Heads up – Massive Sports Tech Holiday Deals List is Live!!! The Garmin Fenix 8 is $250 off (even the Fenix 8 Pro is $100 off!), the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on sale, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is $249, the GoPro Hero 13 Black, DJI NEO, and a ton of other brands/deals, including Wahoo, Oura, Whoop, Polar, Samsung, Google, and more than 100 sports tech 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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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 2024 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.
Minimum to keep a good condition and enjoy my family.
Just run somewhere and hope I don’t get lost.better get lost but somehow get to my bed
En mis vaciones definitivamente digo of para todo lo que es rutina y hago las cosas con las que soñe cuando estaba trabajando (lo que sea)
Vacation directly translates to destination marathon followed by a week of relaxation and recovery in my house.
I always get up early and do sneaky sightseeing running before breakfast.
Usually go for a run or a nice hike. Ice cream will make appearance sometimes, but prefer to seek out a nice slice of cake as a post activity treat (a cupcake will do if the cake looks old or stale or suspect).
Normally step it up, love running whilst on holiday!
While I hop on to the front seat to drive to my vacation, my training inevitably takes the back seat..
Typically I cut down mileage and increase intensity. Hills and difficult trails are the preferred method!
On vacation, I typically cut back on cycling and swimming for sure, but if I find a park I’ll usually do my full runs–time permitting. No ice cream and chocolate bonbons, but when I was in Napa, I was definitely sweating out a lot of wine on my run.
I love running on vacation! It’s a great way to take in the city…and to burn calories from all the extra food. :)
I ferier så blir det mye fjellturer og litt kayakpadling. Greit med litt avveksling fra syklingen som jeg gjør til vanlig.
Never tought of it as training but vacation is always means activities. Summer i saling (off course always racing with everybody else), scubadiving and running barefoot on the rocks, trails and beaches in the archipelago. Or, hiking with backpacking in the mountaints. Some years both. Winter is skiing, downhill and cross country. And off course everything mixed with a lot of ice cream and one or two beers.
vacations are from work, endurance training never stops!
I normally cut back to no more than 5km runs. Normally too full of good food to do anything more :)
I ride my bike whilst on holidays
Continue with my training program. On vacation I alway try to fit in as much mountain trails as possible since my homecountry is completely flat.
Train more between the sheets! lol…and bike a bit more
Love to swim a new place whilst on vacation usually in the afternoon after a few beers the night before :)
I try to plan my vacation right before or after a race so my taper/recovery fits in with relaxing on vacation.
I always found that vacation was a time for exploring even after kids with a running stroller. I try to keep up with the scheduled routine but don’t get bent out of shape if plans get diverted. Any excise to get out with the kids is always my motivator.
For most vacations, I will switch things around and try to prioritize mostly long runs, recovery runs, etc. I save the speedwork for the more familiar territory around home. I suppose if I took a longer vacation I might have to adjust that, but it’s worked well so far.
Trim it a little bit, but try and get in as much as possible without affecting family time.
Lots of stroller runner.
Vacations are great for morning runs. I have a hard time fitting those in during the rest of the year.
Man would I love to win this give away. Have a great vacation!
Vacations are meant to vacation on
Vacation? What is that? Just kidding. When I vacation I try to get in a little bit of all; swim, bike, run, hike and of course a ice cream and bonbons. Keep up the fantastic reviews and thank you for providing them and your contests. Still waiting to win my chances right now are about 1 in 1000
Vacation means more time. More time means longer trainingdistances. It’s time for the realy long rides – and afterwards for the realy big ice creame :-)
i ease up on vacation but still get almost daily runs done early in the day. I just feel better keeping active and get to see stuff I might not otherwise see.
Always best intentions, running shoes packed, but seldom do I manage more than one or two sessions. Too many distractions!!!
Every time I have holiday I seek for competitions in the souroundings. This year, as last year, it is time to participate in Italy. A race over 5 days. Every day a new course, going up mountains and down again. I love to feel the energy of racing and it is a great way to see new places! Would like to track the races with a Fenix3!
Same as before, only thing that changes is more time for rest.
Hiking or swimming but mostly relaxing by the pool with a drink.
Holidays are great times to get up early and get in some long runs before breakfast to avoid messing up the family holiday. This works really well for me when in the US since the jet lag causes me to wake early anyway.
Walking. And chasing toddler. And sleeping. Lots of all that. I’m no professional athlete, regular training can wait. :)
depends on whether it is a “trip” or a “vacation”. Trips are for adventure, which usually entails lots of training and coming home exhausted. Vacations are for relaxation/recovery.
Always find a way to run on vacation. Look forward to it in the mornings!
A week of cyclotouring. Is this considered vacation?
Between 90 to 135km per days. Those weeks are my best vacations.
We always try to stay pretty active on our vacations (lots of hiking, etc) but I will try to sneak a run in every now and then anyway!
Take trainers for early morning pre-family activity runs. Cycling pauses if we’ve flown to destination.
I enjoy swimming and sometimes hiking. Can be both of them.
I’ll typically just do runs on vacation. Usually don’t have space to bring the bike and if there is a pool I play with my daughter rather than do laps.
I adjust my training plan to include workouts with little to no equipment-Running, body weight strength training, swimming if I have access to a pool.
It is vacation for a reason, rest up and enjoy the time.
Eat, drink, be merry, repeat!!!!
I would use it for intervals and long distance runs.
