In recent years we’ve seen a huge boom in people looking for a hobby that gives back in some way. Metal detectors were once something you saw occasionally down at the beach, but today people are using them in ways never seen before. From the bottom of lakes, oceans and desserts, treasure hunting is a truly rewarding pastime. The only set back is the initial up front cost so Minelab manufactured a range of metal detectors and gold panning kits that wouldn’t break the bank, bringing what was once a costly practice to the general public to enjoy. Here at Outback Equipment we stock the best metal detectors Australia has to offer and to prove it we took one out for a spin just to see what all the hype was about.

Starting with the MineLab PRO-GOLD Complete Panning Kit that comes with a few little jars to put the stuff you find in… hopefully gold. You've also got a little squirt bottle so you can pick stuff up in and a magnifying glass to zero in on fine particles. It's got a small pan and it's got a big pan that also comes in a nice neat little carry bag that can be used as a backpack. So, if you're carrying one of these other metal detectors around you’ve got a way to keep your hands free. These kits are awesome to get started on your gem fossicking journey, check out our blog on the best places to gem fossick in Australia for some inspiration!

Moving on we got the MineLab PRO-FIND 15 Pinpointer out to see how it would help with zeroing in on smaller items in the sand. The bigger metal detectors are going to be able to locate the general area where treasure is but if you want to be able to zero in exactly where it is in the ground if you can't find it then the Profind 15 Pinpointer will help you find that specific location or you could even say it'll help you… pinpoint it. We’ve noticed a lot of people using these at the shoreline of the beach where sand is being moved around by small waves so it can be a little more difficult to find small items like jewellery.  

If you are just starting out, then investing is a quality metal detector Australians are raving about then we highly recommend a metal detector that covers the basics. Some people opt for a metal detector that has more features, but for weekend hobbiests we find that the most expensive/best is more overwhelming than helpful. This is why the MineLab GO-FIND 22 Metal Detector is great for getting your bearings on the art of treasure hunting. The kids can use it, the grandparents can use it, it is a very simple set up that allows you to turn it on and get started straight away. It's got the four different types of materials that it wants to pick up. First one is your ferrous metal, basically just junk and everything else will kind of differentiate whether it be coins or rings, it is usually pretty accurate. So if you are searching in a place where the ground is a little bit harder to excavate you do have the choice of ignoring those ferrous metals and saving your energy for the good stuff.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, we've got the MineLab Vanquish 540 Pro Pack Metal Detector. This guy is great for the beginner all the way up to the more experienced treasure hunter. It features multi IQ technology so it will actually be able to detect different types of metal at the same time which is pretty… ground breaking. It comes with a 12 inch coil for a wider range ideal for more open areas and skimming. Smaller coils generally help you narrow down to smaller pockets of metal. The best feature we think the Pro Pack offers is that it is waterproof up to one metre. As this opens up more opportunity to treasure hunt in lakes, rivers and beaches which can usually produce more consistent finds than in an open field. It comes with wireless headphones so you can keep finds to yourself and also features rechargeable batteries with a charger.

For the best metal detectors Australia has to offer check out the product page here at Outback Equipment or if you are more of visual learner head to our Youtube channel for the run down on the range.

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