Heads up! The big Garmin spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8, $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965, Forerunner 265, and countless other Garmin products. 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.
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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!
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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.
I would love the Garmin D2 Delta pilot watch. I want one to use when I am out flying my hot air balloon.
Love a top of the line farming watch. My vivoactive is not going to be getting new apps soon….
GoPro Hero 5.
I got a book (even though I read on an eDevice) and an inflatable pizza slice (????) for Xmas. The repeated hints for bike bits fell on deaf, angry ears. I also wasn’t allowed to ride.
The GoPro would be used to create ride videos and generally annoy the wife.
Thanks
A go pro hero 5 please
I’d take a Powertap pedal or wheel, not sure which one yet!
Wish I would have gotten a new garmin 735xt!
I’d probably get a Suunto Spartan!
Still have my eye on a Forerunner 235!
Edge 820, because my 800 is starting to fall apart.
Time to upgrade the bike computer
Some kind of power monitor or bike computer – or a really fancy tri watch like the fenix 3 hr
Bike, Thanks!
I’d get a trainer because it’s getting cold outside!!
I think it’s time for a power metre. Everyone needs to train with power?
Garmin Vivo Active for me to track my heart rate and activities
Or the Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 for my husband.
I’d probably get a Pioneer 9100 left side, as I’m upgrading a bike to 9100. If they sold Kreitler rollers, I might get a set of alloy rollers with a flywheel.
I would go for GoPro Hero5 Black because there are many great moments to remember and share while running/hiking or riding bike.
Wahoo Element since Garmin stopped supporting the Edge 500 long ago.
I’d go for a Garmin 735xt, for the built in heart rate on shorter than full iron distance races.
I would get a Wahoo ELEMNT because my cell phone flew out of my pocket in a CX race last season – really need a standalone GPS for races!
I need some new gadget!
I would get a new garmin 235 to Jumpstart my training
Probably a fenix 3 hr. Because then i can have a watch that i cant make full use off no matter how hard i try
Probably a new Garmin and some speedplay pedals
Edge 520 or varía vision. Wish it worked with my fénix 3
If I won this contest, I would buy another Garmin 235 – so my wife would have a matching watch as me !!
Happy holidays!!
We’d get a second trainer so we can train together!
I’ll take anything in the Garmin family!
I would love to get a Garmin F3 HR. I would like to switch from Polar RXC 5 to the Garmin family…
Garmin Fenix 3 to accompany me on my first 100 miler next year.
I’ve been eyeing the Garmin 735xt as an upgrade from my Polar M400, mostly because I hate wearing a chest strap and I want a multi-sport capable watch.
I think I’d go for the new GoPro to record my training or the new 735Xt
I would go with the Garmin Fenix 3 because its awesome and it would be great for my activity! Thanks for making someone’s (hopefully my) holiday season so much better!
I would be very interested in the next Fenix or going with the 3HR.
Power meter for sure ;)
Wahoo Kickr. Got one for the hubby for Xmas (from Clever Training of course). It’s pretty cool!
I’d love a power meter as I crashed my bike recently and everything was basically wrecked…
I would like to get a GoPro Hero
I need a power meter. More and more of my friends train with power – I need to keep up with the Joneses.
A Garmin 1000 bike computer to replace my old 520
I would love to get a smart trainer for my bike. I was hoping for one for Christmas, but alas, I wasn’t nice enough this year. I guess I will have to keep saving.
a Fenix 3 HR, my old Fenix 2 is about to die and have an ironman coming up!
I’d love to have a new smart trainer. The trainer I’m using now is a hand me down, and a new one would just make my training so much more enjoyable.
Will love a garmin 735xt to create swimming sessions (if not a vivoactive hr is great)
Fenix 3 (maybe)
wahoo desk and a Garmin 520!
I’d get a Niterider Pro light set, it’s dark in the north!
Most likely i’d stock up on some new cycling kit to replace some worn out stuff. New running shoes would be nice too. Or maybe some new shades. hmmmmm.
Probably a Garmin fenix 3 HR but then I might go for something for the bike :-)
Why do you do this to me?! There are so many choices to make. But seeing as I have to put something here, a GoPro Hero 5 Black camera.
