Heads up! The big Garmin spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8, $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965, Forerunner 265, and countless other Garmin products. 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 would get the new pioneer headunit coming out next month! excited about tit
Would upgrade my dumb trainer to a smart one such as a Wahoo Kickr Snap. Want to feel those hills.
F5 Plus to upgrade the F3hr, merry Christmas Ray!
I’d love to get a power meter or smart trainer to use for my winter training!
I’ll probably buy a new GPS watch, a Garmin Fenix 5 Plus.
PowerTap Pedals.
Forerunner 935
GoPro or new Garmin. Maybe PT pedals.
Polar Vantage V would be nice :)
I would buy a Bike Computer so I can keep my phone in a safer place
Garmin Fenix 5 plus
Just because it’s plus :)
Assioma Duo for the road bike
I new head unit.
I’d love a Fenix 5x to add to the stable
I was injured In February of 2018. Since then I have only been able to walk about 1 mile at a time. The one thing I can do and the thing that has literally saved my life while I am on disability is ride. As of today I have ridden 11827 km this year and will break 12000 km (my goal) within the next 2 days. Most of this mileage has been downstairs on my tacx vortex trainer. I would upgrade and get a new trainer of a set of Favero Assioma power meters.
Thank you for everything you do Ray!
Merry Xmas and happy new Year to All from the great frozen north!
I’d go for the Assiomas, finally training with power outdoors (and verifying my Direto’s power readings)
Fenix 5s Plus
Power cranks and a Garmin to receive the info.
I‘d like to have a wahoo Kicker Core to pimp up my winter indoor Training Sessions ?
A power meter would be great or on the road. Liking the new cave, keep up the great work!
Probably a power meter of some description, because why not? #rofl
I would think about upgrading to fenix 5…but maybe a trainer…so many possibilities: )
Merry Christmas! I think I’d go for a powermeter for my roadbike:-)
I’d upgrade my assioma uno to the duo so I could get the most out of my power based training!
I’m torn between a bike computer like an Edge and a proper multi-sport watch…. guess it depends what the sports doctor tells me today about high impact exercise :/
A new Garmin 645M would be great.
Happy New Year!
Hi, thanks for the giveaway, and I’ll choose a Fenix 5 Plus… just to update my fenix 3 and have maps on trails.
Happy holidays!
Ben.
New smartwatch, not greatly sure what yet, although the Garmin 735XT is top of the shortlist at the minute :-)
New Garmin bike computer to replace my ageing (but much loved) 800.
I’d get a power meter because mine broke
Powertap P2 pedals
Vector 3 pedals for sure. I’ve been toying with the idea for quite a while now.
Time for a power meter!
I would love a new trainer. Something to help me get through these colder months.
Suunto 9 Baro. I like the look and want to replace my old Apple watch (without another Apple watch).
Hi I’d love to get that GoPro Hero 7 that I’ve been lusting over! Although i also kind of need to update my turbo trainer! :-) here’s hoping !
Hi, I would get a Favero Assioma dual power meter. It’s reliable and I want to improve my training to be more powerfull cyclist.
M.
I would get the dual sided Favero Assioma power meter because you have reviewed them so highly.
Thinking a GoPro to capture all the fun of my kiddo’s flight lessons.
Garmin vector 3 single sided please. Need to know how much my power to Christmas pudding ratio has dropped ?
It’s time for a Garmin upgrade, My parents smart watches have cool functionally that I don’t have on my Fenix 3.
Tacx NEO Bike Smart. Gotta love the integrated trainer.
New sportwatch, just because
Kickr!
I’d probably get myself a Garmin Edge unit, though not sure which one yet.
Oh, I’d love to have a Garmin 520 plus. Pretty maps and telling me where to go. And since my birthday is right after this contest ends, that would be a win-win.
A garmin 1030….why not?
My Garmin from 5 years ago has a battery life of about 20 minutes… Time to upgrade.
A new Fenix 5+ as my Fenix 3 doesn’t have all the features of the 5.
A new watch.
I would probably get a Fenix 5 Plus because of the maps and music features.
Would pick up 2 garmin devices.. one for cycling and one for running. Pick me!
