Metal detecting is a fun hobby for some, and a serious passion for others, so here's a primer for the newly interested investigators looking to hop in.

Editor’s Note: September 25, 2026: After completing testing, we’ve added the Minelab Vanquish 560 as our new best overall. Its predecessor, the Minelab Vanquish 440 has been replaced by a new version, ...

TUCSON, Ariz.—Joe Marihugh caught the gold bug years ago while running buckets of sand through a washer to extract flakes of the precious yellow metal. He and his wife once ran 50 buckets to retrieve ...

Don't go out wandering aimlessly looking for treasure. A little research can make your metal detecting hobby much more rewarding. By Eric Alt Published Apr 11, 2026 1:28 PM EDT Add Popular Science ...

93.9915% OFF$79.99 at Amazon $119 at The Home Depot 127.0021% OFF$99.99 at Walmart The Bounty Hunter metal detector earned the top spot on our list for its intuitiveness, lightweight design and its ...

Yes, the Gold Monster 1000 can detect gold in black sand, but black sand can make gold prospecting more challenging. Black ...

Fantastic multi-frequency performance for an affordable price. It has four search modes and works better in wet conditions than cheaper alternatives. The main drawback is that the headphones are ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. It's safe to say, metal detecting isn't a hobby that works for everyone. While some are out searching plowed fields for colonial relics, ...