I've looked at a lot of sites ... they all sound great but I doubt they are as good as the manufacturer states. That's why I was seeking a recommendation for a solid metal detector that someone else is using. Sounds like Garrett makes a good machine so I'll check them out. If there is another manufacturer I should look at please let me know!
What features should I look for? Or avoid? If you were buying your first machine and didn't want to spend more than about 500 .. what would you buy?
I'm 5'4" and weigh a bit over a hundred pounds is why I was concerned about weight. If the metal detector is too heavy I know I wouldn't use it very long.