Kickr core to start training with erg in 2019
I would love to get a wahoo kickr climb to go with my new kickr core
I’d love to get a fenix 5x plus, because I’ve had the fenix 3 (not HR) pretty much since market introduction and I’d love to upgrade. The fenix 5 is such a great watch (at least it seems to be from what I read) and I just love the fenix series (I even had the very first fenix).
Thanks for the giveaway?
A polar Vantage V :-)
I could use some new swimming jammers! My current swimming trunks are turning semi transparent… :/
I think I would like a new home trainer to replace our very old Tacx.
Im always missing something (:
I’d get a polar vantage v. My m400 is falling apart after daily use for 4 years
I would get a Gopro Hero 7!!!
Suunto Spartan Ultra looks amazing…..
Love to use some Garmin Varia including lights to do more workouts outside in winter! Already got my long bibhort under the Christmas tree so that’s not an excuse for daytraining anymore ;)
It’d have to be a Suunto 9 for the battery features… Great idea to be able to change profile during run!
Thanks.
I would get a new smart trainer. Most likely one from the wahoo or cyclops line. My cyclops dunb fluid trainer is well over 10 years old now.
Would buy a Fenix 5 to replace my old fr920
Maybe an Forerunner 645M
Merry Christmas
Would be looking for a option to take bike on travels
I’d get Garmin Fenix 5+ because it supports nearly everything.
I would love to get a power meter for my bike
Probably a new GoPro, because it’s way past time to upgrade my current model.
Stryd for more accurate speed on the treadmill!
I would upgrade to the forerunner 935
A 935XT as the battery on my old 920XT no longer lasts my ironman :-(
Power meter! Been converting one for a long time but can’t justify the $!
SRAM etap
Probably a Garmin vivo3 or a GoPro for some fun… Either that or I treat the wife to something and reap the brownie points
A Mavic drone would look good under the tree
Tacx Neo Smart 2. I am tired of my old cardgirus and I want to try out zwift
I would ge a power meter for my Cervelo P2
A new trainer to match my wife’s Kickr
I would really need and like the Polar Vantage V because my V800 is not only kind of old but also is my chest strap. Since no one listend to my wishes I‘ll give it a try here ;-)
I would like a smart trainer such as a wahoo kicker to use in the winter months
I would get a smart trainer as winter is coming.
Can’t decide yet if I would put it towards a gopro, something I’ve been after for a while. Or if I would get a shiny new kickr to improve my my indoor training.
I’d like a shiny new bike computer please :-)
I’d like to try a Garmin 520 plus, to make it harder to get lost.
Tacx Neo 2 for good start into 2019
A Fenix 5 plus! Or perhaps a Hero 7 Black.
I would really like to get the front and rear cameras, just for my protection and ease of mind. My second item on my wish list would be a power meter. the 3rd thing on my list would be a computer that I could upload routes to and was Bluetooth enabled so I could upload rides to my phone wireless. 4th on my list would be a Dynohub that could power lights and accessories. 5th item on my wish list include a smart trainer. Not in any specific order.
Garmin Edge 1030
Hey Ray, if I’m the winner I would like a kickr please.
I would opt for a watch, Garmin Fenix 5 plus or Forerunner 935.
I would get the Garmin Vector 3 Pedal-Based Power Meter. As I’ve accumulated more experience as a cyclist, I realize power meters are the way to go for improvement in my cycling. I’ve been drooling over them for a while but the price always scared me. This would be the perfect nudge to finally get them!
Polar vantage – new gear for the new year! Thanks, Ray!
Most definitely I’d go for the power meter. I’ve been putting it off for years now due to costs but prize or no prize, 2019 has to be the year this last gadget gets added to my bike.
Garmin 1030. I like my 1000 but for almost nothing, I’ll upgrade.
I’d love to Wahoo KICKR HEADWIND, to stay cool for the Indoor training season.
A new Garmin bike computer, probably the 520, because the last one didn’t survive the crash.
I’d use the credit as a down payment on the Garmin Vector 3 pedals, for the 1-2 weeks of the year I’m off the Tacx Neo for actual in-person, non-virtual triathlon events.