Massive Deals Round-Up!
Hit up the link below for all the best sports tech deals. From huge savings on the Garmin Forerunner 945, Fenix series, Venu AMOLED smartwatch – to the latest Apple, DJI, Fitbit, GoPro, Suunto, and Polar deals. Drones to action cams, activity trackers to trainers, watches to cycling GPS units – and plenty more – tracked daily this holiday deals season!
Full details over on this page here, hit it up to get started!
The Week in Review is a collection of both all the goodness I’ve written during the past week around the internet, as well as a small pile of links I found interesting – generally endurance sports related. I’ve often wondered what to do with all of the coolness that people write, and while I share a lot of it on Twitter and Facebook, this is a better forum for sending it on to y’all. Most times these different streams don’t overlap, so be on the lookout at all these places for good stuff!
So with that, let’s get into the action!
Here’s all the goodness that ended up on the main page of DCRainmaker.com this past week:
Sunday: Week in Review – May 27th, 2018
Tuesday: Hands-on: SRM’s new EXAKT Power Meter Pedals
Wednesday: Hands-on: STAC Zero Halcyon Smart (Totally Silent) Trainer
Thursday: How it works: Zwift’s New Training Plan Platform
Here’s what’s currently still chugging along on sale:
| Product | Sale Price | Amazon | Clever Training | Other site | Sale Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copyright DC Rainmaker - Updated December 11th, 2019 @ 2:08 pm | ||||||
 | 4iiii Fliiiight Smart Trainer with Viiiiva dual ANT+/BLE HR strap bundle - Normally $599 | $499 | Clever Training | ⚡ This is a solid deal. Normally the trainer (which doesn't even start shipping till next week) is $599, now it's $499 and includes the Viiiiva dual ANT+/BLE HR strap (which probably doesn't get as much street cred as it should for all the features it has). Note I've included both 4iiii Fliiight sale deals (the 20% deal you see next to this). This deal here ends Nov 27th. | ||
 | Apple Airpods (2nd Gen) - $20 off | $139 | Amazon | N/A | I use AirPods primarily when I'm travelling just to listen in airports, planes, etc... I don't tend to use these for workouts due to them falling out. | |
 | Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm) | $169 | Amazon | N/A | ⚡ This unit recently got reduced to $199, and now it's down to $169...though it seems to come and go on Amazon - so keep your eyes watching! | |
 | Apple Watch Series 4 - $100 off! | $299 | Amazon | N/A | ⚡ This is a pretty darn strong deal. While the Series 4 doesn't have the always-on display of the Series 5, it has everything else, including a heck of a lot better battery performance/life. Note: Like the other Apple deals, this seems to come and go - so I'm leaving it here since it's like an every other day thing. | |
 | Apple Watch Series 5 - $20 off | $379 | Amazon | N/A | It's a note a huge deal, but I also don't think we're going to see any huge deals this season on the new Series 5. | |
 | Beats PowerBeats Pro Wireless Sport Headphones (Renewed) | $199 | Amazon | ⚡ These are what I've been mostly using lately for workouts, primarily indoors. They're great, though, I'm not a huge fan of the charging case. The fact that they're $50 for getting a factory reconditioned seems like a solid deal to me. | ||
 | Fitbit ACE 2 - $10 Off | $59 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Fitbit Charge 3 HR Fitness Band - $30 Off | $119 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Fitbit Inspire - $10 Off | $59 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Fitbit Inspire HR - $20 Off | $79 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Fitbit Ionic - $50 Off | $199 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Fitbit Ionic Adidas Edition - $50 Off | $229 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Fitbit Versa 2 - $70 OFF! | $129 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Fitbit Versa Lite - $60 Off | $99 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Garmin Cadence Sensor Gen2 (Dual ANT+/Bluetooth) - $5 off | $35 | Amazon | N/A | Note: This is a random Amazon deal that will probably disappear. But, it's a great sensor for Zwift usage as it's not just dual ANT+/BLE, but dual-BLE atop that (so it can do two concurrent Bluetooth connections and unlimited ANT+ connections). | |
 | Garmin Descent MK1 - $200 Off | $799 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Garmin Edge 530 Cycling GPS - 11% off! | $265 | Amazon | N/A | ⚡ ⚡ This is the first sale we've seen on this unit, which only came out this past spring. It's also an Amazon-specific sale and is highly unlikely to last long. This is one of the main units I use for my day to day riding and testing. | |
 | Garmin Fenix 5 Plus (5/5S/5X) - $150 Off | $449 | Amazon | Clever Training | ⚡This is a strong deal on the Fenix 5 Plus series. This is for all models/variants. Obviously, the Fenix 6 came out two months ago, so don't expect major new feature updates on the Fenix 5 Plus - but still, it's a strong option. | |
 | Garmin Fenix 5 Series - 50% off | $299 and up | Amazon | Clever Training | ⚡ Down to $299 is a substantial deal for the Fenix 5S & 5X (non-Plus), so don't expect much in the way of major firmware updates. But still, at that price it's solid. Heck, the 5S for $299 is actually the exact rose gold version that The Girl has (and still wears to this day). | |
