360° vs Double-Sided vs Single-Sided Magnet Fishing Magnets: What’s the Real Difference? 🧲

If you’re shopping for magnet fishing magnets, you’ll quickly notice three main types:

• Single-sided magnets

• Double-sided magnets

• 360° magnets

At first glance they may look similar, but how they attract metal underwater is completely different, and that has a huge impact on your magnet fishing results.

Let’s break it down:

Single-Sided Magnet Fishing Magnets

How they work:
Single-sided magnets only attract metal from one flat side. The rest of the magnet is shielded.

When single-sided magnets do work well

Single-sided magnets are actually good at one specific thing:

• Attracting objects when the magnet lands flat on top of them
  

If your magnet drops perfectly flat onto a metal object, the pulling force can be very strong.

Why they struggle with real magnet fishing

The issue is what happens after the throw.

When magnet fishing in rivers, canals, or harbours, you’re usually:

• Dragging through mud

• Pulling over rocks

• Fishing in uneven terrain

In these conditions, a single-sided magnet almost always:

• Rolls onto its side

• Loses contact with the bottom

• Stops attracting properly

Once that magnetic face isn’t pointing down, your chances of finding anything drop fast. That’s why single-sided magnets aren’t ideal for dragging or searching large areas.

New to magnet fishing? Our magnet fishing tips for beginners will help you get started the right way.

Double-Sided Magnet Fishing Magnets

How they work:
Double-sided magnets attract from two opposite flat sides.

This sounds like an upgrade but there’s a catch.

Why double-sided magnets often underperform

Because the magnet attracts from two sides:

• The magnetic force is split

• Each side is weaker than expected

• The two sides partially work against each other

They also still rely on flat surfaces, which is rare underwater.

In practice, double-sided magnets don’t solve the biggest magnet fishing problem: unpredictable angles.

360° Magnet Fishing Magnets (Why We Only Use These)

How they work:
A 360° magnet is magnetic all the way around: top, bottom, and sides.

There are no dead zones.

Why 360° magnets are the best magnets for magnet fishing

• Attract metal from every direction

• Work perfectly when dragging

• Still attract if they land on their side

• Perform consistently in mud, sand, and silt

If your magnet sinks into the mud or rolls sideways, it doesn’t matter.
It keeps pulling just as hard.

That’s exactly why we only sell 360° magnet fishing magnets at Bondi Magnets. They’re designed for real-world conditions, not perfect demo scenarios.

👉 View our 360° magnet fishing kits
👉 Shop Bondi Magnets 360° fishing magnets

Why Angle Matters So Much in Magnet Fishing

Underwater, you can’t control:

• How your magnet lands

• What angle it drags at

• Whether objects are buried

That’s where 360° magnets shine. Instead of relying on one face being perfectly aligned, you’re always attracting metal, no matter how the magnet moves.

More attraction = more finds = more fun.

Magnet Fishing Magnet Comparison

Which Magnet Is Best for Magnet Fishing?

If you want the best magnet for magnet fishing, especially when dragging through rivers and canals, the answer is clear:

👉 360° magnet fishing magnets

That’s why every magnet at Bondi Magnets is:

• Fully 360° magnetic

• Made specifically for magnet fishing

• Tested by Bondi Treasure Hunter in real locations

No compromises. Just magnets that work.

Want to go deeper? Our guide on how to choose the right magnet for magnet fishing breaks down magnet strength, weight, and setup in more detail.

Magnets away!