Something for my 8 year old?

[Jeepfreak81]

Hey all - been a hot minute since I've been on here and I didn't detect hardly at all last year. However I did detect a little bit in my back yard with my son and he really enjoyed it. This year he's showing interest and even asking me "how long til the ground thaws".

So I decided I'd like to pick him up his own detector. However, I dont' want to spend a ton of money because #1) he'll grow out of it. and #2) He may tire of it quickly, that remains to be seen.

So I was looking for some suggestions. I'm not opposed to buying used but seems hard to find used kids detectors that aren't just glorified toys. (I guess that's what metal detectors are anyway, HAHA).

I was looking at the Nokta Midi Hoard - It's about $150 most places I look. That's not entirely out of my price range, though if I could find something a bit cheaper that'd be even better. Is the Nokta decent? My other son had a cheap no name detector when he was younger and it just wasn't very good, stuff had to be almost right at the surface.

 

[cellrdwellr]

I have the nokta midi & mini hoards for my little ones. They unfortunately only use them when we go on vacations sometimes. Occasionally they get the itch and hit the front yard. Very simple, easy to use, and affordable. I don't regret the purchase of either. I know they will get more use when they get older and understand what the hobby is really about.

 

[markinmichigan]

Buy them something you would like and that way you can interchange them any way you want. Craigslist is a great place to start for used.

I once bought a snowblower for a gf for her birthday because she was complaining about shoveling. Didn't go over well at all. Really? When we went our separate ways she said take this.

Mark in Michigan

 

[Martin_V3i]

A Garretts Ace250 would fit your 8 year old and hold some resale value.

 

[Jeepfreak81]

A Garretts Ace250 would fit your 8 year old and hold some resale value.

Interesting, I figured that would be large. I'll have to take another look. I love my AT Pro.

Edit - Just looked up the specs and looks like the length adjustment is the same on my AT Pro and it weighs a bit less. So I'll adjust my detector tonight and see if he can swing it around. Today is his b-day actually so thinking of ordering him something tonight if he wants to.

 

[John Madill]

Some detectors have shafts that adjust with cam locks instead of pushpins. Much easier to adjust shaft lengths.
The Minelab Go Finds might work well for young ones. Also the Minelab Vanquish series.

 

[Jeepfreak81]

Some detectors have shafts that adjust with cam locks instead of pushpins. Much easier to adjust shaft lengths.
The Minelab Go Finds might work well for young ones. Also the Minelab Vanquish series.

Oh, yes I saw a couple minelabs that looked like they might work as well so I'll check them out.

I just adjusted my AT Pro to as short as possible and it's still a bit too long for him. Might be another year or two at least before he can swing a full size detector so time to find something decent that's kid sized.

 

[Jeepfreak81]

Ok - ultimately if you had $150 to spend. Nokta Midi Hoard or Minelab Go-Find 44. I'm leaning towards the Go-Find, partly because I can use it also. LOL

 

[maxxkatt]

Buy them something you would like and that way you can interchange them any way you want. Craigslist is a great place to start for used.

I once bought a snowblower for a gf for her birthday because she was complaining about shoveling. Didn't go over well at all. Really? When we went our separate ways she said take this.

Mark in Michigan

Gee mark you never buy a girlfriend a practical gift unless it is a Lexus. I once bought my girlfriend in my twenties a crock pot for her birthday and she threw it at me stating rather forceful "I don't need a Freaking crock pot". I dodged it and those sucker are heavy it punched a hole in our apartment wall.

 

[markinmichigan]

Ain't no GF worth a Lexus. A crock pot was a thoughtful gift in my book, you're a good man!!

Mark in Michigan

 

[hoser]

Silly man! Have you not learned anything. You never have the item you are going to give your GF. No, you have a photo of it. That don't hurt near as bad as the real thing when they throw it.

 

[hoser]

Now back to the original post, how about the Minelabe ExTerra pro. small, cost effective, and used by both a youth or adult.

 

[achaios]

Gee mark you never buy a girlfriend a practical gift unless it is a Lexus. I once bought my girlfriend in my twenties a crock pot for her birthday and she threw it at me stating rather forceful "I don't need a Freaking crock pot". I dodged it and those sucker are heavy it punched a hole in our apartment wall.

What would she have done if you bought her a gym membership?

I was just thinking about that video of guys sent to a doghouse for their sins.

--Tom

 

[maxxkatt]

That was back in the mid-70's and in Atlanta going to the gym back then was not as big as it is now. Lot of young people back then would rather lay around and smoke weed or drink beer.