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…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
You'll support the site, and get ad-free DCR! Plus, you'll be more awesome. Click above for all the details. Oh, and you can sign-up for the newsletter here!
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.Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? No problem, the product comparison data is constantly updated with new products and new features added to old products!
Wanna create comparison chart graphs just like I do for GPS, heart rate, power meters and more? No problem, here's the platform I use - you can too!
Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
Get all your awesome DC Rainmaker gear here!
FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
- Why haven’t you yet released a review for XYZ product you mentioned months ago?
- Will you test our product before release?
- Are you willing to review or test beta products?
- Which trainer should I buy?
- Which GPS watch should I buy?
- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
- I’m headed to Washington DC – what do you recommend for training?
- I’m from out of the country and will be visiting the US, what’s the best triathlon shop in city XYZ?
- What kind of camera do you use?
-
5 Easy Steps To The Site
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
Welcome to my great country, you are right Wales is a separate country to England, Scotland and Northern Ireland although we all join together to form the United Kingdom and Cardiff is the capital of Wales.
The stadium you ran around is the Millenium Stadium and is a Rugby (link to en.wikipedia.org) stadium not a football (soccer) stadium!
Funny, because I’ve seen many football games at the Millennium Stadium (mainly when Wembley was being rebuilt). But it also hosts international matches.
So although it is primarily a rugby stadium, it serves other purposes as well.
It’s a rugby stadium owned by the Welsh Rugby Union and like most other venues around the world it does host other events such as football/monster truck/speedway/music concerts etc
I hope you enjoyed your stay in our little city :D
Croeso i Gymru “welcome to wales” in Welsh.
How did you get the photo cluster view on the Map?
That’s Adobe Lightroom software.
Yup indeed.
At least driving to Bristol airport you did not have to pay the Toll over the bridge as they let you out of Wales for free just charge you to get in. You ran past the Cricket ground as well but not as impressive as the Millennium Stadium.
Ray:
Try the Waze app for navigation. Yes, it is owned by Google now. But, I haven’t been routed to a cow pasture yet!.
Surprised to see fellow Cardiffians here. :)
Hope you enjoyed your short visit. Shame about our airport. =/
So how did you find Gods country?? Lucky you flew in as you have to pay for the privilage of entering Wales by car. Although joined, Wales is a separate Country to England and the Welsh are very proud of this fact….a bit like Canada and the USA!! Hope you enjoyed your stay!
Durr hope you enjoyed our Capital
I love how the UK just confuses the hell out of most people!
Ray, you were just up the road from us when at Bristol Airport. You should have dropped in for a ride. :-)
I took a day trip to Wales during my vacation to London and Paris last summer. The main intention was to visit the Doctor Who Experience (proud fan, though the exhibit felt a little lacking), but found myself wishing I had allotted for more time in the city. Just wandering around the city center around the train station, the castle, the bay, not to mention the pubs… just lovely. I will return one day!
I love the “cow pasture”! Thanks for making us dream Ray, hahaha.
Ray, you are so popular, you should create a part of the blog where you announce where you will be, so we can welcome you and present the good places to you :-)
Well, keeping in mind that your training plan may not be mine and I shall adapt.
I know it is not easy to change the training plan for me, so should it be for you, maybe it is why you do not communicate on your next locations…
Thanks Hubert!
I try and drop hints about where I’ll be when it works out. This is probably a good example of most of my trips being very last minute. I didn’t book my ticket until 1AM the night before. And in many cases, I don’t really know my exact schedule, even day of. So I’d feel bad trying to organize something and having to cancel last second.
I wonder how accurate is the vivofit reading.
Comparing it to the GPS, it was honestly better than I expected for a run.
Vivofit: 6.64 Miles
Fenix2: 7.02 Miles
FR620: 7.02 Miles
Given the run was intervals, so all over the map pace-wise, with walk/rest breaks in between, etc…that’s not too bad for an activity tracker that has no calibration option.
No calibration option is a surprise to me. I always thought it shares the same code base (at least the algorithm) with FR620’s internal accelerometer, so it should be calibrate-able. Anyway, looking forward to your in-depth review of it.
haha
Cardif = London is worse than ” isn’t Washington DC in Washington state.”
Tom Jones and Catherine Zeta-Jones would be mortified.
Thanks for sharing.
Two questions:
1. When we can expect Vivofit review?
2. What’s your impressions about Vivofit?
Cheers for any replies!
Agree with cpu.
Also any word on launch in North America? I see some countries in Europe are getting them (Netherlands), but nothing yet on this side of the pond.
1) Review date: I’m currently targeting mid-next week. Probably Tuesday, short of something odd happening.
2) Impressions: I like the unit overall. I really don’t have many/any gripes about it yet. It stays on my wrist, which is something that the FitBit Force failed to do. I do wish it had a backlight, but, that’s not really a dealbreak for me. The GC site needs some work, but I had a productive call about that last night with them, and I think things will sort/settle itself out over the next 2-6 weeks.
3) North America: It’s already available today. For example, Clever Training has the majority of colors in stock…and you get the DCR discount and free shipping. ;)
Enjoy!
Any chance that “productive call” included a mindset change on how activities measured by multiple devices gets handled?
of course the day i ask is the day they release.
thanks for the update ray.
second the motion for measurements by multiple devices being handled properly in GC
Yeah, that’s coming (merging of multiple devices via Garmin Connect). It’s sorta complex, but it’s coming (for a multitude of metrics including calories, steps, distance, etc…).
It sounds like it’s a few months away, but it’s something they noted to me this week they definitely want to do.
Ray: brilliant, thanks! I’ll be waiting for this :)
Wales… where men are men… and sheep are nervous.
Love Wales, and love the welsh!
Ray: have you seen activity trackers for pebble like on11 and letsmuv? Maybe you can try to review this and compare with regular activity trackers?
I have, but I haven’t poked into them too much. Mostly because my current wrists each have a unit on them, and I have a one-unit-per-wrist policy. ;)
Yes, yes, everything in order (Vivofit first ;-), currently I use LetsMuv just because I have Pebble and Vivofit is still unavailable in my country. Anyway when you’ll have some extra time this quick look or comparison would be nice.
Pebble has some issues with firmware 2.0.1, data logging, accelerometer API and Pebble app on Android so it’s not mature yet to do proper test but in future…
Glad you enjoyed Bute Park Ray. Shame you couldn’t stay longer. Surrounding area has some great cycling.
Hi Ray,
You were running around one of the better areas in Cardiff!
Since moving to London it still surprises me how often people have the same opinion.
If you go back in the next few months be sure to follow the river out of the park. Running along the Taff is my favourite spot in Cardiff, I still go running along the Taff whenever I head back to Cardiff it isn’t well lit at night but is good for bike rides and runs!
I have switched to a job which involves a lot of travel and it is great to see how you manage it! Glad you enjoyed a city close to my heart!
Dean
Eagerly awaiting the Vivofit review ;)
I was wondering if Soleus has sent you a GO for (p)review?
Nothing on the Soleus Go unfortunately. I’ve still got to hit them up on a few other new units including their optical one, so I’ll add that to my list.
Thank you, Ray.
You are the best! :)
Loved the review and pictures of Cardiff! One of my fave stops on my honeymoon to the British Isles. The pictures don’t do it justice to how cool it is to walk around that city. Thanks for all that you do!