SAKOBS Metal Detector Pinpointer Wand Waterproof Review: A Deep Dive into Its Real-World Performance

There’s a moment every metal detectorist knows well. Your main detector sings its beautiful, high-toned song, signaling a promising target beneath the turf. You carefully cut a neat plug of earth, flip it over, and… nothing. You scan the plug again. Nothing. You wave your large coil over the small hole. The signal screams—it’s still in there. Now the real work begins. You’re on your hands and knees, crumbling soil, poking around, making the hole wider and messier with every passing second. This frustrating ritual can turn an exciting find into a tedious chore, risking damage to the treasure and leaving a scar on the landscape. I’ve been there more times than I can count, which is precisely why I believe a handheld pinpointer isn’t just an accessory; it’s an absolutely essential piece of gear. It’s the tool that bridges the gap between detection and recovery, transforming a clumsy search into a surgical extraction.

What to Consider Before Buying a Handheld Metal Detector Pinpointer

A pinpointer is more than just a small metal detector; it’s a key solution for the “last few inches” problem that plagues every treasure hunter. Its primary purpose is to zero in on a target’s exact location within a hole or soil plug after it has been generally located by a larger detector. The benefits are immediate and profound: you dig smaller, cleaner holes, you recover targets exponentially faster, and you significantly reduce the risk of scratching or damaging a delicate coin, relic, or piece of jewelry with your digging tool. It streamlines the entire process, allowing for more time hunting and less time fumbling in the dirt.

The ideal customer for this type of product is any hobbyist who owns a standard metal detector, from the weekend warrior searching local parks to the serious relic hunter exploring historic sites. It’s an indispensable tool for beachcombers, creek hunters, and even prospectors. If you’re serious about the hobby, you need one. However, it might not be suitable for someone who thinks this is an all-in-one device. A pinpointer lacks the depth and ground coverage of a full-sized machine; it is a specialized tool for close-range work. If you are just starting and have no equipment, you’ll need a primary detector first, though we’d argue you should budget for a pinpointer at the same time.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Portability: A pinpointer lives on your belt, so it needs to be lightweight and unobtrusive. Look for a model that weighs under 10 ounces and has an ergonomic grip that feels comfortable in your hand, even with gloves on. A quality holster and a lanyard are non-negotiable accessories to prevent it from being lost in the field.
• Performance & Sensitivity: The whole point is precision. A good pinpointer should have 360-degree detection along its tip, not just at the very end. Look for adjustable sensitivity and multiple alert modes—a combination of audio beeps and vibration is ideal. Vibration is absolutely critical for underwater use or for staying quiet in public areas.
• Materials & Durability: Treasure hunting is a rough hobby. Your pinpointer will be subjected to dirt, mud, sand, and water. A robust build is crucial, but the most important specification is its International Protection (IP) rating. An IP68 rating, like the one found on the SAKOBS Metal Detector Pinpointer Wand Waterproof, signifies it is fully dust-tight and can handle continuous submersion in water, making it vastly more versatile than non-waterproof models.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: In the field, you don’t want to be fiddling with complex controls. A simple one-button or two-button operation is best for cycling through power and modes. Check the battery type—most run on a standard 9V battery, which is easy to find. A well-designed, sealed battery compartment is also vital for ensuring long-term durability, especially for a waterproof model.

This tool is designed to make your hobby more efficient and enjoyable. Taking a moment to evaluate these features will ensure you get a pinpointer that serves you well for years to come.

While the SAKOBS Metal Detector Pinpointer Wand Waterproof is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the SAKOBS Pinpointer: First Look and Feel

Upon opening the box, the first thing that struck us was the vibrant yellow color of the SAKOBS Metal Detector Pinpointer Wand Waterproof. This isn’t just an aesthetic choice; it’s a brilliant practical feature. A tool that spends its life around dirt, mud, and murky water is easy to set down and forget. This high-visibility color makes it incredibly difficult to lose, a detail we immediately appreciated. In hand, it feels solid and well-constructed, not at all like some of the flimsy, toy-like pinpointers that flood the budget market. At 8.8 ounces, it has a reassuring heft without being heavy, and the rubberized grip section feels secure.

The package includes everything you need to get started immediately, which is a huge plus for beginners. We found the included 9V battery, a woven belt holster, and a retractable coiled lanyard. The one-button operation is immediately intuitive—a short press turns it on, and subsequent presses cycle through the three alert modes: beep, vibrate, and beep-plus-vibrate. Holding the button down turns it off. There’s no complex menu or calibration routine to learn. It’s a pure plug-and-play (or rather, battery-in-and-play) experience that we found refreshingly simple and effective. You can see the full kit and its user-friendly design on its product page.

