If you want a detector you can pull out of the closet, snap together, and swing without reading a manual first, the Fisher F22 sits squarely in that category. It’s a single-frequency VLF machine built around a 9-inch coil, four preset search modes, and a numeric target readout that tells you what’s under the coil before you dig.
Running at 7.69 kHz with a claimed 25 hours of runtime from two AA batteries, the F22 keeps its complexity in the display rather than in the controls, which is why it shows up so often on beginner shortlists. The whole rig weighs about two pounds in the hand, and the coil handles rain, mud, and shallow water without complaint.
- ALL PURPOSE METAL DETECTOR: Weatherproof metal detector that can detect Jewelry, Coins, and Artifacts on land and shallow water. Finds metal targets on the surface and buried up to nine inches deep.
- TREASURE HUNT IN ANY CONDITION: This metal detector is weatherproof for use in the harshest weather and environments. Rain or shine, this metal detector can find treasure.
- JUST TURN-ON-AND-GO: A metal detector made for adults but easy enough for a child to operate. Easy-to-use features like discrimination, sensitivity, notch, and pinpoint make finding treasures buried deep underground a breeze.
This Fisher F22 9-inch metal detector review looks at how the target ID, pinpoint function, and weatherproofing hold up for coin shooting, park hunting, and beach edges.
Bottom Line
The F22 gives you real discrimination, notch, and pinpoint controls in a package light enough for all-day swinging and simple enough to hand to a kid.
If you want an entry-level machine that won’t need replacing after your first season, check current availability for the Fisher F22 on Amazon.
Overview: Fisher F22 Weatherproof Metal Detector
Built by First Texas Products, this model slots between hobby-store toys and serious mid-tier machines. It runs a 7.69 kHz operating frequency through a 9-inch elliptical concentric coil, with an IP54-rated control housing and a submersible coil.
Key figures at a glance:
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operating frequency | 7.69 kHz |
| Coil | 9-inch, weatherproof, submersible |
| Weight | ~2 lbs in hand |
| Power | 2 AA batteries, roughly 25 hours |
| Weather rating | IP54 control box |
| Target ID | 0-99 numeric plus category icons |
Assembly takes minutes with no tools. The shaft adjusts for height, and the padded grip with arm cup keeps the balance forward-neutral.
Fisher packages it as a one-detector kit, so headphones and a digger are separate purchases.
Target ID and Four-Tone Audio
Identification works on two channels at once: a 0-99 numeric value on screen and one of four audio tones assigned by conductivity range. Iron sits low on the scale, foil and pull tabs land in the middle, and copper and silver coins push toward the high 70s and 80s.
Above the number, category icons group targets, giving you a rough sense of what’s below before you glance at the digits. Four preset search modes, including coin and artifact, preload sensible discrimination patterns.
You also get manual discrimination and notch, so you can reject a specific pull-tab range while keeping nickels in play. Learning the tones matters more than watching the number, since audio updates faster than the display when you’re sweeping at pace.
Pinpoint Mode and Nine-Inch Search Coil
Pressing the pinpoint button switches the detector into a non-motion all-metal mode that peaks in volume directly over the target center. Combined with the screen’s depth indicator, this narrows a hole to a few inches and saves a lot of unnecessary digging.
The 9-inch coil is a concentric design, which gives tight separation and predictable pinpointing at the cost of some raw coverage compared to a wider DD coil. On open turf, that trade favors accuracy.
Fisher rates target detection to roughly nine inches on coin-sized objects in cooperative soil. Highly mineralized ground, wet sand, or trashy sites will pull that number down, as they do with any single-frequency machine.
Weatherproof Design for Outdoor Hunting
An IP54 rating covers dust ingress and splashing water, meaning the control box tolerates rain, spray, and damp conditions without a cover. The coil itself is submersible, so wading shallow creek edges or the surf line is fair game.
Full submersion of the control housing is not. Keep the display above water and you can hunt through weather that would send a non-sealed detector back to the truck.
Beach hunters should note the frequency is fixed, so wet salt sand introduces chatter that requires backing off sensitivity. Dry sand, park grass, fields, and woodland trails are where this design earns its rating. Rinse the coil after saltwater exposure.
