Have fun treasure hunting or looking for precious coins and metals with the best metal detector for kids. These are just like what grownups use only smaller, lighter, and less complicated. If you’re into metal and coin hunting and you want your kids to learn how then a metal detector for kids would be perfect for you. Here are five of the top metal detectors for kids in the market today.
What kind of metal detector is best for kids?
Kids start to explore the world around them and will learn mostly from you. If your pastime or hobby is treasure hunting or coin collecting, your child will surely take an interest in these as well. There are three general types of metal detectors: a metal detector for land-based coin and treasure hunting, underwater and beach metal detectors and gold metal detectors. We recommend starting your child with an easy, multi-purpose land-based metal detector.
A land-based metal detector is a robust and easy to use metal detector that’s perfect for backyard coin and relic hunting. It’s a multi-purpose metal detector because it can find all kinds of metals, including iron, silver, or gold. Most models that are fit for kids are land-based metal detectors because these have simple interfaces and are lightweight.
But if you prefer to look for treasure and metals underwater or at the beach, there are also waterproof and robust metal detectors that will work with kids.
How we chose these top five metal detectors for kids
We came up with our top five list by checking out several metal detector products at Amazon. We considered specs, the many pros, and cons and checked out reviews from actual customers that have used them. Many top metal detectors seem perfect for kids, but we decided that these top five were the absolute best.
Here are our 5 best metal detectors for kids. We’re confident that you’ll find the right metal detector that will fit your child’s needs from this top list.
Best Metal Detectors for Kids
- RM RICOMAX Kids Metal Detector – Check the latest price on Amazon
- NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Junior Metal Detector – Check the latest price on Amazon
- ALLOSUN Junior Metal Detector – Check the latest price on Amazon
- SUNPOW Metal Detector – Check the latest price on Amazon
- Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D. – Check the latest price on Amazon
RM RICOMAX Kids Metal Detector
Consumer Score: 90%, gave it 4.4 out of 5.
Gift your kids an adventure-filled experience with the RM RICOMAX Kids Metal Detector. Engineered as the ideal treasure hunting tool for children, this detector combines functionality with a charming aesthetic appeal guaranteed to delight any youthful explorer.
Pros
- Waterproof Coil for Broad Application: With a uniquely designed 7.4-inch search coil, this metal detector boosts sensitivity during hunts. Both the adjustable stem and the search coil are waterproof, paving the way for thrilling outdoor treasure hunts in gardens, parks, beaches, and forests.
- Child-friendly Design: Professionally crafted by industrial and kids’ visual designers, this device features a delightful aesthetic profile with all components made from harmless ABS plastic, ensuring utmost safety for your child.
- High Accuracy & Clear Detection: Equipped with a 20% larger coil allowing quick ground coverage, this detector can identify objects buried up to 4 inches deep. Arrow and signal symbols, accompanied by varying sound intensities, indicate how close the detected metal object is.
- Lightweight & Adjustable: The 24 to 35 inches height-adjustable stem is designed to suit both children and adults. The detector is lightweight and features a foldable search coil, making it travel-friendly and perfect for outdoor activities.
- Easy to Use & Assemble: Thanks to its telescoping design, there’s no need for complex assembly. Unfolding and folding the detector is effortless, making it particularly suitable for children and beginners.
Cons
- Limited Depth Detection: While it’s fun and beginner-friendly, this detector’s 4-inch depth detection might limit the range of treasures your young ones can discover.
- Potential for False Positive Signals: Larger coils can sometimes generate false signals due to their sensitivity, which could potentially confuse young users.
- Screen Not Waterproof: While the stem and coil are designed to be waterproof, the screen isn’t, limiting use during wet weather or around water bodies.
On balance, the RM RICOMAX Kids Metal Detector is not just a metal detector; it’s a ticket to a world of adventure, exploration, and learning for children. With its child-safe and user-friendly design paired with advanced detection capabilities, treasure hunting becomes a safe and enjoyable activity for the little explorers.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Junior Metal Detector
Consumer Score: 89%, gave it 4.2 out of 5.
A junior metal detector that can help you find buried treasure ideal for young prospectors.
Pros
- Waterproof coil
- With audio and visual alarms to tell you if it has located metal
- Lightweight and very portable metal detector for kids
- With an adjustable handle
- Comes with a learning guide
Cons
- No LCD or meter
- No headphone jack
The National Geographic Junior Metal Detector is great for kids. It has an adjustable handle so it can be used by younger kids and older ones. It has a large 7.5” dual coil, waterproof, so it can be used in shallow water.
It does not have a control box, but it has knobs for sensitivity controls so you can avoid any false positives. You can tell that it has detected metal when it beeps and by a flashing LED light. This detector can locate metals from 6 to 12 inches in the ground, especially for large metals.
