A detector finds a signal. Everything after that, from pinpointing the target to cutting a clean plug and carrying the find home, takes a second set of gear that new hunters usually discover one trip at a time. Beach hunters need a scoop and a pinpointer that can go underwater. Gold hunters spend more time digging than swinging.
Pick where you plan to hunt and a price band. You get one kit of five to nine items: the detector, the recovery tools that go with it and a safety item. Every item has a one-line reason and a number pointing to a maker page or a federal rule. Nobody here has swung these detectors, so the reasons repeat what the makers publish.
“Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart” sends every item with an exact Amazon listing to your cart in one step. Each item still has its own link. Where we have no exact listing, such as gloves or spare batteries, the item gets a labeled Amazon search link and stays out of the cart. Before you dig anywhere, check local rules and get landowner permission.
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Price bands compare the three kits with each other, not with a current price. Check each Amazon listing before you buy, because prices and stock change.
First detector, parks and yards
A beginner detector, the digger and pouch that make a plug of turf easy to put back, and gloves for the hands.
Lean kit $
Detector, digger and pouch, with a spare battery set.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Garrett ACE 400 | Garrett lists it under its beginner detectors; it runs on 4 AA batteries, which are included. [1] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett Edge Digger | Carbon steel digger with a 7.5-inch blade and teeth for cutting through soil and small roots. [8] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Supplies | AA batteries, spare set | The ACE 400 takes 4 AA batteries and ships with a set, so a spare set keeps a long day going. Search link, not in the cart. [1] | Search Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 3 items go in the cart; 2 search links are not added because we have no exact listing for them. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Balanced kit $$
Adds a pinpointer, which shrinks the hole you have to dig.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Garrett ACE Apex with 6 x 11 in Viper coil | Multi-frequency detector with built-in Z-Lynk wireless audio and a fully waterproof coil. [2] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett PRO-Pointer AT | Pinpointer that Garrett lists as submersible to 20 feet, with a belt holster. [7] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett Edge Digger | Carbon steel digger with a 7.5-inch blade and teeth for cutting through soil and small roots. [8] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 4 items go in the cart; 1 search link is not added because we have no exact listing for it. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Step-up kit $$$
A detector that is also waterproof, so the same kit works at a creek or the beach.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Garrett AT Pro with MS-2 headphones | Waterproof to 3 meters per Garrett, with MS-2 headphones included. [3] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett PRO-Pointer AT | Pinpointer that Garrett lists as submersible to 20 feet, with a belt holster. [7] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett Edge Digger | Carbon steel digger with a 7.5-inch blade and teeth for cutting through soil and small roots. [8] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 4 items go in the cart; 1 search link is not added because we have no exact listing for it. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Beach and shallow water
A waterproof detector, a scoop for sand, a pinpointer that survives the surf and a pouch for finds.
Lean kit $
A lightweight waterproof detector with the basics for sand.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Nokta Simplex Lite | Fully waterproof to 5 m (16 ft) and charges by USB from a built-in battery. [4] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Nokta Premium Sand Scoop 3-in-1 Set | A scoop and rod set for sand hunting, sold by the detector maker. [10] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett PRO-Pointer AT | Pinpointer that Garrett lists as submersible to 20 feet, with a belt holster. [7] | View on Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 4 items go in the cart; 1 search link is not added because we have no exact listing for it. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Balanced kit $$
Garrett's waterproof AT Pro, with headphones included.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Garrett AT Pro with MS-2 headphones | Waterproof to 3 meters per Garrett, with MS-2 headphones included. [3] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Nokta Premium Sand Scoop 3-in-1 Set | A scoop and rod set for sand hunting, sold by the detector maker. [10] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett PRO-Pointer AT | Pinpointer that Garrett lists as submersible to 20 feet, with a belt holster. [7] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 4 items go in the cart; 1 search link is not added because we have no exact listing for it. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Step-up kit $$$
Same detector, plus a digger for the grass above the tide line.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Garrett AT Pro with MS-2 headphones | Waterproof to 3 meters per Garrett, with MS-2 headphones included. [3] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Nokta Premium Sand Scoop 3-in-1 Set | A scoop and rod set for sand hunting, sold by the detector maker. [10] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett PRO-Pointer AT | Pinpointer that Garrett lists as submersible to 20 feet, with a belt holster. [7] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett Edge Digger | Carbon steel digger with a 7.5-inch blade and teeth for cutting through soil and small roots. [8] | View on Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 5 items go in the cart; 1 search link is not added because we have no exact listing for it. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Gold prospecting
A detector designed for small gold in mineralized ground, plus the recovery tools and hand protection for rocky digging.
