Hobbies And Interests
Gold Pan
The most essential item necessary to pan for gold is a gold pan. In the past, gold pans were made of iron with sloping sides and a flat bottom. Costing around $12 (as of 2010), modern pans are light, have ridges to catch the gold and are manufactured in different colors to make spotting the gold easier.
Hip Waders and Hiking Boots
Hip waders are important when panning for gold any time other than the middle of summer. They offer protection from the cold water as well as a non-slip bottom for better footing in potentially slippery stream and river beds. If you walk more than a half-mile to the river to pan for gold, wear sturdy hiking boots and change into your waders on the bank.
Shovel and Bucket
A shovel and lightweight plastic bucket are essential for gold panning. Use the bucket to carry loads of dirt to the river's edge. You can dig up dirt with any shovel although a folding, packable shovel is easier to carry. Use stronger shovels with fiberglass or steel handles to prevent breakage in the middle of your panning trip. A fiberglass shovel handle has the additional benefit of being lightweight and almost impossible to break -- an important consideration when you have most likely carried all your equipment to the panning site on your back.
Backpack
Use a backpack to carry your gear to the river. The backpack should have at minimum a large main pocket to hold all of your panning equipment and other gear. For longer trips, choose inexpensive military surplus packs or backpacking bags for extra storage.
Guidebook
A detailed guidebook can help you in learning basic gold panning techniques and find the best locations for gold mining in your area. Find one for the state in which you plan to pan.