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!
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.
I’d go for a powermeter for sure…
Powertap C1 without a doubt – you can never have too much power !
A new trainer finally :)
I’d go for a Garmin Edge 820 because I just bought a Quarq DZero.
I would get the Garmin power meter pedals
will get the powertap C1 pedals since ill be training towards a full iron man
I’d go for a new trainer…
I’ll figure it out if I win. But it will be more running stuff.
I’d love a Kickr, my current trainer is cheap and not very good.
I’m in the market for a FR735…
A 920XT or edge 820.
If I were lucky enough to win, I’d love to have a Garmin Forerunner 735XT! I’d have to upgrade to the tri package though. Having HR while swimming would get me back in the pool. I have a TomTom with optical HR, but the current pace read is not near as good as Garmin. (Hashimoto’s leaves me with overdoing it too easily.) The ability to pair to a cadence sensor would be nice too!
I d go for a power meter definitively
I was debating getting both the Garmin Vivoactive HR and the Edge 520. However, since I’m on a trainer 3 days/wk on average and only 1 run/ride outdoors/wk, I think it makes the most sense to put the $500 toward the CycleOps Magnus trainer. Going from a CycleOps Wind to the Magnus should be exactly what the Dr. ordered!
Garmin Edge, model undecided, as I need to dust my bike
Garmin Fenix 3 – non optical HR. Prefer the strap, it’s more accurate. Great watch, does everything I need plus more!
Thanks Ray.
Totally go with a quarq power meter, those things would be perfect!
I would consider a Stryd power meter b/c I’m a student of running.
New PowerTap pedals
I would love a shiny new Vivoactive HR as the screen on my old vivoactive is becoming unresponsive and its driving me nuts!
I’d be so happy to get a trainer. I was going to get a kickr snap back when rei was offering 20% off, but an economical situation left me with a pair of (quite excellent) cycle socks under the tree this year.
Not complaining, but I feel training inside would be actually great compared to those cold and dark first 2km of a 5am morning weekday ride before work. Could be worse and have rain/snow, but it’s been fairly calm lately.
Plus, always been curious about the smart resistance training; not entering spring with a few extra pounds from the holidays is all I want.
Cheers, DC Rainmaker. Ride on.
My ass needs a new saddle. Fyzyk Antares 00 woukd be the right one no more tech stuff for the moment.
I’d love to get a trainer. Too many running injuries this year mean, I need more bike time.. and winter is here.
I’ll get a smart trainer because the winter is starting to show in my mid region
I’d get myself a trainer. I went out today for some fun miles and came back with blocks of ice where my hands and feet used to be. A trainer can’t replace a nice blast out in the fresh air, but at least “some” of my riding could be done in the warmth.
I would love to go for a hydration monitor (though not available yet), so I would settle for a garmin watch. Happy Christmas and Happy new Year to all. Thank you !
A GoPro Hero Black would be awesome :)
A power meter to stepup my training..
I’ve always wanted a trainer, probably the Tacx Neo for the noise benefits!
Happy holidays everyone!
Time to upgrade the trusty old 910XT. A fenix 3 would do the trick!
I’d get a Forerunner 235 :)
I’d update my old Garmin 705 to a Edge 1000 model due to the newer features.
I would get a Garmin Forerunner 735XT – my old multisport watch is 4 years old, and my Garmin swim just stopped syncing workouts this month! Need a new watch fast!
I would get a new trainer or a power meter: I need to power my riding
Wahoo Elemnt! Gotta have that real time Strava segment feedback!
There’s one significant area of triathlon geekery I have yet to explore–the power meter!
Thanks for all that BOTH of you do for DCR and the tri geekery community. :-) And happy holidays! :-)
If I win I’d buy some new Wahoo speed and cadence sensors, an optical heart rate monitor and a Fitbit of some sort. Thanks Ray!
I would love to get the new Forerunner 920XT. As my 310xt has been acting up and giving me a headache!
Thanks for the opportunity Ray…appreciate it
Matt Aguirre
GoPro 5 so I can finish my own “best hits” video for 2016
I’d like to get a Fenix HR as well. It would replace my M400.
