Do you want to know more about purchasing the best beach metal detector?
Are you overwhelmed with all the choices?
I’ve been there and it’s frustrating and reading the beach metal detector reviews can be monotonous.
That’s why I have put together a list of the best beach metal detectors for you.
Continue reading for short descriptions of the metal detectors that we cover.
Those are then followed by “how to choose the best beach metal detector for you.”
Which is then followed by the best beach metal detectors in order of our top picks, with an in-depth description of their features.
Below is a List of the Top 7 Beach Metal Detectors:
Beach metal detecting is exciting and can be quite rewarding. Many tourists as well as locals have visited beaches and have lost jewellery and other valuables. These items end up washing out into the ocean or get buried under the sand. If you have the right beach metal detector, you can make a nice profit while having fun.
Take a look at our list of beach metal detectors. Every metal detector is different, and picking the best beach metal detector for yourself comes down to your own individual preferences. When deciding on what detector to purchase, take into account the features, not just the price.
Best Beach Metal Detectors for Beginners
1. Garrett AT Gold
This model is a little pricey compared to the other beginner models, but it is waterproof. This is a great feature to have if you are planning on searching at the beach. It is best used at freshwater beaches.
It was designed to work in all types of terrains and find small gold nuggets. It is a little heavy so make sure that it won’t be too heavy for you to manoeuvre for long periods of time.
It is equipped with pinpoint mode which makes digging and finding your target easier.
2. Bounty Hunter Platinum
The Bounty Hunter Platinum is a top of the line beach metal detector for beginners. It features a large LCD screen that is easy to read. It is best suited for freshwater beaches.
It is equipped with no-motion ground grab and push-button pinpoint control. The volume control and sensitivity adjustment allow you to get the best audio and depth responses.
The arm strap and padded armrest make for a more comfortable experience.
Best Mid-Level Beach Metal Detectors
1. Garrett AT Max
The Garrett AT Max is at the top of our list for the best metal detector for beach. This metal detector has most of the features that can be found on the AT Pro and the AT Gold, however, it includes even more. It was designed for use in freshwater as well as saltwater.
This top of the mid-level beach metal detector features Z-Lync wireless technology that is stronger than Bluetooth. It also has an additional button that allows for easier use.
2. Garrett AT Pro
This model is a little pricey, but it is waterproof and has extra features that help with metal detecting. It was designed for use in freshwater as well as saltwater.
The audio tones may be a little difficult to get used to at first, but once you figure them out, they make hunting much easier. It can find small treasures up to 9” in depth. It also features manual and automatic ground balancing.
3. Tesoro Tiger Shark
The Tesoro Lands Shark beach metal detector uses pulse technology. It is waterproof and can be submerged up to 200’. It was designed for saltwater hunting, but can also be used in fresh water.
It has 2 available audio modes to help with different types of searches.
It is heavier than some other models.
Top Beach Metal Detectors
1. Garrett ATX
The Garrett ATX is one of the best metal detectors for the beach. It can find treasures up to 18” deep under the right circumstances. It is also waterproof and was designed for saltwater environments.
The main downfalls of this machine are the weight and the price tag. It does have a very nice feature that allows it to fold down for easy storage and travel.
2. Whites TDI BeachHunter Extreme
This model was made for freshwater as well as saltwater and is completely waterproof. It offers extreme depth performance on land as well as underwater.
It is heavier than a lot of other beach metal detectors and this can make it a little difficult to use.
Tips for Choosing the Best Beach Metal Detector
Many people believe that all metal detectors can be used at the beach, but this is not the case. You must purchase a detector that is waterproof. You also need to take into consideration if you are going to be hunting in freshwater or saltwater. Each brand and model offers different features. Before you invest in a beach metal detector take into consideration the following:
• Will you be searching in freshwater or saltwater?
If you are planning on searching freshwater beaches, you have a very good chance of finding valuable objects. Since there isn’t salt present the metal is going to last longer. The downside of using a beach metal detector at a freshwater beach is the trash. Since there aren’t any large waves, the trash isn’t carried away.
Saltwater beaches are preferred by most hunters due to the fact that they are tourist havens. People lose valuables all the time. The downside with saltwater is that the salt magnifies ground minerals leading to false signals.
• How deep underwater will you be searching?
If you are only planning on submerging the search coil underwater you only need a waterproof coil. If you will submerge the whole metal detector, you need a beach metal detector that is waterproof. Even if you aren’t planning on getting the whole machine wet it is a good idea to have a waterproof machine. The control box can easily be damaged if it gets wet.
• Are you only interested in Finding Gold?
If you are looking for gold nuggets, you will want to purchase a machine that specialises in finding gold. Most detectors are all-purpose but aren’t designed specifically for gold.
• Ease of Use
If you are a beginner, you will want to purchase a beach metal detector that is easy to use. More advanced machines can be difficult to learn. You don’t want a machine that is going to frustrate you. It should be fun to use and not overly complicated.
• Your Budget
If you are interested in purchasing the best beach metal detector be ready to spend a little more than you would on regular land detectors. Beach metal detectors can get quite pricey, so know your budget before you even look. Beach metal detectors are an investment and in some cases, you can profit from them.
• Length of the Metal Detector
Purchase a detector that is going to be a comfortable length to use. Most detectors are adjustable in length, but not all of them. If you have a beach metal detector that is too long it will be hard to handle. If it is too short, you will end up hurting your back.
• How Often Are You Going To Use It?
If you are planning on making a large investment, you will want to take into consideration how often you will be using it. If you are looking to purchase a beach metal detector, you will be making an investment. If you are just planning a short holiday and want to try beach metal detecting, you will probably want to go with a cheaper model. On the other hand, if you planning on hunting regularly, you will want to purchase a top of the line machine that is going to give you the best results
The Best Beach Metal Detectors Ranked Best to Worst
When purchasing a beach metal detector take into consideration all of the features. We have tried to make the decision easier for you by breaking down some of the important specifications. We have also included our reviews for our list of best beach metal detectors.
