Minelab GO-FIND 22 Metal Detector

Minelab GO-FIND 22 Metal Detector Overview

The Minelab GO-FIND 22 runs VFLEX, Minelab's single-frequency VLF technology, at 8 kHz. It has two Find modes (Non-Ferrous and All Metal), three sensitivity levels, five volume levels and two target tones: low for iron, high for coins and precious metals. A monochrome LCD shows four Find icons and a 3-level depth indicator that reads Shallow, Medium or Deep. Audio plays through the built-in speaker or wired headphones on the 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) socket. The 8 inch rectangular Monoloop coil is hard-wired to the shaft and waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft); Minelab rates only the coil as waterproof, not the control box. The GO-FIND 22 weighs 1.0 kg (2.2 lb), extends to 130.5 cm (51.4 inch), collapses to 55.5 cm (21.9 inch), runs on four AA batteries and carries Minelab's 2-year warranty.

GO-FIND 22 vs. GO-FIND 44: Which Should You Buy?

The GO-FIND 22 and the GO-FIND 44 share the 8 kHz VFLEX circuit, the coil waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft), the 3-level depth indicator, five volume levels and the folding shaft. The GO-FIND 44 adds a Jewelry and Coins Find mode, a third tone for low-value metals, a fourth sensitivity level, Pinpoint, five Treasure View LEDs, a white display and keypad backlight, Bluetooth 4.0 for the GO-FIND app, and a larger 10 inch coil. It weighs 1.1 kg (2.3 lb).

If you want a simple first detector that tells iron from good targets by ear and shows depth, we recommend the GO-FIND 22. If you already know you will hunt most weekends, want Pinpoint for smaller holes, or will detect at dusk, step up to the GO-FIND 44.

GO-FIND 22, Best For:

• First-time detectorists who want two tones and a depth reading without extra buttons
• Families sharing one light detector at 1.0 kg (2.2 lb)
• Parks, yards and dry beach sand with shallow coins and jewelry
• Travel, with a detector that folds to 55.5 cm (21.9 inch)

GO-FIND 44, Best For:

• Beginners who plan to hunt regularly and want Pinpoint
• Jewelry hunters who want the Jewelry and Coins Find mode
• Evening hunts, with the white display and keypad backlight
• Open parks and beaches, where the 10 inch coil covers more ground per sweep

Key Features That Matter in the Field

Find modes accept or reject groups of metal objects, and you cycle through them with the Find button. Non-Ferrous rejects iron, so nails and ferrous trash stay quiet; Minelab's product page calls this mode Reject Iron. All Metal detects every metal target, which we recommend on clean ground or when small jewelry could be in the area. The two tones back up the Find icons: a low tone means iron, a high tone means coins or precious metals.

The depth indicator shows whether a target is shallow, medium or deep, which helps you decide how big a hole to dig. Sensitivity has three levels. Minelab's guide says to raise it for more detecting depth and to lower it when the detector gets noisy or gives false signals; we recommend the middle level in most parks.

We recommend a few habits that shorten the learning curve on the GO-FIND 22:

• Air test a coin, a nail and a piece of foil past the coil at home to learn the tones and icons
• Sweep slowly with the coil level and close to the ground, and overlap each sweep
• Center a target by sweeping across it from a second direction, since the GO-FIND 22 has no Pinpoint mode
• Get permission on private land and fill every hole

Where the Minelab GO-FIND 22 Performs Best

Parks, yards, school grounds (with permission) and dry beach sand are where the GO-FIND 22 makes the most sense. The coil is waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft), so wet sand at the waterline and shallow creek edges are fine as long as the handle and control box stay above water.

The limits are the features it leaves out. There is no Pinpoint mode, no backlight for low light and no Bluetooth or app, and the 8 inch coil covers less ground per sweep than the 10 inch coil on the GO-FIND 44 and 66. For a detector you can take fully underwater, the VANQUISH 360 runs Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency and is waterproof to 5 m (16 ft), control box and coil.

Coil and Accessories That Fit the Minelab GO-FIND 22

The Minelab GO-FIND 22 comes with its 8 inch rectangular Monoloop coil hard-wired to the shaft and two camouflage stickers. Minelab lists no optional coils for the GO-FIND series, so the coil stays with the detector for its life. GO-FIND 22 bundles in this collection add a Minelab PRO-FIND 40 pinpointer, a carry bag, or both.

This collection also holds the Minelab GO-FIND carry bag, the Minelab Koss earbuds for the GO-FIND series for the 3.5 mm socket, the GO-FIND locking kit with replacement handle and display buttons, and our small, medium and large padded carry bags. The Minelab GO-FIND 22, 44 and 66 Getting Started Guide is here as a digital download.

GO-FIND 11 vs. GO-FIND 22 vs. GO-FIND 44 vs. GO-FIND 66 Comparison

All four GO-FIND detectors run VFLEX at 8 kHz, have a hard-wired coil waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft), fold to 55.5 cm (21.9 inch), run on four AA batteries and carry a 2-year warranty. They differ in Find modes, tones, depth reading, Pinpoint, backlight, Bluetooth and coil size.

Read our GO-FIND 22, 44 and 66 comparison guide for a closer look at the differences across the series.

Why Buy the Minelab GO-FIND 22 from Serious Detecting?

• Free Shipping on Orders Over $99: Your Minelab GO-FIND 22 ships at no extra cost across the continental US.
• Authorized Minelab Dealer: Showroom in Ypsilanti, Michigan, full 2-year manufacturer warranty and product registration support.
• Help Before and After You Buy: Our staff answer setup, coil and GO-FIND 22 questions by phone or email.