First detector I bought? A shiny Garrett ACE 200, because some guy online said it was “perfect for beginners.” Took it to the park, swung it over the grass, and—beep-beep-beep—it screamed at every nail. I dug 10 holes, found one rusted washer, and thought, “This is stupid.”
That’s when I met Carla. She runs “Carla’s Detecting Den” downtown—covered in coil stickers, smells like sunscreen, and once made me laugh so hard I snorted iced tea. “You didn’t pick a detector,” she said, eyeing my ACE. “You picked a brand without knowing what you need. Let me show you the difference.”
After years of faceplants (literally, once in a mud pit), I finally figured out which brands work where. Let me save you the grief—and the empty wallet.
Garrett: The Reliable Workhorse (But Don’t Push It in Salt)
Garrett’s like that friend who’s always on time—no surprises, just solid. I still have my ACE 400, and it’s killed in local parks. Found a 1965 silver quarter under a picnic bench last summer, and the thing beeped so clear I knew it was good before I dug.
But here’s the catch: Garretts hate salt. Took the ACE to a saltwater beach once, and it chattered like a squirrel on espresso. Every grain of sand set it off. Carla shook her head. “ACEs are for freshwater, parks, dry fields. Salt? They panic.”
What I love: The knobs are simple—no cryptic menus. My nephew (12) picked it up in 20 minutes, digging pennies like a pro. Coils are easy to swap, too—I added a 6” sniper coil for tight spots between park benches.
Who it’s for: Casual hunters. Parks, backyard digs, freshwater lakes. If you never touch salt or super mineralized dirt, it’s perfect.
Mistake I made: Cranked sensitivity to 90% in a trashy park. Spent an hour digging foil. Carla said, “70% is sweet—enough to hear coins, not enough to scream at every gum wrapper.”
Minelab: The Overachiever (Worth It for Tricky Dirt)
Minelabs are like luxury cars—pricy, but man, do they perform. I splurged on an Equinox 800 after struggling with clay fields (iron-rich, full of relics). First time out? Swung it over that same clay, and… silence. No chatter. Just a steady hum until it hit something good.
Dug 12 inches, and there it was: a Civil War bullet, still caked in red dirt. Carla high-fived me. “Multi-frequency magic,” she said. “Low freq digs deep, high freq spots small stuff. Together? They ignore the iron junk.”
But they’re not perfect. That Equinox cost me $1,100—ouch. And the menu? It’s like a smartphone. Took me three hunts to stop getting lost in “Ground Balance” submenus.
What I love: It laughs at saltwater. Last winter, I hunted a black sand beach, and it didn’t flinch. Found a gold ring 8 inches down, while my buddy’s cheaper detector screamed at the sand.
Who it’s for: Serious hunters. Salt beaches, mineralized fields, relic chasers. If you’re willing to learn the menus, it’s a game-changer.
Nokta Makro: The Budget Hero (Waterproof and Worth It)
Carla called me one rainy morning: “You gotta try the Simplex+.” I rolled my eyes—another “budget” detector? But she handed it over, and I took it to a creek. Dipped the coil in 6 inches of water, and… it worked. No sputtering, no dead screen.
Found a kid’s lost necklace 3 inches under the muck, and the thing cost $350—half what I paid for the Equinox. “Multi-frequency, wireless headphones, waterproof,” Carla said. “It’s the Swiss Army knife of detectors.”
But it’s not perfect. Tried it in super mineralized dirt, and it missed a deep bullet that the Equinox found. Carla shrugged: “You get what you pay for, but it’s damn good for the price.”
What I love: The screen’s easy to read in sunlight, even with wet gloves. And that wireless headphone? No more yanking cords on tree roots.
Who it’s for: Weekend warriors on a budget. Freshwater beaches, creeks, parks. If you want to wade without worrying, this is your pick.
XP Deus II: The Lightweight Wonder (But Bring a Wallet)
First time I held an XP Deus II, I laughed. “This thing weighs nothing!” It’s like swinging a feather—2.6 pounds, fully wireless. Carla took me to a trashy park, and wow. It zipped through pull-tabs and nails, beeping only for coins. Found three dimes in 20 minutes.
But holy expensive. The kit—coil, headphones, control box—cost $1,500. And that menu? It’s got “waveforms” and “recovery speeds” that made my head spin. Carla had to walk me through it like I was 5.
What I love: All-day hunts don’t wreck my arm. And that wireless? No more tripping over cords in tall grass.
Who it’s for: Pros or die-hards. Trashy parks, big events, anyone who hates heavy gear. But only if you can afford it.
Fisher: The Steady Eddie (Old-School and Reliable)
My uncle swears by his Fisher F22. “No frills, just finds coins.” Borrowed it once for a park hunt—simple knobs, no confusing screens. Dug a 1952 quarter in 10 minutes, and it weighed next to nothing.
But take it to saltwater? Disaster. Chattered like crazy until I turned sensitivity way down—then it missed a shallow ring. “It’s a dry-land detector,” my uncle said. “Knows its lane.”
What I love: The one-year warranty (meh, but better than nothing) and how easy it is to pass to a newbie. My cousin learned on it in an afternoon.
Who it’s for: Casuals who stick to parks and dry fields. If you want no-fuss, this is it.
Field Notebook Takeaways (Scribbled in Dirt and Coffee)
- Garrett ACE series: Great for parks/freshwater. Avoid salt. Start here if you’re new.
- Minelab Equinox: King of mineralized dirt/salt beaches. Worth the cash if you’re serious.
- Nokta Makro Simplex+: Best budget pick. Waterproof, multi-frequency, and easy to use.
- XP Deus II: Lightweight and fast, but pricey. For pros or those who hate heavy gear.
- Fisher F22: Steady for dry parks. Simple, but don’t take it near salt.
Dumb Questions I Used to Ask (Answered)
Q: Do I need a multi-frequency metal detector?
A: If you hunt different spots (beach one weekend, field the next), yes. It’s like having a detector for every terrain. If you only hit parks? Save the cash.
Q: Can I metal detect on saltwater beaches with a cheap detector?
A: Good luck. Salt freaks them out. Spend a little more on a Minelab or Simplex+ if you love the coast.
Q: Is a used detector worth it?
A: Maybe, but test it first. Bury a penny 6 inches down—if it beeps steady, great. If it chatters, walk away.
I still have that first ACE 200, dented but working. It’s a reminder that the best detector isn’t always the fanciest—it’s the one you’ll swing, even when you’re tired, even when you’ve dug 10 nails in a row.
What about you? Found a detector that surprised you? Wasted cash on a dud? Drop a comment—I’ll read ’em all (and probably laugh, ’cause I’ve been there).
Happy hunting. May your next detector be a keeper.