July 5th, 2009; Terry Herbert, member of the Bloxwich Research and Metal Detecting Club in England, finds the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest Anglo-Saxon gold and silver trove yet found while searching a recently tilled farm plot with his metal detector.
The estimated value at the time is £3.2 million. February 2013, a hobby metal detectorist in Northern California in an undisclosed location some 200 miles from the site of the original gold rush of 1849 discovers the Saddle Ridge Hoard. This massive pile of 1427 gold coins was assessed at a value of roughly $10 million. Near Kingower, Victoria in Australia on the 26th of September, metal detector enthusiast Kavin Hillier finds the “Hand of Faith,” a unique hand shaped gold nugget weighing in at 27.21 ounces. It is later sold to the “Gold Nugget” Casino for $1 million.
I know these reviews don’t usually start with a history lesson, but I wanted to give you all a little context as to why I bought the Nokta Simplex Ultra WHP metal detector kit for a whopping $609.98. I’m a dreamer, you see. I also love a good treasure hunt story and while I may not be willing to battle armies and face down booby-trap riddled tombs like Indiana Jones or Nathan Drake, I’m perfectly happy to suffer a hot day out in a field somewhere for the chance at staggering wealth and riches.
Now I do know perfectly well that the odds of me finding the next named hoard or a gold nugget the size of my face are slim at best, but the thrill of the chase is what keeps me going. Honestly, the fascination with metal detecting first came to me back in my childhood at Foothills Park and Dunes beach. Any California beach kid of the 80s and 90s can tell you that there was always someone at the beach in the background, ignoring the waves and laughs with a big pair of headphones attached to a metal detector, combing the sand for forgotten valuables.
They struck an unforgettable image. Since then I moved inland, and then out to the East Coast, so I haven’t seen them as often, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t wonderstruck when my mom first explained what they were doing with those funny-looking machines out there on the beach. Treasure hunting! Talk about a cool hobby!
The Nokta Simplex WHP Bundle
Later in life I found myself with a bit of spare time on my hands after years of running the daily commute 9-5 grind for years. Covid hit, we all went home and I was one of the lucky ones who never returned to the office full time, so I could actually pursue new hobbies! Initially the hobby of choice was hiking. I hit all the local parks, started going to unofficial trails off the beaten path and spent a lot of time in nature preserves. Eventually I spotted a familiar sight, a metal detectorist combing a river bank somewhere in central Indiana. He looked as cool with his metal detector. But more importantly, he looked like he was having fun. I asked him a few questions about his detector, got some advice about the best brand and went home to start shopping!
My new detectorist friend told me that his Nokta was one of the best starter brands. Apparently he has a closet full of detectors and today he was going back to one of his older models for nostalgia’s sake, and he couldn’t have given me a more glowing recommendation. He also said I needed a few other things like a small hand shovel and something called a “pinpointer” to help me narrow down my search since the big metal detectors usually offer a fairly wide range when detecting. The really expensive options come with that function built in, but that’s apparently pretty costly.
I ended up settling on the “Nokta Simplex Ultra WHP Waterproof Metal Detector with Wireless Headphones and 11” Search Coil, Professional Metal Detectors with Accessories.” It came with everything the mysterious treasure seeker in the woods said I’d need and more. This thing comes with a digger (with a sheath), a multi-pocket pouch for your finds, a pinpointer, a leg holster for said pinpointer, a pretty nice Nokta branded hat, the metal detector itself and a set of those big bulky headphones that my memories tell me are absolutely required in order to be a proper metal detector treasure hunter. The package is absolutely bursting with cool stuff!
The Detectors
Let’s talk a little about the two most important items in the box; the Simplex Ultra metal detector and the pinpointer.
The Simplex Ultra is a very capable device. Most cheaper detectors operate by sending one detection signal at a time, usually requiring a manual switch from one to the others. They come with a mountain of settings and complicated controls which are often the pain point that stops a beginner hobbyist in their tracks, which is why all those complicated menus and options have been streamlined and simplified. This is a strong detector that sits up there with many of the more expensive options in terms of capability that is easy to use for beginners. It’s a streamlined and powered up version of the original Simplex, which was a legend in its class already. It’s also waterproof which means it can be used over rivers and streams, wet send and in rainy weather. You’d think that metal detecting in the rain wouldn’t be a great idea, but what better way to get the beach all to yourself is there than going out on a rainy day?
The detector is made of a carbon fiber material, making it nice and light. Apparently, a metal detector can get really heavy which is why they always have an arm brace built into them, but the Simplex Ultra takes it a few steps further by making the design as ergonomically comfortable as possible. If you’re going to be sweeping this across the ground for hours at a time, there is almost nothing more important than ergonomics.
The Pinpointer
Alright, so you got a hit. There is a metal object of some sort real close, but you still have a few feet of ground it could be in. What do you do? You grab your AccuPOINT pinpointer, that’s what! This little wand sitting holstered at your side is how you narrow that area down to a few inches. It’s a great little device on its own, featuring a nice clear LCD screen, Bluetooth connectivity in case you want to pass the tones into your headphones and a bunch of nice little features. Using the one-button toggle interface, you can switch between 1 and 2-tone detection, set it to ignore iron, switch frequencies so it doesn’t clash with your larger metal detector and if you drop it and forget where it went, after 5 minutes of inactivity it will start flashing and beeping loudly so you can find it! It’s almost as cool as the Simplex detector itself! Also, it’s waterproof and easy to clean so you can jam it into the dirt or water without worrying!
TL;DR Specs for the Skimmers
Here are some basic specs.
- Detection Technology: Single Frequency VLF
- Operating Frequency: 15 kHz
- Search Modes:
Field
Park
4-Tone
99-Tone
Beach
All Metal
- Waterproof Rating: IP68, fully submersible to 16 ft (5 m)
- Display: High-resolution color LCD
- Backlit Display
- LED Flashlight
- Vibration Mode
- Target ID: Numeric target identification
- Discrimination: Adjustable notch discrimination
- Iron Volume: Adjustable
- Ground Balance: Automatic, Manual, and Tracking
- Search Coil: 11-inch waterproof DD coil (SX28)
- Shaft Material: Carbon fiber
- Collapsed Length: 25 inches (63 cm)
- Weight: 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg)
- Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium battery
- Battery Life: Up to 15 hours per charge
- Charging: USB-C
- Wireless Audio: Bluetooth low-latency headphones included (WHP package)
- Firmware Updates: USB via PC
- Included Accessories (Professional Package):
- Wireless Bluetooth headphones
- 11-inch waterproof DD search coil
- Coil cover
- USB charging/data cable
- Pinpointer and accessory bundle
Is it Worth It?
For me it certainly was. I’ve found a ton of neat little artefacts since I started hunting and it’s a ton of fun to get out in nature and sift through it in such detail. If you think that sounds like a lot of fun, I’d recommend the Simplex Ultra. If you really want to lean into the hobby, the whole kit is very worth it.
If you honestly aren’t sure if the hobby is going to be something you commit to, I would recommend finding something used and inexpensive to start with, just to test the waters. It’s an investment, but for me it was a great purchase!
About the Author:
Ever since a young George was disappointed with a toy that did match up to the advertising, he became a tireless advocate for consumers. He’ll review anything that folks have to spend their hard-earned dollars on. George is grateful that he gets to use his skills as a writer and an artist to help connect with consumers and help them make the best decisions possible.
This article is for informational purposes only and reflects the author’s independent opinion. Readers should verify details directly with the manufacturer or retailer before making a purchase decision.
