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!
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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 turbo trainer for my wife….
A new smart trainer that’s software isn’t reminiscent of 1990s DOS… you know who I talking about.
Cash towards a trainer to get through the winter chill
I need a power meter to encourage me on the road!
A new Garmin is needed because mine is on the fritz! And I’d love to get in on the wrist-based heart rate monitoring.
I’d probably go for the Garmin Fenix 3 HR.
A power meter!
I would probably use it to fit it aria WiFi scales, to link in and continue my fitness project.
Definitely use it for a new trainer. I have an old dummy trainer with a lot of rust and could use an upgrade.
It would have to be a Tacx Flux, desperately want a smart off wheel trainer!
I recently got a running watch and an HRM, so I would get other running gear, shoes, garments, that’s kind of stuff.
I am looking for a power meter. Probably the PowerTap C1.
I would get one of Garmins Edge units as Zwift has got me back to cycling again and I would love to go outdoors cycling again when springs comes next year!
Garmin Fenix 3 or FR7353 would top my shopping lists!
I’m thinking I’d get a GoPro.
I get a new trainer.
Need cycling computer or running watch.
Powertap P1
Most likely a smart trainer to join the Zwift world.
I’d get a new bike computer!
Garmin Vivoactive HR or maybe a new Garmin 820 for my bike.
Garmin Fenix 3 HR (Optical) with the Sapphire
I only want this watch because all my friends have one.
I would go for a Wahoo Kickr to finally get a direct drive trainer.
It would be a boat. Or a Garmin watch. Unless I can find that boat. Do Garmin make boats?
Wetsuit or a new trainet
I’d go for power meter
I would definitely use it to buy a powermeter. At the moment that’s the only thing I really miss while training.
a new garmin!!!!
Rpm and speed wahoo sensor
I would use the gift card on a power meter
Well my first choice would be a boat but since they don’t sell those, I would get a gopro.
PowerTap P1 is too expensive, so I will probably choose some nice Garmin Fenix 3 without HR with Scocsche Rhytm+ armband.
I’d go for the Garmin FR235, I’m already in the Garmin family, and it’d be a great update!
New Garmin 235 – data is a great distraction and reward for running!
Toward a new smart trainer!
I would buy the power tap c1 to improve my training
A styrd foot pod! Thanks Santa… I mean Ray!!!
Garmin 820… a great upgrade from the 520 for ultra cycling adventures.
I’d buy a Tacx Flux to be able to get some decent training in for myself and my wife whilst looking after our baby
I would like a Garmin Vivoactive HR because I want to log my non-running activity.
I would probably get an FR 235!
Probably a Garmin Fenix 3 HR. It seems to be the best training device out right now.
A Garmin Fenix 4 HR, if it is announced next month.
I’d go for the Garmin Edge 1000. Keep getting lost on my Edge 500!
Towards a new Power Meter? Why? To measure power of course!
In January, i will move to Singapore. I was told that bikers ride early in the morning start at 4:30 to 5:00 am in the dark. Therefore, my wife and I need some good lightning equipment…
I would gear up for my first ever swim race; a 3 km open water race. I need everything, from wetsuits to nerdy swim gadgets.
Garmin 735XT for outdoors or a new trainer since it’s getting colder!
A watch or a trainer or maybe a powertap? Santa did not gift any of those!
I would become a drone pilot.
I’d go for the Kickr Snap. My current trainer is feeling a little old, and I’m starting up training for a full Century this summer. That, or the Garmin Fenix 3 HR to replace my Vivoactive. +500 to style :)
Garmin Fenix 3 HR. So I don’t have to wear my Fenix 3, and a Fitbit Charge 2 for heart rate.
Thanks Ray.
I need a new bike computer
A GoPro5 would be great if I win.
I would love an activity tracker that I could put around my ankle and not my wrist. I work a medium of 70 hours a week and can’t have anything on my hands or wrists. Waiting for the Flyfit… but is it coming? Any other suggestion?
I would get a Suunto Spartan Ultra
Get my wife the Fenix 3 rose/gold.
Here in Cambodia one cannot buy sports tech equipment locally. And importing is super expensive. And the roads are hot, dusty and flat. This makes a smart trainer look simultaneously desirable and unobtainable!
I need to replace my Garmin Fr920 XT with a Feenix 3
A Garmin Fenix 3 HR to run my first mountain 100 miler! Looks like an amazing watch and nice for open mountain navigation.
I’d love a smart trainer to reduce the boredom of peddling and not going anywhere.
I’d get a power meter!
Almost certainly some Powertap P1’s
A garmin 520 to replace a 500.
I’d get a 735xt as I managed to lose my 920xt before Christmas when I left my training bag in the train :-(
My Garmin 910 is wonky. Replaced once and elevation is thru the roof and hr doesn’t read correctly. Need a replacement
I’d buy a powermeter.
I would get a Fenix 3 HR to replace my aging Ambit 2.
I’d love to get a set of pedal based power meters! Strava guesses for me but would be great to see the real data instead.
Tough call to narrow it down to one thing. Maybe a powertap c1. This would allow me to have power across three bikes with different brakes and pedals and bb’s.
I’d use the credit to get a Garmin Edge 820 to replace my ever-degrading Edge 500 unit.
I would love a Garmin f735xt to get me started for the Rotterdam marathon
A Garmin 735xt
An action cam for capturing some trail adventures.
I’ll go for the Tacx Flux or SRAM eTap Road upgrade
Garmin Fenix 3. I plan to do a lot of backpacking this coming year and think it would come in handy.
A brand new watch with navigation
Would love to get a smart trainer because riding on Trainerroad and keeping with some of those workouts are tough on a dumb trainer
Fenix 3 would be cool
Probably a Garmin index scale weight and a home trainer. Both my weight and trainer needs to be replaced soon ?
I’ve been eyeing the Garmin VivoActive HR smartwatch after reading all your reviews. Time for an upgrade!
New Garmin watch to replace my broken 910xt.
I’d get the Fenix 3.
A new smart trainer! Need to get ready for IMAZ!
I would love a direct drive smart trainer.
Likely a Fenix3. Need the extra battery relative to current VA for long trail hikes
I would probably get the Garmin 735xt, since I’m hopefully to mix more cycling in with my running this year. Thanks for the chance!
Some more Garmin goodies to go with my VAHR.
735xt because it is the closest I can get to a Fenix 3 that still fits on my wrist…
I’d go for a Fenix 3 HR, as a complement to my everyday Vivoactive HR.
I would get a garmon fenix 3, because those new years resolutions won’t get done by themselves
Hi Ray,
I would probably get a trainer given the rain here ;-)
Anyway thanks for the site !!
Cheers
I’d love a new 735xt as I’ve scratched the heck out of my 920?
Fenix 3 HR
I really want a gropro! It would allow me to take some epic running shots!
I’d grab a new trainer with some smarts to bring new experience to my indoor workouts.
Action camera might be the one.. but go pro or virb or…
It’d cover a Fenix Chronos right? Failing that a Fenix 3
I’d get a GoPro to take on my bike trips
Powertap c1 so I can accurately gauge my effort on bike splits