Lightweight Handling and Simple Controls
Two pounds is light enough that fatigue rarely ends a hunt before you’re ready. The padded grip and arm cup distribute the load at the elbow, and the telescoping shaft adjusts short enough for a child to swing comfortably.
Controls are pushbutton, with no menu diving. Sensitivity, discrimination, notch, mode, and pinpoint each get their own input, and the settings persist between sessions.
Two AA batteries powering roughly 25 hours means you can carry spares in a pocket instead of hauling a 9V pack. If you’re weighing this against machines with more adjustment depth, the Nokta Simplex Ultra offers waterproofing and wireless audio at a higher price point.
Who Is the Fisher F22 Best For?
New and returning hobbyists get the most from this machine, particularly anyone hunting parks, yards, schoolyards, and old homesites. It’s also a sensible choice for families, since the weight and preset modes let kids operate it without much supervision.
Ring and relic recovery on your own property is a strong use case. Several owners bought it specifically to find lost jewelry and succeeded.
Serious beach and saltwater hunters should look at multi-frequency alternatives instead. Detectorists who already own a mid-tier machine will find the F22 works better as a loaner or a second detector for a hunting partner than as an upgrade. Our roundup of the best metal detector for beginners puts it in context against similar entry models.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Two AA batteries with roughly 25 hours of runtime, no proprietary pack
- Around two pounds, comfortable for extended hunts and easy for kids
- Numeric 0-99 target ID paired with a four-tone audio system
- Manual notch and discrimination, uncommon at this tier
- Submersible coil and IP54 control box handle rain and shallow water
- Tool-free assembly and settings that persist between sessions
Cons
- Fixed single frequency struggles on wet salt sand
- Control housing cannot be submerged
- No headphones, digging tool, or pinpointer included
- Some owners report intermittent signals traced to shaft or coil connections
- Depth trails behind detectors with larger DD coils in clean ground
What Customer Reviews Reveal
Owner feedback clusters heavily around ease of use and weight, with buyers repeatedly noting they were swinging productively within minutes of unboxing. The VDI readout draws consistent praise for helping people decide whether a signal is worth digging.
Success stories are concrete. One buyer recovered a ring lost in a garden six months earlier. Campers and off-road travelers report it holds up well as recreational gear.
Criticism is narrower. A German-language reviewer described false signals from a loose connection triggered by light vibration. A French-language buyer compared their unit unfavorably against a friend’s detector on the same ground, suspecting less power.
The Garrett ACE 400 draws similar comparisons from buyers weighing a step up in sensitivity.
Conclusion
The F22 delivers a well-rated combination of low weight, real discrimination controls, and weather tolerance at an entry-level price, which explains its persistence on beginner recommendation lists years after release. Nothing about it is exotic, and that works in its favor when you’re still learning to read tones.
Set expectations around soil and site: nine inches on coins in friendly ground, less in mineralized dirt or trash-heavy parks. Skip it for dedicated saltwater beach hunting.
Budget another $40 or so for a digging trowel, a pouch, and headphones, since none ship in the box. Browse more metal detector coverage if you want to compare coil sizes and frequency options before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Fisher F22 a good metal detector for beginners?
Yes, it’s one of the more commonly recommended entry-level machines because the four preset search modes work well straight out of the box. You can start hunting without adjusting anything, then learn discrimination and notch settings at your own pace.
How deep can the Fisher F22 detect metal targets?
Fisher rates it to roughly nine inches on coin-sized targets in favorable soil conditions. Larger objects register deeper, while mineralized ground, wet salt sand, and heavy iron trash reduce effective depth noticeably.
Is the Fisher F22 waterproof or only weatherproof?
The control housing carries an IP54 rating, which covers dust and splashing water but not submersion. The 9-inch coil is submersible, so you can work shallow water and stream edges as long as the display stays dry.
What batteries does the Fisher F22 use?
It runs on two AA batteries, with an average life of about 25 hours of active detecting. Alkaline or rechargeable NiMH cells both work, and carrying a spare pair costs almost nothing.
Can the Fisher F22 find rings, coins, and jewelry?
Yes, and lost ring recovery is one of the successes owners report most often. Gold rings frequently fall into the same conductivity range as pull tabs, so if jewelry is your goal, don’t notch out that segment.
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