Buying guide
Lightweight metal detectors
Among adult detectors with a published weight, the lightest we found is the Minelab Go-Find 11, at 2.2 lb. For several frequencies and a submersible body, the Nokta Legend 2 weighs 2.6 lb and is rated IP68 to 16 ft (5 m).
01
The picks
Six full-size detectors for adults, each under 2.7 lb on its maker's spec sheet, from the lightest up.
1. Minelab Go-Find 11
The lightest here, 2.2 lb, on one frequency, 8 kHz. The trade-off is two search modes: Non-Ferrous and All Metal.
2. Fisher F44
Just 2.3 lb with an 11-inch elliptical coil, and the longest published runtime of the six, 30 h, on 2 x AA. Fisher also sells an F44-11DD version.
This listing is the F44-11DD package, with an 11-inch DD coil instead of the stock concentric one.
3. Teknetics Omega 8500
A 2.5 lb detector with 99 levels of sensitivity and a display listed as backlit LCD, for hunters who like to tune.
4. Nokta Legend 2
The light multi-frequency pick: 4, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kHz at 2.6 lb. Its listing names wireless headphones and two coils, which match Nokta's box.
5. Nokta Simplex Lite
Single frequency, 15 kHz, in a 2.6 lb body that is submersible to 16 ft as a whole.
6. Minelab Vanquish 340
Minelab's light multi-frequency model: Multi-IQ at 2.6 lb, with a 10 x 7-inch coil waterproof to 3.3 ft.
Sold as a bundle: the listing names a Pro-Find 15 pinpointer with the detector.
02
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Fisher F44 | Single frequency | 7.69 kHz | Not published | 2.3 lb | 11-inchelliptical, concentric | 2 x AA |
| Teknetics Omega 8500 | Single frequency | 7.69 kHz | CoilWaterproof part | 2.5 lb1.1 kg | 10-inch round open concentric (spec sheet)Elliptical (product page)Teknetics publishes both. | 1 x 9 V (not included) |
| Nokta Legend 2 | Multi-frequency | 4-40 kHz4, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz | 16 ftDetector, IP68, 5 m | 2.6 lb1.2 kg | 11-inchLD28, round, DD, plus 1 more | 6700 mAh lithium-ion |
| 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 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) |
Sources: Minelab (Oct. 16, 2026), First Texas Products (Oct. 16, 2026), Nokta (Oct. 17, 2026).
03
How to choose
Small gaps matter little
Treat a gap of 0.1 or 0.2 lb as a tie. The Equinox 900 lists 2.8 lb, only 0.2 lb above the Legend 2, so between 2.2 and 2.8 lb, pick on features first.
Mind the coil
A smaller coil puts less weight at the far end of the shaft. The Go-Find 11 runs an 8-inch coil, the F44 an 11-inch one.
Light is not the same as waterproof
Three of the six have only a waterproof coil. Fisher gives the F44 a weatherproof housing and no coil rating, and the Omega 8500 control box is not weatherproof. Only the Legend 2 and Simplex Lite go underwater whole.
04
What to know before you buy
Some kids detectors weigh less: the Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D. lists 1.5 lb. The Gold Digger, sold for kids, matches the Go-Find 11 at 2.2 lb. Their makers sell them for children, so they are in our kids guide, not here.
A bundle adds weight to carry, not to swing. The Vanquish 340 listing adds a Pro-Find 15 pinpointer, which Minelab lists at 6.5 oz. On Oct. 16, 2026, the Simplex Lite listing was sold by an outdoor retailer, not by Nokta, so check the seller before you buy.
Weights come from each maker's page, read Oct. 16, 2026.
05
Questions
Answered from the makers' pages, read Oct. 16, 2026.
Of the adult models with a published weight, the Minelab Go-Find 11, at 2.2 lb. The Fisher F44 follows at 2.3 lb.
Of the multi-frequency models with a weight we can cite, several models share 2.6 lb, including the Nokta Legend 2 and the Minelab Vanquish 340. We cite no weight for the Deus II or the ACE Apex.
Weight says little about sensitivity. The coil, the frequency and the ground matter more, and we promise no depth for any model.
06