Heads up!!! Here’s your massive holiday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $419, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $699, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $249, (or the brand new Hero 13 or $299!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
Here’s how to save!
Wanna save some cash and support the site? These companies help support the site! With Backcountry.com or Competitive Cyclist with either the coupon code DCRAINMAKER for first time users saving 15% on applicable products.
You can also pick-up tons of gear at REI via these links, which is a long-time supporter as well:
Alternatively, for everything else on the planet, simply buy your goods from Amazon via the link below and I get a tiny bit back as an Amazon Associate. No cost to you, easy as pie!
You can use the above link for any Amazon country and it (should) automatically redirect to your local Amazon site.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
1
In Depth Product Reviews
You probably stumbled upon here looking for a review of a sports gadget. If you’re trying to decide which unit to buy – check out my in-depth reviews section. Some reviews are over 60 pages long when printed out, with hundreds of photos! I aim to leave no stone unturned.
2
Read My Sports Gadget Recommendations.
Here’s my most recent GPS watch guide here, and cycling GPS computers here. Plus there are smart trainers here, all in these guides cover almost every category of sports gadgets out there. Looking for the equipment I use day-to-day? I also just put together my complete ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). And to compliment that, here’s The Girl’s (my wife’s) list. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!
3
Have some fun in the travel section.
I travel a fair bit, both for work and for fun. Here’s a bunch of random trip reports and daily trip-logs that I’ve put together and posted. I’ve sorted it all by world geography, in an attempt to make it easy to figure out where I’ve been.
4
My Photography Gear: The Cameras/Drones/Action Cams I Use Daily
The most common question I receive outside of the “what’s the best GPS watch for me” variant, are photography-esq based. So in efforts to combat the amount of emails I need to sort through on a daily basis, I’ve complied this “My Photography Gear” post for your curious minds (including drones & action cams!)! It’s a nice break from the day-to-day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
5
The Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
Many readers stumble into my website in search of information on the latest and greatest sports tech products. But at the end of the day, you might just be wondering “What does Ray use when not testing new products?”. So here is the most up to date list of products I like and fit the bill for me and my training needs best! DC Rainmaker 2023 swim, bike, run, and general gear list. But wait, are you a female and feel like these things might not apply to you? If that’s the case (but certainly not saying my choices aren’t good for women), and you just want to see a different gear junkies “picks”, check out The Girl’s Gear Guide too.
Please let us know if anyone comes out with a Bluetooth LE foot pod.
As much as possible about Wahoo RFLKT, please.
Yes! The Wahoo system has my eye! I’m in the market for a cycling computer system and I really wanna know if the RFLKT, BLUE HR and BLUE CADENCE will all work in unison with the iPhone 5. Thx!
It seems that Garmin has a booth in CES:
The new Garmin Edge 510 / 810 news: estimated availability and price. And of course the Vector too.
Indeed everything about the 510/810. And especially the answer to the question if Garmin is winning the “battle” against smartphones with these two new social Edges.
Basis watch?
Any sign of Motorola Motoactv?
Looking forward to your thoughts on the new Garmin 510 and 810 – definitely look like worthy upgrades.
Some inexpensive power meters.
I would like to hear about any budget friendly devices coming out
Very interested in the Wahoo Kickr release date.
Also, secondary interest is in the Garmin Vector release date.
1) If Garmin is going to stop making us pay a subscription fee to show others where we are running in their app when any person can do it for free through a number of running and non-running apps including Apple’s “Find Friends” app
2) If Garmin will release a updated ANT+ iphone dongle that works with other products and is not siloed
3) Any effort to update accessories (HR, footpods) with rechargable batteries
I would like to hear when Garmin thinks the Tempe will be able to connect to the Forerunner series.
If Garmin is planning on a heart rate belt with memory, like suunto has. Swimmers would love this.
A “2nd” to the MotoActv question – although I’ve got my money on google/motorola mobility dropping it.
I also am in great turmoil about the outcome of the MotoACTV…. Great product I hope doesn’t die out and that someone picks it up and runs with it, at a minimum continuing support
Any updates on the strapless hrm watch.
Please look for new mobile phones with ANT+.
I need a replacement of my xperia active, with a stronger battery.
I currently have a Velotron bike trainer, and a life Fitness treadmill. I see that I can buy some add on sensors from netathlon to put on the Velotron and treadmill which would allow me to use their various sw packages.
I can also get various video packages for the computrainer/Velotron stuff.
But what would be real neat is to get a product which would allow me to use like a go pro or any video camera, use this on a bike ride or run, and then come back and encode it for use with either my Velotron or treadmill. If you can find anyone doing anything like this, I would love to buy it.
Hey Dave
Check out the performance pro studio at http://www.perfprostudio.com
The software has everything you could want. Computrainer courses, wattage based workouts, workouts based on %FTP. It has a very easy to set up group trainer mode and can simulate power for most trainers based on speed given the known power vs speed cure for that trainer. It lets you design workouts based on %FTP and then ride them in ERG mode on the computrainer. You can also synch the workout with any video you want. As an example if you have a power meter on your bike and went for a ride taking video with your go pro; you could put the power file and video into this software package and then ride a virtual session on your computrainer/ velotron with the video synched to the power file.
