What to Consider When Buying a Metal Detector

Often times, people who are wanting to get into metal detecting fields, yards and parks never think to budget in some essential items they will need besides the metal detector. Other times they decide to just buy a cheap metal detector because it will get them by. Having the right metal detector for field, yard and or park detecting also the right accessories will make the hobby more enjoyable.

Besides a metal detector here are other items you should budget to buy if you are new to detecting.

Digging Tools

One of the first things you will quickly learn you need is a shovel and or hand digger. If you’re digging in parks or yards a hand digger is absolutely required. You need to be able to dig a small, clean hole and leave no trace you were there. If you’re in a farm field or woods then a shovel is almost required depending on the situation. For the roots you will run into in the woods and in a field you want to be able to move a lot of dirt quickly to speed up the recovery process.

For many years I used a regular shovel and a fairly cheap hand digger and they worked great, at least I thought. One year for Christmas a family member got me a Predator Tools Model 85 Hand Digger and I was blown away. I couldn’t believe how easily it dug holes and it never needs sharpened. George Lesche makes each tool by hand using certified American made steel and he also heat treats each one individually himself.  Now, the only tools for digging in my arsenal are made by Predator Tools. Other companies have tried to copy George’s Predator 85 Hand Digger with no success. Often using cheap metals I have seen really nice hand diggers bend in half with ease. I don’t even think it’s a debatable subject, Predator Tools makes the best digging tools for metal detecting. Predator Tools have a large selection to choose from, different lengths, handles, blades… No matter what you’re looking to do Predator tools makes it. I highly recommend buying their hand diggers and shovels.

Headphones for Metal Detecting

One of the most overlooked accessories is headphones. Most people start metal detecting either think they do not need headphones or they hate the idea of something over their ears. Technically you don’t need them with most metal detectors because now a days they all have external speakers but you’re not going to be able to hear those deep, faint signals nor are you going to really be able to hear the nuances of the different tones. I cannot stress enough how important headphones are for metal detecting and I would highly advise budgeting some money and investing in a good quality pair of headphones that are made for metal detectors.

Pinpointer

When I got into metal detecting many years ago there were only a few pinpointers on the market and to be quite honest, they were horrible.  I got a Garrett pinpointer when they came out and since then I’ve always had one. It will help insure you don’t hit a target with your shovel and or if you need to dig deeper helping you recover targets much faster giving you more time to detect. Fisher, Teknetics, Minelab, Garrett and Nokta Makro all make great pinpointers but I personally prefer the Garrett and Teknetics or Fisher pinpointers.

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If you’re looking to save money avoid cheap knock off pinpointers, trust me don’t waste you’re money. I know many people who have tried the cheap pinpointers and although they might not be expensive they don’t perform as well as trusted well established brand pinpointer.

Towel

If you are going to be doing yards, parks, schools where there is nice grass not only is using a hand digger important but having a nice towel to put on the ground to put your dirt on is essential as well. Using a hand towel will ensure to leave no sign you were digging.

Metal Detecting Pouch

Not a necessity but something nice to have with you is a finds/ trash pouch. Currently I am using a Nokta Makro Pouch that I really like that has a zippered pocket to keep potentially good finds in, another area for trash and I can carry other things in it like my pinpointer, extra batteries, bottle of water and whatever else I might need for the metal detecting trip.

There are many different options for pouches from metal detecting manufacturers or pouches can be picked up at home improvement places or amazon as well.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to get into the metal detecting make sure you budget in some of the essentials that are often overlooked. It will save you time and hassle if you budget them in when you purchase your metal detector. Although not all accessories are a necessity I do recommend you starting off with good metal detecting headphones and a quality digging tools.  The rest like a pinpointer can be purchased later, but remember what I said I recommend sticking with a trusted name brand pinpointer.