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.
I would get the GoPro to motivate my son to check out the trails with me.
Probably a bunch if “little stuff” like a Power Pod and som bike peripherals like a wahoo cadence sensor, etc
A good power meter to train more efficient for my first 70.3 :)
A PowerMeter ! Merry Xmas to your family, DC !
FR 630 or 735XT would be perfect as I somehow tend to run much more than previous year :)
Power Meter, probably the PowerTap P1 power meter pedals
Multisport guy here, but I would like something that I could wear outside. So it would definitely be a Fenix 3!!! Merry xmas to all, happy new year!
I’d like to get the Forerunner 735xt to stay up to date with Connect IQ 2 and not feel so bad about the death of the Pebble product line.
I think I would choose a Suunto Traverse, or maybe a trainer.
Garmin 735 sounds like a great post Christmas gift.
I think I’d go for a PowerPod.
Or a 4iiii Precision?
Might have to re-read the reviews here :)
I would buy the smart watch that takes over my nervous system and makes me swim well. I appreciate said watch hasn’t been invented yet.
I would get the garmin Vivoactive HR! I have the original garmin vivofit and love it.
i would go for an Edge 810
Wish I had gotten the Garmin Fenix 3 HR
A new Powertap… because my old one doesn’t work anymore. :(
A new garmin instead of my old one
a new watch to replace the fenix2
i’d get a garmin edge 820 bundle!
I’d go for the Fénix 3, If nothing better arises at CES. Thank you
The Garmin 630 with heart rate monitor or the Garmin 230 with hear rate monitor if the 630 is unavailable.
Definitely an Edge 520 because the 735xt screen is a bit small for cycling.
anything new announced at CES 2017, of course pending your review!
The Garmin 630 with hear rate monitor would be sweet!!
I would buy a Garmin watch so I wouldn’t have to carry my heavy phone to track my workouts.
I would buy my first-ever power meter!
I would totally get a powermeter.
I’d go for a Fenix 3 HR because it rocks !!!
Probably a power meter. I’d love to get L/R power, but it’s currently out of my budget.
I would love a powermeter (bepro) to see just how disappointing I really am. God forbid go about improving it!
I didn’t get Garmin Vector 2 power meter that I was hoping for. Instead I received a Garmin Virb 30 camera and some cool gear to use it. So while I would have enjoyed the power meter more I am not unhappy with the gift I received.
I’d use the money to go towards a power meter, the p1 pedals would be a nice to have and that takes a good amount off!
A Garmin 735xt would be a top pick!
I would get a smart trainer.
I’d certainly get the TomTom Adventurer, because it has so many cool features!
Already have a Garmin Forerunner 610 for running but would like an Edge 520 for on the bike.
A Garmin Forerunner 735XT so I can train and run with power.
I would purchase the PowerTap P1 pedals, and make 2017 the year of training with power!
definitely need a new garmin – my old one is on its last legs
Have the GoPro Hero 5 in my sights!
A Garmin Virb Ultra 30 would be good…
Would love the Garmin Forerunner 735XT GPS Running & Multisport Watch, a significant upgrade from my Suunto T6 with GPS pod!
Hard choice between a Fenix 3 HR, or a new Wahoo KICKR SNAP. Probably the trainer because I think I can milk another season out of my aging watch.
Surely I would get a Garmin 735 XT tri watch to train for my triathlons races next year.
I would love a Garmin 630!
Edge 820
I would get a Fenix3 as my current GPS watch is not that good at handling HR and more advanced calculation/training metric. I also like the long battery life and ConnectIO stuff.
The Garmin Forerunner 630 Touchscreen GPS Running Watch; there are so many features but I think it’s what I want for cross training activity tracking!
power meter. def power meter.
I’d definitely go for the Wahoo Fitness KICKR SNAP, to go in my garage. The reason being that it’s -1 degrees outside in the UK, and I’m not man enough to go for a ride in that!
A Tacx Neo because my actual trainer – a Tacx Multiplayer – wasn`t supported by Zwift. But it works absolutely well year for year for year for year !
The Garmin 820 because my 520 doesn’t work properly
I’d probably get a GoPro Hero to record my travel adventures
Garmin Fenix HR, to track everything with one device.
A Fenix watch for Victoria, so she doesn’t have to run with a boat anchor around her wrist!
I’d love a fenix3 HR
I would like the money, to order a Kickr
I want a Gopro Hero 5 Black for Christmas
It would have to be a gopro hero 5 for me
Some sports watch that a) connects with Scosche Rhythm+, and b) allows for uploading structured training programs (unlike the TomTom Runner I got that sadly does neither).
I’d use the money to offset the cost for. A new TACX NEO, Flux, or Wahoo KICKR trainer so I don’t have to ride outside all winter.
Id put the money towards getting myself a new trainer, probably a wahoo kickr snap!
I would like to purchase my father a Garmin vivoactive HR. It let him know how much walking he does each day.
I would get a new smart trainer – working with an old lemond revolution from 12 yrs ago!
Probably the last suunto?!
Proper power meter to replace my limited crowd funded paperweight
Suunto Ambit
A fenix3 or maybe a fenix 5 ??
Fenix 3 hr or edge 820
I’d go for a Fenix 3 HR or a Garmin Edge 820
Some sort of power meter. Perhaps a PowerPod?
I would probably get Garmin Fenix 3 – best all-rounder…
Tough one as I’m quite happy with my fenix3… Maybe a Suunto Spartan Sport if it was below 500$ (but it isn’t) so an Edge 520 or a Lezyne microGPS for the bike… plus some extras.
Happy Holidays to all!
The new Garmin replacement for the fr735 or the 920xt else I need the Mavic..
I’ll get a Wahoo Kickr!
Garmin Forerunner 235 – My Timex RunTrainer is getting up there in years and miles and sometimes it tells me I’m in a neighboring city for about a half a mile…
Garmin edge 520 and 735xt. I don’t have a computer yet and it would be nice to replace my 920xt, mainly for daily use.
A fancy trainer, or maybe some new clothes for rainy/snowy days.
I would get a set of Withings’ product (scale, activity tracker). The new Steel HR looks interesting.
I would get the new Kickr or the Cyclops Hammer for winter training in the rainy pacific northwest. Plan B would be a powermeter to use with my “dumb” trainer.
Garmin Fenix!
I would have to have to get an fr735xt. I have been drooling over it for six months now.
Upgrading my dumb trainer to a Tacx Neo. The only way I could afford such a trainer…
New trainer for sure, been looking at the Magnus, but with $500 credit maybe it’s “Hammer time”
A power meter would be great since those things are pricey!
I would like to get Garmin Forerunner 735XT for my wife because she is awesome. :-)
I’d like a Garmin VIRB UIltra 30
Power meter to help me qualify for Kona!
The power tap P1’s have been high on my list for sure.
Easy decision … Wahoo Elemnt. Then I’d have a reliable GPS unit (instead of the G.unit I have now).
I would probably go for a powermeter…
Hi Ray, another fantastic giveaway! I would use this credit to get a Garmin Vivosmart HR+ and Forerunner 35 (green one of course!) :-)
A VIRB Ultra 30 to capture my outdoors adventures or a Vivoactive HR.
I would still love a power meter perhaps power pedals.
Sure it needs to be powermeter. Nothing is better for elevating the cycle training than PM. Some brand new Quarq would be great.
I’d get a Garmin Fenix 3 for everyday wear.
One of those fancy trainers…
Definitely a power meter
A bike computer for sure
A Fenix 3 HR to replace my aging FR305 with something that can do it all and look good while doing it!
I’d want to get a Suunto Spartan Sport to track all my activities. :D