 | Garmin Forerunner 35 - $60 Off | $99 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Garmin Forerunner 645 and 645 Music - 45% off | $199/$245 | Amazon | N/A | ⚡⚡ This is a great deal for this watch. Sure, it's nearly 2 years old - but it's gotten a ton of updates since it was launched, including Spotify and Amazon Music support. | |
 | Garmin Forerunner 735XT GPS Multisport Watch - Normally $349 | $219-$236 | Amazon | N/A | ⚡ This is a fantastic deal right now. The price on Amazon is fluctuating a bit, but either way - by far the lowest we've seen. Awesome if you're looking to get into triathlon or just want a really capable running/cycling/swimming watch. | |
 | Garmin Forerunner 945 - $100 Off | $499 | Amazon | Clever Training | ⚡⚡ This is a super hot deal - first time we've seen the FR945 on sale. | |
 | Garmin HRM-RUN (with Running Dynamics) - $20 off | $79 | Amazon | N/A | N/A | This is the odd (and unheard of) Amazon sale. This strap includes Running Dynamics, but is ANT+ only. Honestly, unless you really want Running Dynamics, I'd recommend getting the HRM-DUAL instead (it's dual ANT+/BLE). |
 | Garmin HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM Bundle (30% off!) | $139 | Amazon | N/A | Another rare Amazon sale on the HRM-TRI & HRM-SWIM straps. Also individually for 30% off too at same link. | |
 | Garmin Instinct - $100 Off | $199 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Garmin Instinct Tactical- $100 Off | $249 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Garmin RD Pod (Running Dynamics) - 17% off | $57 | Amazon | N/A | Allows you to get not just Running Dynamics metrics, but also running power, on Garmin devices. | |
 | Garmin Speed Sensor Gen2 (Dual ANT+/Bluetooth) - $5 off | $35 | Amazon | N/A | ⚡ This isn't a huge deal per se, but it is my favorite speed sensor for a commuter bike as it just quietly tracks all your mileage in the background and syncs it to your phone. Also, this falls in the bucket of 'random Amazon deals that will probably disappear'. | |
 | Garmin Tactix Charlie- $150 Off | $599 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Garmin Venu GPS Smartwatch - $100 off! | $299 | Amazon | Clever Training | ⚡⚡ This is a very good deal - and the first time we've seen the Venu on sale. I've been using it for more than two months now, and it's largely pretty stable for me at this point and working well. It's Garmin's first go at a high-end AMOLED display. | |
 | Garmin Vivoactive 3 - Normally $249 | $116-$129 | Amazon | Clever Training | ⚡⚡⚡ This was as low as $99 over Black Friday weekend, which is absolutely crazy. However, even at sub-$150 it's still an incredible deal. | |
 | Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music - 30% off | $199 | Amazon | Clever Training | ⚡⚡ Very solid deal, and remember, this includes Spotify support too! | |
 | Garmin Vivoactive 4 - $50 off | $299 | Amazon | Clever Training | ⚡ This is the first discount we've seen on the Vivoactive 4 since it launched about two months ago - so definitely a solid deal. | |
 | Garmin Vivoactive 4 First Avenger Smartwatch- $50 Off | $349 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Garmin Vivoactive 4 Legacy Saga Darth Vader - $50 Off | $349 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2 - $20 Off | $49 | Amazon | Clever Training | Sale includes all Jr 2 Disney and non-Disney variants | |
 | Garmin Vivomove HR - $50 Off | $149 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Garmin Vivosmart 4 - $30 Off | $98 | Amazon | Clever Training | ** Amazon currently $98 ; Clever Training $109 | |
 | Garmin Vivosport GPS Band - Normally $169 | $119 | Amazon | Clever Training | If you want a band (as opposed to a watch-form factor), and if you want GPS - then frankly there's no better GPS sport option than this one. And hey - $50 off ain't too shabby! | |
 | GoPro Hero 7 Black with 32GB- $30 Off | $299 | Amazon | Clever Training | ||
 | Kinetic R1 Smart Trainer with Motion (+ cassette included) - 20% off | $759 | N/A | Clever Training | Note: Clever Training is now including an 11-speed cassette in the bundle as of Nov 22nd. I've just begun my in-depth review testing on this unit, after a substantial firmware update and one more I expect in the next 24hrs or so. I hope to have more clarity in the coming days. | |
 | Polar OH1 Plus Optical Sensor - $18 off | $61 | Amazon | N/A | ⚡ This is one of my favorites, and I use it constantly for HR accuracy testing comparisons. | |
 | Polar Vantage M GPS Multisport Watch - Normally $279 | $167 | Amazon | Clever Training | ⚡⚡⚡ Woah - this is probably the deal of the year for wearable tech. This is a great little watch that includes full multisport mode (for triathletes), as well as things like full power meter support and more. Very very solid deal. | |
 | Polar Vantage V GPS Multisport Watch - 30% off | $349 | Amazon | Clever Training | ⚡ This is a reasonably good deal for the Vantage V, which has seen a number of updates over the last year (and more slated in December). | |
 | Tacx NEO 2 Smart - $200 off! | $1049 | N/A | N/A | Competitive Cyclist | ⚡ This is a great deal, especially considering there's such little difference between the NEO 2 and the NEO 2T. |
 | Wahoo KICKR + CLIMB Bundle - $200 off! | $1,599 | N/A | Clever Training | This is a simple bundle of the Wahoo KICKR 2018 + the KICKR CLIMB, for $1,599. | |
Enjoy, and thanks for helping support the site, even if it’s just buying toilet paper using the Amazon link on the sidebar.