I’ve been debating for ages about a power meter (probably the Powertap P1 Pedals). This would essentially make the decision for me.
Garmin Virb to shoot winter alpine skiing and IM training in the summer!
A new indoor trainer to get me through the winter
Elite Drivo: why? I’d like an off-wheel trainer, it’s gotten excellent reviews (even from you),quieter than the kickr, great accuracy, and I’d give my kickr snap to my friend.
Probably a GoPro, only gadget type I don’t have left!
I would definitely go with one of the Garmin Edge for my training rides!
I’d get a new powermeter because I think my right leg is Tour ready, but I just can’t tell with my left only meter which shows I am a 3 year old child.
A crank or pedal based power meter
I would go for a Garmin Chronos. I love that watch and its look
is there a new fenix or other multisport watch that has good integration with some lifting software?
Either 735xt or a power meter…
New edge 1000 as my last bike computer broke
Harmon 920XT, although I may regret it once it tells me in objective terms how bad my swimming is…
I would get a trainer! No, no, a power meter. Or triathlon shoes… so many things to choose from ?
maybe the new Garmin action camera. but I also need a new laptop so I can play better with my “toys”
4iiii precision to go on the road bike
Fenix 3 for my wife
A power meter I think.
I’d pick up a Garmin Edge 520 to complement my Fenix 2.
I would probably upgrade my Suunto if I won. Or maybe check out the Garmins again.
It’s a toss-up between the Garmin 735XT & the Wahoo Kickr Snap. I’ve been a runner for 5 years but just had my 1-year anniversary in triathlon. Now that I have 2 bikes (instead of 0 a year ago), I’ve realized how much better my training would be with both (or either). That said, I’ve got a big goal for a marathon in April & the Stryd running power meters are intriguing…
Garmin fenix 3
The Garmin Fenix 3 looks pretty amazing!
I would get a power meter, to improve my training and event pacing.
A garmin 820 because it is new and shiny and getting lost sucks ;)
Best strapless Heart Monitor watch…
GoPro Hero 5, I have a lot to shot ?
Garmin Fenix 3 to refresh my equipment.
I would love a new Garmin 735xt this year :)
Stryd power meter!
A new Garmin running watch. Mine broke the day after Christmas!
Garmine Edge 820 so I can further fuel the data nerd in me
Garmin 735XT, to support me in the ironman 70.3 training!
Couple of Garmin products because I like it…
I would get a running watch to celebrate my approaching one year running anniversary. I told myself that if I kept up with running for a year, that I’d celebrate with a watch.
I would probably get a new PM or a Vivoactive HR.
A new Garmin Edge 820, mine is toast after a car hit me :/
I would get a powertap p1 tot start measuring power
i would love an edge 820 or 1000. always good
Would love the yet to be released new Garmin Fenix (the 5?). ?The 235 would also be amazing. My forerunner 610 is dying.
Not sure which specific one I would pick, but some kind of power meter for the bike.
Most likely the Garmin 820.
I would get a power tap power meter. Because it’s time I started riding with power.
A new pair of socks woulb nice… or maybe 2 pairs…
I’m thinking of a power meter to help with Zwifting.
I wanted a new power meter, did not get one.
I was thinking about Fenix 3 HR.
I’d would most likely choose a power meter – the Powertap P1. The reason being why not.
Definitely would get a power meter, probably a 4iii or powertap C1.
A power meter to help me meet my goals in this upcoming tri season :)
I would get a 4iiii Precision power meter in order to improve my training
Power meter for running and cycling would be a perfect addition to training fun
I’d love to have the PowerTap C1 on my bike.
Probably i’ll go for a GoPro since i would never pay actual money for that thing. Or same powermeter, maybe
A power meter so I can track my slow progress.
A powermeter for sure :)
GoPro Hero5 because I want to show others my MTB rides
I would have loved to get a wahoo kickr snap for xmas
920 xt. Don’t have a multi sport device ?
Garmin 735 w/Running HR. Been borrowing my now Fiancé’s for the better part of a year. She’ll want it back before she says I Do.