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.
-
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.
Thanks for the chance as always. I’d get some winter clothes for my wife and myself.
I’d get a pair of new shoes, preferably in hi-vis fluo orange to go with my helmet.
I would get the Garmin 235 as I need technology to distract me from the reality of running in the winter, in Canada.
I would get the Fenix3 because it’s such a beautiful watch that I can wear at the office and on the road!
Santa was nice to me, but can a cyclist have ever enougth gadgets?
I think I would get a new power meter, possibly 4iiii. Having issues with my current one
Garmin Forerunner 920XT. I need this as I don’t have a tri watch that allows me to record the races. Thanks. Love the site.
i would probably get a power meter. why? because i don’t have one yet
Would love some P1 pedals so I can switch between road and tri bikes easier.
Love a new 920xt
I would get a GoPro Hero Sessions or Black to better share the awesome stuff me and my friends get up to!
U would buy a CycleOps Magnus. I want to upgrade from my Fluid Pro to a smart trainer.
A powermeter. Need a more structured training for the upcoming Season.
I would like a f3, because my f2 died a couple of weeks after the warranty period.
Thanks anyway Ray. Happy Holidays
My heathrate strap from the 920 broke this week and didn’t get a new one
A new Garmin!
I probably will go for the Fenix3HR, because my Ambit3S is getting old and the Pace-Race IQ app you reviewed looks so good it makes me wish to go out.
Happy new year all,
Itamar
I still have a few presents to open. But assuming I don’t get one I’m thinking I’d like a 4iiii left only power meter.
I’d like to switch my old Fitbit Charge HR to a Fenix 3 HR.
new fenix
using that 500 to knock some bucks off a tacx neo would be the ticket
P1 powertap. Wanted one for ages as like stats way too much.
I can’t decide so far…
A Fenix 3 HR. My watch has begun getting temperamental
Definitely need a replacement for my forerunner 305. 920xt would be nice
A Tacx Neo. Why? Winter in Ireland, that’s why ;)
I would love to have Garmin edge 820
I’d put it towards a new bike computer of some kind!
I would get Garmin Edge 520 as I only have the 920xt and it’s difficult when racing to look at power data. Plus it’s also nice to blend in with cyclist :)
GoPro Hero 5 for sure ! :-)
Heart rate Monitor or power meter
Garmin Vivoactive HR, no more straps.
A power meter, for sure!
Because I’m worth it – GoPro
Garmin Virb for my trail running adventures
I’d get another turbo trainer so my wife I can get on Zwift at the same time.
A trainer, so I can spend my January evenings staring at my garage wall!
A power meter for my new bike!
I would get the new Garmin forerunner.
The Fenix 3 would probably get my credit. I cannot justify the cost with my dollars but would love one.
A new Garmin (probably 520) since my old 500 is teetering ever closer to the brink of oblivion
Tired of man boobs from the HR strap so a 735xt watch would be great!
I would want the Garmin vivo fit hr. To better track my relay training.
Between a decent bike trainer and the Bragi Dash, I really don’t have much else this year I would have wanted in additional fitness devices.
I would probably hang on a week or three and either get a fenix 3 or something sparkly new following ces.
I would probably get the edge 520 because I would like a dedicated bike computer and you are always raving about it. The rest would probably go towards a Hero5 or Session.
I’d likely sit on the voucher until the next Fenix is released.
Anything PowerTap, probably the C1 crankset!
A wahoo elemnt since I am a fan of my RFLKT+ , but always in for an upgrade
I would get the new Garmin FR735XT. Just started with triathlons and that watch could make huge difference in my training with all the metrics it has.
I would get a new GoPro! Or a Garmin 235… So many choices!
Some new gear for winter training, because it’s COLD!
Some new PowerTap wheels!
Hey,
I would definitely get my first trainer.
Thanks
mmmmm…. fenix 3.
I’d get a trainer and new shoes. Winter time and I want to get some time in the bike this off season.
Too many possibilities to narrow down to just one. So, first I will submit this reply, and second I will decide on the device.
A bike trainer!
I’d get my wife a Garmin 735XT — she’s training for her first Ironman
Polar M600. I love my M400, but as a “smartwatch” it is somewhat limited and can act rather odd, it’d be nice to have one a bit, well, ‘smarterer’.
A Garmin 10000 to prevent myself from getting lost yet again.
Garmin Fenix 3 HR, Cause i broke my regular watch and the 910xt dosent look good at work(or any where for that mater)
New Garmin or go pro action camera so wide and I can get pictures from rides without having to dismount or deal with a phone on the bikes
I would get a Quark D-Zero to match my Force 22 groupset
I would buy a GoPro Hero 5 in order to record memories of my sports activities.
Wahoo ELEMENT because I need BTLE to go with my DASH headphones
Fenix 3
Probably a GoPro Hero5 Black, because it looks great!
Thx Ray for oportunity! I’d pick Garmin Fenix 3 because my 310 is looking forward to retire ;)
Think I’d put it towards a power meter.
A bike trainer for the icy winter months
A powermeter for my new bike
A Multisport watch in order to track all my activities
Thanks
I really want to buy a fitness tracker!
I would get a trainer for winter training.
I’m looking at a Tacx Vortex Smart to replace my old (non-smart) trainer.
I would go for Garmin Fenix 3. Would be perfect for my 2017 plans: ultramarathon and maybe triathlon.
Garmin Oregon 750T
I would get a GoPro Hero 5 Black for filming bike rides and sharing them on youtube
Gimmy da goodie, all I got for christmas is scarves and some kitchen tools.
I’d like to get an HR-strap. It’ll be quite interesting to measure the heartbeat :)
Bike trainer
i probably want to buy rotor 3d+ inpower left crank powermeter…the reason???i’ve just broken my no power left crank.
Bye luca
I would go for a Garmin Edge 520, my old 500 has been acting up a bit.
I would probably buy a garmin virb ultra 30 + some accessories
i would like to get a p2max with bt support.
power meter for better training
A watch. My 610 has died and I need a new one. Still haven’t decided which though yet.
A new bike trainer. Probably bkool
I’d go for a new Garmin Forerunner that talks to my phone like my edge 520 does.
Didn’t get the Suunto Spartan :-( Thanks for the giveaway chance.
I’d buy a pair of Garmin Forerunner 35’s so I can attach them to my dogs collars when we go running – they both have their own Strava accounts so would be easier that using the phone and my F3
I would get a kickr snap as a backup trainer, cause you can never have too many trainers.
Probably it would contribute to a smart direct drive trainer. I have a computrainer on loan and am utterly hooked on Zwift and erg training!
Power meter for the road bike.
Possibly the Wahoo Element – solely due to the bugs in my edge 500!
A power meter
Would be a toss up between a powermeter, maybe C1, or a GoPro. Rest of the family would enjoy the go pro so might have to be that.
Time to get a power meter …. 4iiii !
Thanks Ray
A trainer of some sort