Minelab GO-FIND 11 Metal Detector

The Minelab GO-FIND 11 is Minelab’s entry-level folding metal detector, made for families and first-time detectorists who want to start without complicated settings. It weighs 2.2 lb, folds to 21.9 inches and runs VFLEX at 8 kHz through a hard-wired 8 inch rectangular coil that is waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft). Two search modes, three sensitivity levels, four find icons and a single target tone keep it simple.

What the GO-FIND 11 gives a first-time detectorist

• Four-segment target identification. Non-Ferrous mode rejects iron, and one of four find icons on the LCD flashes with the tone to show which group a target falls in, so you have a visual and an audio signal before you dig.
• A light, folding detector. Children and adults can swing and carry it easily, and the shaft extends to 51.4 inches for taller users: simply unfold it and go.
• A waterproof coil. You can sweep wet sand and the shallow edge of a lake or creek with the coil, as long as the control box stays dry.
• Room to move up. The Minelab GO-FIND 22 adds two-tone audio and a three-level depth indicator.

What is in the box with the Minelab GO-FIND 11

Minelab’s standard contents for the GO-FIND 11

• Minelab GO-FIND 11 metal detector with hard-wired 8 inch rectangular monoloop coil
• 2 camouflage stickers
• Owner’s manual

The GO-FIND 11 runs on 4 AA batteries.

Where we would start with the GO-FIND 11

Backyards and neighborhood parks

Yards and parks are where most people start detecting. We would run Non-Ferrous mode there, so the detector rejects iron and you dig fewer nails, with sensitivity on the middle of its three levels and volume at medium to high.

Shallow shorelines and wet sand

Lost coins and jewelry collect along the waterline, and the waterproof coil lets you sweep wet sand or wade the edge of a lake. On a shoreline with little trash we would use All Metal to hear every target, and switch to Non-Ferrous where trash is heavy. If the detector gives false signals, drop sensitivity one level.

Who the GO-FIND 11 suits

We like the GO-FIND 11 for its simplicity. Minelab made it for people who want to try metal detecting without complicated equipment, and in our experience it suits families and first-time detectorists best. A child searching the backyard for coins does not need frequency controls or detailed discrimination settings. They pick a mode and start sweeping. We do recommend adult supervision, especially when digging or searching public property.

Limits of the GO-FIND 11

The folding design fits in a packed car on a family trip and takes little room at home. The 8 inch rectangular coil is a practical size for casual detecting in yards, parks and other easy places to reach, and it is manageable for beginners.

The basic discrimination helps a beginner skip some unwanted metal, but it is not perfect. Gold jewelry and other good targets can overlap with trash. The GO-FIND 11 is an entry-level detector without the advanced ground handling, target identification and detection controls of higher models. Someone who plans to detect regularly may soon want more features.

One mistake to avoid with the GO-FIND 11

Do not submerge the whole detector. The search coil is waterproof, but the control housing is not. Keep the control box and handle above the water when you sweep a shoreline or a creek edge.

Our recommendation on the GO-FIND 11

We would recommend the GO-FIND 11 as an inexpensive, portable introduction to metal detecting. The biggest reason is that it removes much of the complexity from getting started.

VFLEX technology and target icons

VFLEX is Minelab’s VLF technology, running at 8 kHz on the GO-FIND 11. Targets are sorted into four discrimination segments, each shown by a find icon on the monochrome LCD that flashes when the coil passes over a target. Every target gives the same tone, and the icon tells you the group.

Build, display and audio

The GO-FIND 11 has a folding shaft: 130.5 cm (51.4 inches) extended and 55.5 cm (21.9 inches) collapsed. The monochrome LCD has no backlight, and the detector has no depth indicator or numeric target ID. Audio comes through the built-in loudspeaker with three volume levels, or through wired headphones on the 3.5 mm jack, such as the Minelab Koss earbuds for the GO-FIND series. For quicker recovery once the hole is open, see our pinpointers.

Minelab GO-FIND 11 specifications

Minelab covers the GO-FIND 11 with a 2-year warranty. We are an Authorized Minelab dealer with a showroom in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and our staff help by phone or email. Our guide to the best metal detectors for kids shows how the GO-FIND 11 compares with other beginner detectors. For GO-FIND 11 accessories, see our Minelab GO-FIND 11 collection.