, three-tone audio discrimination, an all-metal, and a discrimination mode. What’s more, the running depth indicator identifies target depths from 0 to 8 inches. Moreover, the large LCD display with a two-digit numerical target ID system is easy to read. Thus, this user-friendly metal detector can be used for everything from gold prospecting to coin shooting.
Pros:
- Target depth indicator.
- Large LCD display.
- Comes in three modes.
Cons:
- Slightly pricey.
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Tesoro (CU)
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One of the best metal detector brands is Tesoro Electronics, which has manufactured the best metal detectors in business for the last 32 years. Undisputed masters of treasure hunting accessories, Tesoro’s metal detectors are also named such – Cibola, DeLeon, Outlaw, and the Tesoro Cortes Metal Detector. The most advanced model in the lineup, the Cortes comes with a manual ground adjust control, a digital LCD display, as well as advanced target identification. Besides being easy to use and deep seeking, the product is designed well too, especially the classic styling and the comfy knobs. Plus, it has four broad categories of target information readouts, complete with lower rows of more detailed data. Rounding up the features is the fully adjustable ground balance that can handle all sorts of soil conditions imaginable.
Pros:
- Digital LCD display.
- Classic styling.
- Comfy knobs.
- Adjustable ground balance.
Cons:
- Very expensive.
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Quest
4
Detector meets technology at Quest, which was founded by other ardent designers and manufacturers just like you! The Quest lineup of metal detectors and their accessories is proof of not just cutting edge technology but of value too, just like the Deteknix 1705.122 Quest Q40 Pack Metal Detector. Made from a combination of metal and plastic, this metal detector is one of the few products that’s optimized for saltwater performance too. Three-section rods ensure deep penetration into the earth, while the TurboD coil is perfect for both left and right-handed operations. Besides the water-resistant console, the product also has an intuitive operating system and an in-built USB rechargeable slot. It also comes with a user manual, an arm strap, USB charging cables, a wireless headphone, and a two-year warranty!
Pros:
- Performs in saltwater too.
- Three-section rods and water-resistant consol.
- Comes with an entire kit.
Cons:
- Not very durable.
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Sunpow
3
Sunpow is famed for its well-designed and high-quality metal detectors, making it amongst the best metal detector brands. In fact, its range of metal detectors is perfect for everyone from adults to children. Amongst them is the SUNPOW Professional Metal Detector, which comes with an entire kit containing a metal detector, a headphone, a shovel, a carry bag, and a user manual. Three operation modes improve your detection efficiency, with the Disc mode allowing you to detect valuable metal objects while rejecting a majority of the junk. What’s more, the upgraded DSP chip and a 10-inch-long water-resistant coil with an IP68 rating improve sensitivity and the search range. The best part is the armrest design and the adjustable stem from 47 to 55 inches, allowing different people to use it comfortably.
Pros:
- Adjustable stem and armrest.
- Three operation modes.
- Comes with an entire kit.
Cons:
- Not enough for advanced-level treasure seekers.
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Ommo
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Ommo is yet another great brand when it comes to metal detectors, including the OMMO Metal Detector. You not only get a metal detector, but also a headphone, a shovel, a battery, and a carrying bag. The stem is adjustable from 30 to 43 inches, so it suits a great many people. The simple pointer display design including the armrest makes your session more successful and comfortable too. The waterproof coil is highly sensitive thanks to its length of 10 inches and can detect targets up to 8 inches deep. Plus, you can even search larger targets up to 4 feet. Four different modes allow you to search for all kinds of metal objects, while the pointer screen that displays the battery condition, the sensitive level, and the detection mode. Finally, you can even adjust the sensitivity range between a range of 0 and 10!
Pros:
- Adjustable armrest and sensitivity.
- Waterproof coil.
- Comes with an entire kit.
Cons:
- Fine-tuning the settings takes time.
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Erosmile (CU)
1
Erosmile is one of the best metal detector brands that makes everything from metal detectors to chainsaws to water dispensers. Costing just $100, the EROSMILE Metal Detector Kit is amongst the best metal detectors designed by the brand. The metal detector comes as an entire kit with a headset, carry bag, two batteries, and a shovel. There’s a lot to like about this metal detector, such as the adjustable stem that measures between 41 and 51 inches. The large backlit LCD screen can be read clearly even in low light conditions. Plus, it shows everything from the volume and battery status to sensitivity level and detection mode. Plus, the 10-inch search col us waterproof and accurate, and can search underwater too. Finally, the detector comes in three modes of operation, including a discrimination mode to differentiate between precious stuff and junk.
Pros:
- Large LCD display.
- Three modes of operation.
- Accurate and precise.
- Adjustable stem.
Cons:
- None.
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