Description
The VX5 is the entry to Garrett's Vortex line, and the smart part is that starting here does not lock you in.
Garrett Vortex VX5 at a glance
The Garrett Vortex VX5 is a fully waterproof (16 ft / 5 m) metal detector with an 8.5 x 11 in / 22 x 28 cm DD Raider search coil, a 13 kHz single frequency plus a Multi-Frequency mode, four search modes, a single 0-99 Target ID scale, and three audio tones. It weighs 3.0 lb / 1.38 kg and is Z-Lynk wireless ready. It is the entry point to Garrett's upgradeable VX5/VX7/VX9 platform. 3-year limited warranty.
See the Garrett Vortex in action
The Vortex VX5 is Garrett's answer for the person who wants a real detector, not a toy, without paying for features they have not grown into yet. It is fully waterproof to 16 ft / 5 m, so a rained-out field, wet sand, or a shallow creek are all fair game from day one, which is not something most detectors at this price can say.
Under the hood it runs a 13 kHz single frequency plus a true Multi-Frequency mode, so it reads clean on dry ground and holds up in fresh water and damp soil where cheap single-frequency machines get noisy. The standard 8.5 x 11 in / 22 x 28 cm DD Raider search coil is a good all-around size, enough depth for coins and relics without being a chore to swing.
The VX5 keeps the controls simple on purpose. Four search modes (Zero, Standard, USA Coins, and Custom), a single 0-99 Target ID scale, and three audio tones give you a detector you can actually learn in an afternoon instead of one you fight for a month. You dig good targets sooner because the machine is telling you something you can read.
It is Z-Lynk wireless ready, so a set of Z-Lynk headphones drops the cable without the lag that makes cheap wireless useless for detecting. At 3.0 lb / 1.38 kg on a stem that collapses from 24.75 in to 56.75 in / 62.9 to 144.1 cm, it travels easily and swings light for a full day.
What's in the box
- Garrett Vortex VX5 detector
- 8.5 x 11 in / 22 x 28 cm DD Raider waterproof search coil
- USB charging cable
- Arm strap
- Quick-start guide (full manual online)
- 3-year limited parts/labor warranty
Compare the Vortex platform: VX5 vs VX7 vs VX9
All three Vortex detectors share the same hardware: fully waterproof to 16 ft / 5 m, the same 8.5 x 11 in / 22 x 28 cm DD Raider search coil, Z-Lynk wireless, 3 lb / 1.38 kg, and a 3-year warranty. What changes as you move up the line is capability: more frequencies, saltwater ability, more search modes, and finer target separation.
| VX5 - $449.99 | VX7 - $534.99 | VX9 - $599.99 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single frequencies | 13 kHz | 5, 13 kHz | 5, 9, 13, 18, 25 kHz |
| Multi-Frequency | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Salt (saltwater beach) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Search modes | 4: Zero, Standard, USA Coins, Custom | 5: adds Beach | 7: adds Thin Coins and Fast |
| Target ID | One 0-99 scale | 2-tier scales | 3-tier MD-MF |
| Upgrade path | to VX7 or VX9 | to VX9 | top of line |
Which one is right for you? Choose the VX5 for dry-land coin, relic, and park hunting plus fresh water; it is the simplest to learn and the least expensive, but it is not built for saltwater beaches. Choose the VX7 if ocean beaches are in your plans: it adds the Multi-Salt mode, a deep-reading 5 kHz frequency, a 2-tier Target ID, and iron/bottlecap tools. Choose the VX9 for the full toolset: five single frequencies including 25 kHz for small gold and thin jewelry, a 3-tier Target ID that separates keepers from iron, and dedicated Thin Coins and Fast modes.
Because the hardware is identical across the line, a VX5 or VX7 can be moved up later with a paid Garrett software upgrade instead of a new detector. Starting lower is a floor, not a dead end.
Want the VX5 as a complete kit with a pinpointer, a digger, and a pouch in one purchase? See our Garrett Vortex VX5 Adventure Archaeology Starter Package.
The story is more important than the artifact.