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!
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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.
A new triathon watch or maybe an electronic controlled trainer.
Definitely pedal based power meter so I can race power instead of HR!!
Definitively power meter for me! Never used one but I love all the stats I can get!
I’d get a Wahoo Kickr2, or maybe a Neo.
A gopro 5 black because it’s the n’est action camera!!
Standing desk…or a power meter
It would have to be something really useful, but not sexy/gadgety, that I would usually be too cheap to buy.. like a complete park-tool tool-kit or maybe a decent repair stand!
Probably go for the hero 5 black which can become handy in a variety of situations wet and dry.
630… or 235. Can’t decide!
I am leaning towards either a power meter or a trainer. I am planning on getting a tri bike later in 2017 and I know that one of those two items will be very useful in my training.
Merry Christmas!!! I would get the PowerTap P1 pedals. Without a doubt the top item on my Christmas list I am still looking for.
powermeter!
Either an action cam or a new power meter!
A new biketrainer because my current one isn’t ‘smart’ enough.
Trainer, for sure. Gets me cycling during the winter months.
Looking to the weather outside, probably a Trainer, to get someone winter milage
Garmin edge 520 so I can finally join the times with a bike computer that doesn’t have a wire running down my front fork
Will go with the Cycleops Hammer smart trainer. The 20 lbs flywheel with the powertap power measurement accuracy and reliability seems like a better choice over the Tacx Flux and Wahoo Kickr. Seems like Cycleops has started to ship them out as well.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Cheers.
I would get the power pod. I train with trainer road but for my outdoor rides I use pi I would love have an actual estimate
I would propably treat myself to the latest Garmin Phoenix (III or mayby IV?) that will be available this spring.
I’d get the 920xt because my 310xt has a cracked screen and gets foggy in the PNW climate and I can’t swim with it anymore and it makes me sad. The 920xt would make me happy!
After leaving my friends and family in Oklahoma to move back home to Portland where it rains ALWAYS and gets dark at 4:30 I would get a smart trainer to ride virtually with my friends and family in Oklahoma.
I would like a Fenix 3 HR as an upgrade from the Vivoactive HR I already have.
The wahoo element bike computer so I can go on rides in my new city and not get lost!
Polar V800 would be a nice upgrade of my M400.
If I am lucky I want the GoPro Hero5 Black. It could be great for film my mountain bike tracks. Thanks
A Fenix 3 for those long trail runs.
I’d probably get a VIRB Ultra 30 and some mounts to document my adventures.
Action cam so I can record me getting dropped in races.
I’d get a 920 xt to track my triathlon whereabouts !!
Thanks ray
I’d get a GoPro Hero 5 Black mostly because I already have a Garmin Fenix 3HR so I can’t buy a new watch until someone invents something better.
Towards the Wahoo Kickr. Thanks
Need a smart scale to help with that new years resolution!
I need a pair of P1’s and probably An Elemnt.
I would probably put it towards a Garmin Edge 1000 or a pedal-based power meter
I’d probably get a cycling computer to upgrade from my watch+handlebar mount combo :)
A Garmin forerunner 735xt to upgrade from my current running watch
since i already have garmin swim (yeah they are old but ok), i’d get an action cam, for shooting video in travel.
I will get a fenix 3 hr, becouse me and wife were on budget this christmas, but i made the mistake of trying this beast at a store… now i have nightmares !
735xt, signed up for my first tri!
I’d like an action cam. I guess that annual GoPro year end video finally did its trick on me.
A Powermeter for my new Gravel Bike!
Running power meter.
A nice bike computer for my upcoming trip to Asia
Garmin Fenix 3 to enhance my training.
I would get a trainer desk to finish my Zwift setup.
Garmin 820
Smart trainer! Need to get fast!
The new Garmin VIRB 30.
Either a 735xt to replace my 920 or probably towards a powermeter.
A Fenix 5. Surely it’ll be out before shortly after this contest is over.
Powermeter?!!
A tomtom runner since I hate running with my phone in my pocket
I’d get a power meter for the tt bike.
Of course i would like a Fenix 3 hr because it’s seems to be the best partner for tri training :)
Thx Ray !
A power meter of some sort…
Or the Garmin 735xt!
I’d buy an power meter for my bike :)
I would go for the forerunner 235,since the battery of my 220 is running out fastly…
the garmin virb, would’ve caught the bobcat on the trail last night…
GoPro Hero5 because I love taking photos.
Power meter would be my choice !
Happy Christmas to you and your family Ray. If I am the lucky recipient, I think I’d buy a new Garmin watch. Cheers!
Would use it toward the Wahoo Kickr for more exciting training indoors on my bike — currently can’t stay interested enough and don’t push myself.
A Virb Ultra 30, love the metric overlays!
I’d get a Garmin watch
Either power meter or smart trainer to improve my cycling training .
A power meter. Guess I should not have set a gift amount limit :(
A power meter for my bike (likely pedals) and maybe stryd?
A garmin fenix 3 HR. Thats my dream for long time…
I’d love the Garmin 735XT…
Virb
Powertap P-1 powermeter, would be great to have a moveable power meter to test out on various bikes.
I’d love the new Garmin Fenix HR
I would go for a Fenix for all the functionality and they look awesome.
A power meter to train for more power
A wahoo kickr because my trainer needs an upgrade.
I’d get a new bike computer to encourage me to get off the trainer & go outside more often.
Fenix 3 HR to replace my TomTom multi sport which can’t quite cut the long training days.
I’d get a trainer to keep in shape during these winter months.
Powertap P1 as upgrade to my 4iiii. Want left right balance.
Wahoo KICKR :) been wanting one for a while but family comes before bike toys.
I want to change my Polar v800 wich the charger port is failing for a much nicer Garmin Fenix 3 sapphire with heart beat
I would probably get the Kickr I’ve always wanted after trading in all my gift cards.
Fenix 3; I’ve gone from being a lazy coach potato to someone with ultrarunning and triathlon aspirations. The Fenix 3 would see me through those aspirations! ?
I’d get the GoPro Hero 5.
Garmin Vector Pedals :) – because more gadgets can make me a better cyclist!
I want a new Garmin or power meter.
Power meter or new garmin edge to upgrade my training
I would get the Garmin 735xt, current watch is getting old, and a new watch would make me faster, right!
A nice bike computer fro my wife who is just starting out. Maybe an Edge 520
The power meter I didn’t get
Garmin Fenix 3, ’cause it vibrates! :))
Bike powermeter :)
I’d get a power meter Power Tap C1 to make me go faster ; )
I would love a Garmin Fenix 3! It would be a great gift for me especially I can’t afford it.
I would get a new watch, not because I don’t like my 235, but there is no such thing as too many sports watches ?
//M
Powermeter. I need that for triathlon :)
I would get a Power Meter bacuse they’re so f… expensive!
I’d get a GoPro to document my travel and trail running adventures!
A trainer
Run power meter or maybe that sometime to exist new Garmin 935xt