Best Gold Panning Kit

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Cory Haasnoot

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There are many gold panning kits on the market which will lead you to wonder what are the best gold panning kits to use for gold prospecting? In this article, I will explain a few things to look for before you purchase a gold panning kit, and then I will show you 5 of the best gold panning kits to use for gold prospecting.

By the end of this article, you will know exactly what you need to look for before purchasing a gold panning kit and you will have 5 of the best gold panning kits that you can choose from.

What is the best gold panning kit for beginners? The best gold panning kit for beginners and experienced prospectors alike is the Garrett Deluxe Gold Panning Kit.

The Garrett Deluxe has everything you need to get started in gold prospecting and at an affordable price, you can’t beat this gold panning kit.

==>THE GARRETT DELUXE GOLD PANNING KIT IS OUR #1 PICK<==

Garrett Deluxe Gold Pan Kit 1651410

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Best Gold Panning Kits – What To Consider

Before purchasing your first gold panning kit you will want to take a few things into consideration.

You can buy just a gold pan but with kits, you get everything you need to get started with gold prospecting all in one package which makes gold panning much easier and you don’t have to mix and match and buy everything separate.

So for your first gold prospecting adventure I recommend you get yourself a kit then later when you gain more experience you can buy things separately as you need them.

Size (Diameter) of the Gold Pan

The first thing to look at is the size or diameter of the gold pan or pans in the kit. Gold pans come in sizes between 10 and 18 inches in diameter. Although many people will pick the larges size possible that isn’t the best bet for most people.

You want to pick a gold pan size that fits the length of your forearm so that your fingers can come around over the top edge of the gold pan. Measure from your elbow to the palm of your hand and that will be about the size gold pan in will want to pick. This makes it much easier to hold the gold pan while you are prospecting. 

If the pan is too large you won’t be able to grasp the edges making it unsteady in your arm and will more then likely have the pan tip over losing all that’s inside. So pick your size wisely it will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run.

Plastic or Metal?

Gold pans are made out of two different kinds of material plastic or metal. The original gold pans were made of metal but nowadays people tend to prefer lighter material like plastic. If you’re using a plastic gold pan they are not only lighter but you can use a magnet on them that you can’t use on a metal gold pan.

Another problem with metal gold pans is that you have to prep them properly to get the factory oil off of them before you use them and metal will rust and dent so you have that to contend with as well.

Plastic gold pans are also great because they come in different colors so that you can see the gold against the pan much better then you could with a black metal pan. I recommend plastic gold pans over metal pans any day of the week. But in the end, it’s up to you what you want to use both types do the same job.

What Items Should Be Included in a Gold Panning Kit?

There are a few essential items that a gold panning kit should include:

  1. Gold Pan
  2. Classifier
  3. Snifter Bottle
  4. Tweezers
  5. Gold Vial

For more information on what tools you need to start gold prospecting check out my article entitled:

9 Essential Gold Panning Tools – Find More Gold!

5 Best Gold Panning Kits


The following gold panning kits are the best of the best you can find to start gold prospecting. I recommend each of these 5 because they include everything you need to get started on the right foot when it comes to gold panning.

Garrett Deluxe Gold Panning Kit

Garrett Deluxe Gold Pan Kit 1651410

Our #1 pick for the best gold panning kit is the Garrett Deluxe Gold Panning Kit. This kit by Garrett a trusted name in gold prospecting and metal detecting has everything you need to get started in the world of gold prospecting.

You get 3 different sized gold pans with this set and one of those pans is a super sluice pan. You also get a snifter bottle, two gold vials to hold gold dust that you find, tweezers for picking out the gold and a classifier for sifting out the larger rocks and silt you find while gold panning.

Garrett’s gold pans have a 90 degree riffled design that is great for quickly finding the gold that’s hidden amongst the dirt and it allows for finding gold in wet or dry conditions. 

The gold pans included in this kit are colored green so you can easily see the gold nuggets that you find and they are made of sturdy plastic that’s practically indestructible and you can use a magnet on them

To help you learn more about gold panning there is an instructional DVD and a book written by Roy Lagal a prominent gold prospector.

