A finds pouch looks like a minor accessory, but you’ll wear it every time you go out. A good one keeps your finds safe, stops you dropping rubbish back in the field, holds your pinpointer where you can grab it, and drains when it’s wet. A bad one splits, sags, or loses a coin through a hole in the bottom.
How we chose: from product specifications, current Amazon UK prices and ratings, and the features UK detectorists value most. We haven’t tested every pouch ourselves.
The short answer
- Best overall: CKG finds bag (about £27). Highly rated, with drainage and a pinpointer holster.
- Best value: shrxy digger pouch (about £21). 1000D Cordura, zipped finds pocket, with over 800 reviews.
- Cheapest well-reviewed: digger tools waist pouch (about £17). Over 1,200 ratings.
- Most-reviewed: finds bag with pinpointer holster (about £30). Nearly 1,900 ratings.
What to look for
- Separate pockets for finds and rubbish. Landowners notice when you take your scrap away, and you won’t dig the same ring-pull twice.
- A zipped or closable finds pocket. Small coins escape open pockets.
- A pinpointer holster and a D-ring for a lanyard, so you don’t leave your pinpointer in a hole.
- Drainage holes or mesh, so the bag doesn’t fill with muddy water.
- Tough fabric. 1000D Cordura nylon survives brambles and wet clay much better than thin polyester.
- A belt that fits over a coat. You’ll wear it in winter.
The best finds pouches
Best overall: CKG metal detecting finds bag (about £27)
A well-made waist pouch with a pinpointer holster, space for a hand digger, and drainage holes to keep it clean and dry. At about 21 x 10 x 30cm, it holds a day's finds and rubbish without sagging. Rated 4.7 stars from 440 Amazon UK reviews, the highest rating here.
Best value: shrxy finds and digger pouch (about £21)
Made from 1000D Cordura nylon with double-stitched seams and rust-resistant hardware. It has two large inner pockets for a digger and rubbish, a zipped pocket for finds, a pinpointer sheath and a D-ring for a lanyard. Rated 4.6 stars from 824 reviews.
Cheapest well-reviewed: digger tools waist pouch (about £17)
A 1000D nylon pouch with a pinpointer holster, a small outer pocket for your best finds, two larger zipped compartments and mesh drain screens. Rated 4.5 stars from over 1,200 reviews.
Most-reviewed: finds bag with pinpointer holster (about £30)
A long-standing favourite with nearly 1,900 ratings averaging 4.4 stars, with a pinpointer holster and separate compartments. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What to carry in it
- Small write-on grip seal bags for individual finds. Write the date and GPS reference on each. A pack of 100 costs about £4.50.
- A pocket finds box for delicate objects, such as this finds box with scale card (about £12).
- A pinpointer. See our pinpointer guide.
- Your permission letter and insurance details.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a special finds pouch? You could use a builder’s tool belt to start with, but a detecting pouch keeps finds and rubbish apart and has a pinpointer holster, which makes a real difference.
How do I stop losing small finds? Put every good find straight into a small bag, and keep that bag in a zipped pocket.
What do I do with the rubbish? Take it home and bin it. Leaving it in the field means someone digs it up again.