Heads up! The big Garmin annual spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8 (first sale to date!), $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965 at $499, the Forerunner 265, the new Instinct 3, and countless other Garmin products including inReach Mini 2. Plus the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium is on sale, and some Suunto & Wahoo product deals too. Full list & thoughts 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 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.
I would love to upgrade my bike with SRAM eTap
I would get a Polar V800 for improve my training.
I think I’d go for a Quarq XX1 Eagle power meter for the new Yeti ARC hardtail I’m in the process of building.
Garmin Edge 820 to replace my old edge 800.
The Garmin Vector 2 right pedal, because I already have the left one :)
I would like the get the Fenix5 tri-bundle but would settle for the Fenix3. I although I love my 910 it is starting g to get old.
Another great option would be a power meter for when I am cross training to see the progression of a training cycle
A Fenix 3. My 920xt is on the way out :(
I like Garmin, so probably a new Forerunner would be right up my alley
Please shower me with some gifts this christmas :)
I am a newbie to the Tri racing world. I have learned a lot from your DC Rainmaker website, especially on the tech side of product review and narrowing down my options for my needs. Thank you and happy new year.
I need a trainer, so I would probably go that route. I am leaning towards the TACTX.
Garmin Virb Ultra 30 would be top of my list.
I’d get myself a cheap-ish power meter, and a heart rate monitor.
And a foot pod.
And a bicycle.
And a house.
Wahoo kicker snap! I’ve needed a new trainer for a while now.
Triathlon watch is broken and need a new one!
A nice garmin power meter to complete my set up
I would upgrade from my 235 to a 735 so I can get into tri training
I would get a new Garmin Edge 1000 because my current older Edge is on it’a last legs
power for the bike!
I would be torn between the Virb and the vívoactive HR. Both are on my short list of toys to buy.
Speed and cadence sensor and heart rate monitor.
I’d go for a smart trainer to hook up to TrainerRoad!
I would get a bike computer. So I can stop looking at my watch to see how fast/slow I am going.
A new 920xt because my vivoactive has given up the ghost and I need an upgrade ;)
Pretty sure I will put it toward a new indoor trainer. Maybe the Cyclops Hammer or the Tracx Flux.
Withings scales! Gotta shift those kilos of christmas chocolate!
I didn’t get the p1 pedals I wanted. Santa said I was bad this year.
I would love to get a Wahoo Kickr, $500 would go a long way to purchase that and make my winter training sessions better.
Definately a garmin 820.
Garmin vivosmart, plan to start swimming this year and would like something to help keep track of progress.
I’d use it for a Garmin Forerunner 735 to give me greater and better run metrics.
$500 means a new heart rate strap plus some GoPro goodies!
I hope to start training with power in 2017 so a power meter for me.
I’d put it toward a non-garbage trainer.
Smart trainer for zwifting
Hmmm I would really like a power meter, or a new Triathlon watch? Haha there’s just so much stuff, it’s impossible to make a decision!
I would pick up a Garmin Fenix 3. Love the watch, but cannot justify the price for the use it would get.
A fitbit charge 2 and shoes!
Cause nobody seemed to get the hint about needing shoes no matter how much I dropped it or added them to mine and my hubby’s amazon shopping cart lol
I’d get a Fenix 3 HR.
In my dreams i think i would go for the not yet existing fenix 4hr :)
This would most definitely go towards a trainer.
I would order a 1up usa bike 2 bike rack to make it easier to transport my bikes
I’d love me a Garmin Fenix 3.
I’d love a new running watch with advanced training metrics.
A Garmin Epix, to track all my adventures.
I need something with a HRM. I’m currently going thru treatment for NH Lymphoma, and although I try and work out, doing Crossfit and training for a Ragnar relay, my heart rate quickly escalates, and I need a way to keep track of it. I figure a FitBit does the deed, but and Apple Watch 2 would be turnkey.
Gopro 5!
I would love to win a GoPro Hero5 Black to film my sons and I working on our mountain biking skills and to film an XTERRA race video.
