Entry-level metal detectors seem to be a cost-efficient option, but most likely, performance and quality aren’t quite satisfactory all the time. At the same time, high-end devices are expensive to buy.
Garrett is one of the leading brands in the business of metal detectors. Whether you are to buy a sport, security, or military-grade metal detector, you can find the best Garrett metal detector from their wide variety of products. No matter what your budget is, these top 5 recommendations will have your desired one.
With their 5 decades of experience, Garrett products can’t go wrong when it comes to your security purposes.
Best Garrett Metal Detector Comparison:
Image | Product Name | Manufacturer | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Garrett AT MAX | Garrett | 3.17 pounds | |
 | Garrett Ace 250 | Garrett | 4.48 pounds | |
 | Garrett Sea Hunter | Garrett | 3.2 pounds | |
 | Garrett Ace 400 | Garrett | 5.48 pounds | |
 | Garrett ATX Pulse | Garrett | 14.6 pounds |
5 Best Garrett Metal Detector Reviews:
You no longer need to spend time researching to find the right product for your needs. I have done it already and come up with these best quality metal detectors.
1. Garrett AT MAX Waterproof Metal Detector
The very first deal on the list comes with 2 metal detecting devices to serve your metal finding purposes well. When you are randomly searching on the ground, the AT Max can help you to find metal and allows you to hear a sound directly through headphones.
With its Pro-Pointer AT Pinpointer, you can do more in-depth and enhanced searching. Its true all-metal mode is more effective than most conventional ones that are available in the market.
You can also hear sound through a wireless headphone as it features wireless technology for a hassle-free metal detecting operation. Its wireless hearing system is 6 times faster than Bluetooth. For your convenience, it comes with a wireless headphone that pairs automatically with the device.
Both the devices are waterproof, so if you have to search on submerged spots, you are good to go without any limitations. With increased transmission power and advanced electronics, it highly increases your depth of metal detection.
Its all-metal modes help you to detect all types of metal, including gold, silver coins, and brass relics. The sensitivity and detection depth are unmatched within its class.
The At max features an illuminated LED screen that allows you to control detection settings, sensitivity, and other things even in low-light conditions. With its 13.6 kHz frequency, you can operate the detection mission on a wide range of targets. All settings are accessible within your fingertip.
You can adjust the ground balance manually and set it to automatic for high performance. It provides 175 points of ground balance resolution to continue detection in both regular, highly mineralized ground and conductive soils, including saltwater beaches. Check our review of garret at gold here.
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2. Garrett ACE 250 Metal Detector
Among all the metal detectors, this particular one is very popular and common among entry-level enthusiasts and hobbyists. One of the features of this metal detector is that it can narrow down the detection by ignoring unwanted items. So, you can get a more specific and accurate search for convenience.
Specific detection is something that you will not find in most conventional devices. Also, its graphic target ID cursor is very user-friendly. Even if it’s the first time you are about to use a metal detector, you will not find it difficult to read and operate the device.
Although most entry-level metal detectors don't come with pinpointing feature, this one has it. Its electronic pinpointing feature comes quite handy in easy target recovery and detecting metals more conveniently.
With 8 levels of sensitivity control, you can manually control the ground resolution according to the ground condition. You will find its continuous target depth indicator very helpful while you are in the field searching for metals.
Apart from all its working spaces and features, Ace 250 is durably built. Its rugged design allows it to withstand pretty much everything that the outdoor conditions have to throw at it. Both the handle and search coil is made of high-grade material to ensure its durability and longevity.
If you are after hunting old coins, buried treasures, artifacts, jewelry, relics, and other valuables, you will find this Ace 250 to be an ideal companion to target and hunt down metals more efficiently. The overall experience will be much smoother and more convenient if you previously used an entry-level device of another brand.
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3. Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II Underwater Metal Detector
If you are interested in treasure hunting and looking for a metal detector to be able to find submersible metals, this Sea Hunter underwater metal detector can be a good deal for you to consider. This particular model is also trusted by law enforcement agencies and many industries, so it will not disappoint you.
The metal detector sports an advanced microprocessor circuitry to further enhance its detecting sensitivity. Compared to other devices, it responds much faster when it senses metals within its range.
With its 8 inches epoxy-filled search coil, the metal detector shows some impressive professional performance. You can use headphones to have a closer hearing for convenience. Its waterproof housing allows you to search for submersible treasures up to 200 feet. The underwater detecting ability of the device is unmatched.
