

PI detectors do a better job than VLF detectors at picking out gold in more mineralized soils and can generally be effective at ID’ing gold at greater depths. This magnetic eddy current then causes a measurable delay in the decay of subsequent pulse transmissions. When the pulses encounter a magnetic object they cause an eddy current to form in it. PI detectors, on the other hand, emit rapid pulses of electromagnetic energy. Some VLF detectors at higher price points are able to emit varying frequencies. VLF detectors meant for finding gold will usually be tuned to a higher frequency. However, they don’t do as well in more mineralized soils without calibration. VLF detectors make up the majority of metal detectors out there and tend to be the most versatile. The sensor coil is then able to read this phase shifted frequency pattern. When this energy encounters metal underground, it creates an eddy current in the metal that results in a phase shift of the reflected frequency. The transmitter coil emits constant electromagnetic energy at a tuned frequency. VLF detectors use a sensor coil and transmitter coil. These technologies both use electromagnetic waves to locate metal. The two most common technologies are very low frequency (VLF), and pulse induction (PI). The methods used to detect metal falls into a few categories. Along the way, we did a deep dive into the technology behind our picks. We took into account metal detectors we’d used, ones that peers had recommended, and ones that users spoke favorably of.


We researched numerous models from lots of different leading brands, looking for the best of the best.

However, a successful hunt can’t happen without two things: the right know-how and the right tools. If you’ve ever swept sandy shores looking for a little pot of washed up relics, or scoured scree fields in Colorado searching for a glimmering something that’s freshly rolled off the mountain, you know the thrill of the hunt. The people who love metal detecting love it for the hunt. How we chose the best metal detectors for gold Best for beginners: Fisher Labs Gold Bug.Whatever your price point, sniff out a doubloon or three with the best metal detectors for gold. Some detectors also come with special features, such as a gold-probability register that gives you a read on how likely a nugget might be gold or just a chunk of lead. The best metal detectors are sensitive enough to distinguish between gold and ferrous metals, are often fully submersible, and can even find gold in difficult soils, such as mineralized black sand. When the sensor finds metal, it alerts the detectorist via a set of earphones, or a moving dial. Metal detectors come in a few basic varieties, but all follow a general principle: an electric charge is used to create a magnetized wave that is directed at the ground if this wave comes into contact with metal, the metal begins to vibrate in a specific manner, which can be detected by the device. With the best metal detectors for gold, you’ll come to the field equipped with the tools needed to find that pocket, seize that seam, and sniff out the deposits that still dot the hills of the United States and beyond. Glimmering in the soil, just a couple inches beneath the sandy upper strata, is the nugget you’ve always dreamed of … and a few inches above that, a metal detector.
