Buying guide
Best metal detectors for beginners
For a first detector, pick a light one with few search modes and at least a waterproof coil. The five below weigh 2.2 to 2.75 lb and have two to four modes.
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The picks
Five light detectors with few search modes, each picked for one strength. Each frame shows three facts from the maker's page and one button to a listing whose title names the exact model.
1. Garrett ACE 200
For parks and fields: one frequency, 6.5 kHz, three search modes and a coil rated submersible in shallow fresh water.
2. Nokta Simplex Lite
The one to pick if you want to wade. Nokta rates the whole detector IP68, submersible to 16 ft (5 m), with a built-in 2300 mAh battery.
3. Minelab Go-Find 11
The lightest pick at 2.2 lb, with just two modes, Non-Ferrous and All Metal, for a first season in the park.
4. Minelab Vanquish 340
Multi-frequency in a 2.6 lb detector: Minelab calls it Multi-IQ, with All Metal, Jewellery and Coin modes. Its 10 x 7-inch DD coil is waterproof to 3.3 ft (1 m).
Sold as a bundle: the listing names a Pro-Find 15 pinpointer with the detector.
5. Bounty Hunter Tracker IV
Bounty Hunter is the only maker of the five to publish a battery life, up to 25 h on alkaline batteries. It has three modes: All Metal, Tone and Full Discrimination.
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Side by side
The same facts for every pick, read on each maker's page. Open a model for its full spec sheet.
| Model | Technology | Frequencies | Waterproofing | Weight | Coil | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett ACE 200 | Single frequency | 6.5 kHz | CoilWaterproof part | 2.75 lb1.25 kg | 6.5 x 9-inchPROformance, elliptical, concentric | 4 x AA (included) |
| Nokta Simplex Lite | Single frequency | 15 kHz | 16 ftDetector, IP68, 5 m | 2.6 lb1.2 kg | 9.5 x 6-inchSX24, elliptical, DD | 2300 mAh lithium polymer, built in |
| Minelab Go-Find 11 | Single frequency | 8 kHz | 3.3 ftCoil only, 1 m | 2.2 lb1.0 kg | 8-inchrectangular, monoloop | 4 x AA (not included) |
| Minelab Vanquish 340 | Multi-frequencyMulti-IQ | Not published | 3.3 ftCoil only, 1 m | 2.6 lb1.2 kg | 10 x 7-inchV10, elliptical, DD | 4 x AA alkaline (supplied) |
| Bounty Hunter Tracker IV | Single frequency | 6.6 kHz | CoilWaterproof part | 2.6 lb1.2 kg | 8-inch | 2 x 9 V (not included) |
Sources: Garrett (Oct. 16, 2026), Nokta (Oct. 17, 2026), Minelab (Oct. 16, 2026), First Texas Products (Oct. 16, 2026).
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How to choose
A weight you can swing for hours
You swing a detector for longer than you expect. These five weigh 2.2 to 2.75 lb. The heaviest detector on file, the GPZ 7000, weighs 7.32 lb.
Which part is waterproof
For four of the five, the maker rates only the coil. Minelab rates the Go-Find 11 and Vanquish 340 coils to 3.3 ft (1 m), and Garrett and Bounty Hunter give no depth. The Simplex Lite is submersible to 16 ft as a whole.
Single or multi-frequency
Four picks run one frequency, from 6.5 kHz on the ACE 200 to 15 kHz on the Simplex Lite. The Vanquish 340 runs several at once, which Minelab calls Multi-IQ.
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What to know before you buy
We do not promise a detection depth: it depends on the target, the ground and the coil. Our depth guide explains why.
Copies of popular models exist, so check the seller before you pay. When we checked the listings on Oct. 16, 2026, each was sold new by Amazon, the brand, a detecting dealer or an outdoor retailer. The seller of a listing can change.
A bundle is not the detector alone: the Vanquish 340 listing adds a pinpointer, and its frame says so. If price decides, our lower-cost picks keep the same facts side by side.
Before your first hunt, check where you may dig. Parks, beaches and public land each have their own rules, summarized on our rules page.
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Questions
Answered from the makers' pages, read Oct. 16, 2026.
Of these five, the Minelab Go-Find 11, at 2.2 lb. The Simplex Lite, Vanquish 340 and Tracker IV weigh 2.6 lb.
Not for parks and fields: a waterproof coil copes with wet grass. To wade, pick a detector rated as a whole, like the Simplex Lite, IP68 to 16 ft. Nokta also lists a Beach mode.
Three do. Garrett lists 4 x AA (included) for the ACE 200, and Minelab supplies 4 x AA alkaline with the Vanquish 340. Nokta builds a 2300 mAh lithium battery into the Simplex Lite. The Go-Find 11 takes 4 x AA (not included). For the Tracker IV, the maker lists 2 x 9 V (not included).
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