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!
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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.
Just done!
I just finished… but there is one thing I wish I would have added. Occasionally in your “tips” you have discussed clothing and other equipment, but I wouldn’t mind getting your opinions (or even full reviews) on the shoes and other, non-tech equipment you use. I understand your niche is fitness devices, and you don’t want to lose focus on that too much… but your kind of in-depth review could add a valuable voice to things like shoe reviews.
Just something to think about.
I do agree with Michael – it would be nice to have opinions on not-so-technical stuff. The flow of trainer reviews nearly drowned me recently ;-).
Done
Done and agree with Michael and Katri: clothing and shoes could be a positive addition. I also like to see more reviews on smartphone apps and have my doubts on guest reviews: it’s your style which makes me a returning reader.
done.
I think you do an awesome job as things stand, I visit here for the in-depth unbiased reviews on fitness tech gear that you do amazingly well. Gear reviews would be great so long as it isn’t detrimental to the tech reviews which is the reason so many visit your site!
Looking forward to the KICKR, RFLKT and latest power meter reviews!
My humble 2 cents: Please don’t feel the need to be all things to all people. There are lots of reviews available online for shoes etc. (plus shoes/gear performance is often so subjective, your critical eye/mind might be wasted there). Please keep reviewing things that are personally relevant to you.
My remark on the shoe/clothes front: don’t.
Every week a (new) brand will bring the newest and the best in clothing or shoes, depending on the season. Whereas with the technical stuff, there will be new things every 2 year – max, because they are so costely and need time to develop and debug. And the readers will take the time to decide, to weigh out their options price vs. needs etc.
Also this fast pace will have another consequence: Ray has done his review on a shirt he got in winter, and in spring there will be a new collection so you can’t find his shirt anymore. If it is technical rather than just esthestical (cf. the HR-shirt he reviewed a while back) than I can see the opportunity, otherwise he’ll just turn out to be the Vogue of sportsclothing…
With clothes it is “easy”: it fits or it doesn’t, you’ll like the colors,… all non measurable things. As I see for myself, running in a high tech fabric or running in a off the shelf t-shirt I got after an event, both will do just fine. And with shoes the same thing: they just have to be comfy. Again, I can see an opportunity when Ray decides to buy a new pair and he gives his remarks on the shoes he bought, but I think it would be unnecessary to buy a shitload of them just for comparissons sake or follow up on our questions.
Shoes and clothes won’t get software updates and people differ way to much on to another. Even twins can chose different brands for clothers/shoes, just because they prefer the one fit over another.
Come to think of it: same when Ray will decide to buy a new bike or swimsuit.
Maybe like he did with the househunting in Paris: narrow his choices and explain why he took one or another in brief. A personal story on why he’ll buy that certain bike/suit/shoes/shirt, (likes the color) I’d love to read it, but a full review “Ray style” won’t be possible in my opinion.
As I see for myself: I bought my wetsuit secondhand from a friend who said it was a good starterssuit, and my bike is my brothers. Both of them just work and when I want to buy a new one, I’ll trust my personal feel and fit more than something that just have to hang on my wrist or bike and register things.