Rory's Starter Kit — Everything a Young Treasure Hunter Needs
Hi! I'm Rory, and I hunt treasure. Not pirate treasure (though that would be cool) — the kind hiding right under your feet at the park, the beach, and your own backyard. Coins, old buttons, toy cars, maybe even a ring somebody lost a long time ago. Every beep could be something amazing.
I put this kit together with my friend Brian from Bay Area Treasure Hunters so kids like you can start hunting the right way — with gear that actually works, not a toy that beeps at nothing. Pick a detector, grab the extras, and you're ready for your first hunt. The treasure is our adventure!
A note for parents
Every item here was picked for real kids, ages 5–12: light enough for small arms, simple enough to run without a manual, and proven by thousands of families. Your kid does the hunting — you get an afternoon outside, off screens, together. Detecting teaches patience, a little science, and the best feeling there is: digging up something nobody's touched in years.
Step 1: Pick your detector
For ages 5–8: Bounty Hunter Junior (BHJS) — about $49
The lightest real detector we could find, just 1.3 pounds, with a handle that adjusts as your kid grows. It has a simple target meter and a control that helps ignore junk metal, and it finds coins down to about 5 inches. Over 10,000 ratings from parents, averaging 4.2 out of 5. Made in the USA. If you're buying for a younger kid, start here.
For ages 8–12: National Geographic Junior — about $45–$50
Our all-around favorite. Just 1.4 pounds, with a 7.5-inch waterproof coil that handles wet sand and shallow water, and it reads coin-size targets up to 6 inches down. It folds down to 24 inches so it fits in the car. It's Amazon's #1 Best Seller in metal detectors for a reason — simple, tough, and it actually finds things.
For older kids ready to level up: Minelab GO-FIND 22 — about $125–$150
When your 10- or 12-year-old is hooked and wants a real machine, this is the step up. It folds down to just 22 inches for travel, has a waterproof 8-inch coil, and an iron-reject mode that helps skip nails and bottle caps. Minelab is one of the biggest names in detecting, so this is a detector that grows with them instead of getting outgrown. (Stock varies — check the listing for current availability.)
Step 2: The extras that make the hunt work
Dmyond Pinpointer — about $20
The detector says "something's here." The pinpointer says "it's right HERE." This little wand beeps faster the closer it gets to the target, so kids stop digging giant holes and start finding things. 360° detection, a water-resistant tip for wet sand, and the 9V battery comes in the box. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from nearly 3,000 buyers.
CKG Finds Pouch — about $30
Two pockets: one for treasure, one for trash — because a good treasure hunter hauls the junk out too. Drain holes in the bottom shake the sand out, and the belt fits up to a 42-inch waist. It's built adult-size, so younger kids wear it cross-body like a sling, or a parent carries it.
National Geographic Sand Scoop & Shovel Set — about $17
A sand scoop and a trowel in one set, made for the beach and the backyard. The scoop sifts the sand away and leaves the find behind. Over 1,000 bought in the past month on Amazon.
What will my kid actually find?
Honest answer: mostly coins — pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters — plus bottle caps, pull tabs, nails, and the occasional toy car or old button. Every once in a while, jewelry. The trash is part of the deal (even grown-up detectorists dig pull tabs), and honestly, kids love the mystery of it. Junior detectors like these find coin-size targets about 4–6 inches down, which is exactly where the good stuff hides in parks and beaches.
Rory's Detecting Rules
- Always hunt with an adult. Treasure hunting is a team sport.
- Ask permission first. Never detect on someone's yard, a school, or a park without checking the rules — a lot of state parks don't allow detecting, so look it up before you go.
- Fill your holes. Every hole you dig, you fill back in — flat, like you were never there.
- Leave no trace. Take the trash you dig up with you. Leave the place better than you found it.
- If it might be important, tell an adult. Old coins and relics are cool, but some places protect them by law — when in doubt, ask a grown-up.
How buying works
The kit items link out to Amazon, where you buy direct. As an Amazon Associate, Bay Area Treasure Hunters earns from qualifying purchases — buying through these links supports us at no extra cost to you, and it helps us keep making Rory's adventures. Prices shown here were checked November 12, 2026 and can change, so the Amazon listing always has the final price.
Happy hunting — and when your kid finds their first coin, we'd love to hear about it. The treasure is our adventure!