Find the best metal detector for you

If you’re reading this, odds are good you are looking for metal detector reviews because you are thinking about buying one.  Even though metal detecting is a rapidly growing hobby, or even a business for some, most of us don’t live within driving distance of a store with more than one or two choices of metal detectors. That’s not a lot to choose from when there are actually quite a few different models available. Which means most of us buy one online or through some other form of mail order, making the reviews that much more critical.

Things to think about before reading metal detector reviews

It’s easy to get excited about all the bells and whistles but the truth is that most metal detectors can do the basics adequately (find a penny on the sidewalk, etc.) so set your budget upfront and stick to it. You can always upgrade later and sell your used metal detector to someone else starting out:

• What’s your budget?
• Where do you want to use it? The backyard, golf course, the beach, the attic? or all of the above?  How you answer this will help you narrow your selection.
• How experienced are you and how much time are you willing to invest in learning this new tool?  If you’ve never metal detected before and you’re headed out on vacation next week, you may not want the detector that requires a great deal of configuration of computer settings.

Things to look for when reading metal detector reviews

You may not find all of these answered in a single review, but you should be able to piece the information together from a combination of reviews and the manufacturing company’s website:

• Price range – individual prices for a specific metal detector may vary slightly between retailers but you should be able to get a general sense of the price range from the reviews
• Service and warranty – the importance of this will likely be proportional to the cost, the more you spend the more important it is to know how you will be able to deal with faulty electronics or a damaged coil, including availability of replacement parts.
• Weight – metal detectors work by swinging the detecting coil over the surface slowly at an even distance from the ground, that means all the weight of the detector will be moved constantly with one arm.
• Adjustability – Because the detector needs to held close to the ground, it’s important that it can be made short or long enough for you to hold it comfortably at that position without bending over.
• Extras – depending on where and how you plan to use a metal detector look for things like a headphone jack if you will be using it in populated public areas, or water-proofness if you want to head to the beach
• Finds – what have people found with this same detector? In what soil or sand conditions?  Do those compare with where you are planning to use it.  Note that this last piece of information may be found in metal detecting forums rather than metal detector reviews.

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