Which detector do you find to be

[otlew]

The most comfortable to use for long periods of hunting, irregardless of brand or type.

It seems there are two functional setups, curved for the handle and straight shafts. Straight shafts seem to be professionally made for only some detectors.

Then there are the homemade varieties we see here and at other forums.

I have a Garrett GTI 2500 that I just cannot make acceptably comfortable for longer hunts, with battery pack on the machine or on my belt, it still doesn't feel right to me. I have a Swingy Thingy and while it does help, it is just one more piece of gear to adjust and keep up with.

Of the machines you may have used, which had the best balance and least fatigue over a period of time, disregarding the machine's detecting abilities?

Thanks in advance for comments you may post.

 

[Ken in NC]

I have used the Garrett GTI 1500 and found the same thing true about it's weight/balance. Wonderful machine, but rough on the arm.

For stock machines, any of the Tesoro uMax models that use one 9v battery are wonderful to use. I find they are all about 2.2 lbs, and well balanced

I also use a ML Sovereign Elite with the control box chest mounted and just a 8" coil on the rod. That setup is light as a feather to me.

From my observations, any weight forward of the elbow is a problem, and the distance the weight is forward of the elbow just adds to the leverage. For example, the stock Nautilus configuration is rough on the arm, yet the control box is not heavy....bulky, but not that heavy. Just moving the control box beneath the forearm makes a world of difference on that machine.

 

[surfman]

Out of the five that i've had( still have three ) the minelab x-terra 70 is by far the most comfotable. And that completely stock. Very light and ergonomic.

 

[D&P-OR]

Certain of the Tesoros--the Troys & the Minelab Xterras would fall in that category you are asking about.----Also possibly a (select) few of the Fishers.---The "Greek series" Teknetics MAY qualify.

 

[otlew]

Thanks for all of your replies so far. I am taking notes on the recommended detectors. I plan to make a trip to a retailer and try several brands/models out for fit and comfort.

I haven't been at detecting very long, but I have figured out that finding things is a function of using the proper machine and setup and covering ground. I do not consider my detector comfortable, I spend far too much time making adjustment to my grip and the like and not enough time sweeping the coil over the area.

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[Mike Hillis]

1st.... Teknetics Omega,
2nd... Tesoro Compadre and 5.75" coil,

These are the two most comfortable detectors to swing for long periods of time.

My opinion.
Mike

 

[oldcoon]

n/t

 

[TURNMASTER]

If you have not been at this for long, I think any machine will fatigue your arm. The swinging of the machine itself is an anarobic excercise and will make your arm sore. The longer you swing the easier it will get. I HAD a Bounty Hunter and they are very light weight but do not have the quality or capability of the "name" brands. I have an Xterra 705 and it is a good machine and I perfer to swing it compared to my Explorer SE, but the issue there is not weight it is ergonomics. A little weight lifting should make that GTI 2500 a bunch easier to swing.

Jeff

 

[UK Brian]

Deepstar P.I. Even the early model with its quarter inch thick control box and battery pack the size of a half brick. Its chest mounted and as long as the straps are crossed at the back you don't feel the weight.
Eric Foster also thought about the left hander so you have connectors for the coil on each side of the control box. Just swap the waterproof cap over and re connect the coil lead. A small meter gives a real time battery readout. When it drops into the red you can then flick a switch which doubles the remaining detecting time. Even charges via the headphone jack.

Great design and still outperforms most of the modern detectors.

 

[zeekeys]

Its a hobby and supposed to be enjoyable. If you go home exhausted just from swinging the detector, it is fun for awhile but it soon becomes a chore to go hunting. I like a light, versatile detector. I really like the F70. Thanks for reading and Happy Trails....Z

 

[otlew]

Its a hobby and supposed to be enjoyable. If you go home exhausted just from swinging the detector, it is fun for awhile but it soon becomes a chore to go hunting. I like a light, versatile detector. I really like the F70. Thanks for reading and Happy Trails....Z

You have put my sentiment into your comments. If some detectors can be made to be comfortable, why not all?

I'm in this for fun and a little exercise.

 

[Woodchuck]

I've alwas used whites detectors Spectrum XLT,Prizm V,QXt,and IDX, and never found em to heavy to swing.I for one can't picture a detector that uncomfortable.The lightess was Prizm V at a 2.1 pounds.I justed weighed my newest aquire a IDX Pro with 950 coil and NIMH rechargeable battery pack and it weight is 4.2 pounds.And that is still light to me .And I'm in over 50 in age.What does the GTI 2500 of yours weigh?

