Tom’s Christmas Metal Detector Picks for 2026
If you are shopping for the best metal detectors for Christmas this year, for somebody you love or for yourself, I have five picks, one for every budget. They run from under $250 up to the detector I compete with. No hype, just what I would tell a friend.
These picks match my Christmas gear video on my YouTube channel.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the site and the channel.
What I Use
Before we get to the picks, I want to show you what I use. I am telling you up front so you know what I prefer and can weigh my picks with that in mind.
Minelab Manticore
My Minelab Manticore does two jobs. With the M9 coil, it is my machine for parks, old houses, relics, and dry beaches. With the M8 coil, it is my gold prospecting setup (Minelab Manticore on Amazon).
XP Deus 2 and the HF2 Coil
Next is my XP Deus 2 full kit with the 9 inch coil. That is what I take diving in freshwater swimming holes, and it is what I use to recover jewelry underwater.
I also run the XP HF2 coil. I use it on wet and dry beaches when I am hunting small gold jewelry after big beach events. It is also my main gold prospecting coil.
Pinpointer and Land Digging Gear
For pinpointing, my favorite is the XP MI-6. For digging on land, I carry a Grey Ghost finds pouch, the Phoenix Model 33 “The Hurricane” shovel, and the Phoenix Model 85 “the Original” digging tool.
Underwater Gear
In the water, I use a Serious Detecting mesh-bottom beach pouch and a Quest XPointer Max pinpointer. I like the XPointer Max underwater because it is very loud.
Snorkulus Hookah Dive System
For longer dives in the swimming holes, I use the Snorkulus Hookah dive system. James and Nyssa did most of the design work on it. If you want to build one, the plans and all the details are on that page. Read the safety section first.
How I Picked These
I spent 35 years as a semiconductor equipment engineer, so I am a numbers and reliability guy. I want a machine that does what the spec sheet says and holds up in the dirt.
Every pick below has a waterproof coil and a built-in rechargeable battery, and each comes from a company that will be around to support it. The Nokta photos are Nokta’s own, used with their permission. The XP photos are my own gear.
Prices are what I found in October 2026. Christmas sales will move them, so check before you buy.
How to Choose a Metal Detector as a Gift
Before you pick a model, answer four questions about the person you are buying for:
- Budget. Decide what you want to spend first. A good first detector does not have to cost much, and more money mostly buys more frequencies, more settings, and more speed.
- Where they will hunt. Parks and yards are easy on any detector. Wet salt sand at the beach and highly mineralized ground are where multi-frequency detectors earn their price.
- Weight. A detector gets swung for hours. Nokta lists all three of its picks below at 2.6 pounds, and XP lists the WS6 Master from about 1.65 pounds.
- Waterproofing. If they hunt beaches, creeks, or in the rain, check how deep the detector is rated and whether the headphones are waterproof too.
If you are still not sure, my Metal Detector Selection Helper walks you through it.
Best Metal Detectors for Christmas: Quick Comparison
| Budget | Pick | Frequencies | Waterproof | Weight | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $250 | Nokta Simplex Lite | 15 kHz single | To 16 ft (5 m) | 2.6 lb | About $249 |
| $250–$500 | Nokta Triple Score Pro Pack | Multi + 4, 15, 20 kHz | To 16 ft (5 m) | 2.6 lb with coil | About $499 |
| $500–$800 | XP Deus 2 WS6 Master (no remote) | FMF multi + 49 single, 4–45 kHz | Coil to 66 ft (20 m); WS6 rainproof | From 1.65 lb (750 g) | About $799 |
| $800–$1,000 | Nokta Legend 2 | Multi + 4, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz | To 16 ft (5 m) | 2.6 lb | About $999 |
| $1,000+ | XP Deus 2 full kit (remote + WS6) | FMF multi + 49 single, 4–45 kHz | To 66 ft (20 m), WS6 rainproof | Not listed here | About $1,299 (11″ coil) |
Under $250: Nokta Simplex Lite
Why I Picked It
I picked the Simplex Lite for the starter tier because it gives a new hunter the features that matter without a pile of menus. Nokta rates it fully waterproof to 16 feet, so a beginner can take it to the beach or into a creek without worry. It weighs 2.6 pounds, which is easy on a younger or smaller hunter. It has a rechargeable battery, a pinpoint mode, and a 01–99 target ID. Expect to pay about $249.
Who It Is For
It is a starter machine, and that is fine. Starters are supposed to be simple. This is the one I would hand a first-timer, a grandkid, or anybody who wants to try the hobby before spending serious money.
The Catch
It runs one frequency. That is great for parks and yards, but wet salt beach sand will give it trouble. The Lite also has no Bluetooth, so there are no wireless headphones. Still, for a first detector, it is hard to beat for the money.
