Treasure seeker sandals

Beachcombing just got profitable, as these metal-detecting flip-flops can prove

Product

Treasure Seeker Sandals

Promise

Beachcombing just got profitable – with a bit of luck. These metal-detecting sandals will alert you whenever you’re standing over hidden Saxon gold, Viking treasure troves and vintage tin cans.

Performance

Unlikely as it looks, these are the genuine article: a pair of flip-flops that act as metal detectors. Using ‘beat frequency oscillation’, the sandals send out signals from the soles to create a magnetic field. When a metal object underfoot breaks that field, you’re alerted by a flashing red light, vibration and a buzzing noise. 

Designed to be more user-friendly than normal detectors, they’re lightweight enough to be normal sandals. Where they differ is the battery pack that straps to one ankle, which might look a bit odd when you’re walking in shorts but is undetectable beneath trousers. On test the alarm goes off when metal is around 60cm away, so by strolling in a measured way you’ll be able to scan a wide zone as you walk. Happily, you can also detach the battery pack to use them as normal sandals – but where's the fun in that?

Verdict

A fun way to play about on the beach, these are a fraction of the price of a normal metal detector – and could pay dividends. Don’t forget that most hoards are generally found quite close to the surface of the earth!