 

[fowlercharles]

The Tesoro Umax's are great for all day swining, and especially the Compadre 5.75 is not only the lightest, it has gained a real good rep for being a really downright"fun " machine to use, and that is what the hobby is mostly about. I Love my Tejon, though it is not a Umax, it comes close enough when I remove the coil cover. Hard to believe how much difference that thing makes when you become an old man. I used a Fisher 1265 and a 66 for awhile way back and will always l remember that to me, it seemed to have been set up to balance the weight perfectly and was really comfortable to swing. Never got use to all the noise, but could go all day with it.Won't call any other names but in all my years I did pack a few uncomfortable, heavy, and unwieldy machines. Tesoro literally shamed them all real good when they came out with their feather weight models, and are still far ahead of most when it comes to the weight factor.And for sure, that Tejon punches deeper for the goodies than I really care to dig,

 

[fowlercharles]

n/t

 

[otlew]

I've alwas used whites detectors Spectrum XLT,Prizm V,QXt,and IDX, and never found em to heavy to swing.I for one can't picture a detector that uncomfortable.The lightess was Prizm V at a 2.1 pounds.I justed weighed my newest aquire a IDX Pro with 950 coil and NIMH rechargeable battery pack and it weight is 4.2 pounds.And that is still light to me .And I'm in over 50 in age.What does the GTI 2500 of yours weigh?

The GTI 2500 weighs in at 4 lb - 8 oz, but that is not the thrust of my question. Weight and balance, along with the ergonomics or overall design are my issues. For one thing not every person's elbow will fit neatly into the arm cuff on the end. From what I can tell most detectors made do not allow much adjustment of the arm cuff, or anything else except the coil shafts. This does not make for optimal fit/comfort. Why do people need a Swingy Thingy and/or a straight shaft?

For an example one fellow, here I think, machined a nice aluminum insert rod for the end of his ACE 250 so he could move the cuff to make the cuff land closer to his elbow where he felt it was the most comfortable. I suspect the 6' plus folks and the 5' folks need it, well where they need it.

So while the GTI 2500 is well made and a very functional detector when used within its design, there are not enough adjustments make it fit everyone right. In its case the distance from the arm cuff to the hand grip is fixed and cannot be changed with out a major modification.

An analogy:

These are some well made shoes, and they look great, but they hurt my feet and I can't walk very far before I have to take them off.

Maybe I would do better to ask you all, why a detector is comfortable to you. It can't be just the weight.

 

[D&P-OR]

You should have phrased/presented your question(s) that way in the first place---you MAY have got a few different type answers. ----Think I'll stand on my same answer to your question(s).

 

[otlew]

You should have phrased/presented your question(s) that way in the first place---you MAY have got a few different type answers. ----Think I'll stand on my same answer to your question(s).

Point taken, I should have phrased the question more succinctly!

 

[Carolina Phil]

I will say the "S" type rod configuration of the White's M6 and Classic series (I have a Classic 5-ID), but not the "SL" type rod configuration of the MXT, etc., because a three finger and thumb grip is required, due to the location of the trigger. I've never got my hands on a Tesoro Tejon or Vaquero, but they do look lightweight and comfortable. I own a Minelab X-Terra 70 and have no complaints.

 

[Furious T]

I'd have to say my Tesoro Eldorado and Cibola are the most comforatable....they are light, but well balanced with the standard or smaller coils....using the Eldorado with the 12"x10" coil is more fatiguing. The Treknetics Omega 8000 is light and beautifully balanced in my opinion, and is comfortable using any of the three coils made for it. The Minelab X Terra is also pretty well balanced, and it is light...when I am using the 10" round DD coil or the 9" round 3 kHz coil I put them on back -to-front, and find that that is more comfortable for me...all the other coils are a breeze. The Tesoro DeLeon is also light and well balanced, with battery packs located under the elbow. Although I dont own all the Tesoro models, I'm pretty sure the comments I've made on some I do have would apply to the others (e.g. Vaquero, Tejon or Cortez). There are plenty of machines out there which are light, well balanced and a pleasure to use (the Fisher F4 is another one I could recommend you test for comfort). HH