Don't Let Gold Fever Get the Best of Your Wallet
Gold panning equipment comes in all shapes and forms and many of the dealers would have you think that you need every little gold panning accessory in order to be successful. When I first started gold panning back in the mid 1990s I caught the gold bug and before I knew it my gold fever had got the best of my wallet. At times, going for short gold panning trip meant taking a lot of gear. I mean, I had A LOT of gear. Over the years I realized that I did not need most of the gold panning equipment that I had accumulated. If I were to start over again, I would save myself a lot of money and only buy the following gold panning items.
A Garrett Gravity Trap Gold Pan Set
Folks, there is a reason that Garrett's gold pans are popular. They are tough, the riffle design really works, the green color really shows the gold, and they cost less than their best competitors. After owning more than 10 different gold pans, my original 14 inch Garrett gold pan is still my favorite.
If you are going to buy a Garrett gold pan set (which I STRONGLY recommend because its cheaper in the long run) go for the standard Garrett Gold Pan Set. It comes with all of the gold pans that you will need: A 14 inch pan for normal gold panning, a 10 inch pan for backpacking and cleanup, and a tough gold classifier.
The Deluxe Garrett Gold Pan Set is the only other option that I would consider. It comes with the overkill supersluice gold pan which will hold more material than the average prospector will want to work. Not worth it. But if you think you are tough enough to work the supersluice gold pan then the Deluxe Garrett Gold Pan Set is an option.
Gold Snuffer Bottles
Basically, the gold guzzler bottle that comes with the Garrett Gold Pan sets is weak. You might as well chuck it. It just doesn't last very long. At prospecting shops, these can be hit and miss as far as quality goes. The ONLY place I buy these is at www.snufferbottles.com . They are sold in sets with a small and large gold snuffer bottle. I like both sizes and they maintain their suction ability for a long time. It costs around $5.00 per set. Worth the price.
A Crevice Tool
To scrape gold concentrates from cracks in the bedrock, you will need a crevice hook tool. These come in a variety of shapes and styles. I personally like one that have a scoop on one end and a hook on the other. These usually run $8-12. You definitely don't want to leave gold behind in a crack. A small spoon with a long handle can also come in handy.
A Bucket
Having a bucket handy is helpful because you can classify gravel into the bucket and then take the bucket to the river for gold panning. That way you spend more time gold panning than walking. The BEST size of bucket is the 3.5 gallon size. Larger buckets will be very heavy when full. The 3.5 gallon size is manageable. It is also helpful to have a smaller laundry detergent bucket for hold the gold concentrates.A Gold Suction Bulb
Gold Suction Bulbs like the one pictured from Keene are helpful for sucking out the last bit of material in a narrow crevice that is filled with water. A gold suction bulb from Keene costs approximately $15. A cheaper alternative is to build one yourself using a one of the red battery acid bulbs from an auto store and a piece of metal tubing. These can easily float off, so it is a good idea to have a couple of spares.
A Sluice Box (For the More Serious Prospectors)
If you will be doing much gold prospecting at all, then you may want to consider purchasing a sluice box. A sluice box will allow you to process much more material in a shorter amount of time so you can find more gold. Sluice boxes cost more, but when you consider the fact that you can easily process 10 times the amount of material that you could with a gold pan, it is worth it.
The folding back pack gold sluices are easy to store and can usually fit inside of a bucket or backpack.
As far as gold panning equipment goes, that's it. These are the essential gold panning tools that you will want to have to be successful at gold panning. The only exception being the sluice box which is not essential, but that is worth it. Disclaimer: I do not receive any compensation for promoting www.snufferbottles.com. I just think that their product rocks. I personally use these items and say that I have been very pleased with them. I do receive compensation for promoting Windy City Detectors as they are one of my sponsors.