To adapt to your different search needs, the Sea Hunter offers top stem, under cuff stem, hip, and short stem ScubaMate. If you are to search for a long time, the hip mount belt or pouch will reduce excess weight and make you feel comfortable carrying it.
You can conveniently search on land, shallow water, and underwater with great accuracy. Its versatile usage will enhance your treasure hunting experience even when sealed detection is required.
The device also features pulses induction technology that automatically identifies and cancels salt or ground mineralization.
Construction-wise, Hunter II is lightweight and highly durable. If you are in situations that require a heavy-duty metal detector, you can use it without worrying much. Also, the control panel is quite user-friendly to understand for everyone.
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4. Garrett Ace 400 Metal Detector
With 10 kHz frequency, you can expect this metal detector to be able to provide much better sensitivity when it conducts with low and medium targets. Even if you are after gold and lead, you will find this Garrett metal detector review useful. Compared to other devices, this one provides relatively better results.
You can also adjust the detection frequency to narrow down your search target to find exactly the type of metal you want. This feature eliminates unwanted interference and disturbance of other power or detection sources as well.
Also, the detector features 5 discrimination modes, including iron discrimination, electronic pinpointing, high-resolution, and sensitivity adjustment, to filter the search. Frequency adjustability and versatile discrimination modes make it one of the most convenient metal detectors that you can buy.
The Ace 400 sports an 8.5 x 11DD high performing search coil that has gained much popularity among hunters for its reliability to detect metals. This search coil is waterproof, so you can take it to shallow water if your hunting requires to do so.
For more effective search, the device features electronic pinpointing to locate targets precisely. Its overall speed recovery is pretty decent.
Like most products on the list, this one also allows you to hear closely through headphones. The manufacturer was kind enough to provide headphones with the package. Also, you will get 4 ‘AA’ batteries, searcher magazine, adjustable arm strap, search coil hardware kit, etc. for your convenience. (Real our full review)
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5. Garrett ATX Pulse Induction Military Grade Metal Detector
Without this military-grade metal detector, this list would have been incomplete. There are always people who look for heavy-duty, military-grade equipment, and this one is for those. The device is durably made to withstand harsh and toughest conditions even when you need to use it for a prolonged period.
If you are to compare ATX Pulse metal detector with expensive ones, you will find it to easily compete with those. No matter what you target at what frequency, this detector machine will serve your purpose well.
Conventional ones require you to adjust modes and settings frequently based on the objects you search for. With this detector, switching mode isn’t needed, you can even switch search coils to make sure it detects metals properly.
Whether you are looking for small gold or larger nuggets, all you need is to search on the ground without doing much hassle.
Also, the device is smart enough to identify the difference between ground mineral and saltwater. Thanks to its advanced pulse induction technology that effectively looks for targets according to the ground or shallow water spots.
When you are out for treasure or gold hunting, you will find this device to be very effective in this regard. Even if the gold is a tiny one, its unrivaled PI sensitivity will alert you about it within the frequency. If you are looking for a gold detector, this can be the unlimited detector machine for all terrains regardless of the condition.
Apart from its mil-spec design, the metal detector has a DD coil design to make hunting convenient. As the search coil is 12 inches, it provides a much larger range compared to conventional ones. The package includes a soft travel case, AA alkaline rechargeable batteries, charger, and land headphones.
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Things to Consider Before Buying
Different metal detectors come with different specs and features to be able to detect metals. Not all the devices are equally good at finding one or two particular metal types. So, depending on the specific metal type that you will be looking for, be sure to check out this buying guide to purchase the right one for your needs.
Skill Level
The first and foremost thing to consider is your level of expertise. If this is the first time you are about to go out with a detector device, no need to spend on an expensive high-end device. In that case, look for an entry-level beginner detector. Don't go below $150, as these are more of toys rather than detectors.
But, what’s wrong to purchase a higher-end detector even if I’m a beginner? You might ask this question.
The answer would be, all the metal detectors detect metal well more or less. It’s the features and enhancements that differentiate the devices. Complicated metal detectors require skills that you will gain using entry-level devices.
Metal Type
When you are up to one or two particular metal types, you need to look for a detector that is the most accurate at targeting those metals. More or less, most machines do a decent job of finding metals. Some models have specialties at detecting coins, jewelry, and relics.