Here’s what hit the tubes over on the You of Tube, definitely don’t forget to subscribe there to get notified of videos the second they hit!
It’s time for this year’s casual reminder of the DCR Newsletter. And even better…The Girl actually writes it. You can read through the archives here if you’d like. And you can sign-up here. And best of all? She’s been on a roll – some 5 weeks straight now. Having that happen is like…well…let’s be honest, it’s totally unprecedented for us. Woot to #6 or so coming up Tuesday!
Here’s a not-so-small smattering of all the random things that I stumbled on while doing my civic duty to find the end of the Internet.
1) Withings brand officially to return: After news of the sale of Withings from Nokia back to…erm…it’s original founder, there was question on what the future might hold. Withings essentially says that they’ll be returning to their old self in name, but outline a vision that’s focused a bit more on higher-end devices that seem to have an almost medical slant to them. Depending on how Withings plays their cards here, they could actually hit the timing of this just perfect with other major wearable companies all racing to get their foot more in the medical camp than not.
2) The Future of Triathlon Tech Interview with Me: Tri247 out of the UK interviewed me last week on the future of sports tech within triathlon, swing on over to see what I’m thinking (including who I think the biggest blocker is to the sports tech scene!)
3) Fake frames aren’t made in the same factory as the real ones: A good piece digging into the oft-claimed statement that a given fake frame (such as a fake Pinarello) is made in the exact same factory in Asia as the real one. (via Titanium Geek)
4) Skydio adds car following mode: This is the crazy cool drone I tested this past winter that has 13 cameras on it to follow you autonomously. The latest update focuses on cars (off-road), but is still kinda cool to check out for sports geeks.
5) How cycling could use critical power data to flush out dopers: In the wake of the results at the Giro last week, there’s renewed talk on how to use power data to find cheaters (be it drug or bike motors). As noted in the piece, one challenge will remain accuracy. Not so much due to baseline accuracy issues seen in power meters pros use, but more due to lack of attention to calibration/zero offsets. (via Race Radio)
6) GCN Tech uses the DCR Analyzer: Cool to see GCN leveraging the DCR Analyzer for their videos. And in case you were wondering, yup, they actually paid for it. Oh, and their 5-bike computer Wahoo BOLT setup is almost a work of art.
(I didn’t surf the internet enough this week, only six items to share. Sorry! Next week I promise to spend less time hiking in the Alps and riding around Tuscany. #SorryNotSorry)
Each week I quickly highlight some of the new firmware, app, software and website service updates that I see go out. If you’re a sports technology company and release an update – shoot me a quick note (just one-liners are perfect, or Tweet it at me is even better) and I’ll make mention of it here. If I don’t know about it, I won’t be able to post about it. Sound good? Oh – and if you want to get a head start on things, this page is a great resource for watching Garmin firmware updates.
Garmin Edge 1030 BETA firmware update: Added Physio TrueUp support, improved BLE stability, fixed a few things.
Garmin Vector 3 Firmware Update: Aims to reduce/eliminate the usual Vector 3 dropout issues (especially when used in conjunction with new battery caps/pods)
Garmin Vivomove HR/Vivosport/Vivosmart 3: Added option to customize intensity minutes by HR zone, fixed Move IQ setting.
Hammerhead Karoo: Added elevation profile to ride history, fixes issues with some ANT+ power meters, and a pile of other fixes.
Polar A370 Firmware Update: Minor bug fixes (unspecified)
—
With that – thanks for reading and have a good rest of the weekend!
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Check out my weekly podcast - with GPLAMA, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
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.
Here’s my most recent gadget recommendations guide (Winter 2019-2020 edition) and trainers here (Winter 2019-2020 edition) – covering 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!
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.
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! It’s a nice break from the day to day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
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 2019 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 2018 Gear Guide too.
“I didn’t surf the internet enough this week, only six items to share. Sorry! Next week I promise to spend less time hiking in the Alps and riding around Tuscany. #SorryNotSorry”
😂 #mademyday
Are we going to see any posts related to said hiking and biking?
Yup!
The start of which on the cycling side was the Sigma ROX 12 and SRM posts, while the hiking posts start with the Suunto 9 that I published this morning. 🙂
My Forerunner 645 received new firmware (v3.30) this morning, adding Physio TrueUp.