GP Pinpointer. I bought this inexpensive (sub-$30) GP pinpointer from eBay, which was shipped directly from China. Strictly speaking, it's not a Garrett Carrot clone, because it's not trying to fool anyone: the switch is different, the speaker port is different, it's not fully waterproof, and its sensitivity isn't as good. But, in a pinpointer, I think less depth is actually a good thing. I really like it, especially the side-scanning ability! I learned that it prefers alkaline batteries to rechargeables. I clip the telescoping cord to my bag, and have plenty of reach for working. I've found that it needs to be in direct contact with the soil to do its thing; waving it over the grass will only locate surface finds, even if you're touching the grass with it.

I don't dig in parks! In fact, unless I'm specifically going somewhere I can dig, I don't even carry a shovel. Instead, I use a 4" screwdriver to "pop" coins from just under the surface, leaving no hole, no mark, no sign anyone's been there. Here's how "coin-popping" works: after pinpointing, I probe gently with the screwdriver until I hit the coin, work the screwdriver to the edge of the coin by feel, and "pop" it to the surface. A quick thump and brush over the ground, and there's no sign I've been there. It's Leave No Trace detecting! I filed the screwdriver tip so it's rounded, so as not to scratch finds. For clearing leaf litter, slicing the occasional short slit, or sorting through a creek bank, I use an archaeologist's trowel, which is a short, sharpened bricklaying trowel. I found this Marshalltown QLT 5" trowel in a clearance bin at Lowe's for less than $3. I sharpened it (file only the top side; keep the bottom flat)and made a sheath out of folded cardboard, heavy-duty staples, and duct tape. The staples follow the shape of the trowel to keep it from slicing through the cardboard. The duct tape keeps the cardboard from falling apart on wet grass. Note the cut out notch for the ferrule. I applied strips of reflective tape to the handles of the trowel and screwdriver so I don't lose them.

Tot lot tools. I don't carry a shovel because I think it sends the wrong signal. I bought a plastic sand scoop/sifter, but it's a bulky, cumbersome thing that doesn't work in damp, heavy sand and also doesn't work in wood chips. So I use these found tools, and they are perfect. The little orange scoop is very sturdy, well up to digging through moist or wet sand. The tiny red spoon/rake is also very sturdy, and is ideal for poking and sifting through sand and wood chips and even leaf litter. Both tools are toy-sized, as you can see by the penny, so despite their bright colors they don't attract attention. And both are plastic, so I can use the pinpointer freely as I move sand or wood chips around in search of the target.

Other things in my metal detecting bag. I always have two small microfiber cloths (I cut a dishcloth in half) to wipe down tools, my hands, or finds. I also have a small lock-back knife for slicing short slits in thick turf; I keep it on a tether so I don't lose it. I carry an Altoids tin as a finds box, and a couple plastic bags for the inevitable trash. In a zippered inner pouch, I carry three spare alkaline 9-volt batteries, two spare alkaline C-cell batteries, a couple zip-lock snack-sized bags for finds, a stick of sunscreen, a small assortment of adhesive bandages and a one-time use antibacterial ointment, and a spare headphone adapter. I keep a right-hand glove clipped to the strap so it's always ready to grab and use. The left hand glove is inside the bag, and rarely used because my left hand also has a wedding ring and quite often a watch so I try to wield tools left-handed and root around with my right. I have a water bottle clipped to the strap. The last super important thing I carry and use is a cap with a front brim and a neck guard - I wear my headphones over it.

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