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Ask Albert: What is the best metal detector for a beginner?
You want to try metal detecting, but you really don’t want to spend much to start out. What is the best metal detector for a beginner?
That really depends on what you want to hunt for, and where you will be hunting.
Metal detectors for beginners: which one should you buy?
Here is the simple answer. If you are hunting for coins in a kid’s playground, just about any detector will do, because coins give off a pretty strong signal in the shallow sand or tanbark. Any of the Garrett Ace 300 or Ace 400 metal detectors or the Nokta Simplex+ would be a fine choice here.
There are more expensive detectors that will search deeper, with better discrimination, but you don’t need to start out with one of those. You would be better off getting a small digging trowel, a quality beginner’s metal detector, a finds pouch to keep your diggings in, and a pinpointer to help zero in on your target. You don’t have to have the pinpointer to start with, but it sure makes finding targets much easier.
Go light at first and see if you really enjoy metal detecting. It’s not all coins and jewelry. There will be a lot of aluminum foil, bottle caps, pull tabs and trash to dig. I was told when I began, that the estimate is that you will dig 100 pull tabs for every ring you will find, and sometimes even more depending on the park or beach. That seems about right. If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it. You have to dig the trash to get to the treasure.
If you want to hunt parks for older coins, then you may want to step it up to the Nokta Simplex+. It is a waterproof metal detector that will search a little deeper and you can use it in streams, lake shores and beaches as well. It is very reasonably priced, very rugged and is probably the best metal detector value out there for a beginner. It is the best detector for the money.

Nokta Simplex+
Think you are really going to love detecting? Maybe you have already been out with a friend and loved digging up treasures. Try the Garrett AT Max, AT Pro, or the Nokta Legend. All are deeper machines with better discrimination and target ID, and all are waterproof. The Garretts are not great in the surf or really wet sand on the beach, but will handle the dry sand, and just about any other environment very well. They are all great for coins and jewelry in parks and fields too. The Garrett AT series are “All Terrain” detectors and built very well. They are very easy to learn to use. The Nokta Legend will do surf and wet sand with ease.

Nokta Legend
The Nokta Legend is an outstanding value for a person who knows he or she will like this hobby and doesn’t want to spend a fortune. You get a whole lot of detector for your money with the Legend and it is quite popular with the advanced beginner set, and even seasoned detectorists. It is a little more complicated than the absolute beginner detectors, but quite easily learned and can find deeper targets. The Nokta Legend can do wet sand and waves with no problem. It has a great warranty, and comes with it’s own back light. It is also fully upgradeable via an internet USB cable. Nokta is an up and coming detector company that really listens to its users and they have built a great reputation. Their motto seems to be “more detector for less money” and they really live up to that saying. You can’t go wrong with the Legend. You can even buy the Legend pro package with wireless headphones and an extra coil.
You can shop for any of these metal detectors here.
You can read more of our articles here.
If you still have questions and can’t figure out what you need, feel free to contact us for more specific recommendations. We are here to help you become the best treasure hunter you can be.