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.
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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 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.
A Garmin Edge 520 so I know how to get him me after exploring a new road
Fenix 3 – or I’ll be probably stuck with F2 until it dies :)
I would probably buy a Vivoactive HR. I’m having trouble with the chest strap on my Vivoactive. I would also like the Garmin bike speed sensor and cadence for the winter.
Fenix 3 for me!!
I would love a go pro. Hoping to get out on the trails and make some recordings.
Gotta go with that wahoo kicker. Snow, aerobars and 23mm tires…which one doesn’t belong!lol
I’d probably go for a power meter, as that’s about the only training tool I have yet to purchase.
Garmin 520 – because I’m getting old and the numbers on my 920xt are small.
Maybe but a gadget, but I’d love a swim skin. If it’s a gadget, then a new Garmin bike computer.
A forerunner 235 so I can actually follow doctors orders and monitor my HR while trying to get back into training for a full
Garmin fenix. Hopefully the new model comes out soon.
Garmin, garmin and more garmin
Well for me a smart trainer would be perfect !
I’d get my husband a nice powermeter. (Or myself)
I would get myself a new triathlon watch and buy my wife a fitness tracker…
Suunto Spartan Ultra hoping scheduled updates meet the expectations.
Would have to go with a power meter. been meaning to add one to the road bike, and this would make the perfect excuse to give the wife.
I would love a new Garmin watch (FR235 or FR630?) that has more features to help improve my running.
I’d like money toward a new turbo trainer please!
Go pro to record some Spain cycling trips
A new Garmin watch…mine is a dinosaur and is no longer letting me upload data to my computer.
Some power tap pedals or a 735xt, gadgets are king!
A Garmin 820 would be nice for biking when the weather turns warm.
Powertap P1’s for my wife (obviously putting some money on table on top of the prize money), as she does not yet have a power meter.
735xt to replace my old 910xt :)…
Power meter, it’s my next sport gadget purchase
It’s a 735xt for definite, to aid triathlon training
An F3 or 735XT most probably.
Probably a Fenix 3 since my Fenix 2 decided to commit suicide
A Fenix 3 HR or a power meter would be nice.
Age sees me turning to triathlon to preserve the knees longer :-)
So a Tri based watch would be good.
Smart trainer wahoo or tacx for the long months of zwifting in Edmonton
Garmin 735xt would be lovely. :)
Any chance I can save it for the Fenix 4/5!? If not I might consider finally taking the plunge on a power meter…
I get the new Garmin 735
I’ve got an old 800 and I’d like to update to something more recent. Or to help with my training, perhaps it’ll be a nice discount on a Kickr
Spartan Ultra. Just to check If it is so bad as is told. :-)
Definitely towards a smart trainer!
I would get a Fenix 3 HR or a Garmin bike computer, both my watch and bike gear need an upgrade :)
garminvivoactive or suunto peak – old garmin is starting to hiccup,
I would probably go with a BIKND Jetpack travel case if I won.
I would get a Fenix Chronos with Leather band. :-)
I would love to win the Garmin Fenix 3! :-)
a Polar V900 is it show up at CES, or a fenix
Defoe a Garmin Phoenix 3, my very old garmin has died & I can’t afford to replace it.
I would go for the GoPro Hero5 Black, so I can pass on the run-bike love :)
The Tacx Flux trainer, of course.
I wanted new Fenix watch and I hope they release new model in a few days and that’s what I will get! :-)
Oh boy! Maybe a Wahoo Element, or put it towards some power tap p1 pedals or maybe a kicker snap trainer
Probably one of the smart trainers for this ugly winter season…
Need a new computer.
I would go for the Garmin Edge 520 to replace my edge 500.
I would like a fenix 3HR please. I’m staring to swim and bike. So it’s a great gift. Thanks in advance
A GoPro would benice :-)
A GoPro camera for me! I would love tot have one
A Tacx Neo would be great…or a Garmin Virb Ultra 30!
I would like to have Garmin Fenix 3 sport watch to be able to record my runing session more accurate. Thank you
An indoor training would be awesome. I could train and watch Netflix
Probably a power meter to have a play with Best Bike Split.
Fenix 3 hr
I would go for the Fenix3 or a power meter.
A power meter would be nice…
A 920xt trip bundle for swimming metrics.
Merry Christmas!
I’d pick up a GoPro to chronicle all my running and OCR adventures. Just starting to get back in the swing of things after spending most of the year in a hospital room fighting leukemia.
Definitely one of the pedal based power meters so I can finally find out how little power I’m outputting!
I would like to cash the credit for Fenix 5 (hope to be available soon) as my 920 is not so fancy to be used as everyday watch, but F3 is not worth spending so much money, when I still have my 920 :)
A Power Meter is a long overdue gift under the tree!
I’d get a powermeter, stage or 4iiii!
Powertap P1 – I would like to add power to my road bike.
I want the Powertap P1 power meter because that fatso Santa told me to train with power but too stingy to give me one for free :)
I’m planning to get into tri this year, but Santa didn’t bring me a Garmin 735xt. Help, Ray!
need something to replace my aging garmin 910xt. so was hoping for a 520 and a 735 – and a scosche rhythm+ – even contacted clevertraining uk to hear when they get the scosche in stock again.
I need to replace my triathlon watch.
Fenix 3 HR for sure
Would probably get couple of Fitbit trackers to give away to family for the new year :)
A turbo trainer would be top of my list. I could still get my ‘rides’ in, even when the kids are off school.
I like the Vector2 powermeter… ???
I would go for the Garmin edge 820. The breadcrumb trail on my old edge 500 has led me astray in the more densely populated area that I just moved to.
I would get myself a PowerMeter to make my Tacx ‘smart’ and get my Zwift game going!
One of the new yet to-be released Garmin watches!
A garmin edge 820 please !
I’d like to get a couple of Garmin watches for me and the wife. Hers has seen a lot of miles and it’s time to retire it and I’ve started running more. (God help me)
A Garmin Forerunner 735xt because I am sick and tired of syncing my old watch to the computer!
Garmin Virb XE, just because….
A Fenix3 would be nice!
… and sunny weather, of course!
I didn’t get any garmin edge 820 or Powertap but would really like to , it’s all in the power :D
I asked for a Wahoo Fitness Trainer for christmas but did not get one. I would love to upgrade from my old non-smart trainer as this winter has been very cold and I haven’t been able to ride outside much at all.
Fenix 3 HR – I need a Tri watch
I’d loce to get goPro camera to film my runs!
I’d like a new garmin vivofit after my 610 finally drew its last breath :(
i will get a 735XT, because of the optical heart rate monitor. also I don’t want to deal with the chest strap as they always slide down.
I’d get a Garmin 520! My actual Edge 500 is great, but it’s time for a change.
Happy New Year to you and the family.
Ale
The gift that I got (Jet Recon glasses) was a piece of junk and something that I have no use of. I’m hoping to get something that I can actually use.
P1 pedals, cuz I want more POWAH!!!
I need some new action cams, I’m thinking VIRB Ultra plus a GoPro session.
I like auf new Forrunner or the Felix. ?
I would get the new garmin edge 820.
Vívofit hr
GoPro camera to capture some road racing action next season.
I’d like to get the new Fenix whenever it comes out. Want to replace my F3 because it has an irritating scratch on the screen.