

However, the lack of an LCD screen is worth noting. The sensitivity feature, discrimination feature, headphone jack, target indicator, and three-position toggle on this Tracker IV are more than enough to detect most items. The Tracker IV is one of the best when it comes to locating treasures, both on the surface and buried several inches deep. On the other hand, this Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV does not compete with the Garrett when it comes to ergonomics. On one hand, the price of the Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV is much lower than the Garrett: around 50% cheaper. If you are deliberating between getting this model or the Garrett – Ace 250, there are two main points you should consider. Bounty Hunter is perhaps the most trusted name in the business when it comes to metal detectors, and this Tracker IV is our pick for their best model. Like the Garrett, the calibration feature on this model is automatic, and it had no problems adjusting itself to the soil we were searching. We would definitely recommend this unit to anyone looking for an excellent all-around unit that is inexpensive.

Perhaps it is for this reason that the Tracker IV has also been voted as one of the best beginner metal detectors on some other review sites. As for the discrimination test and underwater test, this metal detector came up only behind the Garrett. That is, in both the general detection test and the depth test the Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV found every single item. In two of our tests, this metal detector actually tied with the Garrett – Ace 250 for top place. With a depth meter, pinpoint feature, and various other features, the Garrett – Ace 250 has the widest variety of modes.Ĭoming in second place is the Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV metal detector.The LCD screen is top of the line, clearly displaying a wide range of options and data.Its solid frame, padded handle, and Velcro-strapped forearm rest make this metal detector the most comfortable model.The Garrett – Ace 250 is the most reliable metal detector when it comes to locating coins, relics, and gold.While there are much more expensive models out there, this one does cost the most of the seven we’ve tested. The only downside to this unit is the relatively high price tag. No other detector can compare to this Garrett – Ace 250 in terms of ergonomics. The screen is easy to read and also displays the estimated depth of the metal it finds. Along with the standard discrimination, sensitivity features and headphone jack, this unit comes with a pinpoint feature (which is also found on the New Home Innovations – Starter Kit) and many other pre-programmed modes for searching for different types of metals. The LCD display is also in a class of its own. The Garrett - Ace 250 is on the pricey side, but it's packed with features and it outperformed every other unit we tested. The foam on the handle and armrest, along with the Velcro strap on the armrest, provide a very secure feel. It only missed one item during the discrimination test, so it is safe to say that this metal detector is your best bet when it comes to finding those treasures.Īs far as the ergonomics on this unit go, it was definitely the most comfortable of any of the detectors. The Garrett’s automatic ground-balancing feature adjusted itself to the mineral content and found every coin, relic, and piece of gold - in sand, underwater, and even buried a few inches deep. Budget pick: Bounty Hunter – Gold DiggerĪfter we completed testing, a clear winner emerged: the Garrett – Ace 250, which received perfect scores in four of our five tests.The Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV came in as our runner-up. It also has the best look and feel when it comes to ergonomics. The Ace 250 is superior when it comes to locating coins, relics and gold, both in the sand and in the water. Over 30 hours of hands-on testing with seven top products priced under $250, we found the Garrett – Ace 250 to be the best metal detector in every category we tested.
