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.

Best 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.

Minelab 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.

How-To Guides

Technique, terrain, and getting started

guides

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.

How 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.

Comparisons

Head-to-head detector comparisons

Comparison

Minelab vs Garrett Gold Detectors

Minelab dominates in hot volcanic ground. Garrett AT Gold wins on price and ease of use. We break down which one you should actually buy.

Panning Equipment

Gold pans, classifiers, and hand tools

panning-equipment

Best Gold Pans

The Garrett 14-inch pan is Our top pick for creek panning. 6 gold pans compared by size, riffles, and what kind of gold each one catches best.

Sluicing & High Banking

Sluice boxes, high bankers, and concentrators

Accessories

Pinpointers, digging tools, finds pouches

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