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.
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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 would get a Garmin Fenix3 HR. Actually I’m still researching which Garmin. I’m going to do my first Ultra this year and I want one that has great battery life and does altitude. Merry Christmas everyone!
735XT. It’s about time I upgraded my 405CX
I can’t justify a powermeter with the small amount of riding I do these days (2 kids!), but if subsidized, I think I’d go Powertap P1 and use on my stationary bike too
I’d like either a Fenix 3 or HERO5. The Fenix 3 provides a wealth of functionality and looks great too. The HERO5 would replace a much needed replacement for HERO3.
I’d love a GoPro Hero5 Black so I can use it to record all of my swimbikerun + MTB adventures!
I think I would get a GoPro Hero5, so I can record all of my adventures!
A nice Fenix 735XT would solve all my motivation problems for 2017.
I’ll get the Garmin Forerunner 735XT
I would love a 735xt. Although I would love it for myself, I probably would give it to my little cousin, as I have a FR220 and she currently isn’t using a running watch, which she has stated she wants but is living off a college income.
Thank you for all that you do.
Would definitely spring for a Tacx Neo. My Powerbeam pro is getting a bit long in the tooth….
I would get an action camera, Virb Ultra 30 or the new Hero 5 Black.
I’d select a GPS brain implant to enable my wife to view my location on an online map and drag and drop me back home when I am late…which is pretty much every time I go out in the mountains…because it’s beautiful and I can’t help myself.
garmin watches for my husband and I so we can train together
Edge 1000
A GPS watch or three (to compare).
I’d probably get the “second” Garmin Vector 2s crank, since I’m too curious watt (heh!) the difference between my legs is.
That powermeter I have been dreaming of.
A wonderfull indoor bike trainer
Would probably get a new Garmin bike computer to replace my old Edge 500
So much to choose from… probably the Garmin FR735XT.
I would love a Garmin fenix 3!
Fenix 3 HR – I have been searching for a replacement for my Timex Global Trainer for quite some time as the battery life is now less than stellar and I would really like a unit that can do activity and sleep tracking. Thanks for running this website. Happy Holidays!
Fenix3 HR, liked the fenix2 but would like the HR capabilities.
I’d go for a Garmin Fenix 3 because I really want to upgrade from 910xt. Merry x-mas!
clearly temptation would either be power based, or updating my Fenix 2.
To put towards a Wahoo Kickr in order to build a bike torture chamber at home.
Garmin Forerunner 735 XT
a new trainer, for getting after it in the winter months.
I will buy the pionner crank arm powermeter. I need it so i can start of the spring with a new powermeter on my road bike. i only have powermeter on my indoor kickr,
This would be the perfect excuse to enter powermeter world
A smart trainer to get me through what’s left of the winter…
A turbo trainer for the long dark winter
Garmin 735XT + HRM bundle for its multi-sport support (one device when traveling) and its basic course upload and nav features.
I´d get myself a GoPro to record the great places I visit for great runs.
Probably a power meter – leaning towards 4iiii, but it’s tough to choose; would need to give Ray’s guide another read!
The Garmin Forerunner 735 XT in blue for sure. Because it kicks @ss.
I would love power meter for Campagnolo.
I’d get a Vector 2 pedal set with a $500 credit from CleverTraining.com. Or alternatively i’d go for the Garmin Fenix 5 HR, especially if it is Galileo enabled. If not will just have to stick with my Garmin 735xt, love it!
I would love to get an indoor trainer as the evenings are very cold!
Umm, half of a maverix dji drone.
Garmin 735xt for all but IM distance tri’s and power pod to add to bike training. Would need to supplement the $500 though.
Fenix 3 HR for sure!
FR 35 or Vivoactive HR in a hope of leaving the HR chest strap behind, or
Vector to Vecto2 upgrade kit.
I’d either get a GoPro HERO5 Session and Cycliq Fly6 for filming various rides and training activities, or an Edge 820
Go pro hero 5, to record my upcoming honeymoon in Vietnam whilst hoping Ironman relax their videoing rules.
Will definitely use it towards the Powertap P1 pedals. Here’s to hopefully training with power in 2017.
Was in a serious car accident this summer and the EMTs cut off my Garmin Vivoactive HR. Glad that they extracted me from the car and helivaced me, but still bummed about losing my watch as I get back into training.
