My New Garrett 24k Initial Impressions And Quick Tests

[phrunt]

I've wanted the 24k since Whites released it, it was all too hard to get with Whites and their very limited worldwide distribution, Garrett is making that easier and has a much larger distribution network around the world so the 24k is becoming more accessible now than it was.   I had this one sent from the USA to get it quickly as the New Zealand dealer isn't likely to have any until next year, although I think that'll change when they start getting people asking for them 🙂

I was pleased to see it came with rechargeable batteries to get me up and running fast, a good brand too being Duracell AA NiMH.

So a few photos.... starting with the box.

Whites fans will be pleased to see all the references to Whites on the box.

That looks like Steve's scoop to me 🙂

And the box contents

The charger and car adapter, lighter socket to USB adapter and also a power socket with various countries that is like a phone charger really, it just converts the AC to DC 5v 2.1 amp USB power, so you can use any USB charging adapter that can output the 2 amp's to charge your batteries. The charger will also charge on a common 1 amp USB port, it's just going to be slower.  Very handy as I can charge the batteries in my Caravan or anywhere really with USB charging.   The charger can also charge AAA batteries as well as the AA's required for the 24k, quite handy.

The 12v alligator clips charger to lighter socket is very good quality too, nice thick cables and inline fuse.  Even the little lighter socket to USB is a good quality product, came in a little package showing it's got a 2 year warranty.  It's made by Aukey and has 2 x 2.4amp USB ports on it for fast charging.

The charger has Micro USB and USB-C support, so you can use your phone charging cable if you've got one of the many Android phones using Micro USB and forget to bring your Garrett supplied cable.

This is the batteries inside the mounting box that slides up into the back of the 24k.  They're easy enough to put in there.

The battery box has a nice Whites logo on it.  You'll see I've already used the little plug they supply to cover over the headphone socket, Good to keep the dust and weather out and I'll likely leave it in there forever.  The speaker on the 24k is excellent, nice loud volume so I see little need for headphones unless I'm next to a loud river or something detecting.

The screen's nice and big, easy on the eye, every icon and bit of writing is oversized, quite good for people that need glasses I would guess.  The buttons are nice and easy to use and you'll note they left the Whites logo on there. 

The coil's nice, I haven't weighed it yet but it feels light as a feather, and the detector is very well balanced with the batteries under the arm cuff, I've never used one of the Whites detectors with the box under the arm cuff, but I'm seeing how nice the balance is with this style detector.  Garrett also supplied little feet to stick onto the bottom of the box so you're not resting the plastic box directly onto the ground, quite a good idea as I generally hunt in very rocky areas.  One thing I noticed almost straight away as you don't have to put effort in when you put it down to prevent it from falling over, it naturally wants to sit upright. 🙂

And the back of the control pod, again another Whites logo

I think they've done a good job paying homage to Whites, while also putting their own touches on it, a very impressive detector.

Now for the meat and potatoes, I took it down behind my house to the river and fired it up, I had no idea what I was doing as I'd only used it for a few minutes but I took a couple of videos comparing how it was operating compared to my Equinox with the Coiltek 10x5" Nox Coil.   Take these videos with a grain of salt, I've spent 5 minutes using the Garrett 24k but I found it very easy to use and understand, it can just be a turn on and go detector by the look of it.  It handled the ground well, and I was very happy with the sensitivity of it,  I absolutely can not wait to get the smaller coils for it, especially the concentric coil.

I had put the Coiltek 5x10" Nox coil on the Equinox so it was more like comparing apples with apples and tested both detectors on a small #9 lead pellet.  The 24k certainly had the edge on air test depth.

The ground performance seems excellent too, I love how quiet it runs, the threshold is very smooth, it's also interesting you can run it right next to the Nox with no interference for either detector, both run fine right next to each other.  The build quality of the Garrett seems excellent, the shaft nice and solid and nothing feels flimsy.

In this video I take both for a little walk around showing how they handle this difficult ground that's covered in hot rocks.  The 24k was completely free of knock sensitivity, something I'm going to find very beneficial with the areas I hunt being rocky.   Both detectors have their settings maxed out, the Equinox is on 25 gain.

Now I've got to get the batteries charged up so I can use it properly, at least they had enough charge in them from the factory for me to take it for a test run.  We are in a 2 week Covid lockdown at the moment, we are expected to come out of the worst of it on Wednesday so hopefully I can go find some nuggets with the 24k soon, judging by my first impressions of it I am sure I will be able to achieve that quite quickly.

[Cascade Steven]

Phrunt:

Thanks for a very nice introductory and first impressions writeup.  I am pleased to learn of the quality they have built into the 24k.  And I wish you the very best of success on your first hunt with your new "toy".  🙂

[Valens Legacy]

2 hours ago, phrunt said:

hopefully I can go find some nuggets with the 24k soon

Simon,

With your experience on the other detectors that you own I believe that we will soon see some gold from you this weekend.

Great first impression write up as only you can do with the videos.

Give it a try at your old fields for some deep coins to see how they do there also.

Good luck and happy hunting.

[johnedoe]

Excellent write up phrunt...👍

[Dances With Doves]

Good video and you have not got the 6'' coil yet.It seems that stock      is not a epoxy coil by how light  they say it is.This machine is a winner indeed.I would not take it coin hunting since you like good target  id  at depth.

[phrunt]

No, I don't have the 6" coil yet, this is the 6x10" stock coil, although it's very sensitive for the size of it.  It's very light so it's not epoxy filled but it's certainly not knock sensitive.  I really like it. 

[Dances With Doves]

6 minutes ago, phrunt said:

No, I don't have the 6" coil yet, this is the 6x10" stock coil, although it's very sensitive for the size of it.  It's very light so it's not epoxy filled but it's certainly not knock sensitive.  I really like it. 

The 6'' coil is about 6.5 ''  so to me it's a big little coil since I consider a small coil to be under 7''. It will make  your 5'' gold bug pro coil seem very small compared to it.A 3'' by 6 concentric coil would be amazing for really small gold in good ground if somebody would make it and would get between the rocks nicely. 

[Dances With Doves]

Garrett does have a 3by6 coil   mold they used for infinium dd coils.Could they use it to make a concentric?it is not fat too but is pretty thin.

[phrunt]

Unfortunately for me my attempt to get a skid plate for my 10x6" coil and the 6" concentric coil has failed miserably, A dealer in Brisbane Australia had one of each left over in stock and agreed to send to me in NZ, it was shipped and Australian customs decided that the Whites coil and 2 skid plates are dangerous goods and has rejected the parcel, I hope that doesn't mean they destroy it 😞

Looks like I won't be getting the 6" Concentric, or even a skid plate for my 10x6".  It's getting scratched up already without one so I'm going to have to improvise and make something to protect it as in my rocky areas it won't last long without a cover.

I don't know what they could possibly think is dangerous about a detector coil, do they think it's frisbee that you throw at people and pull it back with it's cord so you can throw it again and again.....  It didn't even get a chance to leave Australia.

Out of frustration I've also ordered a 24k 6" Concentric from Serious Detecting in the US, so if the Aussies can somehow solve the other problem I'll have two of them.   That's not such a bad thing. 

[Dances With Doves]

A coil cover should have been included with the  detector in my opinion.