Lean kit $
Goldmaster 24k with a basic recovery kit.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Garrett Goldmaster 24k | Garrett pairs it with a 6 x 10 in DD coil built for mineralized ground; the coil is waterproof. [6] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett Edge Digger | Carbon steel digger with a 7.5-inch blade and teeth for cutting through soil and small roots. [8] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett PRO-Pointer AT | Pinpointer that Garrett lists as submersible to 20 feet, with a belt holster. [7] | View on Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 4 items go in the cart; 1 search link is not added because we have no exact listing for it. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Balanced kit $$
Garrett's AT Gold, which its own page sells as hot on nuggets.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Garrett AT Gold with 5 x 8 in coil | Garrett's own page sells it as hot on gold nuggets, with a small 5 x 8 in DD coil. [5] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett PRO-Pointer AT | Pinpointer that Garrett lists as submersible to 20 feet, with a belt holster. [7] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett Edge Digger | Carbon steel digger with a 7.5-inch blade and teeth for cutting through soil and small roots. [8] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 4 items go in the cart; 1 search link is not added because we have no exact listing for it. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Step-up kit $$$
Adds a scoop for dry-washing and stream gravel; check local rules before you dig.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Garrett AT Gold with 5 x 8 in coil | Garrett's own page sells it as hot on gold nuggets, with a small 5 x 8 in DD coil. [5] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett PRO-Pointer AT | Pinpointer that Garrett lists as submersible to 20 feet, with a belt holster. [7] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett Edge Digger | Carbon steel digger with a 7.5-inch blade and teeth for cutting through soil and small roots. [8] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Nokta Premium Sand Scoop 3-in-1 Set | A scoop and rod set for sand hunting, sold by the detector maker. [10] | View on Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 5 items go in the cart; 1 search link is not added because we have no exact listing for it. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Buying for someone
For someone who has never swung a coil. Everything arrives together, so the first Saturday outside is not spent shopping for a pinpointer.
Lean kit $
Beginner detector and pinpointer with spare batteries.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Garrett ACE 400 | Garrett lists it under its beginner detectors; it runs on 4 AA batteries, which are included. [1] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett PRO-Pointer AT | Pinpointer that Garrett lists as submersible to 20 feet, with a belt holster. [7] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Supplies | AA batteries, spare set | The ACE 400 takes 4 AA batteries and ships with a set, so a spare set keeps a long day going. Search link, not in the cart. [1] | Search Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 3 items go in the cart; 2 search links are not added because we have no exact listing for them. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Balanced kit $$
Adds a digger and wireless audio on the detector.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Garrett ACE Apex with 6 x 11 in Viper coil | Multi-frequency detector with built-in Z-Lynk wireless audio and a fully waterproof coil. [2] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett PRO-Pointer AT | Pinpointer that Garrett lists as submersible to 20 feet, with a belt holster. [7] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett Edge Digger | Carbon steel digger with a 7.5-inch blade and teeth for cutting through soil and small roots. [8] | View on Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 4 items go in the cart; 1 search link is not added because we have no exact listing for it. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Step-up kit $$$
Waterproof, so the recipient can detect at the beach or a creek.
| Slot | Item | Why it is in the kit | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detector | Garrett AT Pro with MS-2 headphones | Waterproof to 3 meters per Garrett, with MS-2 headphones included. [3] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett PRO-Pointer AT | Pinpointer that Garrett lists as submersible to 20 feet, with a belt holster. [7] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch | A finds pouch that Garrett describes as made for both water and land hunting. [9] | View on Amazon |
| Must-have accessory | Garrett Edge Digger | Carbon steel digger with a 7.5-inch blade and teeth for cutting through soil and small roots. [8] | View on Amazon |
| Safety | Cut-resistant work gloves | The federal hand-protection rule names cuts and punctures as hand hazards; digging through unknown ground brings the same ones. Search link, not in the cart. [11] | Search Amazon |
Add the whole kit to your Amazon cart 4 items go in the cart; 1 search link is not added because we have no exact listing for it. Review the cart on Amazon before you buy.
Sources
- Garrett ACE 400 product page: power source and skill level
- Garrett ACE Apex product page: built-in wireless and coil
- Garrett AT Pro with MS-2 product page: waterproof depth and headphones
- Nokta Simplex Lite product page: waterproof depth and battery
- Garrett AT Gold product page: gold use and coil
- Garrett Goldmaster 24k product page: coil size and waterproof coil
- Garrett PRO-Pointer AT product page: submersible depth and holster
- Garrett Edge Digger product page: blade length and teeth
- Garrett All Terrain Dig Pouch product page: water and land use
- Nokta Premium Sand Scoop Rod Set page: scoop set
- 29 CFR 1910.138, hand protection (GovInfo): cuts and punctures as hand hazards
How the kits are built
The bands step up in detector class or in how complete the dig kit is. They do not promise more finds. The same pinpointer, digger and pouch show up in several kits because the job they do does not change. To compare detectors on their own, see the best metal detectors for beginners , the best metal detectors for the beach and the best gold metal detectors . The metal detector finder narrows detectors by hunting ground and waterproofing.