Track the Treasures: A Guide to the Best Beginner-Friendly Metal Detectors

Want to get into something new yet exciting? 

Treasure hunting can be your sweet escape into the world of thrill and anticipation. As much as it sounds cool and the prospect of unearthing hidden treasures sparks an impulse through your spine, finding treasures is not an easy task. 

However, with our comprehensive guide to what are the best metal detectors for beginners, you will be in a much better shape to begin this journey, ‘ARMED’.

Let’s find out which detectors will be the best to tap you into the satisfying sport of treasure hunting.  

Garrett Ace 300

Any beginner-friendly metal detecting guide is complete only with a mention of the Garrett Ace 300. It is a common belief in the metal hunting industry that Garrett Ace 300 makes the best detector for beginners. It is easy to use, lasts long, and is very efficient.

Here are some key features of this ‘ACE’:

Key Features

5 Search Modes:

Garrett Ace 300 allows five search modes for 1. All-Metal 2. Jewelry, 3. Coins, 4. Relics, 5. Custom mode. You can easily customize the modes based on your preference. 

Digital Target ID & Depth Indicator:

This detector is designed with a digital target ID display, which provides a numerical scale to help users identify the type of metal. The display also holds a depth indicator showing an estimate of how deep your target is buried. 

Discrimination Settings:

This feature helps the users adjust the unit so that it will ignore particular types of metals and only focus on their preferred metal targets. 

Audio Tone ID:

Garrett Ace 300 is designed to provide different audio tones for various metals. This feature helps beginners to identify targets without looking at the display. 

Pros

• The shaft is adjustable, convenient and equipped with camlocks.
• Lightweight build that doesn’t hurt your arms. 
• The Mono coil option allows better detection in places filled with iron trash. 
• Leak Proof coil case. 
• Rather budget-friendly as compared to standard detectors

Cons

• The complete unit is not waterproof.
• Fixed ground balance value.
• It produced phantom signals in contact with grass.

Bounty Hunter Land Ranger Pro

This metal detector is acknowledged to be among the best for beginners. Since Bounty Hunter Land Ranger Pro (BHLRP) is not new on the market and is a beginner-level MD, its package contents can suck.

However, packaging doesn’t always equal quality. Let’s find out why this is ideal for beginners.

Key Features

Ground Balance Adjustment:

This feature is crucial for detectors, allowing them to adapt to different soil conditions. BHLRP offers users both manual and automatic ground balance adjustment settings, making it possible to adjust to their hunting land. 

Multi-Operating Modes:

The Land Ranger Pro has multiple operating modes, including All Metal, Discrimination, Tone, and Notch. 

Audio Tone Discrimination:

Just like other detectors, the audio tone discrimination of this detector allows you to audibly distinguish various metal types owing to the tone emitted on their detection. 

Adjustable Sensitivity:

This detector allows adjustments for sensitivity level. This feature will enable you to optimize performance according to specific detecting conditions. 

Pros

• Lightweight and ergonomic design is easy to handle.
• The search coil is waterproof, allowing shallow water escapades. 
• Ideal for hobbyists due to its pocket-friendly cost. 
• Allows up to SEVEN search modes. 

Cons

• The package doesn’t include headphones
• Gives false signals when touching bushes and stones.

Bounty Hunter Tracker IV

Second only to Bounty Hunter’s Land Ranger Pro is the Tracker IV. This device unit is very convenient and easy to use for beginners. One appealing feature of this metal detector is its very low price. It might be the cheapest detector on the market that you might know of. 

Even though it is a simple device, it can definitely make up for beginner needs. 

Key Features

Motion Detector:

This detector operates on the all-metal mode, meaning you need to keep the search coil in motion to detect the metal targets. 

Waterproof Search Coil:

Like other standard metal detectors, Track IV also features a waterproof search coil that allows an 8-inch submersion into shallow water. 

Simple Analog Interface:

The simple analogue interface only contains the knobs for sensitivity, discrimination and power settings. 

Discrimination and Sensitivity Control:

Users can control the discrimination and sensitivity level to filter out unwanted targets and enhance the detection according to all ground conditions. 

Pros

• Very affordable price and provides good value for money.
• Adjustable length for ease of use. 
• Very light build and only weighs 1.2 kg in its basic configuration. 
• Perfect for ferrous metal search. 

Cons

• The package doesn’t contain accumulator batteries or a battery charger.
• Provide less search depth. 
• Setting adjustment options is limited. 

Bounty Hunter Discovery 3300

Listed among the best metal detectors for beginners is the Bounty Hunter Discovery 3300, which provides just the right balance of features and cost. It is a decent detector for beginners who are tapping into the world of treasure hunting but don’t want to spend a fortune on expensive devices initially. 

Here are some key features you should know about this metal detector:

Key Features

Advanced Target Identification System:

This metal detector of the bounty hunter boasts advanced target identification technology. This allows you to differentiate various types of metals based on their audio tones, numeric values or visual displays. 

Multi-Search Mode:

The Discovery 3300 has multiple search modes to provide versatility in various environmental conditions. The search modes also contain the All-Metal mode and Discrimination mode.

Digital Target ID & Visual Target System:

A Digital target ID system helps to identify the type of metal by providing numerical values, while the visual target system present in some models presents a graphic representation of the target’s characteristics. 

Ground Balance Control:

This feature allows you to adjust the detector’s sensitivity according to the soil’s mineralisation. 

Pros

• The bent upper shaft enables convenient use. 
• Rather lightweight built yet perfectly balanced.
• Wearproof, Impact-resistant and Waterproof coil.
• Sufficient detection depth considering its low price.

Cons

• The package doesn’t contain headphones
• It can’t be submerged in water. 

National Geographic Pro Series

As compared to all the detectors listed above, this National Geographic Pro detector is specifically ideal for kids and teens. Now, You might think it is just a toy without any real functionality, but hey, you are underestimating this detector. 

It is the real deal and detects metal pretty efficiently, making it apt for kids as well as beginner adults.

Key Features

Sensitivity Modes:

The Pro series contains four sensitivity modes to adjust according to the mineralization of the soil.

Compact Design:

Unlike many standard metal detectors, the Pro Series of National Geographic are extremely compact. You can easily fold these to place in your car trunk and hit the road. 

3 Detection Modes:

The detection modes allow various discrimination adjustments to detect the targets buried deep in the earth. 

Waterproof Coil Design:

A surprising feature of this handy detector is its 10” submersible waterproof coil design. Use it for shallow water hunting. 

Pros

• It folds up pretty flat, making it easy to store and carry. 
• Its 10” waterproof coil allows you to submerge under the water. 
• Very reasonably priced. 
• Ideal for hobbyists.

Cons

• Doesn’t provide a high level of adjustments. 
• Unsuitable for professional use. 

Conclusion

The type of metal detector in your hand lays the foundation of your journey. If you have a good metal detector that catches signals well and communicates them to you decently, you are bound to rock your hunt. 

All the metal detectors we have discussed earlier have a solid performance and good reputation in the consumer market. So, do your studies and grab THE metal detector that matches your treasure hunting plans well. 

Buried valuables await you!