Heads up!!! Here’s your massive Cyber Monday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $429, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $619, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, (or Hero 13 bundle for $339!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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You can use the above link for any Amazon country and it (should) automatically redirect to your local Amazon site.Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? No problem, the product comparison data is constantly updated with new products and new features added to old products!
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Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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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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FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
- Why haven’t you yet released a review for XYZ product you mentioned months ago?
- Will you test our product before release?
- Are you willing to review or test beta products?
- Which trainer should I buy?
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- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
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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.
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!
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.
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!
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 2023 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.
FR935
472€ *1.25=590$ fantastic deal!
Thanks Garmin!!!
Actually, a typo on my part – 427EUR – not 472EUR.
Still frustrated about that Racermate revelation. It’s like Chuck’s final French Salute to the world. Whomever owns Racermate now – call me. I have experience, and ideas. And Opinions.
Dude, you forgot to mention the Suunto update that you wrote an article about.
On the Nokia/Withings smart scale: You think there would be enough longitudinal data on pulse wave velocity to figure out if it mattered or not. Completely agree that this sort of nonsense (not the first time it’s happened: scanadu, cough cough) has caused features to be removed due to regulatory fears.
It seems that BT for vector3 is just a dead end, is that going to be released anytime soon ?
Slated for ‘early Feb’, as of last check a few days ago. It cleared BT certification, but there was an unexpected regression unrelated to that, which came up and delayed it a bit.
Ah fair enough, thanks for the update Ray
There is no such thing as Therapeutic Use Exemption!!!
Any attempt to hide drug usage behind therapeutic exemption is a lie!
Cocaine, testosterone, erythropoetin in a treatment of a healthy human?
Even the Salbutamol is questionable, pointing to something sinister… Asthma bronchiale or bronchospasmus is not something you get overnight and it is more typical at children. Athletes should report their diseases before becoming professionals.
Garmin’s website still shows “5 to 8 weeks” for Vector 3. But it’s been showing that for months. I wonder what is the deal? I’m starting to consider alternatives.
Garmin is fulfilling all retailers first. So the site timing isn’t ‘real’ per se. They’ve been shipping to retailers since mid-October, and more or less in Europe/US all caught up as of late December, though have slid behind slightly in the last few weeks (my understanding is they’re catching back up again within the next 7-10 days).
I don’t entirely understand the shipping situation in Aus/NZ, though it seems a bit dependent on retailer.
If you read the Google bike article, 250 bikes wander off campus, but most of them are recovered from the local area. So the number that truly go missing is a lot smaller, but still not insignificant.
Just checked, its 427.13EUR 377.99GBP after DCR code, so typo in text.
Quite a good price, AFAIK first price reduction on this watch.
Is it somehow correlated with the appearing of 645?
Thanks, fixed!
Not at all related to FR645, just related to Clever Training working an exclusive deal with Garmin for it.
Being in Australia, you’re missing out on the Nutella rioting and the Seine flooding in Paris.
Don’t worry, I can still partake in the flood watch situation via our webcams. :-/
Was going to say, I hope the cave isn’t underwater.. ?
Please please please send me one of those 15 smart scales, fat boy needs to lose some weight!
Do you have any information (or can ask) when majority of fenix 5x apps will be enabled for Descent? (run power including)
I’ll try and circle back with them this week on that.
Hey Ray
Can we expect an in-depth review of the new magic air from you?
Looking forward to.
Should read mavic air
After a rather long flight (or, set of flights), my review unit is slated to arrive in the morning here (less than 12 hours). First up for tomorrow morning is trying out the new and improved Active Track functions. Expect some YouTube goodness within 24 hours or so, and then a full text review a bit later.
I always thought that Fitstar/Fitbit Coach was pretty special when used with AppleTV- watch/listen to your big screen and record feedback to the app on your device. When used with a subscription, the workouts progress over time as your feedback suggests
Great to hear that – will wait to enjoy your really excellent thoughts on that new gadget
highly appreciated
There are some reports of Strava data being used to find military bases. Not sure whether you caught that news.
Google loosing 250 bikes per week is kinda believable number, I live in Bay Area and worked across Google Cumpus – you can find they bikes dropped everywhere, people use them and leave at random places. Sometimes non-google employees use them and which is illegal, Google Security Team will politely ask you to dismount from the bike if they see you riding Google bike and not having a badge. This doesn’t say nice thing about culture of people living/working here :(
Hey Ray, somewhat random, but been meaning to ask you if you think Garmin will get into the smart trainer business? Seems like a natural thing for them to do, especially given that Wahoo is using it to drive head units.
Thoughts?
I doubt it to be honest. The logistics (shipping primarily) of the trainer business aren’t nearly as appealing as other markets Garmin could enter.
Whoa! Here’s hoping that the Little Ripper Life Saver won’t hit the rescuee on its way down.
Coupon ‘ DCR DCR10BTF’ does not exists. Please call (01772)331852 if you feel you have reached this message in error.
Hi Luis-
It looks like you’ve got two DCR’s in there. The code is just DCR10BTF
Cheers!
Woot (in DCR speak) I’ve made the “Stuff I found interesting list”
That’s some fast swimming lifeguards:
“The two teenage boys were caught about 700 meters (0.4 miles) offshore at Lennox Head in a swell of around three meters (9.8 feet)”
“A government official confirmed the rescue took only 70 seconds, compared to the average six minutes it would take for a lifeguard to reach the swimmers”
The ski video was kinda cool.
Ray,
Clever Training saying “Stock in 5-7 days” for the 935, is that a real ETA or just a place holder as they are awaiting stock from Garmin?
Cheers,
Greg
Generally speaking if it says 5-7 days, that’s an inbound shipment that they already have appropriated. Whereas if it says something like “Mid February”, then it’s a manual override placeholder based on a company’s current delivery estimates.
So in this case I’m about 95% sure* that it’s just they sold a crapton of them, and slightly more than they expected. Thus, the requirement to get more in stock. It’s really the first time they’ve had any sort of Garmin UK/Europe specific exclusive, so sorting out demand was a bit tricky.
*I sent a quick note over to confirm.
thanks,
Ray,
Any thoughts on Amazfit Stratos? Is it for realz?
It’s long been on my list to pickup…one of these days.
Thanks Ray ? for this Clever deal; just ordered the 935 triathlon bundle?