The 7 Best Gold Panning Kits
This wiki has been updated 19 times since it was first published in May of 2020. Panning for gold can be an exciting hobby, whether you're on a prospecting expedition alone or with your family on a camping trip. These kits include the pans needed for sifting out unwanted sand and rocks, as well as a variety of accessories and equipment to help increase your chances of striking pay dirt. Our list offers a range of options suitable for all experience levels. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Editor's Notes
August 20, 2020:
Panning for gold might seem intimidating, but it's actually a pretty simple process. Essentially it involves taking a mixture of gravel, silt, and sand from a stream or creekbed, and filtering out everything except for any potential gold flakes or nuggets.
This is done with a pan by shaking and swirling the wet mixture, which allows the heavier gold flakes to settle the bottom of the pan. Then, continuing to shake and swirl, allow the current of the water to wash away the topmost sediment. Gradually, everything will wash away, hopefully leaving you with any gold at the bottom of the pan.
A few of our choices, like the Garrett Metal Detectors and the Minelab Pro-Gold also include a classifier to help do some of the filtering work for you. These are basically large sieves, that trap larger rocks and debris. The Sluice Fox Gold even has a long trough, called a sluice, that does an even more thorough job filtering out impurities.
If you're looking for more treasure-hunting gear, consider purchasing a metal detector. These devices are capable of locating varieties of metal underneath the ground, making them ideal for using at the beach or even underwater.