Best metal detector for beginner

claychaser

My 8 year old son wants a metal detector for Christmas. I would like to get him a unit that's relatively easy to use and durable, but not a piece of junk that he will outgrow or not have acceptable results with. Any suggestions? How much would a decent unit cost new? Any comments appreciated!


Update Nov 8: Thanks for all the info so far - and the PM reminding me to answer the posts - a faux pas by me! I've been cheking out the websites. A couple of kida dumb questions came up:

1. Do I need a salt-water proof detector for the beach. My son is 8 - and he drops things. If it's just waterproof, can we just wash it at the beach shower?

2. How important is a compact sized head?

3. How troublesome are these? Is a 5 year warranty a big feature, or are the relatively bullet proof?

4. Does anyone fly and check their detector in baggage? How suseptable are they to damage from the airline baggage slingers?

Many thanks for all of the info.

loditom

Clay either the Ace 250 by Garret or a Silver Umax by Tesero.Both are good machine's and reasonably priced.
I bought a Silver Umax for my daughter's to use and they have fun with it.It is easy to use,light weight and easy to pinpoint with.
Can't tell you much on the Garret as I haven't used it,but have heard it is a good machine also.HH,Tom

phut

Welcome to the forum claychaser.
This link should give you some ideas and price range.
I've only tried two machines, mine at $450 and a $100 Bounty Hunter, and found decent stuff with both. The BH didn't have a display, but was easy to use.
Heard good things about Garrett ace 250 (around $200), but never tried one.

ddbird

Tesoro is a GREAT entry level machine.

Very light for the Youngins', durable, and a decent machine. I still have my Silver Sabre from about 7 years back. Its still a best of a machine and kicks my underwater (Fisher) detectors butt on lan

Lamborghini518

White's Prizm Series (I strongly reccomend it, I have the Prizm III, but a'm hoping to upgrade to the White's top detector, the DFX, when I get the money.)
The prices are as follows: (not including the $50 off coupon on all Prizm series detectors)

Prizm II: $249.95
Prizm III: $349.95
Prizm IV: $449.95
Prizm V: $549.95

I have also heard good things about the Garrett ACE series, though I have no personal experiance with it.

Prices are as follows:
Ace 150: $179.95
Ace 250: $249.95

Sorry for not adding features of all of them, it's just too time consuming. I left links to both their sites instead where you can view them, but if you have any questions about what they are, please don't hesitate to send me a private message or post it here for others with the same question to see. Your son picked a great age to start metal detecting. Your doing a good thing by buying him a quality machiene. When I was his age, many years ago I got a crapy kids no name detector. I didn't even want one at the time. It was one of those $20 ones you see in a toy store. I used it once or twice, it broke, and i never wanted to see another one again. It wasen't untill I saw another no name detector in a junk mail cataloge. I decided I was going to buy a good one. So I searched and searched all over the internet untill i came upon 4 detetectors:
The White's Prizm II
The Garrett Ace 150 and 250
and the Bounty Hunter Lone Star
Now it was time to get advice on the 4. I found some here and a family friend who metal detects. He convinced me to get the White's Prizm III instead of II. I also heard a lot of good things about both the Prizm and Ace series detectors, But I went with the Prizm III because it fit my needs. It's a great hobby and one that can last in your son's life for his whole life. it's not like base ball or hockey where you grow too old to play. It gives you proper exercise in a slowpaced relaxing manner, unlike other sports and hobbies where you're sweating and tired from exahustion. Plus it's profitable. Another reason I chose White's was because i borrowed a relitives detector (Whites Coinmaster 2000, a old 1970's model) and brought it to my condo in Florida, which is on the Treasure Coast. No treasure, but that was because of the salt's interferance with it, so I just used it on the rest of the resort's property instead. It does happen with detectors now too, but not as often. I found his detecot easy to use and durable. And to think that a top of the line machiene from back then would be easy to use. To think that it's been over 30 years since he bought that detector and it still worked perfectly. I would use the store finder on all 3 links I provided and go in with your son for a free demonstration an the modle you wish to purchase. By the way, tell him that your only bringing him in for a test and to choose which one he wants, so you don't spoil the santa Clause secret on him. Then pick it up later. I wish you and your son good luck on finding the detector of your choice and detecting with it. Remember, Private Message me if you have any questions.

claychaser

Thanks for all the info. I'm still shopping, but it looks like a decent unit can be had for $200 to $300. If he gets tired of it, I'll use it! Any other input (please see my modified opening thread) is appreciated.