if youre detecting over grass all the time - you shouldn't have to
but if going over roots and rocks and rough hard ground and you hunt a lot - you will wear
thru your coil and you don't want that to happen - even sand will wear your coil eventually
it does add a thin cushion when you bang into things too - you crack your coil and get any moisture
in it - you will be needing a new one
I don't use them. A rule of thumb is, what do you wear on your feet? If you plan on getting into area's where you wear boots to protect your feet, use a CC to protect the coil as well. When you're barefoot at the beach, sand/water can be a problem getting in between the coil and cover, so no cover. I usually go to places where I just wear sneakers (Parks, tot lots, ball fields, old homes) and just use a bare coil.
Some of my coils cost more than some complete metal detectors, so I treat them with respect and keep them pristine in case I ever want to resell them. Sand at the beach will wear out a coil quickly if you are using it correctly (think sandpaper for hours at a time), so coil covers are a smart idea. One rock in the grass or leaves that you don't see could end you detecting day without a coil cover. Don't be lazy. Use a coil cover, take the batteries out when you store the machine, and clean the freaking thing every now and then.
I use them. I tend to scrub the ground a bit in most areas to get max depth. I figure whatever wear I save off the bottom of the coils will make it last just that much longer. Using one doesn't hurt anything, so, why not use it. Just remember to regularly clean out anything that might get accumulated between the coil and cover. Don't try to permanently seal the cover to the coil. It just never seems to work 100% and will be a real pain to remove when it does leak.
Have to agree w/ Terry S and cudamark, it won't hurt to use one but can hurt to not use one. I always hunt with it on, even if I'm only hunting "gentle" surfaces like grass or wood-chipped tot lots.
Nope, but I'm in Florida not much for rocks. Also, I don't CARE if my coil gets scratched up. I simply sand it and apply a new coat of epoxy... which is what it's made of.
I have NEVER hunted without one. I thought that you put them on the coil, so that the cover ($20) protected the coil ($400) from scratches. My covers are scratched up, but my coils look brand new.
Perhaps I have missed something, but I can't imagine why you wouldn't use a "coil condom".
Thanks for the replies I never even thought about using it till I read some other posts where people said something about using one. I guess my worry was losing some depth. Thanks Finally nice enough to go out this weekend mid 40s woo hooo