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

The best metal detector for gold in 2026: Minelab Gold Monster 1000 wins on value, GPX 6000 leads for hot ground. 7 detectors compared by terrain and budget.

Best Gold Detector Under $1,000

Best gold detector under 1000 for 2026: Minelab Gold Monster 1000 at $700 is the top pick. 5 detectors compared by performance, terrain, and experience level.

Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Review

Minelab Gold Monster 1000 review for 2026: best beginner gold detector at $700, where it excels in the field, and the one terrain where you need something else.

Minelab GPX 6000 Review

Minelab GPX 6000 review for 2026: the best PI gold detector for hot volcanic ground, but only worth $5,000 if you hunt Arizona or Nevada volcanic terrain.

How-To Guides

Technique, terrain, and getting started

guides

Gold Prospecting for Beginners

Gold prospecting for beginners: 2026 guide covering what gear to buy first, where to prospect legally in the US, and the 3 mistakes that waste your money.

How to Pan for Gold

How to pan for gold: step-by-step 2026 guide covering where to dig in a creek, how to classify material, and the swirling technique that separates gold.

PI vs VLF Gold Detectors: Which Technology Is Right for Your Ground

PI vs VLF gold detector decision guide for 2026. VLF for mild creek country, PI for hot volcanic ground. Terrain-based framework to pick the right technology.

Comparisons

Head-to-head detector comparisons

Comparison

Minelab vs Garrett Gold Detectors

Minelab vs Garrett gold detector for 2026: Minelab dominates hot volcanic ground, Garrett AT Gold wins for creek work. Honest comparison for prospectors.

Minelab Gold Monster 1000 vs Garrett AT Gold

Gold Monster 1000 vs Garrett AT Gold: honest 2026 comparison. Gold Monster wins for beginners and small gold sensitivity. AT Gold wins for creek submersion.

Panning Equipment

Gold pans, classifiers, and hand tools

panning-equipment

Best Gold Pans

Best gold pan for 2026: Garrett 14-inch pan is the top pick for creek panning. 6 gold pans compared by size, riffle design, and what gold each one catches.

Sluicing & High Banking

Sluice boxes, high bankers, and concentrators

Accessories

Pinpointers, digging tools, finds pouches