Top Features

  • 15″ SuperSluice Pan
  • 14″ Prospector Pan
  • 10″ Backpacker Pan
  • Classifier
  • Gold Guzzler Bottle
  • Tweezers
  • Two Gold Vials
  • How to Find Gold field guide by Charles Garrett and Roy Lagal
  • DVD
  • Gold Panning is Easy Book

Click here for pricing and full product details


Gold Rush Nugget Bucket

Gold Rush Nugget Bucket - Gold Panning and Prospecting Kit (Camouflage)

Second, on our list is the Gold Rush Nugget Bucket. This kit was featured on the show Shark Tank. It includes everything you need to get started in gold prospecting and much more.

The Nugget Bucket is recommended for all ages by the Gold Prospectors Association of America (GPAA).

You will love this easy-to-use gold panning kit. All you have to do is add dirt, pour in water, and let this kit do its thing to find you that elusive gold! The whole kit stacks together letting gravity do the work.

The feature called the fluid bed concentrator is what allows gravity to do the work in finding the gold and it helps in reducing the heavy lifting that is involved in gold prospecting.

Top Features

  • Gold Pan
  • Tweezers
  • Black Sand Magnet
  • Gold Vials
  • Instructions
  • Upper and Lower Screens and Classifiers
  • 5-gallon Bucket and Water Pail
  • Concentration Bowl and Base
  • Suction Bottle
  • Scoop
  • Funnel
  • Bucket Seat Lid
  • Instructions

Click here for pricing and full product details on Amazon


Garrett Gold Pan Kit

Garrett Complete Gold Pan Kit 1651310

The gold pan kit by Garrett is another excellent gold panning kit for beginners. This is the standard version of Garrett’s gold panning kits and it’s half the price of the deluxe version.

In this kit, you get two gold pans one of them is a 14″ pan and the other is a 10″ backpacking pan that fits in a backpack for easy portability. You also get a classifier that fits on a 5-gallon bucket.

Just like the deluxe version the pans are made of durable plastic and are colored green for easily seeing the gold nuggets when they appear.

Top Features

  • 14″ Gold Pan
  • 10″ Backpacking Pan
  • 14″ Classifier
  • Gold Guzzler Suction Bottle
  • Two Gold Vials
  • Tweezers
  • Magnifier
  • How to Find Gold Field Guide by Charles Garrett and Roy Lagal

Click here for pricing and full product details


Minelab Pro-Gold Panning Kit

Minelab PRO-Gold Gold Panning Kit 2 Gold Pans, Classifier and More

Number four on our list is the Minelab Pro-Gold Panning Kit. This kit has everything you need to get out and start panning for gold and it’s made by a company that’s trusted in the gold prospecting and metal detecting communities.

All the pans and classifiers are made of plastic which makes for a durable but lightweight product. The Minelab gold pans are colored blue to help you see the gold that you find against the background of the pan.

Top Features

  • 15″ Dual Riffle Gold Pan
  • 10″ Single Riffle Gold Pan
  • Classifier
  • Dual Riffle Gold Capture
  • Magnifier
  • Suction Bottle
  • Two Vials
  • Magnet
  • Carrying Bag

Click here for pricing and full product details


ASR 19 pcs Gold Panning Kit

19 Piece Deluxe Gold Panning Kit with Classifiers, Tweezers, Pans, Rock Pick

Last but not least on our list is the 19 piece gold panning kit. This kit has everything needed for a successful day of gold panning.

You get three gold pans and two classifiers to help you sift through the dirt and debris to find the gold you are looking for. The three pans are of different sizes and colored green for easier locating of the gold nuggets in the pan.

Top Features

  • 14″ Dual Riffle Gold Pan
  • 10″ Dual Riffle Gold Pan
  • 8″ Dual Riffle Gold Pan
  • ½” Mesh Classifier
  • 1/8″ Mesh Classifier
  • Stainless Steel Tweezers and Magnifier
  • 5″ Plastic Snifter Bottle
  • Magnetic Separator Pick with Quick Release
  • 12″ Plastic Sand Scoop
  • 2 Glass Vials

Click here for pricing and full details on Amazon


Conclusion

There you have it 5 of the best gold panning kits for beginners. Anyone of these kits will get you started on the right foot with gold panning. All the kits have what you need for a successful day of gold panning right out of the box.

Thanks for reading and you should now have enough information to help you make an informed buying decision.

Until Next Time Happy Treasure Hunting!

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Author: Cory Haasnoot

Cory Haasnoot is an author, entrepreneur, metal detecting enthusiast, antique, coin collector, and founder of Treasure Seekr.