I would get as much outdoor and travel gear as possible. I moved to Hawai’i about a month and a half from South Carolina and being that I’m 18 a lot of people think im crazy but i just really love life and want to see the most of this earth before my time comes ya know? So I’d probably end up just getting a gopro hero session and a tent or hammock and numerous outdoor acessories.
I didn’t get a new trainer. Thanks for the contest!
Garmin 735XT for my girlfriend :)
I would get a new Garmin Fenix 3. It would be great for monitoring my training.
Never enough GPS watches a man can have ;-)
GoPro Hero 5 Black or a trainer
I’d likely wait until CES in the hopes of getting a Fenix 4/5. And if not that I may jump into the world of bike computers with the garmin 820
A new Garmin for me
I would get the Garmin Fenix 3, I need a new watch!
It’d likely go towards a power meter, or maybe a smart trainer.
I’d definitely get the PowerTap P1 Power Pedals!
Wahoo Kickr to get more productivity out of my basement
PowerTap C1 power meter ! Always wanted one for truly comparable metrics!
My Powertap is in need of new bearings, so probably a C1 or P1 to replace it.
Vivoactive HR to track my daily activities!
Quarq Dzero Carbon GXP Power meter, absolutely wonderful product. I’d happily trade-in my BePro and Stages 6800 for it…
I would most likely get a new trainer or the 735xt!
I’d really like to have a Fenix3 HR! :)
I would get a Garmin Virb Ultra 30. Just to be different from all he GoPro guys.
I’d get a Suunto watch :)
A nice down-payment on a power meter; the only thing I lack from a gadget perspective!
My older vivoactive isn’t guite cutting my tri training. Probably upgrade to a 920.
I’d think I’d go for a watch/fitness band that supports cycling tracking. It’d be a good addition to the general data I get from my bike computer.
I would get the GoPro.
I would get the Hero5, for hiking with my wife.
Right now it’s a tossup between a Fenix 3 HR or new GoPro.
a new garmin! my wife got one and I really like it!
Fenix 3 HR to get back to running :).
I’d get a bike computer so I can train better in the new year!
I would put the $500 toward a certain set of power meter pedals from PowerTap. Brim Brothers broke my heart by disappearing into oblivion and leaving my hopes dashed for a power meter that can do both legs independently (I have a bad leg) and be easily moved between bikes while still being under the $1000 mark. So the P1 are the next best option, or probably better, speaking in terms of data. Unfortunately they’ve always been out of my reach, budget wise.
I was hoping for a wahoo elemnt but it’s a bit out of the Christmas gift prce range.
The Garmin Heads up display for me.
I’d love to get a Fenix HR 3 as a motivational item to get back into running again. Will you make me run?
I’d love a Garmin 735 since my current watch can’t be used for swimming and a couple of pair of inexpensive sunglasses. I lose them like dryers lose socks!
Fenix 3 as I have just booked some ultra races for this year and need a way of linking to my Stryd power meter!
I would buy every muscle roller, massage ball and brace – because getting old sucks.
An optical Garmin HR monitor watch to give to my daughter who hates chest straps
I’d get a Garmin 735XT!
GoPro 5.
Because it’s a chans to show more about XC MTB in Belarus. MTB – is the most popular bike in Belarus ( in cities too, hehe :) ), but not some many people knows about XCM/XCO events, or discipline at all.
It can help to discover awesome world of XC biking for other.
I would get garmin 735xt – or something else!
Fenix 5 whenever that gets released post CES :)
I would get myself a Powertap power meter for my bike! Because once I hopefully PR my 17th Marathon next week, I hope to concentrate a little on my riding, and work with power.
I want a trainer (I think the tacx flux)!!!
I didn’t get anything at all last X-mas!
I’d would get me a Stages XT power meter for my MTB.
Garmin Varia Vision In-Sight Display for our 24hour race in Sebring; that would rock.
probably a new running watch with HR – Garmin I guess
I’ve been dreaming of a Fenix3 with optical hr
Garmin Vivoactive and an action cam
A Garmin Edge 520 Bundle and for the remaining sum a downpayment on the Look Keo ANT+upgrade. I want GPS and more power options.
Happy new year i didn’t get a Velocomp Powerpod for Christmas. So you are my only hope
Gonna have to go with something that starts with “Fenix”.
I will get a new go pro of course!
I’d get a power meter or head unit I could switch between bikes for training