Putting the SAKOBS Pinpointer to the Test: An In-Depth Performance Analysis

A pinpointer can look great out of the box, but its true value is only revealed in the dirt. We took the SAKOBS Metal Detector Pinpointer Wand Waterproof out for several extensive testing sessions—from the packed soil of a local park to the murky, rocky bed of a nearby creek—to see how its features hold up in real-world conditions. We focused on its core functions: pinpointing accuracy, durability in water, and overall usability for hobbyists of all levels.

Pinpoint Accuracy and Sensitivity in the Field

On our first outing, we paired the SAKOBS with our primary detector at a park known for yielding old coins. After getting a solid signal for a target about four inches down, we cut a plug and waved the SAKOBS over it. The pinpointer remained silent. A quick scan of the hole, however, produced an immediate, loud beep. This is where the 360-degree detection tip truly shines. By probing the sides of the hole, we could instantly tell the target was on the right-side wall. A few seconds of careful digging with a hand tool, guided by the pinpointer’s escalating alerts, and we recovered a 1944 Wheat Penny, completely undamaged. This process took less than a minute, a fraction of the time it would have taken by crumbling the dirt by hand.

The manufacturer claims a detection depth of up to 5 inches. In our tests with packed, dry soil, we found it reliably signaled coin-sized objects at a distance of 3 to 4 inches, which is more than adequate for its purpose. The sensitivity is impressive; as one user noted, it readily beeps on everything from steel and brass to silver and gold. We found this to be true, as it had no trouble locating tiny bits of foil alongside more valuable targets. Echoing the experience of another user who compared it to a much pricier Garrett Pro-Pointer, we agree that while it may not have the razor-sharp precision of a device costing three times as much, it is remarkably effective and delivers outstanding performance for the price. If you want to check the latest price and see its capabilities, you’ll understand the value proposition. Some users reported false signals, and we did experience this ourselves, but only when we first turned it on near a large metal object or swung it too rapidly. As one tech-savvy user correctly deduced, this is often a sign of sensitivity being a bit too high for the conditions. By simply turning it off and on again away from metal to let it self-calibrate, the issue was resolved. This small learning curve is well worth the exceptional performance it delivers.

Submersible Superstar: The IP68 Waterproofing Claim Tested

The feature that truly sets the SAKOBS Metal Detector Pinpointer Wand Waterproof apart from many budget competitors is its IP68 waterproof rating. A claim of being fully submersible up to 66 feet is bold, and we were eager to put it to the test. While we don’t have access to a 66-foot diving tank, we did spend an afternoon hunting in a local creek with depths ranging from a few inches to about four feet. The SAKOBS performed flawlessly. We waded through the water, probing around rocks and under ledges, fully submerging the device for minutes at a time without any issue. The screw-on battery cap, protected by a rubber O-ring, created a confident, watertight seal that never gave us a moment of worry.

This is where the vibration mode becomes indispensable. Underwater, audio alerts are muffled and practically useless. With a simple press of the button, we switched to vibration-only mode. The feedback is strong and easily felt in the hand, escalating in intensity as you get closer to a target. It allowed us to locate several old fishing lures, a pocket knife, and a handful of modern coins lodged between rocks on the creek bed. This waterproof capability opens up a whole new world of treasure hunting. It makes the SAKOBS an ideal tool for beachcombers searching the wet sand and shallow surf, where many other pinpointers would fail. One user confirmed our findings, stating it “worked fine on the beach, no false noises in wet sand area.” This is a testament to its stable operation in conductive environments, a feature that really sets it apart.

Ergonomics, Usability, and Design for All Ages

Beyond its technical performance, a tool needs to be comfortable and easy to use, and the SAKOBS pinpointer excels in this regard. The single-button control scheme is the definition of simplicity. There’s no learning curve, which makes it a fantastic choice for people new to the hobby. This was reinforced by multiple user reviews, with one delighted customer sharing, “My husband and 75 year old father have been digging up the yard for hours… My father isn’t very technology savvy and he was able to use it without any problem.” Another mentioned it was a perfect gift for their 9-year-old son, who was immediately successful with it. This broad appeal is a major strength.