Gold Coin and Jewelry
For this purpose, look for a detector with 15 kHz or more frequency. Don't go below that as lower frequency devices don't come great for small coin findings. The lower frequency will make sure you get more depth detection to the device.
A single frequency metal detector will come great handy for all-purpose coin and jewelry targets.
Relic
Even though pretty much all devices can detect relics. However, detectors with larger DD search coil, a bit higher frequency, and adjustable threshold do a much better job compared to others.
Also, there should be both auto and manual ground balance along with iron audio to make detections more precise.
Considering Conditions
Depending on the purpose of targeting metals, hobbyists and enthusiasts go out in different locations of different conditions.
- Saltwater Beach
You will need a special machine to be able to detect your desired treasures in saltwater. A machine with pulse induction does a great job at hunting metals in wet sand, surf, or water. Avoid single frequency detectors for this purpose.
- Freshwater Hunting
Compared to saltwater hunting, freshwater detection is much easier, and it doesn't require a high-end machine to do so. Only make sure that the device is fully submersible and has a good discrimination ability.
Search Coil
Search depth primarily depends on the size of the search coil. Larger ones can search deeper. But that doesn't mean larger ones are the best, and you need to get one of these.
Larger coils have to process more signals in mineral soil. Often, it leads to poor target ID, bad flashing, and missed targets. In that case, you need to reduce the sensitivity as well as the search depth.
Smaller coils process fewer signals, but with increased sensitivity. In most cases, this increased sensitivity has the same depth that you would find in a large search coil.
You will find search coils of different types. DD and concentric are the most commonly used ones. For better depth and less hassle to process the ground signal, DD outperforms its competitor.
However, being the most cost-effective option, concentric coils make pinpointing targets much easier.
Discrimination
This term indicates the ability of the detector to distinguish between targets. A machine with discrimination ability will easily distinguish between quarters and trash items, so you will not be disturbed by unwanted items. It will save your time that you would spend digging up garbage.
Most detectors come with auto adjustment and allow the user to manually adjust the settings according to the needs.
Ground Balance
When you are about to find gold, coins, jewelry, and other valuable things digging the soil, the detector will also detect metals such as iron. Having a proper ground balance feature allows the machine to bypass these unwanted metals.
Auto ground balance adjusts the effects automatically, whereas preset ground balance works at a certain level in most cases. You can also manually adjust the balance when you search on different grounds of different conditions.
Target Identification
This feature makes a metal detector to narrow down your targets so that you find one particular metal that you look for. Target identification can differentiate between nickel, gold, quarter, silver, dime, foil, and junk, and deliver you the exact alert you expect during detection.
Operating Frequency
Having a metal detector with a lower frequency can scan deeper compared to higher frequency machines. This indicates how many times the signal is sent and received by the machine per second.
Higher frequency machines are for finding smaller objects that include gold as well. For general purpose hunting, you will need a lower frequency model.
Sensitivity
The ability to detect metal from a distance depends on this particular feature. When you lower the sensitivity, you will hardly hear any sound. Setting it too high will cause static and distortion. Check our guide on metal detector tips for beginner here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the use of metal detectors?
The presence of nearby metals can be detected by a metal detector device. You can find hidden metal objects even if the metal is buried underground. However, the precision and depth of search depend on the spaces and features of models.
How deep do most metal detectors go?
Metal detectors can search 6 to 10 inches below ground level for smaller objects like coins. However, how deeply a detector can search also depends on many factors as well.
What metals cannot be detected by a metal detector?
It sounds strange, but metal detectors face a tough time finding stainless steel materials. This is because of the poor electrical conductivity of stainless steel. Its low magnetic permeability is also one of the reasons responsible for this.
Can a normal metal detector find gold?
Any metal detector with a slightly higher frequency can detect gold as well as other compound metals such as coins, relics, etc. There are specialized devices that find gold with great precision.
What metals can be detected by a metal detector?
A metal detector can find you metals such as iron, cobalt, nickel, brass, copper, aluminum, and more. Compound metals can also be found in most cases.
Final Words
Hopefully, this article was helpful for you to find the best Garrett metal detector according to your budget. If you are a beginner in this field, don't spend much on a device and get an entry-level one. In time, you will gather skills and experience to handle more complicated metal detectors.
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