Probably a Virb Ultra, or 735XT!!
The Fenix 5 if it is released at CES – I believe!
An updated garmin device since mine is broken :(
I’d get my boyfriend a Gamin 920XT. I gifted him a lower model last year and I think he’s been disappointed it is not a triathlon watch…
I’d like an Apple watch to be a great geek runner!
Def would go towards a smart trainer – like a kickr! I spend Way too much time trying to get my base model set up correctly, and second guessing the accuracy. Do I have the tension right? How many knob twists past touching the tire?
I would get the Garmin VIRB so I can take video during my running and biking.
I’d buy me an activity tracker :-)
I would get a GPS watch that could play music. Help keep me entertained for long runs.
I would love an Apple Watch 2 – I want to be able to train with a built in HRM, and am stoked you can swim with the new version!
HRM-TRI heartrate belt and some other random gadgets.
I’d get a 735XT, my first multisport watch to help get back to training after the break for the holidays!
Edge 1000 or the 820…. I need better mapping for my ironman training rides!
GoPro Hero5 Black to show some of my action to family and friends.
Probably an indoor trainer so my wife and I could ride together instead of taking turns.
My old Garmin 110 is on its last legs, so it’s time for an upgrade!
A power meter and Garmin 820 to help me become a super awesome cyclist.
Hmm Santa brought the 630 so I’d probably get the heart rate monitor for it. And new winter gear
I’d probably look at getting the tacx flux. Zwift has me looking at smart trainers.
Wahoo kicker for indoor training while it’s raining Cats and dogs here in Belguim.
I’d like a new Garmin watch. Right now still using the 305.
Garmin virb ultra.
I would get a smart watch!
If I won, I would get a bike trainer for my friend.
A Fenix 3 HR. I have the non-HR version, but would love to get HR without needing an extra strap
A Fenix 3 hr to keep track of all my adventures.
I got so much chocolate for Christmas. Okay, that’s good but that’s not the food recommended for training :)
Better than chocolate, I need powermeter for my bike :)
I’d love a new running watch
I really want some Powertap P1 pedals, however a new trainer is appealing since rollers aren’t that fun
I’d probably get a 2nd power meter for on the MTB. Or a Garmin Edge 820 to fianlly have live Strava segments. Or aa DYI lactate kit. Or let’s get…*GRRRR I CAN’t CHOOSE!!!!* :-)
Edge 520 or GoPro5
Garmin 810 or 820 cycling computer since I don’t have a bike dedicated one yet
I’d get the GoPro Hero5 Black to finally capture all my adventures!
I think I’d hang on to the credit for a few months and see if there is a worthy successor to the 920XT. Otherwise, I’d probably grab a Fenix 3 HR.
Id get the fenix 3. Was hoping for it but I got 2 foamrollers..
I would go for new Garmin Forerunner.
Garmin Forerunner 920XT to replace my 910!
A new FR
I’d probably go for an action cam. Either a Go Pro Hero 5 or Garmin Virb Ultra. Decisions decisions…
Garmin Virb Ultra 30 for awesome skiing and mountain biking videos with data.
I’d get a Garmin Forerunner 235 with the built-in HRM. My 310XT has a cracked face, the HRM just gave out, and I forget to bring the HRM strap along too often!
I would like to have a garmin 735 to use my full marathon in Berlin Marathon 2017 and New York Marathon 2017.
Choice #1 would be a trainer.
Choice #2 would be the Fenix 3.
I would either get a go pro hero 5, or put it towards a magic!
I could really use a power meter. The 4iiii Ultegra comes right in at the $500 level, so that would work. Those Fenix’s are pretty attractive though. Can’t decide!
A wahoo elemnt for my wife’s new bike
I’d get a power meter like my buddy The Fly is recommending me :-)
I’d definitely put it towards a trainer
Power meter!
I would get a Camara.
I need a new trainer!
A Garmin cycle computer! Thanks!
I would get a garmin fenix 3 been getting into trail running..
Trainer