I am in no way affiliated with the product other than being a happy user.
Check it out!
Like others have already mentioned, any news on Garmin Vector release dates and markets would be welcome.
Hi Ray,
I’ve been researching the Jawbone UP! and FitBit One for personal fitness tracking.
I’d be interested in anything in this category of a wearable tracking device.
I already use a Garmin Forerunner 310XT w/ HR & footpod for dedicated runs, swims and rides, but I’m interesting in increasing my daily activity.
Along the same lines, I’ve been looking at the ZEO Sleep Manager to maximize my restful time. Anything new in this area would be nice to know.
And last, I use Weight Watchers to track my diet, so anything in this area would also be of interest.
Thanks,
Don in Baltimore
any cool new update for the Nike Plus watch or any new Nike GPS watches Thanks
Lets find out more Wahoo Fitness Kickr release info Ray! and possibly more Apps that will support it.
Any plans of Garmin incorporating Bluetooth?
Anything on runner/ultra-runner GPS devices with loooong battery life.
Right now the field is limited to either Garmin (910XT) or Suunto (Ambit) and I’d be interested in seeing if any of the smaller players are making moves in that direction.
Any strapless HRM with data recording that would claim to be usable while swimming.
Iphone 5 (lightning) connected devices would be cool to see. As most of the devices still coming to market still use the 30 pin connector
As previously mentioned, Edge 510/810 info, Ant+ in cell phones, MotoActive (and other watch style android based devices), Leikr watch, pebble watch, will Garmin be doing more with BTLE.
I know its not really a sports related thing but as you’ve had interest in ZEO, any new alarm clocks that use data from the person sleeping (some form of monitoring) to wake them up more efficiently? (vary when the alarm goes off to coincide with sleep cycles and/or using a sunrise simulator like what Phillips has)
Any new gps tech? Seems like the GPS chipsets hasn’t changed much since the forerunner 305. Are they getting lower in power use to enable more devices or not drain cell phones as fast?
Echoing the comments regarding the release date on the KICKR.
These are the things I’m most interested in.
1. Garmin 510 and 810.
2. Pedal based power meters. Garmin vector and any others.
3. Wahoo Fitness Kickr.
Bluetooth! I’m really trying to figure out when we’re going to hit the inflection point where most tri gear is bluetooth instead of ant+. Or at least a sufficient quantity that I know where to put my future purchases…
Purchase by Microsoft of a company specializing in home automation (R2 something or other) was just announced. Curious if thy will have anything there regarding plans to make the X-Box more of a home control center. Will others (Apple, Google, etc.) have something to counter?
Please take some Garmin executives into a dark back room. Invite Dick Cheney to assist you. Convince the Garmin execs by whatever means necessary to give you some straight answers as to whether Garmin Vector will ever be released and, if so, when.
Also, maybe ask them why they don’t participate in their own forums (i.e. on their garmin.com website). Seems like that would be a no-brainer by (1) reducing individual support calls; (2) increasing customer satisfaction through the perception that concerns are being heard/addressed; and (3) direct/quick feedback of bugs/problems.
Officially the funniest thing I’ve read all day…
Garmin Vector and Wahoo KICKR should definitely be on the Q/A priority list :)
I second getting garmin to participate in their own forums. (Don’t really have much interest in the vector unless it becomes cheaper then a low end powertap hub which I’m sure isn’t possible)
While I realize this isn’t useful for those who race as they are way more engaged in their training is there any new technology to help with being able to exercise while watching TV? (I’m assuming safely indoors) For example almost all wireless headphones I’ve seen are very poor at sealing out external sound as I haven’t seen any based on ear canal style headphone so would be nice to have wireless ear canal headphone so I can watch TV while using my indoor rower or even better a wireless device I can plug my own headphones into.
New developments that integrate ant+ and the bt comunity.
Any new sensors.
Any chance we may hear an update on the Garmin Vector??
Honestly, I suspect that’s unlikely.
Update on 4iiii viiiiva and any Bluetooth footpod?
I’d like confirmation that the Garmin Vector has been officially delayed until 2014.
I have a pitcher of beer riding on this bet.
I’d like to echo the interest in the lower price point powermeters. There is a real market out there, and new products consistently coming in around the same 1000+ USD point is frustrating.
it looks like a lot (more) people are keen to jump on this bandwagon, but can’t justify (to the accounts department at home) dropping the serious wedge required at the moment.
Would be great if you could head to the Polar booth and see how things are progressing on the Bluetooth front like release of new cycling head units and what will be involved in the Keo Power changing over from W.I.N.D to Bluetooth. Love your work Ray!
Yup, I’ll definitely be talking with them about that. Last I heard (Interbike), they were talking late spring to summer for the module changeout of the WIND to BLE (for the Keo Power).
