Beginner metal detector guide
Choose a first detector
Simple controls, useful target information, and enough room to grow without paying for features you will not use.
Open the full comparisonMetal detector guide
Choose the right metal detector for your ground.
A useful first detector is stable where you hunt, simple enough to learn, and honest about waterproofing. Start with the job before comparing the machine.
First-detector comparison
Beginner metal detectors for three kinds of ground.
Compare water protection, detecting system, weight, controls, warranty, and the main drawback before you choose.
Underwater metal detector guide
Choose for underwater detecting
Compare the full-device depth limit and saltwater stability. Then check underwater audio, weight, coils and included gear.
Open the full comparisonBeach metal detector guide
Choose for beach detecting
Start with saltwater behavior and waterproofing—not the biggest depth claim on the box.
Open the full comparisonNokta LEGEND 2 vs XP DEUS II
Nokta LEGEND 2 vs XP DEUS II
Choose between the current models by controls, carried weight, water and audio setup, coils, and the exact box contents.
Open the full comparisonBest metal detector for gold
Choose for gold country
Tiny gold, hot ground, and coin hunting are different jobs. Match the detector to the target.
Open the full comparisonCurrent detector models
Compare the details that change a hunt.
Start with water protection, weight, detecting system, and the main limit. Today’s price and stock stay on the shop page.
Nokta
SIMPLEX LITE
Simple first detector
The full detector is submersible, it weighs 2.6 pounds, and four simple modes cover common first-hunt ground.
- Water protection
- Full detector: IP68 to 16 ft / 5 m
- Weight
- 2.6 lb / 1.2 kg
- Detection system
- 15 kHz single frequency
What to watch: This version uses the smaller SX24 coil. Do not confuse it with the separate SX28 package.
Product image from AmazonNokta
DOUBLE SCORE
Simple saltwater setup
It combines full IP68 waterproofing, simultaneous multi-frequency, Beach mode, ground balance, and a light 2.6-pound build.
- Water protection
- Full detector: IP68 to 16 ft / 5 m
- Weight
- 2.6 lb / 1.2 kg with coil
- Detection system
- Simultaneous multi-frequency or 15 kHz
What to watch: The standard box has the SC30 coil and no headphones. Nokta lists its wired waterproof headphones as compatible for submerged audio.
Nokta
THE LEGEND 2
More adjustable saltwater setup
It combines full 16-foot waterproofing, simultaneous multi-frequency, five search modes, and two included waterproof coils.
- Water protection
- Full detector: IP68 to 16 ft / 5 m
- Weight
- 2.6 lb / 1.2 kg with coil
- Detection system
- Simultaneous multi-frequency plus 4, 10, 15, 20, and 40 kHz
What to watch: Bluetooth headphones are included, but only the detector has the stated 16-foot water rating. Confirm an underwater audio option before submerging.
Amazon package shown: THE LEGEND 2 factory two-coil kit plus a retailer-added DetectoBag.
Product image from AmazonMinelab
EQUINOX 700
More adjustable all-rounder
Multi-IQ, two Beach profiles, 119 target segments, full 16-foot waterproofing, and a 2.8-pound build cover fresh water, salt water, and more adjustable target work.
- Water protection
- Full detector: IP68 to 16 ft / 5 m
- Weight
- 2.8 lb / 1.27 kg
- Detection system
- Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency
What to watch: The included ML85 wireless headphones are not the underwater option. Minelab requires its wired waterproof EQUINOX headphones for submerged detecting.
Product image from AmazonMinelab
VANQUISH 340
Coins and mixed ground
Multi-IQ listens on several frequencies at once, while three search modes keep the first setup simple.
- Water protection
- V10 coil to 3.3 ft / 1 m; keep the control box above water
- Weight
- 2.6 lb / 1.2 kg with batteries
- Detection system
- Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency
What to watch: The V10 coil is waterproof to 3.3 ft / 1 m. The control box must stay above water.
Amazon package shown: the complete VANQUISH 340 plus a padded carry bag.
Product image from AmazonGarrett
ACE 300
Familiar controls
Five search modes, a numeric target ID, and three tones make dry-ground signals easy to compare.