Key Specs
- Operating frequency: 15 kHz (single frequency VLF)
- Search modes: Field, Park, Beach, All Metal
- Coil: 9.5″ x 6″ waterproof DD (SX24)
- Waterproof: fully submersible to 16 ft (5 m)
- Weight: 2.6 lb (1.2 kg); length 25″–52″ adjustable
- Battery: 2300 mAh lithium, rechargeable
- Warranty: 3 years
If the budget can stretch to about $299, the Simplex Ultra adds an 11″ coil, Bluetooth, a full carbon fiber shaft, and more audio settings (Simplex Ultra on Amazon).
Where to buy: Nokta Simplex in my shop | Nokta Simplex on Amazon
$250–$500: Nokta Triple Score Pro Pack
Why I Picked It
I picked the Triple Score Pro Pack for this tier because it is a low-cost way to get simultaneous multi-frequency in a fully waterproof detector. Multi-frequency helps on wet salt sand and in mixed ground, where a single-frequency machine can struggle. You can also pick 4, 15, or 20 kHz when one frequency fits the site better. The kit includes two coils and wireless headphones, so it is ready to go out of the box. At about $499, it is a lot of detector.
Who It Is For
It is for somebody who knows they like detecting, or a beginner who wants room to grow.
The Catch
At about $499, it is right at the top of this budget, so watch for holiday sales. But if you want one detector to grow into without breaking the bank, this is my answer.
Key Specs
- Operating frequency: Multi, 4 kHz, 15 kHz, or 20 kHz
- Search modes: Park, Field, Beach, Relic
- Coils: 12″ x 9″ DD (SC30) and 9.5″ x 6″ DD (SC24), both waterproof
- Waterproof: IP68, fully submersible to 16 ft (5 m)
- Weight: 2.6 lb (1.2 kg) including the coil
- Target ID: 01–60; 15 sensitivity levels; 5 recovery speed levels
- Battery: 3250 mAh lithium polymer; warranty 3 years
Where to buy: Nokta Triple Score in my shop | Nokta Triple Score on Amazon
$500–$800: XP Deus 2 WS6 Master
Why I Picked It
I picked the WS6 Master because it puts the Deus 2 Fast Multi-Frequency engine I run in my own D2 into a lighter, less expensive package. The difference is the control. There is no remote. You run the detector from the WS6 module on the headphones, which has its own small screen and settings. XP lists the setup from 750 grams, and the coils are waterproof to 20 meters. For about $799 with the 11″ coil, that is serious performance.
The Headphone Module
I run the WS6 ST, the stereo version. The $799 package comes with the standard WS6. If you want the stereo one from the start, that package runs about $969.
The coil is waterproof, but the WS6 module is rainproof, not submersible. So this is a land machine more than a water machine.
Who It Is For and the Catch
It is for the land hunter who wants Deus 2 performance for about $800 instead of about $1,300. The catch is that the screen is small and the menu is deep, so expect a learning curve. For a land hunter on a budget, this is the smartest money in the lineup.
Key Specs
- Frequencies: Fast Multi-Frequency (FMF) or 49 single frequencies from 4 to 45 kHz
- Control: WS6 wireless headphones with a removable, rainproof control module (82 g); no remote
- Coil choices: 9″, 11″, or 13″ x 11″ FMF, waterproof to 20 m (66 ft)
- Weight: from 750 g (about 1.65 lb), per XP
- Programs: 12 factory plus 12 user programs
- Battery life: headphones about 12 hours; coil up to 20 hours depending on program and frequency
- Warranty: 5 years; made in France
Where to buy: XP Deus 2 WS6 Master (11″ coil) on Amazon
$800–$1,000: Nokta Legend 2
Why I Picked It
I picked the Legend 2 for this tier because it is the all-rounder. Parks, plowed fields, and the beach are all covered by one machine. It runs simultaneous multi-frequency plus five single frequencies from 4 to 40 kHz, and it has Park, Field, Beach, Relic, and Gold modes. Nokta lists it at 2.6 pounds and waterproof to 16 feet. Two coils and Bluetooth low-latency headphones come in the box. For one detector that does a bit of everything, it is a strong value.
The Catch
At about $999, it is at the top of this bracket. And if you have coils from the original Legend, they will not fit the Legend 2. The Legend used LG series coils, and the Legend 2 uses LD series coils.