Did I win? Did i Win? :-)
Powermeter!
I’d take a 4iii Precision Ultegra power meter please! It’s an expenditure that’s utterly unjustifiable at my level of performance, but as I’m in the “personal improvement” game, it would be nice to have objective numbers to show whether my training is effective. 172.5mm cranks, if you need to know…. Thanks.
A garmin 735xt would be great for my trail running.
I was rewlly hoping for a nice-looking Garmin Fenix 4, but the time warp elves didn’t deliver.
A crank based power meter (of some sort) to confirm my slow slide into a sedentary state…. :)
Looking at a GPS cycling computer, like a Garmin 520 or Wahoo ELEMNT, and some hydration essentials.
I’d go for one of the newest Garmin watches, a Fenix 3 (chronos out of reach) or 735XT
Apple watch 3 would be more awesome than the Apple watch 2 I got!
I would get Garmin Fenix 3!
I’d get a power meter to hone in my training.
I’d get 2 Garmin Activity-tracker for my wife and me to compete with our boys who got their Vivofit jr. from Santa.
Greetings!
It would be great to have a fenix 3 hr for my next trail ;-)
A new GPS watch for running. Not sure which one yet, but probably a Garmin Fenix3 or FR235. My 910XT is getting pretty creaky and I’m not doing tris much anymore. A wireless scale would be nice too! Thanks, Ray!
I’d like the Apple Watch 2 Nike edition because I already have the Fenix 3 HR!
I agree that a Wahoo Kickr is way too expensive – ?maybe??
The direct drive Tacx Flux would do nicely to maintain my fitness level this winter.
Fenix 3 HR just because it looks cool!
Giarmin edge 820!
a GPS running watch. Apple Nike maybe.
Didnt get my sram mtb powere meter….because i just bought the bike and the cfo must be kept happy
Garmin 820 so I have turn-by-turn navigation
I would love a GoPro as our streets are treacherous and I want to capture the drivers who drive carelessly.
Does anyone want anything other than fenix 3 for Christmas?
Definitely Elite smart rollers since currently I’m looking for replacement of my current rollers.
Fenix 3 for me please?
garmin Fenix 3 or edge 520
Vivosmart hr, to replace the FitBit one I lost a few months ago.
I like to upgrade to a new smart trainer – Elite Drivo?
Didn’t get a Fenix 3 to replace my old 620. Waiting to see how it goes…
I’d get a Hero camera to replace the Hero2 I lost
I would love to get the fancy Garmin that passes for a regularish watch……or see what else there is as I purposely don’t look at tech that I can’t truly afford.
I’m currently looking to replace my Vivoactive, possibly with the VA HR
Dji Mavick – since it is much handier than my old Phantom 2
Go pro black, so i can have proof of my cycling antics.
Mike
I’d like to get a new Kickr, need the silence
A new Garmin bike computer (I’m still using a Garmin 705)!
Edge 820 wait has an amazing feature set and I like the buddy beacon feature.
Oh, and socks, you can never have too many socks!
Forerunner 735 with optical heart rate so I can never forget the strap!!
maybe the velocomp powerpod and the powertap speed/cadence sensor to get more info out of my V650 or the CycleOps JetFluid Pro winter Training Kit to improve my fitness during winter
Probably toward a new trainer – need to diversify the training a bit, and with a baby, it’s so much easier to train indoors.
A new Garmin watch! Will start to swimmnext year!
The forerunner 735xt maybe. Don’t need to say more than “optical heartrate”
I would get a new smart trainer and ditch my 10 year old dumb trainer!
A Fenix 3 (or 5 depending on when it gets released) for all of my non-biking outdoor activities.
I’d get a powertap C1, cuz it only happens if you can measure it.
My fluid trainer is super old and held together with a random piece of metal and a lag bolt…would love one of the smart trainers!
Powertap p1 since I need more structure in my training and hope to getting some good hints out of the power data.
After completing what seems like my 100th fancy dress fun run today I definitely need a GoPro of some description to document the craziness I see on runs!
Fenix for sure, need some mapping to hit the trails of new Zealand’s south!!
Would love to get a Forerunner 930 when it comes out, thanks