
Buying Guides
Gear recommendations by equipment type, terrain, and budget.
Metal Detectors
Find the right detector for your terrain and budget
Best Metal Detectors for Gold
Minelab GPX 6000 tops Our list but the Gold Monster 1000 wins on value. 7 detectors compared by terrain, budget, and experience level.
Read moremetal-detectorsBest Gold Detector Under $1,000
Minelab Gold Monster 1000 at $700 is Our top pick. 5 detectors under $1,000 compared — performance, terrain suitability, and who each one is actually for.
Read moremetal-detectorsMinelab Gold Monster 1000 Review
The Minelab Gold Monster 1000 honest verdict: who it's for, where it excels, and the one situation where you should buy something else instead.
Read moreHow-To Guides
Technique, terrain, and getting started
Gold Prospecting for Beginners
Complete beginner guide: what gear to buy first, where to prospect legally in the US, and the 3 mistakes that waste most beginners' money.
Read moreguidesHow to Pan for Gold
Step-by-step gold panning guide: where to dig, how to classify, and the swirling technique that separates gold from black sand. No experience needed.
Read moreComparisons
Head-to-head detector comparisons
Panning Equipment
Gold pans, classifiers, and hand tools
Sluicing & High Banking
Sluice boxes, high bankers, and concentrators
Accessories
Pinpointers, digging tools, finds pouches
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