T-Rex or 920i?

[recout]

I have the T-Rex for the past few years and was thinking about getting the sunspot 920i. Anyone have both? If so what do you prefer? How is the 920i holding up? All the welds still good, metal isn't "ripping" at the welds...

 

[stephenscool]

Depends on the conditions you hunt. Stavr is also an all around good scoop

 

[recout]

95% of the time I hunt in the wet sand. In southern Jersey

 

[Booty Hunter]

I beat the heck out of my 920i. No problems yet. Has lifetime guarantee. I use the carbon fiber handle. The scoop itself is heavy.

 

[Champ Ferguson]

Yeah look at that Sunspot warranty. Even on other brands. Never seen anything like it.

When I was choosing, I decided on the basis of :
- warranty +
- 9" Stealth is 1# lighter (TRex is 0.5" wider, Stealth is 2.5" longer, essentially same height)
When I called them up, I gained another reason; I have never dealt with a company that had better customer service.

 

[njredneck]

Is your T-Rex coming apart? I also have one, but I don't have that miles on mine. I hunt generally hunt on LBI in South Jersey, wet and dry sand.

 

[Grilled Scallops]

My trex has busted at welds not once but twice. I dig like a badger. I have the updated one with the extra brace in the middle. I took it to a welder and told him to weld in some big, fat extra braces so that I'd never have to fix it again. I hope that works. The bill of the scoop is wearing down and crumbling. My hope is that I get another year out of it. I'll try the 920i after my rex is done.

 

[Cameraniac]

I love my Stavr scoop.

 

[stephenscool]

Me too... warranty? For what. I'm 6ft2 260lbs and pound that scoop like no tomorrow. Still perfect.

 

[Champ Ferguson]

Warranty because of the Laws of Physics. And the laws of trucks running over it (or some such).
Stavrs are good scoops too, of course. They made my final list too.

 

[stephenscool]

Might want to look at that warranty again. I don't think Sunspot is going to send you a new scoop if you run over it with a truck.
I have wanted to try out one of the Sunspot scoops but the shipping fees with the scoop just aren't in my range.

 

[Dig]

I'm a big fan of Sunspot 920 ix and the 720. I own and use both. I hunt quite a lot and destroyed the first 920 I purchased. I sent it back to Chuck and Lyndia with a letter and he shipped me a brand new scoop that was reinforced to handle the constant digging. I purchased the carbon fiber handle and have never looked back. Best money I have ever spent. They get my nod!

 

[dewcon4414]

Dig let me hold the 920 with CF handle he owns............ you wont believe how light they are with that combo. Chuck will make one how ever you need it as well. You have to love the slits in the back over holes. The T-rex is a remake of Steves scoop the ProScoop. They have 1/4 holes ...... great for earring studs, BUT if you are in shells or rocks you almost need a sifter..... not to mention how heavy they are, especially full. My money would be on the Starvr or 920. IMO the 920 was a step up from the 7 series. Not much you can do to improve that scoop. Ive had my Starvr for a few years now......... no problems. Its light, clears well with the 1/2" holes and small enough to handle easily.

Dew

 

[Champ Ferguson]

Might want to look at that warranty again. I don't think Sunspot is going to send you a new scoop if you run over it with a truck.
I have wanted to try out one of the Sunspot scoops but the shipping fees with the scoop just aren't in my range.

I did, and along with numerous stories on various forums, stand by my assertions. Granted, if you intentionally damage a product, you deserve nothing. I was using a literary device called Exaggeration to make a point; Sunspot's warranty is the best, in writing and in practice.
Thank you for your comment.

 

[dewcon4414]

I think my M9 Starvr to my door.... which took about 10 days..... was $179

 

[adamBomb]

I have the 920. No complaints the thing is a beast and is awesome. You arent going to go wrong with any of the ones mentioned here and are trying to split hairs. Get a good scoop and start digging.