If i can bring a bike a long, than as much time on the bike as possible. If not, then i’ll do some running workouts
If a cultural trip, not always highest and best use to hit the training hard. If scenic and quiet, great to explore some different roads and enjoy the views while also staying fit. Only get to each ice cream and bonbons if I’ve earned it these days.
david
I will run Comrades on my next vacation
I ran on the beach in Ko Phi Phi a couple of mornings, so 2 easy workouts early into my 2 week trip of Thailand is all I could manage
Just run. The bike is a challenge. Can’t do it unless the hotel has a spin bike. The swim? I have no clue. That’s my problem come summer when I travel abroad. I expect to lose a few days there.
My vacations are strictly for chilling out… I usually take my running shoes, but they don’t usually make it onto my feet!
Stick with the plan, I’ve got all day to recover…or sleep.
Lots of long and slow run and bike sessions… sometimes with the kids!
Hike. climb, and swim. Whatever I can do outside.
If I can bring my bike the training continues but if not I just explore the area on foot with a few runs.
I like to take advantage of not having to work by doing ‘epic shit’ on vacations. That could be taking vacations soley for doing said epic shit, like Grand Canyon R2R2R or just doing an awesome climb while in Taos, NM!
would try and get in a swim in the ocean or lake, a bike and a run during the day every day!!!!
In vacation, I adjust my trail training depending where I spend my vacation. I like to run in some new places. Exemple: this summer, i am going to run at the White Mountains with my girlfriend. A fenix3 can be really useful :-)
I usually kick back a bit. However, if I am in a scenic location, I will try to get some activity in and enjoy the environment.
Falko
A run to scout the surroundings is the best during vacation. Often low intensity to really see the site.
I love running everywhere I go and “tagging” each location via GPS.
Snickers bar up hill riding Saturday morning!
I try to adjust my training program to activities with less equipment-running body weight training, etc
Normally no training during vacation. I prefer to travel (and eat more than I should).
I run when I travel, I search for routes by scoping out strava segments.
just relax, no training on vacation!
Try to keep my schedule as good as possible
Long runs are ideal on vacation – I recently did a tour of Ireland and cross country distances of around 14 miles in bucolic surroundings were the ideal way to clear my head and mentally refresh, compared to lounging around in bars and pubs. Though I was building towards an upcoming marathon, on holiday I like breaking free from the strict schedule and running for pure enjoyment, and not have to worry about pace or progress.
I love getting out for a run in a new city. Go and explore, see the sights and people… you can’t beat exploring a new city or town by running it!
Yoga & Swimming
I usually keep a maintain mode on vacation. More sleep, more food usually means a performance decline though
Depends on what time I wake up and what I feel like. Usually just a 45 minute run, but if I take the bike and there’s a safe and scenic route, I may ride for a couple of hours. I always try to keep races and vacations scheduled well apart from each other though.
Run. But not very far and rather slowly. Basically I walk….
Mostly relax, with a few short runs mixed in.
De vacaciones trato de asistir a las carreras que se hacen en las playas de Chile. En vacaciones no hay tantas carreras en las ciudades, sino que hay más carreras en las ciudades que están en la Costa del Oceano Pacífico. Trato de seguir el plan durante las vacaciones, aunque a veces sea imposible.
I am usually run 10km with my wife.
Depends on the vacation but for the most part will continue training as normal as possible. Do hate traveling with the bike so do usually focus more on running and cross training.
I have recently trying to get into my passion of 5ks. This weekend I’m headed to the “Out of the Darkness” walk. My first 16-18 mile course. During the week I run 2-3 mile on the cardio machine trying to improve my time, so in the future I can run competively. Everyday is a vacation as I am blessed to stay at home with my boys. Hope I win this, so if I like it I can get my husband one too. Would love to try before I buy
try to stick to the plan, but make adjustments – if a flying vacation – more running not just to make up for lost cycling time, but to experience the destination! If a driving vacation in summer, bring bike and get some longer rides while the kids sleep in or eat additional bowls/boxes of frosted flakes. Nutrition however goes through a major adjustment – usually in the wrong direction across all fronts.
Definitely less training when I’m on holiday. An occasional run, and some recreational swimming in the pool.
Always bring running shoes on holidays! It’s a great way to explore. Then I eat ice cream. Lots of ice cream.
ice cream sounds great. Vacation is for relaxing
Same training exercisewise if possible, but it’s of course not possible to eat so precisely as at home.
Holidays are for relaxing. Although I do try and do lots of walking.
Just a quick High Intensity Interval Training
I run for 10 km and take my Bike for go to my parents!
In the morning 10 km running, afternoon relaxing with kids, evening having a beer or two with friends
On vacations just running but lighter
Usually during my vacation i follow my training plan. It is vacation from work, not from my sport.
Wherever I am, just run. If I can keep up with training, great, but sometimes that’s difficult in an unknown locale!
If it’s a nice climate, I try to run outdoors. Otherwise, I’ll hit the hotel gym or just use the vacation as a good excuse for some days off.
Training and racing is a vacation…it is my getaway from work!
run and swim.
Mostly to a bar and/or swim up bar.
I eat nutritiously getting vegetables through bloody Mary’s, grains through beers, fruit through various daiquiris with second servings of fruit through dessert.
Running, running and running… But with no training plan. Just free.
I like to run as a way to explore where I am staying!
On Vacation, you don’t work, so what else are you going to do with your time? Sleep in, train hard.
At vacation my trainning is un general in a treadmille.
I hike while on vacation.
How else would one explore new places?
Vacations are generally what I train for during the year.
No better way to discover foreign countries than biking through them.