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.
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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 want a TACX Flux trainer….old trainer motor burnt out this week.
Garmin 520 plus!
I’d love a Cycliq Fly6 to go with the Fly12 I got for Christmas…
I would probably get the Garmin Fenix 5 plus to replace my current watch.
Favero assioma as my first power meter!
Hmmm so many choices. How to choose?
Fenix 5 plus as current watch beginning to feel a bit dated.
I wish Santa had bought me a beautiful sports watch that would fit my tiny wrist and track all my activities including pool swimming, so that I don’t have to lose count of the laps!
Upgrade from the garmin’s 735xt to fenix 5.
Let me think about it…
I’d go for a new trainer… probably a kickr.
One of this aero sensor on the bike. Wind testing sounds like fun!
Edge 1030 to navigate some new cycling routes in 2019.
New trainer. Old one needs replacement.
Time to try one of those smart trainers!
A Fenix 5S would be grand!
A Garmin 935 to replace my long-in-the-tooth-rubber-banded-together 735xt.
A Fenix 5S would be great. Probably overkill, but great.
New Suunto watch please
A Garmin watch that plays Spotify
I have wanted a FR935 for months now, but the misses didn’t get my hints…
I like my Garmin 310; I’m of the opinion I should use the gizmos until they die on me. However, the new Garmins are rather shiny, and there’s Fitbits for all-day-long data tracking…
Fenix 5 to replace my Forerunner 230
Polar Vantage V watch. Thanks.
Not really sure – maybe the GoPro or a gps watch with music, so I don’t need to carry my mobile phone with me!
My power meter…i need to start my new season!
The most advance of the Garmin Edge family!!
A PM för the TT-bike!
A Suunto 9 would be nice
I would love a new watch to replace the Fenix 3.
How about the new Polar?! Back in the game as of today!!
I was waiting for the successor of my beloved Garmin forerunner 230 but I guess the Vivoactive music will do too.
A Fenix 5X because I travel a lot and would like to have on-device maps.
A new (silent) Kickr.
Tough decision. New GoPro? Power meter? New chevron decals for the Kickr Core I got in the Black Friday sale?
A 935 Tri bundle because I need something for Tri and Mountaineering that doesn’t look like a huge cyborg component on my wrist.
I’d get a Wahoo direct drive trainer! ?
I would get one of those Polar Vantage watches, my M430 is kind of acting out.
I’d love to get me a Fenix 5 (Not sure which version though), or maybe an Edge because it seems like I lost my edge 520…. (Wtf indeed)
A new trainer since Santa must have dropped his while on the way!
I think I would love a Garmin 645 music so I can leave my phone at home.
Fenix 5s white with rose gold
I didn’t get the Wahoo KICKR that I didn’t tell my wife that I wanted.
A trainer for the winter months
Need a new watch!
I’d probably get a new Garmin 935. It’s better than the 735XT, right?
Good Xmas to you all! I am in for.a Fenix 6, sorry 5 Plus…
A new Garmin because mine is terrible.
I’m due for another cycling computer, and the Wahoo Elemnt looks perfect for my needs.
If Garmin had put the 935 on sale for Christmas this year instead of the Fenix, I wouldn’t need to be here entering your contest. Well, to be honest I would be here either way, but at least I would already have a 935 and could look for something else!
I would really have liked to get my wife a power meter for Christmas this year.
I’d probably get one of the Phoenix series of garmin watches because my old 920 is getting dated (but I do love it).
A Garmin Fenix Plus to give as a gift.
Time to upgrade my fenix3 hr to a fenix 5 plus..yeeeaahhh.
Santa forgot my Assiomas :/
Assioma Pedal Based Cycling Power Meter, although I really do like Spam, deep fried in batter, that’s why I need a power meter that handles my weight #BadDiet LOL
I would like the Garmin Vivoactive 3 or 3 music. Something more classy than my current watch :)
I’d like a Garmin with navigation to help me around the newly discovered trails!
The garmin RTL10? The radar tail light. Because safety.
I’d love a pair of favero assioma pedals to improve my training
A Garmin Index Smart Scale. My brain needs a rest from the daily memorizing of body stats, which I have to do before inputting into my training log. My current scales predate the wi-fi revolution.
I’d love an Edge 1030 to really up my cycling setup for 2019!
I’d go for a power meter. Reason: cause I’ve got none. This might just give my summer training morale a boost.
A Forerunner 645 music for ne please!
I didn’t get the Wahoo KICKR CORE that I need for those rainy days.
One of the Suunto watches with a decent barometric altimeter for trail running.
Gee Ray,
New Garmin Edge could be nice to have …
Time to upgrade to a neo 2!!!
A Garmin head unit of some description.
Please, gimme a Smarttrainer to play around and get fit at the same time …
A new powermeters, need one with also Bluetooth.
I’ll be trekking in Nepal in April, so Fenix 5 Plus would be quite handy.
I would like to get the Garmin Virb Ultra 30 for my morning commute.
So I built myself a RockR Pro from the boardless kit (no pictures because I’m really bad with a jigsaw) in the hopes that Santa would deliver me a KICKR Climb… alas, no Climb arrived and I’m having severe envy looking at all the cool kit on the internets. Guess I need to just suck it up and ride.
Would love the Garmin Fenix 5 plus! Have a really old Garmin watch that doesn’t upload or download without a whole lotta effort. Want to use my effort in my workouts, not my electronics. ?
A fénix because why not?
I’d have to look really hard at a Fenix 5; my Fenix 2 has hung in there remarkably well, but four years later, I’m starting to get nervous for the time it decides to die…
I would get a fenix 5. I would like to have all the fitness status on my watch.
Santa must have left my power meter at someone else’s house.
I’d like to go for a smart trainer, or a GPS watch for the girl!
Great blog !
I would get a smart trainer because it’s freezing again in Belgium.
Garmin 935 to replace my old 310 xt.
I really really wanted a power meter! Fingers crossed!
I would like a Fenix 5 or Suunto 9 Baro to replace my aging Forerunner 220.
a Pedal power meter would have been a nice get. Alas time to buy those things myself.
Power meter for my new specialized bike?
Could really use a new powermeter. Thanks!
Maybe the Fenix 5s plus to get the music option. But what I really need is a new helmet!
A new Fenix watch, not sure which one, but a new one. My OG Fenix 3 Saphire has been the best piece of tech I’ve owned and rock solid for the past almost 4 years and I’m stoked to see what’s been added since.
vivoactive 3 w/ music would b lovely
I’d love a new cycling gps unit!
Assioma pedals. Had a kickr for over 2 years now , feel like I am missing out when I ride outside without seeing power data.
Would love a garmin 735 triathlon watch for the girl, because she could use it to become fit after her first pregnancy!
A power meter
I’d get the Assioma power meter since my P1s keep losing connectivity. And PowerTap doesn’t properly support them anyway. (3 years on and STILL no android support, srsly?!)
I’d like to get a dual sided power meter.
I need to replace the Fitbit Ionic that I bought earlier this year, constant reboots and lost run’s have frustrated me. Cannot rationalize replacing it yet since it is less than 1 year old. I do have my eye on the Garmin Fenix 5.
Oh dear!
I want a favero assioma :)
I need a power meter badly for my bike. Probably the Pioneer!