 

[Cameraniac]

I think the EVROEXCAVATOR-3 V.30 would be a nice addition to my scoop collection. I like the design. Funny thing is that it appeared a little while after I had mentioned, on a forum, that I would like to see a Stavr with a basket that's a little taller than say the Monstric-9 that I've got. I'm sure that it is just a coincidence. Or is it? lol!!

 

[John(Tx)]

at the weld at the base where the rod goes in, took to welder and had that area beefed up last year, have not had anymore problems but have a Nuttail scoop for backup. HH

 

[Dig]

Might want to look at that warranty again. I don't think Sunspot is going to send you a new scoop if you run over it with a truck.
I have wanted to try out one of the Sunspot scoops but the shipping fees with the scoop just aren't in my range.

I used to think just like you Stephenscool but, over time I changed my mind. It took a while and I spent too much time digging with scoops that weren't efficient, and nearly wrecked my back and shoulder. The funny thing that most people don't consider is "investment". We invest several hundred, or for a lot of us several thousand in our detectors and then try to short-change ourselves on digging equipment. I did it right out of the box! I started off with a used rtg aluminum scoop that was 6 or 7 inches wide. I had nothing to compare to so I thought it was normal to dig a hole with 5 or 6 scoops. It wasnt until later that I started trying longer bucket styles that I realized I could usually dig my targets in 1-3 (most of them on the 1st shot). As a result I began recovering things faster and moving on to the next target quicker than before, allowing for more finds. I also had less wear and tear on my digging arm than before, because, instead of making several shots on one target, I was reducing them down to 1 or only a couple per target. That meant I wasn't as tired and could go longer in the water or wouldn't be as tired the next day. The biggest reason for me is the "investment" factor. I look at a high efficiency scoop with a carbon fiber handle, as an investment in my digging arm; much in the same way the money spent on buying the best machine you can afford is an investment in finding the most items you can. Overall a good size bucket and carbon fiber handle is about the price of 2 good rings. If you're hunting enough for the bucket style to make a difference then 2 good rings are an excellent trade. This is just my humble opinion! I know money doesn't grow on trees, but when its time to spend for gear I think it's a good investment!

 

[stephenscool]

Might want to look at that warranty again. I don't think Sunspot is going to send you a new scoop if you run over it with a truck.
I have wanted to try out one of the Sunspot scoops but the shipping fees with the scoop just aren't in my range.

I used to think just like you Stephenscool but, over time I changed my mind. It took a while and I spent too much time digging with scoops that weren't efficient, and nearly wrecked my back and shoulder. The funny thing that most people don't consider is "investment". We invest several hundred, or for a lot of us several thousand in our detectors and then try to short-change ourselves on digging equipment. I did it right out of the box! I started off with a used rtg aluminum scoop that was 6 or 7 inches wide. I had nothing to compare to so I thought it was normal to dig a hole with 5 or 6 scoops. It wasnt until later that I started trying longer bucket styles that I realized I could usually dig my targets in 1-3 (most of them on the 1st shot). As a result I began recovering things faster and moving on to the next target quicker than before, allowing for more finds. I also had less wear and tear on my digging arm than before, because, instead of making several shots on one target, I was reducing them down to 1 or only a couple per target. That meant I wasn't as tired and could go longer in the water or wouldn't be as tired the next day. The biggest reason for me is the "investment" factor. I look at a high efficiency scoop with a carbon fiber handle, as an investment in my digging arm; much in the same way the money spent on buying the best machine you can afford is an investment in finding the most items you can. Overall a good size bucket and carbon fiber handle is about the price of 2 good rings. If you're hunting enough for the bucket style to make a difference then 2 good rings are an excellent trade. This is just my humble opinion! I know money doesn't grow on trees, but when its time to spend for gear I think it's a good investment!

Don't get me wrong. I have 2 stavrs with 4mm sidewall CF shafts. Living in Asia this was the only practical option with the shipping fees. The 1 stavr scoop with the cf shaft is probably the lightest setup on the market.