1. Garrett ATX
The Garrett ATX is at the top of our best beach metal detector list. Its main downfall is its price. It is completely waterproof and can be submerged up to 10 feet. This makes the model suitable for hunting on the beach. However, the headphones are not submersible.
It has a collapsible/folding design that makes it easier to travel with. This machine is heavy and can wear you out easily.
This beach metal detector has 3 search coils that you can choose from. The standard coil is 10” x 12”.
It is equipped with 13 sensitivity settings and 25 discrimination modes. This allows you to narrow down your search tremendously.
This model can find treasures buried from 12” to 18” underground depending on its size. It uses 8 AA batteries.
Features:
5.5 lbs.
VCO/Iron Audio Identification
10” x 12” or 15” x 20” Search Coil
Manual Ground Balance
Headphone Jack
Adjustable Length from 20” to 68”
Pinpoint Mode
Sensitivity Adjustment
LED Light
Best in – Freshwater & Saltwater
Average Price – $2120.75
2. Whites TDI BeachHunter Extreme
The Whites TDI BeachHunter Extreme is at the top of our list. It was designed for use in freshwater as well as saltwater. It is waterproof up to 25’ deep.
It uses Pulse Induction and offers extreme depth detection on land and in water.
It is a heavy machine, weighing it a 5 lbs. This can cause the machine to be tiring to use and hard to manoeuvre.
This beach metal detector offers extreme depth performance. It uses a heavy-duty MiMH rechargeable battery.
Features Include:
5 lbs.
2-Tone Audio Identification
12” Waterproof Search Coil
Full-Control Ground Balance
Hard-Wired Headphones
Adjustable Length
Sensitivity Adjustment
Best in – Saltwater
Average Price – $1,199.00
The Garrett AT Max is a good mid-level beach metal detector. It includes many of the features that are found on the AT Pro and the AT Gold, however, it includes even more.
This mid-level beach metal detector features Z-Lync wireless technology that allows you to use your headphones wirelessly.
There is an additional button on this model that allows you to use and adjust different functions with just one hand.
The handgrip is more comfortable to use and will make your hunting experience more pleasant.
This model features enhanced detection depth, so you should see a substantial increase in your depth detection. It requires 4 AA batteries to operate.
Features:
3 lbs
3 Tone Audio Identification
8.5” x 11” Waterproof Search Coil
Headphone Jack
Manual Ground Balance
Adjustable Length
Pinpoint Mode
Sensitivity Adjustment
Graphic Target Identification
Best in – Freshwater and Saltwater
Average Price – $722.45
The Garrett AT Pro is another great mid-level beach detector that is also waterproof. It is very easy to use and includes a large range of features, so there is a small learning curve.
Its appearance is striking and is all black. The audio feature allows you to know what you found before you begin digging.
The Garrett AT Pro is affordable for a beach metal detector.
It has an adjustable length so you can customize it for a more comfortable hunting experience. It is able to locate small items up to 9” in depth. It requires 4 AA batteries.
Features:
3 lbs
3 Tone Audio Identification
8.5” x 11” Waterproof Search Coil
Adjustable Length
Discriminative
Pinpoint Mode
Sensitivity Adjustment
Graphic Target Identification
Best in – Freshwater and Saltwater
Average Price – $552.45
The Tesoro Land Shark beach metal detector is completely waterproof and is rated for depths up to 200’. It uses pulse induction technology that has a controllable pulse width.
It is equipped with 2 audio modes; VCO and normal. The normal mode is great for prolonged searches and beachcombing.
This model is a little heavy and weighs 4.50 lbs. It can get a little tiring using a heavier model.
This beach metal detector can find treasures that are buried between 12” – 16” deep. It requires 8 AA batteries to operate.
Features Include:
4.50 lbs
VCO Audio Identification
8” or 10.5” Waterproof Printed Spiral Search Coil
Preset Ground Balance
Hardwired Headphones
Adjustable Length
Pulse-Width Sensitivity Adjustment
LCD Screen
Best in – Designed for Saltwater / Can be Used in Freshwater
Average Price – $662.15
The Garrett AT Gold metal detector is great for beginners and is lightweight and easy to use. It is an entry-level detector that is completely waterproof.
The ground balance can be set to automatic or manual. This feature helps you search in soil that is highly mineralised.
The pinpoint mode comes in handy once you found a signal. Just hold the machine steady over the area and pinpoint the exact location.
Depending on the soil this beach metal detector and find items buried up to 12” deep. It requires 4 AA batteries to work.
Features Include:
3.00 lbs
Multiple Audio Identification
5” x 8” Waterproof Search Coil
Manual Ground Balance
Headphone Jack
Adjustable Length
Sensitivity Adjustment
LCD Screen
Best in – Freshwater
Average Price – $764.90
The Bounty Hunter Platinum is an easy to use beach metal detector. It doesn’t have a complicated setup routine. Just turn it on and go.
This lightweight well-constructed beach metal detector features both audio and visual target identification. The jumbo LCD screen is easy to read.
It features 4 custom modes; discrimination mode, pinpoint mode, ground grab mode and all metals mode.
This beach metal detector can locate items buried up to 6” – 10”. It requires 1- 9V battery to operate.
Features:
2.25 lbs.
4 Tone Audio Identification
8” Waterproof Search Coil
Manual and Automatic Ground Balance
Headphone Jack
Adjustable Length
Pinpoint Mode
Sensitivity Adjustment
LED Light
Best in – Freshwater
Average Price – $679.95