This National Geographic metal detector is easy to carry anywhere as it’s light and portable. You can fold the coil and remove the arm so you can carry it conveniently in your backpack. Finally, your child will love the full-color guide that comes with this metal detector. This guide was made by National Geographic, especially for young metal and treasure detecting enthusiasts.
ALLOSUN Junior Metal Detector
Consumer Score: 70% gave it 3.3 out of 5.
A beach or yard metal detector that’s easy to use available in different fun colors.
Pros
- A versatile metal detector for kids can locate jewelry, silver, gold, and various metal relics.
- With an electronic torch
- Battery-powered
- With a headphone jack
- Available in random colors
Cons
- No LCD or analog meter
- No fine-tuning adjustment and discrimination knobs
- No armrest
- Not for use in water
The ALLOSUN Junior Metal Detector is for kids, and it’s ideal for beach or yard ground metal prospecting. It has a simple design, but it’s very sensitive and versatile. It can locate coins, gold, silver, and jewelry with a measurement range of 6 cm for a tiny 5 cents coin.
This metal detector does not have a control panel with an LCD or an analog meter to provide information about ground surroundings. It relies on a basic control knob that powers on and off the device and fine-tunes its detection. Many users say that this is best used in a lightless and obstacle-free area and should be parallel to the target.
This junior metal detector uses one 9v battery and comes with an electronic torch to shine on your target brightly. A headphone jack will allow you to connect this detector to a headphone. This is the only way to tell if the detector has found anything as it does not have any LCD, analog meter, or LED light signal.
This is lightweight, easy to use, and ideal for first-time metal detector users and those who wish to use a simple detector device at home.
SUNPOW Metal Detector
Consumer Score: 90%, gave it 4.3 out of 5.
Ignite your child’s passion for exploration with the SUNPOW Metal Detector. Boasting of a cartoon LCD display, adjustable settings, and a lightweight design, this gold detector is crafted explicitly for younger treasure hunters.
Pros
- Child-Friendly and Durable Design: Made from non-toxic ABS plastic and featuring a sturdy shell, this metal detector ensures your child’s safety while keeping up with their fun-filled outdoor adventures. The captivating LCD display adds an interactive and engaging element for children.
- Intuitive Operation and Modes: Fitted with clear control buttons and an easy-to-use interface, even novice explorers will have no problem operating it. The detector offers three modes—’All Metal’ for wide-spectrum metal detection, ‘DISC’ to filter out undesired targets, and ‘PINPOINT’ for exact location tracking.
- Lightweight and Portable: At just 1.32 pounds, this waterproof kids’ metal detector is light and easy to carry around. The 32-40 inch adjustable stem and waterproof search coil cater to children and teenagers of different heights, making it great for beaching, park outings, or forest trips.
- Distinctive Audio-Visual Indicators: The high precision, clear detection up to 6 inches, along with sound and light signals complement each other to offer top-notch treasure hunting experiences. As you move closer to your target, the beep gets louder, adding excitement to your child’s adventure.
- Complete Gift Package: The package comes with a 9V battery, a handy backpack, a child-sized shovel, a rake, and a user manual. Being the ideal gift for children aged 5-15 years, it promises exciting birthdays, Christmases, Halloweens, New Years, and summer camp adventures.
Cons
- Battery Life: Although the package includes a 9V battery, long periods of use may require frequent battery changes.
- Limited Depth Detection: While the detector can locate items up to 6 inches deep, it may not find deeper buried treasures, potentially limiting the excitement of a hunt.
- May Not Be Ideal for Older Children: Given its design elements and interfaces made to please young kids, older children (around the age of 12 and above) may find it too childish.
In conclusion, the SUNPOW Metal Detector wonderfully balances fun and functionality, offering young treasure hunters an exciting and memorable experience. Its easy-to-use, child-safe design combined with multiple detection modes, makes it a top choice for a kid’s introduction to the world of treasure hunting.
Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D.
Consumer Score: 91%, gave it 4.4 out of 5
Get your child ready for an exhilarating adventure with the Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D., an exceptional companion for any young treasure hunter. Watch as they revel in the thrill of uncovering lost treasure ranging from coins to jewelry buried up to 5 inches deep.
Pros
- Detects All Metals: This versatile metal detector detects varied types of metal, including silver, gold, brass, aluminum, iron, steel, as well as valuable coins and relics, making treasure hunting more rewarding.
- Child-Friendly Interface: The device uses easy-to-understand emojis to inform the child about the possible type of buried object. A sad face emoji denotes junk or iron, while a happy face could signal a high value metal or coin, simplifying the process for young users.
- Compact and Portable: The device is light and features a telescoping rod, offering convenience in transportation and storage. Whether in luggage or a backpack, this metal detector’s compact design provides uncomplicated portability.
- Educational and Fun: As much as it’s a source of entertainment, the Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D. also allows children to learn about science and history. The exhilaration of finding hidden treasures inspires curiosity and encourages outdoor exploration.
