Which Quest Is Right for You?
Three things decide which Quest fits you: how wet you will get, how much ground you want each swing to cover, and whether you want a control box or your phone on the shaft. The table shows Quest's technology and water ratings for each current detector, with our recommendation by model.
| Model | Best for (our recommendation) | Technology | Water | Standard Coil |
|---|
| Quest Q30+ | One submersible detector for beach, shallow water and land | 14 kHz VLF | Waterproof to 5 m (16 ft) | RaptorX TurboD 9 x 11 inch DD |
| Quest Q40 | A complete land kit with wireless headphones | 13 kHz VLF | Control box withstands heavy rain, not submersible | Raptor TurboD 11 x 9 inch DD |
| Quest X1 IDMAXX | Dry parks and yards, younger hunters | 12 kHz VLF | Waterproof coil, weatherproof control box | Blade TurboD 9.5 x 5.5 inch |
| Quest X5 IDMAXX | Creek edges, wet sand and rain on a compact shaft | 12 kHz VLF | Waterproof to 3 m (10 ft) | Blade9 9 x 5 inch DD |
| Quest X10 IDMAXX | Open fields and beaches with a larger coil | 12 kHz VLF | Waterproof to 3 m (10 ft) | Blade11 11 x 10 inch DD |
| Quest Air | Travel and minimal kits, with your phone as the display | 7.5 kHz VLF | Waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft) | TurboD 9 x 5 inch DD |
| Quest Scuba Tector Pro | Diving, snorkeling and deep surf | Pulse induction | Rated to 60 m (197 ft) | Folding head; STP20 8 inch round coil as an option |
Quest Q Series: Q30+ and Q40
The Q30 and Q40 are Quest's full-size VLF detectors, and the difference between them is water. The Q30 runs at 14 kHz, is waterproof to 5 m (16 ft) and has Park, Field, Beach and Gold modes, a 99-point target ID and automatic or manual ground balance. We sell it as the Q30+ package with Quest Wirefree Lite wireless headphones and the RaptorX TurboD 9 x 11 inch coil. The Q40 runs at 13 kHz with Coin, Jewelry, All Metal and Beach programs plus two user programs. Its control box withstands heavy rain but can be damaged by submersion, and its Raptor TurboD 11 x 9 inch coil is waterproof. The Q40 comes with Wirefree Lite wireless headphones, and the Q40+ Pack adds a Blade 9.5 x 5.5 inch coil. Quest covers the Q40 with a 2-year warranty.
If you want to wade or hunt the wet sand, we recommend the Q30+. For a land detector that comes ready to hunt with wireless headphones, the Q40 is the simpler buy.
Quest X Series IDMAXX: X1, X5 and X10
All three X Series detectors run on a single 12 kHz frequency with a numeric target ID and a built-in battery that charges over USB-C. What changes from model to model is waterproofing, coil size and how many settings you can save.
- Quest X1 IDMAXX: the entry model, with Coin, Jewelry and All Metal programs, a 9.5 x 5.5 inch coil and a three-section shaft that shortens for younger hunters. The coil is waterproof and the control box is weatherproof, so keep the control box above the waterline.
- Quest X5 IDMAXX: Park, Field and Gold modes, the Blade9 9 x 5 inch DD coil and a collapsible Super3D shaft, waterproof to 3 m (10 ft).
- Quest X10 IDMAXX: the larger Blade11 11 x 10 inch DD coil and an added User mode for saving your own setup, with the same 3 m (10 ft) rating as the X5. We carry it with or without Quest WireFree Lite wireless headphones.
If you will only hunt dry parks and yards, the X1 is enough. To work creek edges, wet sand or rain, we recommend the X5. Choose the X10 if you hunt open fields, where the bigger coil covers more ground per swing.
Quest Air: Your Phone as the Display
The Quest Air has no control box. Your smartphone sits in a holder on the shaft, and the Quest app shows target ID, depth, search modes and battery status over Bluetooth. It runs at 7.5 kHz with a 9 x 5 inch TurboD DD coil, folds flat and charges by USB-C. It is waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft). The Air suits travel and light kits; if you would rather keep your phone in your pocket near water, we recommend an X Series detector instead.
Quest Scuba Tector Pro: Underwater and Surf
The Scuba Tector Pro is a pulse induction detector rated to 60 m (197 ft), with a search head that folds on a 180 degree hinge, an OLED display and alerts by sound, vibration, or both. It has a snorkel mode for shallow water and a dive mode for deeper water, and the included rod adaptor lets you run it on a shaft from the beach. The STP20 8 inch round coil and the Rod Extension Kit with handle and armrest are on its collection page. Buy the Scuba Tector Pro if you dive or work deep surf; for wet-sand beach hunting within 3 m (10 ft), the X5 or X10 gives you a target ID on screen.
Quest XPointer Pinpointers
Quest's XPointer pinpointers cover three jobs. The XPointer Land runs on a 9V battery for dry land hunting and is not made to be submerged. The XPointer Max is tested to 5 m (16 ft) and separates ferrous from non-ferrous targets by tone, LED and OLED display. The XPointer Scuba Tector is a pulse induction diving pinpointer waterproof to 60 m (200 ft). We recommend the XPointer Max with the X5, X10 and Q30, and the XPointer Scuba Tector with the Scuba Tector Pro.
Coils, Audio and Recovery Gear
Quest coils fit only the series they are made for, so check that a coil is listed for your model before you order. Browse all Quest coils and coil covers, or open a model page for the coils that fit one detector. For wireless audio, Quest's Wirefree headphones and the Wirefree Mate transmitter and receiver sets are under Quest headphones. For recovery, this collection also holds Quest Scoopal sand scoops with hand rods and travel rods, Diamond Digger hand tools and the Quest drop leg holster, finds pouch and waist bag.
Terms Worth Knowing
- VLF (very low frequency): the technology in the Q Series, the X Series and the Air. It gives a target ID and lets you reject trash.
- PI (pulse induction): the technology in the Scuba Tector Pro and the XPointer Scuba Tector. It handles salt water well but does not give a numeric target ID.
- Target ID: the number that estimates what a target is made of, from iron up to silver.
- Double-D (DD) coil: a coil design, used on the X10's Blade11, that sweeps a long, narrow detection field.
- Ground balance: tuning the detector to ignore mineralized soil or salt sand.
Compare Quest Models
To compare Quest with other brands for a specific job, start with our waterproof metal detectors, beach metal detectors and beginner and intermediate detectors. You can also browse by price band in budget metal detectors and mid-range metal detectors. If you are new to the hobby, read our getting started guide first.
Why Buy Your Quest from Serious Detecting?
- Free Shipping on Orders Over $99: Your Quest detector ships at no extra cost across the continental US.
- Authorized Quest Dealer: Showroom in Ypsilanti, Michigan, full manufacturer warranty and product registration support.
- Help Before and After You Buy: Our staff answer setup, coil and model choice questions by phone or email.
