I much prefer a pan anyday. Shoveling rocks, hefting buckets a water all day is definately something you only want to do in a dire water situation. Back breaking work that a couple a seives and a pan--with 1/10 the work ,will do. tons a au 2 u 2-John--PS I tried all over Kauai and nary a speck anywhere from KoKa to Hanalei and past--bummer--love the place but no oro puro for me, just lotza tourist losses for detecting though.-tons a au 2 u 2 -John