Key Specs
- Frequencies: simultaneous multi-frequency plus 4, 10, 15, 20, and 40 kHz single frequencies
- Search modes: Park, Field, Beach, Relic, Gold
- Coils included: 11″ DD (LD28) and 8″ x 5.5″ DD (LD21), both waterproof
- Waterproof: IP68, submersible to 16 ft (5 m); the Bluetooth headphones are not
- Weight: 2.6 lb (1.2 kg)
- Target ID: 99; 7 tone options; target ID shown in pinpoint mode
- Battery: 6,700 mAh lithium ion; warranty 3 years
Where to buy: Nokta Legend 2 in my shop | Nokta Legend 2 on Amazon
$1,000+: XP Deus 2 Full Kit (the D2)
Why I Picked It
The D2 is the detector I hunt and compete with, and I run it with the HF2 coil. In competitions, speed matters, and the HF2 pinpoints well, so I can get targets out of the ground fast. I keep the 11″ coil as a backup, and I use the 9″ only underwater. The full kit adds the remote right on the stem, with a bigger screen you can read in the water. It is about $1,299 for the 11″ kit with the remote and the WS6.
Who It Is For
It is for the serious hobbyist, the competition hunter, and the water hunter. That is me.
The Catch
Price, for one. Then batteries. The coil, the remote, and the headphones each have their own battery, and any one of them going dead ends your hunt. The menu is deep too, though the factory programs do just fine.
If you are serious, it is worth every penny. If you just want to turn it on and go, you will be paying for a lot of machine you will not use.
Key Specs
- Frequencies: Fast Multi-Frequency (FMF) or 49 single frequencies from 4 to 45 kHz
- Control: Deus 2 wireless remote plus WS6 wireless headphones
- Waterproof: detector and coil rated to 66 ft (20 m); the WS6 module is rainproof
- Programs: 12 factory plus 12 user programs
- HF2 coil: 9.5″ x 5″ elliptical, up to 90 kHz in FMF and 120 kHz in single frequency, built for small, low-conductive targets
- Warranty: 5 years; made in France
- Price: about $1,299 with the 11″ FMF coil; one authorized dealer lists an HF2 package at $1,599
Where to buy: XP Deus 2 in my shop | XP Deus 2 on Amazon
WS6 Master or Full Kit?
Folks ask me this all the time. It is the same detector either way.
If you hunt mostly dry land and want to save money, get the WS6 Master. If you hunt the water or want the bigger screen, get the full kit.
Here is the nice part. XP sells the remote by itself, for about $799, so you can add it later. The WS6 Master is not a dead end.
Gift Tips: What to Put Under the Tree With It
If you are buying for somebody else, the detector is only half the gift. Here is what I would put under the tree with it.
Headphones for the Nokta Picks
The Simplex Lite has no Bluetooth, so get Nokta’s wired waterproof headphones. The Triple Score and the Legend 2 already come with Bluetooth headphones, but those are not waterproof. For the water, add Nokta’s waterproof set to the Triple Score, or Nokta’s bone conduction set to the Legend 2.
Headphones for the Deus 2 Picks
On either Deus 2, I would get the WS6 ST. It is stereo, and it doubles as a backup controller. If you want full over-ear cups for wind and surf, look at XP’s WSA-XL ST.
A Pinpointer
A pinpointer is the single best add-on you can buy. It turns a ten-minute hole into a one-minute hole. I use the XP MI-6.
A Digger and a Finds Pouch
Get a real digger, not a garden spade, so you can cut a clean plug and put the grass back. A finds pouch keeps the trash apart from the treasure. Yes, you dig the trash too, and you pack it out.
For beach hunters, a good scoop saves a lot of digging. I build a carbon fiber beach sand scoop that is in my shop now.
Permission and Local Laws
This is the big one. On private land, ask the landowner first, every time.
Parks and public land each have their own rules. State and federal land is a whole different deal, with real penalties for disturbing historical sites. So call ahead, ask, and fill your holes. That keeps this hobby open for everybody.
Where to Find My Gear
You can find my gear in my Etsy shop, ProspectorsCacheShop, and in my eBay store. For real hunts and detector tips, check out my YouTube channel. Once the new detector is out of the box, my detector settings guide will help get it dialed in.
Final Thoughts
The best metal detector for Christmas is the one that fits the person, the ground they will hunt, and your budget.
So that is my list. The Simplex Lite to start. The Triple Score to grow into. The WS6 Master for D2 performance on a budget. The Legend 2 to do it all. And the D2 if you are ready to get serious.
Buy from an authorized dealer so the warranty is good, and check prices again before you buy. Merry Christmas, and happy hunting.
Sources
- Nokta: Simplex Lite
- Nokta: Simplex Lite, BT and Ultra specifications
- Nokta: Triple Score Pro Pack specifications
- Nokta: The Legend 2 specifications (includes the Legend vs. Legend 2 coil list)
- XP Metal Detectors: Deus II WS6 Master
- Destination Gold Detectors: Deus II WS6 Master package contents and price
- Gulf Coast Detector: Deus II with remote and WS6, 11″ FMF coil
- Modern Metal Detectors: Deus II with HF2 coil
- Kellyco: Nokta The Legend 2 listing
Written by Tom Ashworth
Prospectors Cache