I’ve actually gotta hit up those guys for something else, so that’s a good reminder…
Everything Garmin and any “cheap” ($500’ish) ANT+ power meters.
4iiii’s combined ANT+/BLTE hrm release date info would be appreciated. Thanks Ray.
Brief summaries of the “Our Bodies, Our Data” and “NEXT?” sessions in the Fitness Tech conf track (Jan 8th; free), s’il vous plaît. :)
I´d like to see/hear something about:
Garmin Edge 510
Leikr GPS device
O-Synce navi2coach (hands on or better a review)
Thx and have fun.
Regards from Germany,
Daniel
Update on 4iiii viiiiva!
Wahoo Kickr update–when available for purchase by common folk.
I’d like to hear about upgrades to the Jawbone Up/Fitbit/Nike Fuelband or any similar devices coming out.
I’d like to see some information on the pebble and it’s integration with apps like Runkeeper. Seems like the pebble plus a smartphone could give some of the current crop of fitness watches a run for their money.
I’d also like some information on the myBasis watch. While I’m interested in the technology, the company has to be run by some of the biggest numbskulls on the planet.
If you happen to stumble across any weatherproof cameras I would be interested in your thoughts.
I know that the camera shows are coming at the end of the month but there might be something useful from the show.
thx,
bob
Wahoo Kickr Ray and as many as ANT+ running and cycling accessories as possible!
Hi Ray,
Love the website – thx for all of the work you put into it.
Any chance you will be finishing up the Tacx Genius review on your flight to Vegas??
A separate GPS ANT+ module and wrist recorder, fitness focused headphones and wondering if Epson is going to release the WristableGPS line outside Japan.
Remember the Garmin Boys, that there are essential Bugs in the Garmin 500 firmware 3.0 and ask, if and when they will fix.
And for Garmin 810/510 please look that the display is in sun better readable then with the 800.
Thank, klaus
*any cheap power meter.
*a cheap, waterproofed, gps enabled, and heart rate enabled watch.
*updates regarding the tacx iPad app.
I share the need for news on Garmin Vector release date expressed above. Been waiting for about two years now, trying to seek for reliable information on the release date and finally facing the constant re-schedules. For example I need such a device for power-training on a stationary trainer during winter time. Only possible systems (due to technical compatibility) are either the Vector or Brimbrother’s Zone (the Polar Look Keo is not suitable due to lack of ANT+, and Stages Cycling’s StageONE is not suitable due to my requirement for a square crank arm).
I’d prefer one thousand times a realistic conservative deadline rather than all those re-schedules.
Their communication on the matter is so poor that it doesn’t make me want to ever reward their work by buying the Vector.
As a reminder, the first showcase was at Interbike in 2009. It was due to be released in Q1 2010. After the acquisition by Garmin it was announced for March 2012, then re-scheduled to Summer 2012, and then quoting Clifton Pemble (president, director and COO of Garmin International Inc) from their conference with investors in Summer 2012: “So we are doing some design changes and starting to assemble new prototypes now, and we would expect that by the end of the year we should have a solid power meter.”. The latest information we currently have is (quote from Clifton Pemble) “…we’ve been evaluating new design changes and we do feel like things are looking promising and are sticking to our early next year first quarter (Q1CY13) or early second quarter (Q2CY13) deliveries.”. Needless to say confidence in the information from the Garmin press communication is already broken.
It’s now been more than 3 years since first showcase, and competition (Polar Look) seems to have been able to overcome the technical difficulties linked to a pedal based power-meter system and is selling their Keo for quite some time now.
Maybe Garmin is facing such serious issues that any official communication on the matter would adversely affect the company share price.
Honestly, why is it taking companies so long to come out with decent bluetooth watch options. I know the new Casio G-Shock is finally out, but anything else?
Hello Ray
I have some requests for the Garmin folks:
* would it be possible to add support for the Garmin Tempe in the Forerunner-range (by firmware update), and in the Garmin Fit app (I’m not a software engineer, but this shouldn’t be very difficult to do)?
* when will the Garmin Basecamp app become available for the Android platform?
* is Garmin planning to add the possibility to transfer data (workouts, routes,…), via ANT+, between Garmin devices and Android phones/tablets (by developing a new app, or adding this option to existing apps like Garmin Fit)?
Ray, thanks in advance for passing these questions to the Garmin-people, and keep up the good work!
Could you check for any update regarding treadmill tracking device ou software.
Thanks
1) Garmin Vector
2) Edge 510/810
3) Tempe+food pod combined in one unit!
4) HR for swimming
Leikr is now on Kickstarter and in their 1st update they mention a meetup at CES where there will be an opportunity for some hands on time. It would be great to get your initial impression.
Thanks
Hands-on with the Leikr gps-watch would be great.
Thank you for all the awesome info Ray!
I’m interested in the latest cable tv alternatives ala Hulu, etc.
Apparently, Withings as announced a new scale, the WS-50… My understanding is that its basically the original, except with BT, CO2, and HR.
Hopefully some firm will pick up where Motorola left off with the Motoactv.