- Water protection
- Submersible coil; keep the control box and connectors dry
- Weight
- 2.8 lb / 1.27 kg
- Detection system
- 10 kHz single frequency
What to watch: The search coil can enter water, but the control housing and connectors must stay dry.
Minelab
GOLD MONSTER 1000
Simplest dedicated gold setup
Automatic ground balance, sensitivity, and noise cancel reduce the setup work, while 45 kHz VLF stays sensitive to small gold.
- Water protection
- Coil to 3.3 ft / 1 m; control box is splash- and rainproof
- Weight
- 2.94 lb / 1.33 kg
- Detection system
- 45 kHz VLF
What to watch: The coil is waterproof to 3.3 ft / 1 m. The control box is rainproof, not submersible.
Amazon package shown: GOLD MONSTER 1000 with two search coils.
Product image from AmazonGarrett
Goldmaster 24K
More adjustable VLF control
XGB automatic ground balance, manual Ground-Sync, TracLock, SAT control, and a 0–99 target ID give the operator more ways to tune the detector.
- Water protection
- Waterproof search coil; keep the control box dry
- Weight
- About 3.0–3.4 lb / 1.36–1.54 kg
- Detection system
- 48 kHz VLF
What to watch: The search coil is waterproof, but the control box must stay out of the water.
Amazon package shown: Goldmaster 24K with wired headphones.
Product image from AmazonGarrett
Axiom Lite
Pulse induction for difficult ground
Pulse induction, dual-channel ground balance, and four ground-track speeds are designed for mineralization that can make a high-frequency VLF detector noisy.
- Water protection
- Waterproof coil and stem; rainproof control box
- Weight
- 4.2 lb / 1.9 kg with 11 in mono coil and cover
- Detection system
- Pulse induction with advanced pulse timings
What to watch: The included mono coil cannot use Iron Check; that feature needs a compatible DD coil. The control box is rainproof, not submersible.
Product image from AmazonFour-question shortlist
Before you buy, answer this.
- 1Where will you hunt most?
Dry parks, freshwater, salt beach, gold country, or underwater?
- 2What must be waterproof?
A waterproof coil is not the same as a waterproof control box.
- 3How much weight feels easy?
A detector you stop swinging early has no useful depth.
- 4What is the full kit cost?
Leave room for a pinpointer and recovery tool. Add a pouch and headphones to the budget.
Official product sources
Official pages behind these specs.
Last source review: August 30, 2026. These manufacturer pages support the specifications above. Current offers and availability stay on Amazon.
- Nokta SIMPLEX LITE — official model pageWater protection, weight, detection system, search modes, included coil, power, and warranty.
- Nokta DOUBLE SCORE — official model pageWater protection, weight, detection system, search modes, included coil, power, and warranty.
- Nokta THE LEGEND 2 — official model pageWater protection, weight, detection system, search modes, included coil, power, and warranty.
- Minelab EQUINOX 700 — official model pageWater protection, weight, detection system, search modes, included coil, power, and warranty.
- Minelab VANQUISH 340 — official model pageWater protection, weight, detection system, search modes, included coil, power, and warranty.
- Garrett ACE 300 — official model pageWater protection, weight, detection system, search modes, included coil, power, and warranty.
- Minelab GOLD MONSTER 1000 — official model pageWater protection, weight, detection system, search modes, included coil, power, and warranty.
- Garrett Goldmaster 24K — official model pageWater protection, weight, detection system, search modes, included coil, power, and warranty.
- Garrett Axiom Lite — official model pageWater protection, weight, detection system, search modes, included coil, power, and warranty.
Keep moving through the atlas
Choose the next question—not a random article.
Each hub has one clear job. Move between them when your question changes.
05Complete first-hunt guides
Start from zero
Beginner guides
Follow one calm route from legal ground and a simple setup to your first neat recovery.
- Your first hunt
- Beginner checklists
- Permission and ethics
01Legal routes by region and land manager
Rules & ground
Places & rules
Find the land manager, read the current rule, and confirm the exact boundary before you dig.
- US state guides
- European country rules
- Permits and boundaries
03Step-by-step field lessons
Learn the movement
Techniques
Build repeatable field skills. Learn setup and coil movement, then practise signal checks, pinpointing and clean recovery.
- Coin shooting
- Small hammered targets
- Clean target recovery