Best Magnet Fishing Kits

I've been magnet fishing long enough to have a garage full of rusty junk and strong opinions about ropes. If you're here, you're either just getting into this hobby or you've already thrown a magnet into a canal once and got completely hooked — no pun intended. Either way, you need a kit that won't fall apart on you, and there are a lot of kits out there that will.

This guide covers everything from cheap starter kits under $50 to serious gear for people who've graduated past pulling up bicycle frames and want something that can handle real weight. I've organized it by skill level because that's honestly the most useful way to think about it — a 500lb pull magnet is plenty for a beginner, and a 3100lb magnet in the wrong hands is just an injury waiting to happen. If you're brand new to this, check out our magnet fishing for beginners page first, then come back here.

The products here were picked based on pull force, what's actually included in the kit, price relative to what you get, and how they sell on Amazon. I haven't tried every single one personally, but I've used enough of these to know what separates a decent kit from one that'll have you re-buying rope after your third session.

Why the Kit You Start With Actually Matters

Here's the thing about magnet fishing kits — the individual pieces aren't complicated, but when one of them fails, it tends to fail at the worst possible moment. I remember the first time I used a 1000lb pull magnet and snagged something heavy on the bottom of a lake. I was using a cheap rope that came with a budget kit, and halfway through the pull, the knot just... let go. Whatever I'd found is still down there. That was an expensive lesson in why the rope matters as much as the magnet itself.

A complete kit gives you everything in one package — the magnet, rope, usually gloves, sometimes a case, occasionally a grappling hook for those awkward snags. Buying pieces separately can make sense once you know what you want, but when you're starting out, a kit takes the guesswork out of it. You know the rope diameter is matched to the magnet weight, the carabiner is rated to handle the load, and you're not going to show up at the river and realize you forgot something. That said, not all kits are equal, and the difference between a $22 kit and a $55 kit can be pretty significant when you're actually out there using it.

If you're thinking about taking kids along, the gear choice gets even more important — lighter pull force, shorter rope, proper gloves. We have a whole page on magnet fishing with kids that's worth reading before you buy anything for a younger angler.

What to Actually Look For in a Magnet Fishing Kit

Most product listings lead with the flashy number — 1000lbs! 2625lbs! — and bury the stuff that actually affects your experience. Here's what I look at when I'm sizing up a kit.

Pull Force (lbs)

This is the big number on the box, and yeah, it matters. Pull force tells you how much weight the magnet can theoretically hold onto a flat steel surface. In real conditions — through water, with mud and grime involved — you're getting a fraction of that rated number. Beginners should look for something in the 500–1000lb range. That's more than enough to pull up most of what you'll find. Going bigger isn't always better, especially when you're learning — a 2600lb magnet stuck to a submerged pipe will ruin your afternoon and possibly your shoulder.

Single-Sided vs. Double-Sided

Single-sided magnets concentrate all their pull force on one face and are generally better for throwing and dragging along the bottom. Double-sided magnets pull from both faces, which sounds great, but the pull force gets split — so a "1320lb double-sided" isn't pulling 1320lbs on each side. For beginners, I honestly think single-sided is the easier starting point. But most of the kits here are double-sided because that's what sells, so just know what you're working with. You can read more about the magnet types on our magnet fishing magnets page.

Rope Quality and Length

This is where cheap kits fall apart. Literally. You want a braided nylon rope — something that doesn't stretch too much under load and won't fray after a few sessions. Look for at least 65 feet of rope, ideally more. The thickness matters too; anything under about 8mm starts to feel sketchy when you're hauling something heavy.

What's Included

A good kit should have the magnet, rope with a pre-tied or included carabiner, gloves (because the rope will tear up your hands), and ideally some kind of carrying case. A grappling hook is a nice bonus — useful when your magnet gets wedged and you need to yank it free from a different angle. Check the listing carefully because some kits are just the magnet and a rope, and that's it.

Price vs. What You Actually Get

Under $50 is the sweet spot for beginner kits. You don't need to spend more than that to get started. Mid-range kits in the $40–$60 range usually include better rope and a carrying case. Premium kits above $150 are for people who've already decided this is a serious hobby and want gear that'll last years. Don't spend $300 on your first kit — you might hate magnet fishing after two sessions (unlikely, but possible). More tips on what to bring beyond the kit itself are on our magnet fishing accessories page.

Which Kit Should You Actually Get?

Honestly, for most people reading this, the Platinum Online Products 1320LB kit is the answer. It's got enough pull force to make every session interesting, comes with a case so you're not shoving a wet magnet into a backpack, and it's right around $55. That's not nothing, but it's also not a big gamble on a hobby you might love. If $55 feels like too much of a commitment and you just want to see what this is about, grab the MUTUACTOR for $22 and take it to a local bridge. Find out if you're hooked — again, no pun intended — before spending more. And if you already know you're serious and you've been magnet fishing long enough to have opinions about rope types? The Magnetar lineup is where you end up eventually anyway.

One last thing: wherever you fish, make sure you're choosing good spots. A great kit doesn't help much if you're throwing it into a pond with nothing on the bottom. Our best places to magnet fish guide is worth a read before your next session.