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.
GoPro Hero 5 to film antics on slops in upcoming ski trip.
Gotta be a hero5 black
I would get a Powertap P1s. I have been reading up a lot on Training with a power meter and feel this is definitely what I need to get over the hump.
The new forerunner 735 XT. Thanks!
I put the $500 towards a set of Powertap P1 or Garmin Vector 2 pedals so I can train with a power meter.
Pick me, pick me! Ok, I did get something really cool (Fenix 3 HR) but I do have a few more things on my list….
I could always add another garmin to the stable. Specifically a Fenix
Power meter all that way.
The best trainer £500 can buy… please
It would be a tough fight between a Fenix 3 and a 735XT to replace my dying FR620 :-)
Always wanted a powermeter and Powertap P1 is top of my wishlist to assist in my training and race.
some type of power meter
or shoes and a helment
A Garmin Fenix 3 :)
I would get one FR735XT to replace my Polar V800.
Aah, I would like a stryd power meter and a watch more or less supporting it… Thanks!
I’d get a Fenix 3 HR so I’d look less (or more) dorky wearing it everyday at work.
I’d get a power meter like a power tap to nail pacing on my next race.
Amazing site. Thank you for everything you do.
GoPro hero 5 or turbo trainer????? Thanks
Fenix 3 HR looks interesting
A new multisport watch would be great
A power meter, because what good is power without the ability to express it quantitatively
This could turn 2016 around
The Garmin 235 – oooh, that optical HR monitor and not having to wear a chest strap … Almost makes me wish ill upon my current watch, just so I can upgrade this feature.
I’d love to buy a Wahoo Kickr to kick off the new year!
I would get a running GPS watch and it will probably be the TomTom spark 3 with music. Cos its the only one that does music. Thanks Ray!
a powermeter, what else
Garmin Vector 2s, my wish for a long time.
A trainer would bei perfect.
A trainer for sure.
A nice new Fenix 3 HR to assist with the London Marathon training :)
I’d buy the best Garmin / TomTom device I could! Love the stats etc, and up till today on my post-Boxing Day run, my forerunner 110 (in grey and pink, not great for a man) has performed well. But I dropped it in a HUGE puddle….now it doesn’t work.
Spent all my xmas money (given by other people to me) on my sons, to encourage school excellence, and now will have to scrimp and save until I can find enough to maybe be another 2nd hand forerunner or equivalent!
Please help!
Cycleops Hammer
Want to feel the hills in Zwift. Zwift on a dumb trainer just isn’t so great.
A Garmin Fenix 3 HR would be a motivation for winter sports in Bregenzerwald, Austria: http://www.bregenzerwald.at.
A Garmin Fenix 3 HR would just be great
power meter for sure. power tap p1 sounds great.
I would buy the garmin speed and cadance sensors as well as a gopro hero 5 or a garmin virb.
I would upgrade to the Fenix 4, assuming that it’s announced next week at CES.
I would get a power meter for outdoor training.
I’d get a Garmin 735XT, I really need to replace my 310.
I want to get a smart trainer to enjoy some winter workouts in my garage.
I’d get the Fenix 3 HR so I could swim, bike, run without a strap. Thanks Ray!
A powermeter because riding by feeling isn’t really the right way
A pair of powertap p1 perhaps!
I would love to get a 4iiii power meter and viiiiva. Thanks
A trainer would be great in order to defeat the Winter time.
I’d get a Suunto watch with optical hr measurement. Because my Garmin without optical measurements is beginning to agree, and I’d like to try TWO new things in ONE watch.
Happy Holidays, Ray!
If I may enter the competition/lottery I would like to go for the Scosche Rhythm+ Optical HRM.
Why? Because I never had a HRM which was working properly and this one might be the one.
From 2009 till 2012 I had premium HRM within the 310XT and from 2012 recently I am/an not using the 3rd generation of HRM within 910XT.
I have not switch to the 920XT, because it is not supporting Tanita scales, however pair-able with HRM-Run, HRM-Tri and HRM-Swim. All these HRMs are not compatible with 910XT, so practically I am without a reliable, well operating HRM.
