Metal Detecting Gift Guide
Whether it’s a holiday or birthday gift, finding just the right present for anyone can become a daunting task. Here at Focus Speed, we want to make that search a bit easier. If you are looking for a great gift for someone who is considering trying the hobby or is already an amateur or seasoned detectorist look no further. We’ve compiled a guide to help.
Gift A Membership To a Local Metal Detecting Club
Metal detecting is a hobby that is enjoyed worldwide by people of all ages and there is likely a club to join nearby. You can start your search by visiting Focus Speed’s Metal Detecting Directory. Here you can do a search for clubs, businesses, and more. I keep the page bookmarked because it is always being updated and there are new sites being added, but you can easily find it just by visiting the site. While you’re there, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter as well.
Custom Metal Detecting Gifts & Accessories
For some of these gift ideas, you will want to know what type of metal detector someone is already using. Turn on your detective mode, and snap a picture of their metal detector or write it down so you can be sure of the make and model you are looking to buy customized additions for.
One of the best upgrades I made to my detector was a custom shaft. It lightened my machine a bit, offered a touch of color for personalization, and is much easier to take apart for travel. Over at Anderson Detector Shafts they offer a variety of options for all types of machines. If you can’t find what you are looking for you can directly contact them for assistance and they will help.
If you have a beach hunting detectorist to buy for, Anderson has also created the Neptune, a carbon fiber handle for use with the high-quality Motely Digging Tools Beach Scoop. Every beach hunter needs a good scoop and Motley’s a great choice for gifting.
Dry-land or woods detecting has quite a few gift options to consider as well. My favorite item that I have ever purchased for the hobby has to be my leather sheath from BookersGoods. Not only has it tolerated my abuse for the last two years and I’ve received a lot of compliments about it, but I have come to rely on it. Booker is fantastic to work with. Handmade by Booker himself, he offers customization of the sheaths and you can directly message him via his Etsy shop where he responds quickly. I have personally given two of them as gifts and they are still in use.
A good shovel is one of the top gifts on my personal list this year, and more than likely it’s probably on some of your metal detecting enthusiast’s wishlist too. You can’t go wrong with a good old Made in the USA Predator Shovel. Durable and incredibly good in the field, their shovels and hand tools are useful for more than just detecting adventures. They also offer top-notch customer care.
If the person you are buying for does not need a new full-size digging shovel then maybe a new hand digger is the way to go. I am a relic hunter from Ohio and I use my hand digger a lot. From the woods to fields and parks, I always have a hand digger with me. There are quite a few options available from Predator.
Another handtool option can be found over at Motley Digging Tools which offers a Grass Knife that comes in assorted colors which is a great idea if you tend to leave your hand digger on the ground. It stands out a bit more with the bold colors and the design also makes it easy to clean after each use.
Metal detecting apparel is a great gift option, especially if the person you are buying for already has all the necessary equipment they need. You can’t go wrong with a lucky metal detecting shirt like the one from PirateCrew. Not only are you sending them out to hunt for treasure in style, but you are sending luck with them as well.
Summer metal detecting gets hot. I love my UV protection shirts and pants for long days in the sun. They make a huge difference in keeping body temperature regulated better and they prevent unnecessary sun exposure. Joanna, the founder of Focus Speed, recommends HISKYWIN for the female detectorists out there. They are true to size, even for the taller ladies, and they hold up well. She uses them for both cool and hot adventures outside.
They come in various kinds of colors.
Myself, I can’t live without my Eddie Bauer Guide Pro pants and capris with UPF protection. They are lightweight and comfortable for long days out detecting. They’re waterproof too, so I can jump into the creek to find hidden relics with no worries. They make them for men and women, in both cool weather and hot weather options.
Last, but not least, a great small gift to give is a new finds box. There are quite a few available out there. These little boxes ensure our most valued finds are protected while we are out hunting. You can find all sorts of small gifts to fit your budget like stickers, mugs, and other budget-friendly metal detecting gift ideas.
The Gift of Metal Detecting
Maybe you are looking to purchase someone a new pinpointer or metal detector as a present. If so, I am always looking for new friends you are more than welcome to become my friend and purchase a new detector for me. I’m kidding, of course. You can be my friend, but you do not have to buy me gifts.
This is a tricky gift to buy if you don’t know what you are truly searching for. Focus Speed wants to help you find just the right metal detector to gift someone special so you can buy with confidence.
There are a lot of sites out there when it comes to shopping for this hobby. One great website to turn to that you can rely on is Modern Metal Detectors. They offer assistance with any questions you may have and they have competitive industry prices as well.
To get a better idea of some of the best metal detectors to buy as a gift for someone, you will want to know their type of hunting. Are they beach, park, relic, gold, or coin hunters? Not all machines will be as useful for some detectorists as they will for others. Reach out to detector dealers and ask a lot of questions before you purchase. Make sure you tell them where it will be used most often such as on a beach or out in fields.
Budget-Friendly Metal Detectors to Consider for Beginner to Intermediate Level Detecting:
- Garrett ACE 200, 300, & 400 Series
- Garrett ACE Apex
- Nokta Simplex or Simplex+
- Minelab Vanquish 440
An excellent all around detector for relic, park, and beach metal detecting. Great technology and quality built and good value.
Read Joanna’s article The Legend by Nokta Makro: Build Quality, Testing Beach & Park Detecting for more info.
Mid-level Metal Detectors for Intermediate to Advanced detecting:
- Garrett ACE Apex
- Minelab Equinox 600 or 800 (Equinox 700 & 900 coming soon)
- XP ORX
- XP Deus or Deus II
- Nokta Simplex or Simplex+
- Nokta The Legend
- Garrett AT Pro or AT Max
Advanced Metal Detectors:
- Garrett AT Max or AT Pro
- Nokta The Legend
- Minelab Equinox 600 or 800 (Equinox 700 & 900 coming soon)
- XP Deus or Deus II
- Minelab Manticore
Metal Detectors for Children:
- Nokta Mini Hoard (ages 4-8)
- Nokta Midi Hoard (ages 8+)
- Minelab Vanquish 440 (ages 10+)
- Nokta Simplex or Simplex+ (ages 10+)
- Garrett ACE 200, 300 or 400 (ages 12+)
Shop around of course so you get the best price, each vendor offers different deals on machines. A lot of the time you can find bundle deals from vendors that will offer all kinds of accessories with the detector.
The good thing about purchasing a metal detector is that there will always be someone to help you find just the right machine for your budget and needs. Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask questions.
Not every option above may be in your budget. That’s okay. Gift cards to places like Amazon can be just as useful. It can be used to purchase books for research, batteries for our pinpointers, and anything else useful for the hobby. You really can’t go wrong when it comes to this option and you have the ability to work within your budget but still give a great gift.
There are many more options for gifts, but these are just a few to consider. All of the products mentioned above in custom accessories are from small businesses run by members of the metal detecting community. They count on your business as much as you count on their products being good quality items and you can rest assured that each of the products suggested above are great metal detecting gift ideas.
Nicole Bauer resides in western Ohio. She is passionate about local history and works to preserve it for future generations as a member of multiple historical societies in her area. She has written for local newspapers as a lifestyle columnist and photojournalist. Nicole has been a lifelong relic hunter and has enjoyed metal detecting for over five years. She is a mom to two sons ages twenty and eighteen and has been married to her husband, Chad, for over twenty years. Metal detecting is a daily part of her life and she can usually be found out walking creeks, woods, and fields searching for items from the past. You can follow her explorations of Ohio on social media and YouTube at Ohio Metal Maven.