Cons
- Limited Depth Detection: While the detector can locate items up to 5 inches deep, it might not be able to uncover deeper buried objects, which may limit the user’s treasure hunting scope.
- No Screen Display: Unlike other models that offer LCD screens, this detector uses straightforward ‘happy’ and ‘sad’ emojis. While this keeps things simple, it may not provide specific information about the detected metal type.
- Not Ideal for Older Kids: Given its child-oriented interface and design, this detector could seem too simple for older children or teenagers seeking more of a challenge in their treasure hunts.
The Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D. combines enjoyable pastime with a valuable learning experience for children. With an easy-to-use interface, ability to detect different metals, and a compact, portable design, this metal detector can be the perfect gateway into a world of exciting adventure and knowledge for your young explorer.
Choosing The Right Metal Detector For Your Child
Introducing a child to the fascinating world of treasure hunting is a fun and interactive way to spark their curiosity. To ensure their journey is enjoyable and educational, choosing the right metal detector is crucial. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the various options.
Considerations When Choosing a Kid’s Metal Detector
1. Age Appropriateness
The complexity, size, and weight of a metal detector should correlate with the child’s age. Younger children (under eight) are more suited to detectors that simplify data via easy-to-read images or tones, like the Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D.
2. Weight and Size
A heavy or bulky detector may tire a child quickly, limiting their treasure hunting time. Models like the SUNPOW Metal Detector are designed with a lightweight structure and adjustable length, making them a much comfier fit for little explorers.
3. Simplicity
A child-friendly metal detector should have a simple user interface. Ideally, it should come with clear instructions and features that a child can operate independently after initial guidance.
4. Sensitivity and Detection Depth
The sensitivity of a metal detector largely determines how well it can pick up on metallic signals. The detection depth speaks to how deeply buried an object can be for the detector to recognize it. Opt for devices that provide shallow yet accurate detection for kids, like the RM RICOMAX.
5. Durability
Children aren’t always gentle with their things, so it’s best to choose a sturdy and durable metal detector. Options with waterproof features are a bonus, as they add versatility to the types of terrain they can be used on.
6. Price
The price of metal detectors can vary wildly based on the features they offer. Premium models may come with more bells and whistles, but there are many affordable detectors that don’t compromise on the fun or learning experience.
7. Reviews and Recommendations
Real-user reviews can provide honest feedback about a product’s performance. Also, consider reaching out to friends or family who might have prior experience with children’s metal detectors.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about metal detectors.
How deep can a metal detector go?
A metal detector can go as deep as a few feet, depending on how sensitive it is. However, some metal detectors may only work if the ground is clear, and there are no obstructions.
Will all metal detectors find gold?
Not all metal detectors can find gold. Some low-quality detectors may only find regular metals and may not be too sensitive to look for gold. Gold is a metal with high conductivity and may be easily detected by sensitive devices. However, there are specialized metal detectors that are made for detecting gold. If you’re interested in gold prospecting, then this is the type of metal detector for you.
What metals cannot be detected by a metal detector?
Stainless steel cannot be detected by a metal detector because it has very low conductivity. It has low magnetic permeability, and this means it will never produce any signal to be identified by a regular metal detector device.
Will metal detectors detect titanium?
Most metal detectors can detect titanium. As long as your metal detector is at the right setting and proper ground balance, you will be able to easily detect titanium in ground soil, but it will be detected along with other minerals like copper, bronze, silver, and gold. You may need to fine-tune a detector to detect titanium among all these metals in the ground.
Can you rent a metal detector?
Yes, you can rent a metal detector, and there are metal detector rentals online. Usually, these are highly-specialized metal detectors that are used to locate special metals and alloys in the ground. And if you wish to rent a metal detector, make sure that you select a highly-reliable company, check credentials, and compare rental companies first before you arrange for a rental.
Final Thoughts on the 5 Best Metal Detectors for Kids
Choosing the right metal detector for a child is a balance of utility, ease of use, and fun. The above listed metal detectors each offer a unique blend of these qualities, tailor-made to create an unforgettable treasure hunting experience for children.
The RM RICOMAX and SUNPOW detectors bring to the table high precision and depth detection. Their easy-to-assemble nature paired with light and adjustable designs make them instantly appealing to young explorers. They are sure to evoke interest and excitement with their innovative features targeted toward children.
The Bounty Hunter Junior T.I.D. impresses with its intuitive emoji-based interface, designed for children’s quick understanding. Its simple design and educational value offer an approachable way for any child to embrace the thrill of treasure hunting.
While all the metal detectors listed have some limitations, their benefits significantly outweigh these drawbacks. They successfully bring the mystery and fascination of treasure hunting to children, fostering an intellectual curiosity and a love for outdoor adventure.