Off the topic, I have a request to all of you: just drop the old imperial system and for sports, pls go with metric…It is sooo confusing to see your activities in Paris and units in miles…
I noticed, that you and most of the users in their comments are using the units incorrectly. Here are some corrections:
KM for kilometer. Correct is km. Capital M stands for Mega, kapital K for Kelvin (temperature).
nm means nanometer (length)
Nm means Newtonmeter (torque)
g as gram is weight
G is also Gram, used for coloring microbes G+ or G-, but used to mark Giga (10^9) as well, like 150 GB.
I always wanted some quality GPS cycling computer, so I’d probably choose one of the Garmin Edge computers (most likley 520). Or action cam, I don’t know, it would be difficult to decide.
Garmin FR920XT fir the mrs because her Fenix 2 died!
Trainer…
I’d be hoping Garmin releases a Fenix 4 at CES and getting it. Barring that, probably a F3 HR. My Fenix 2 is a little long in the tooth; I’d be happy to hand it down to a relative who needs a durable GPS watch. I’m currently switching between the F2 and a vivofit for sleep&step tracking, and I could just keep a F4 on my wrist all the time instead.
A Garmin Edge 820 to help my training for the Half hironman in 2017. Thanks
Aero Helmet or trainer… that’s a difficult choice !
I think one of the only things I could share with my father could be the GoPro Hero5 Black
Gotta get a power meter. Need to find a way to get some consistency going from the trainer to the road
A Quarq DFour powermeter for the gravelbike! :-)
Set my eyes to. Powertap powermeter.. not sure whocjh one
Go pro please!!! Because it would be so great to get films about my activities
I would get the garmin forerunner TX920 for my triathlon season. Thanks !!
MAybe a new smartrainer so that the home trainer get less annoying
Fénix 3, so that I can use it for triathlons as well as orienteering with my 3 boys
My Bike Computer flew off my bike!
I’d definitely go for the Power Tap P1 pedals!
I’d get a Fenix 3 HR to replace my Forerunner 220 and track my mountaineering sessions.
Probably a. Garmin Fenix to replace my Suunto
Fenix3 HR so I can step up my game :D
i would like the gopro hero5 black or something to replace my RCX5 for longer trail
Garmin Edge 1000 as the combo of touch screen and connectivity seems an unbeatable upgrade from the 810!
I would like to have 735xt for triathlon training. Fenix 3/HR is too heavy for me.
I need a new trainer for those long, cold days here.
I need a power meter so I can use zwift!
I’ll definitely be upgrading my turbo trainer. My cycleops Mag has seen better days and getting quite loud during sprints! Itching for one of the newer wheel-on smart trainers.
I´d like a Fenix 3 or maybe a more specific runners watch.
I need more time for exercise, but I hope that 2017 will be a great opportunity to road more. I would love a Fenix 3 HR or a Elite or Wahoo trainer, hard to choose. I think will be a Wahoo trainer ^^
I was looking to get the new Stryd foot pod power meter.
A proper bike computer so I can retire my 910xt
I would get my husband a Garmin triathlon watch because he wants to get back into triathlons soon.
The kickr desk. Dont want to spend any more time fuddling with setup
A powermeter for sure. But I’ll have to spend hours trawling the DCR website (again) to work out which one.
I love the Fenix HR so I going to get that one!
Powermeter
Wahoo kickr snap, cause i need/want to upgrade to smart trainer this year.
I would love to upgrade my trainer. I’m on a nashbar cheapo model and winter is upon us!
Fenix 3HR for next season and/or FR235 for my wife
Garmin Edge 820
Maybe the HRM-Run strap and some accessories for my watch. Or a watch for my wife. Or both.
Allmost 2017, so time to upgrade to upgrade to build-in HR. And switch from the 920xt to a 735xt
I’d get a 735xt to replace my old TomTom Cardio.
I would probably go for the Power Meter!
I would get the tacx neo. I’m seriously trying to dial in every metric so I can seriously compete in triathlons instead of just doing them.
Garmin Forerunner 230 and spend the rest on some running apparel
Probably powermeter or new Garmin.
I would have to put it towards getting a Cyclops Magnus!
I’d use it towards getting the Wahoo Kickr – so I can ride inside this winter and not get (too) out of shape…
I wouldn’t get anything at the moment because CES is right around the corner
I think I would put it towards a trainer. finger’s crossed.
I’d get a Power Meter. Not sure which one, but I really feel like I should have one.
A power meter or a kickr to improve winter training.
Another power meter as you can never have too many.
I’d go for a Powertap power meter, so I could have one on my road bike as well as my tt bike.