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.
Who you are buying from
History Seekers is a small American business and a working detecting channel: over 1.1 million people follow our hunts on Facebook and YouTube. Everyone here detects, from the top down: gold, relics, coins, jewelry, even float copper. We hunt with the gear we sell, and the person who answers your call has real dirt time. Every purchase keeps everyday Americans working.
The story is more important than the artifact.