Not sure how others adjust their detectors as far as length goes, but I have had a number of people try my X-Terra's ranging in height from 4'9" to 6'4" and none of them had any complaints about the length after adjusting both the shaft & the armrest cuff. My daughter in the photo hunted with me for 2 hours without a problem using the X-30 shown. I guess I needed to provide an MPEG file showing her hunt with it since the critics found issues with her "stance" - the photo was simply to show that it would shorten enough for her to use it. Her position was posed for the photo and she hunts with her arm straightened out as she should and the detector worked fine for her. If you have it in the 4th hole at 6'tall, the coil is way too close to your body.
The perfect balance point is to extend the detector to the point that you can extend your arm out with just a slight bend at the elbow and hold the detector in your hand (unclenched fist) with the coil on the ground in front of you. Try to sweep the coil side to side without clenching the grip and adjust the length / armrest cuff to the point where it glides back and forth without straining your arm or coming out of your hand. Too close in and you will feel it . . . . too far out and you will be contorting yourself to hunt. I equate the ideal setting to be where the detector can be swept side-to-side with the had grip resting in your hand with the fingers open; i.e., let it float as you sweep it. At this point, you will not be supporting the detectors weight with your arm or wrist - both of which tend to tire you out in the field after any length of time hunting.
But as Bernie, Steve, Bill P. and others have said, it seems that people are trying awfully hard to find things WRONG with the X-Terra . . . . . someone actually complained about the color of the X-30 preferring the blue over the red! It's sad that one has to look so hard that it comes down to not liking the color of a detector as a deciding factor to buy it or not.
If Minelab had the perfect detector, heck they would be the only company left in business - the same goes for any of the other manufacturers. There is no one perfect detector (or even brand) that will suit everyone's needs for every type of hunting in every type of ground condition. Use what works for you and if the XXXXXX detector (enter any brand or model you want to compliment or criticize) does not meet your needs for whatever reason, DO NOT BUY IT! If it does, by all means stick with it and master it.
Back in the 1970's and 1980's, technology was improving quickly and we all needed to upgrade our detectors every year or so to stay competitive. That rate of change has slowed in the past 10+ years. If you have a higher-end detector that is fairly new and you are doing well with it, you should consider whether you should be replacing what you have with a new detector, especially one that was never touted as replacing a top-of-the-line model; i.e., the X-Terra. I have had a number of people ask me about selling their Explorer to get an X-Terra . . . . . even though they are doing extremely well with the EXII or XS. Why? They thought that being a newer detector, it would perform better. Again, if you have mastered your detector and are happy with the results, at least TRY a new one in comparison to what you have before you start at the bottom of the learning curve again. The X-Terra series was designed for a targeted segment of the market and it serves that market quite well based on the feedback to date. It's not an Explorer III or a GP 5000 or a DFX 2 want-to-be or a replacement for any other top-of-the-line detector. Will seasoned hunters buy them? Of course as it works well, is lightweight and is fun to use. Why do you think that Garrett has been so successful with the Ace 250? Beginners are not the only ones using them . . . . . a lot of vetran hunters have started to use them almost as much as their main units . . . . heck, I have two of them and both me and my kids have a ball with them - they work well and couldn't be simpler to use!
A lot goes into what makes a detector "RIGHT" for a user. For some it's weight (or lack of), for others it's ease of use or raw detection depth or discrimination or color . . . . . find what works for you and that's your perfect detector!
I've told this story to demostrate this point at a number of the shows I've given talks at. Several years ago I had a friend that got interested in detecting based on the stuff I would bring in to work on occasion. He opted for a lower-priced detector from a major manufacturer and was looking forward to using it. I took him to a military parade ground that I had done well at in the past. I was using a $1000+ detector. I explained to him how to set and use his new detector and we went off in separate directions. An hour or so later he came over and you could see the frustration on his face. He was ready to beat me with the detector. All he had was a few modern coins and a ton of trash. I tried to explain what he had done wrong but when he saw the handful of silver coins, a gold ring and other goodies I had he swore I had sold him a lemon. I told him to take my detector and after a quick lesson, he walked off confident that he would be the winner now. Well, an hour or so later what do you think happened . . . . . he was back just as ticked off as before. A few coins and more trash. Then the light came on when he saw I had more silver coins and military artifacts with very little trash. I had known how to interpret what either detector was telling me and he did not. He mastered that detector and years later, he is still using it with great success - often out hunting those with newer and more expensive units. Lesson . . . . . learn what you have and you will do well.
OK, down from the soap box again . . . . . (and waiting for the usual E-mails)
Andy Sabisch
