Garrett AT Max

Brand: Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II

The AT Max is Garrett's top single frequency all terrain machine, running at 13.6 kHz and submersible to 10 ft. The draw is Z-Lynk wireless audio built in, so the MS-3 headphones work without a cable snagging on driftwood, and a proper backlight for dawn and dusk hunts. It ships with the 8.5 by 11 inch PROformance DD coil, digital target ID from 0 to 99, true all metal mode with adjustable threshold, and runs on four AA batteries, which many beach hunters still prefer to a sealed pack.

Solid for freshwater shores, damp sand and general parkland, and built like a work tool rather than a gadget. On strongly salted wet sand it needs sensitivity pulled back, so anyone hunting Florida or Mediterranean surf full time will do better with multi frequency. Under three pounds, though the balance feels nose heavy after a long walk.