Best Cheap Metal Detector 2022
All-purpose metal detectors can be used pretty much anywhere and in most conditions. These machines are often the choice made by detectorists who are looking for a workhorse to do more than one job. They’re also a good fit for beginners since you can use them in different types of terrain.
These machines can be outperformed by the best-in-class machines described in the various categories above. However, because they are highly capable machines that have a “do-anything” attitude, they are often the first purchase (and sometimes only purchase) by thousands and thousands of metal detectorists across the country.
This category of cheap metal detectors represents many of our best sellers. Think of these as go anywhere, do anything machines. They are the utility infielder of the metal detecting world. They are the Magic Johnsons of the metal detecting world. If Chevrolet made a Corvette SUV it would fall into this category.
Garrett ACE Apex Metal Detector
The Garrett ACE Apex Metal Detector is a great option for an affordable metal detector at the beach. This machine has a waterproof coil and a rainproof control box, an adjustable armrest, and a high-resolution ground balance. The new technology design of this machine will also allow you to switch back and forth between single and multifrequency.
Minelab Vanquish
Our team also recommends the Minelab Vanquish metal detector for beaches. The ProPack has two coils — an 8” and 12” for greater depth and precision. The coils are waterproof up to 3.3 feet, and the control pod is water-resistant with an included rain cover.
Best Cheap Metal Detector for Detecting Gold
Panning for gold or using a pickaxe for hours on end isn’t necessary anymore if you use a metal detector. Detectors made specifically for gold hunting make the hobby a whole lot easier. Visit mountains or areas like rivers, streams, and exposed rock bed to increase your chances of finding gold .
Look for a metal detector that works well in highly mineralized soil. A frequency of 20 kHz or higher is great for gold. You’ll also want a waterproof coil, but the machine itself doesn’t need to be waterproof. As with relic hunting, a harness or guide will be helpful to distribute the weight of heavier machines, since finding gold can take a long time.
One of the most important features in a detector used for gold hunting is that it is stable — meaning less noisy — in mineralized ground. Soil out west has a lot of iron ore that will interfere, so having a detector that can find a gold nugget that’s surrounded by iron ore is really important.
Nokta Makro Gold Racer Metal Detector
Our top choice is the Nokta Makro Gold Racer Metal Detector. It’s great for beginners, coins, gold, and relics. This machine also features the iMack technology which eliminates false signals caused by ground noise or hot rocks when searching in discrimination modes.
Gold Star 3D Scanner
Gold Star 3D Scanner is a multi-system and multi-purpose metal detector for multiple uses and applications for beginner and professional prospectors and treasure hunters.
It is the latest release in 2021 from Mega Detection a German company specialized in metal detection devices, that includes the latest technologies and innovations in the field of metal detection, gold prospecting and archaeological treasure detection.
Nokta Makro Simplex
The Simplex is a simple, easy-to-use detector. It has an auto ground balancing and four preset search modes, including a beach mode. Includes an 11-inch search coil. The Simplex metal detector is fully submersible up to 10 ft. and has great lighting for nighttime and underwater use. It has great discrimination between metals. Features VLF technology.
Best Cheap Metal Detector for Relic Hunting
Relics are a big draw for metal detecting enthusiasts. There are relics scattered across the world from past wars and other historical events, and it can be very exciting to uncover a colonial buckle or part of a musket. This is where metal detecting meets archaeology and true history buffs thrive!
The best places to search for relics include churches, old homesites, and areas where people used to congregate in the past. Think about abandoned train depots, large trees in the middle of town square — commonly referred to in the hobby as a money tree — and old steamboat landings.
To be an effective relic hunter, you’ll want a tough, rugged machine, because you can wind up pretty far off the beaten path.
The main features prized by relic hunters include good target separation. This is important because coins can be masked by old construction materials like nails or railroad spikes. Highly effective discrimination is important because you need to kill the audio for iron targets and focus on what’s valuable.
A good relic machine should have a depth range of 12-14 inches and use a frequency between 12-15 kHz. To be effective, you’ll probably want more than one coil. Coils that are a minimum of 12 inches wide allow you to detect at deeper depths, which is important when hunting for relics. Waterproof coils are an important feature to look for as well because you never know what terrain you’ll encounter when you’re out looking for historical locations deep in the woods.
A machine that has a true all-metal mode or zero discrimination is useful if you’re not on an old homesite because many Civil War relics tend to ring up as iron. Horseshoes, railroad spikes and shell fragments would be not be heard, for example, if your discrimination settings are too high.
Many top-performing relic machines are fairly heavy, so consider a harness or guide to help you distribute the weight.
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