The ergonomic design contributes significantly to its ease of use. The lightweight body and comfortable grip prevent fatigue during long hunts. The included accessories, while basic, are highly functional. The belt holster keeps the pinpointer within easy reach, and the coiled lanyard ensures you won’t accidentally drop and lose it, especially in water. We also found the small built-in LED light surprisingly useful. While not a floodlight, it’s perfect for peering into a deep, shaded plug or for hunting as dusk begins to fall. It’s these thoughtful little details—the high-visibility color, the intuitive controls, the included practical accessories—that elevate the SAKOBS Metal Detector Pinpointer Wand Waterproof from a simple tool to a well-designed piece of hobbyist gear. It’s built to be used, and it makes the experience of treasure hunting more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. For those looking for an easy-to-use device, you can explore its simple one-button features online.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the sentiment from fellow users is overwhelmingly positive, especially when factoring in the device’s accessible price point. Many reviews highlight the pinpointer’s exceptional value. One user directly compared it to a Garrett model costing over $120, and while acknowledging the Garrett was slightly more accurate, they were “very satisfied with its performance” and shared photos of impressive finds, concluding it “does the job very well.” The theme of accessibility and family fun is also prevalent. We saw multiple accounts of it being a fantastic tool for introducing kids and older relatives to the hobby, with one person noting, “This was simple to put together and easy to use. It was purchased as a Christmas present for my 9 year old son and… he was successful with finding treasures!”

On the critical side, the most common piece of constructive feedback aligns with our own findings regarding false signals. One reviewer stated it “gave too many false signals” on dry land, but another IT professional clarified this, advising others to “Be sure to read the manual and adjust the sensitivity. Full blast sensitivity will cause false alarms. Once I figured that out, device worked well!” There were also isolated reports of units being non-functional on arrival, but these were consistently followed by praise for SAKOBS’ customer service, with one user receiving a free, upgraded replacement for their trouble, calling the company’s response “above and beyond my expectations.”

How Does the SAKOBS Pinpointer Compare to the Competition?

While the SAKOBS Metal Detector Pinpointer Wand Waterproof is a specialized tool for zeroing in on targets, it’s helpful to understand its place in the wider world of metal detectors. The following alternatives are full-sized detectors designed for searching wide areas. A hobbyist would use one of these to find a signal, and then use the SAKOBS to recover the target from the hole.

1. DR.ÖTEK Waterproof Metal Detector Professional Gold Detector

The DR.ÖTEK is a full-featured primary metal detector designed for adults. It sports a large 10-inch waterproof search coil, an advanced DSP chip, and a backlit LCD display that provides target information. Unlike the SAKOBS pinpointer, which is all about close-range precision, the DR.ÖTEK is built for covering ground efficiently. A hobbyist would choose this for its five distinct search modes and ability to discriminate between different types of metal before they even start digging. It’s a great machine for a serious beginner, but they would still need a pinpointer like the SAKOBS to complete their toolkit and make recovery fast and easy.

2. VVinRC 13″ Professional Metal Detector

The VVinRC detector stands out with its massive 13-inch Double-D search coil. This type of coil is engineered for superior detection depth and better performance in highly mineralized soil, where other detectors might struggle. This machine is for the enthusiast looking to find deeper, older targets that have been missed by others. It offers advanced features like a pinpoint mode and DISC mode on its LCD screen. The VVinRC is the tool for the initial search phase, designed to punch deep into the ground. A find located by this machine would absolutely require a high-quality pinpointer like the SAKOBS to successfully retrieve from a deep hole.

3. SUNPOW Metal Detector 12″ Waterproof Coil 5 Modes

The SUNPOW detector is another excellent choice for a primary search machine, featuring a 12-inch waterproof coil and a unique dual-backlit LCD display for clear information. With five modes and high accuracy thanks to its DSP chip, it’s aimed at professionals and serious hobbyists who want maximum control and feedback during their hunt. Someone starting from scratch might choose this comprehensive kit over just the SAKOBS pinpointer. However, they would quickly discover that the “pinpoint” function on a full-sized detector is only approximate, and the speed and precision offered by a dedicated handheld tool like the SAKOBS is essential for an efficient and enjoyable hunt.

The Final Verdict: Is the SAKOBS Pinpointer the Right Tool for Your Hunts?

After extensive testing in various environments, we can say with confidence that the SAKOBS Metal Detector Pinpointer Wand Waterproof is a phenomenal piece of equipment that delivers performance far exceeding its price tag. It masterfully executes its core mission: to find targets with speed and precision, saving you time and effort with every recovery. Its robust IP68 waterproofing is not just a marketing claim; it’s a legitimate feature that opens up new possibilities for hunting in creeks, rivers, and along the shoreline. Combined with its dead-simple one-button operation and multiple alert modes, it is an incredibly versatile and user-friendly tool.

We recommend it without hesitation to anyone in the metal detecting hobby. For beginners, it’s an affordable and essential companion to your first detector. For families, it’s durable and easy enough for kids and adults alike to use and enjoy. For seasoned experts, it’s a highly capable and waterproof backup or primary pinpointer that can stand up to the elements without the premium cost. If you’re ready to stop digging craters and start recovering your finds like a pro, this pinpointer is one of the smartest investments you can make for your hobby. We believe it offers the best combination of features, durability, and value available today. You can grab yours today and see what treasures you’ve been missing.