The Whites XLT is probably the best metal detector I have ever used for Civil War relic detecting. I am an avid Civil War Relic detector, and the XLT has enabled me to penetrate the soil, know what I'm digging, and retrieve some of the greatest finds I have ever known. It's easy to use, easy to program, and easy to "get to know," from a user's standpoint. It's rugged, simple to turn on and go, and is comfortable to handle for all-day relic hunting trips. In short the White's XLT is what got me back into relic hunting, and it showed me that I can find stuff on soil that I've been over numerous times.

The comfortable design of the Whites XLT really set it apart from the competition. Balance is important for a metal detector. Because you'll be swinging it on your arm sometimes all day, proper balance and a comfortable weight are two keys to ensuring that a manufacturer creates a satisfied customer. The Whites XLT machine is light enough to swing on your arm all day, and with the arm band and wrist strap there is minimal "jiggle" and it doesn't put too much pressure on your wrists or shoulders. If you're swinging a machine all day, you want to make sure that you can handle it. Handling the Whites is really no problem, and because it's light you actually enjoy metal detecting all day.

The second positive on the Whites XLT is the fact that it's rugged and dependable. Many times you're tossing the machine down onto rocky or hard soil when going to dig up some relic. When you have to repeatedly set the machine down on the ground, it better hold up. The XLT's plastic housing around its LCD display is rugged, and stands up to repeated hard landings. Also the metal housing around the CPU and battery pack is extremely rugged, standing up to repeated falls onto the hard Virginia clay.

The third positive is its intuitive set-up and advanced programming capabilities. Out of the box, the XLT is preconfigured with programs for relic hunting, coin shooting, and other activities. You just choose the program you want to use and the sensitivity, and you start going. Or if you want to get into more advanced usage, you can change the settings to accommodate for heavy soil mineralization, or any other type of sensitivity settings you may be interested in. The XLT is great because it is highly configurable and ready-to-go out of the box as well. It's great for beginners or advanced users.

In short, the Whites XLT metal detector is a great all-around machine. It's good for coin shooting or relic hunting - and just about everything in between. It's rugged, ergonomically correct, and highly flexible and programmable. Whether you're beginner or metal detecting veteran, the Whites XLT can take just about everything you throw at it. It's flexible for almost all environments, easy to use and configure, and well-manufactured. Add to the fact that it's down from $900 to $600, it's a great bargain price. I know from experience that it only takes a few weekends to make that money back in relics or coins! Relic hunting is a breeze and very successful with a machine like Whites XLT.