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…
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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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.While I don't partner with many companies, there's a few that I love, and support the site. Full details!
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!
Wanna create comparison chart graphs just like I do for GPS, heart rate, power meters and more? No problem, here's the platform I use - you can too!
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!
Get all your awesome DC Rainmaker gear here!
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?
- Which GPS watch should I buy?
- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
- I’m headed to Washington DC – what do you recommend for training?
- I’m from out of the country and will be visiting the US, what’s the best triathlon shop in city XYZ?
- What kind of camera do you use?
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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 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 GoOro would be most awesome for my bike rides.
I would get a new powermeter.
Garmin Vector 3/3S Pedal-Based Power Meters – track my power for better training!
Will get a new fenix 5+, thank you for doing this!
I was hoping for the Garmin Vector powermeter
A smart trainer…because I forgot how long the winter weather lasts around here.
Assiamo power for the wife … maybe
I would get a Power2Max power meter, so that I can know how many watts I am putting out when I am getting dropped on the group ride!
Thanks for the chance to win one, or something similar (an Elemnt Bolt would not be bad either).
Pedal power: Assioma. Thanks, Santa Ray!
Gopro Hero 7 Black – film the adventures and evidence the mistakes
A brand new watch ! Only the smartest and fastest !
I would buy a Fenix 5 to replace my Fenix 3. It is on its last legs. Great watch series!
I got lots of things that I wanted but my 920xt colde really use an upgrade.
I was really hoping for a Garmin Fenix 5 Plus in Titanium with Orange
A new wahoo elemnt
Kickr Headwind and Desk
It would be awesome to get a Wahoo Kickr Trainer to train indoors while it is raining outside.
Pedal power meter… Or new wetsuit, idk…
I would definitely get a smart trainer so that I could get some hill training in during the long Minnesota winters.
Garmin 935 for swimming, biking and running, please.
Probably Fenix 5s, but I could use a new helmet too…man, that’s a tough decision
Not really sure yet
I would probably get a Wahoo kikr core!
Santa didn’t leave me a Garmin 5 Plus. Sad panda.
I can’t justify a Kickr Climb but would love to have one!
I sure wish I could get a KICKR Core.
I would love to have a 4iiii power single side power meter to go beyond heart rate based training.
If I am selected, I would want a Garmin 735XT. I have been using the 920XT for the last 2 years long with a separate HR monitor, but both devices are failing me. The 920XT altimeter is broken and the HR monitor just started flaking out on me this morning!
I’d get a Kickr
I’d get some Garmin Vector pedals so I can quantify exactly how weak I am.
I’d get a new smart trainer so I could do Zwift the right way.
I’d love a Garmin 935 so I could stop fixing my original TomTom multisport, which is down to very very short battery life.
Upgrade my Gopro!
I’d get a forerunner 935
All I want for Christmas is a GoPro Hero 7 Black for trail running videos.
I would like to get a smart trainer so I can use zwift
I would buy a Campagnolo 12 speed disc gruppo.
I’m going in a bike trip in June so the gopro 7 black would nice
A new go pro 7 black, please. The images look so smooth. Love it.
Smart Trainer because I would like to try erg mode.
Scooped up a Fenix 5X back in November, now a pair of those fancy AfterSchocks and perhaps a new VIRB?
A new triathlon watch probably the 5+. Still sporting the ambit 2s
Garmin 735 as my 1st Tri watch
A new Garmin Edge for my wife, because if she’s doing gravel events, she needs the navigation features
I would get a new trainer for my fledgling pain cave (I would definitely need to do a lot of DCR research to determine which trainer) or get the 2nd Favero Power Pedal (I got the single sided version based on the DCR Power round-up and love it!).
A Polar Vantage V would be fantastic
Hello there!
Fenix 5 Plus please!
Fexix 5+. Why? Because why not? :)
Would love to upgrade my bike computer to an Edge 520 plus.
hmmm…I would have liked one of those fancy trainers like the Wahoo Kickr smart.
To train better for the first triathlon planned for 2019, a Wahoo Kickr Core. Now have to do just outside…
Cycling in the cold I found my old garmin 520 to give up after 3 hoursafter so many years proper use ==> Wanted to have a new Garmin 520+, (love to use it with the CIQ / Xert data fields)
A tacx neo so that our newborn can sleep while I do the sweating
I’d like to get a Fenix 5+ to make it easier to wear with some of my long sleeve shirts since my current F5X is too thick for some and apparently all the Fenix + come with maps now.
it would have to be a Fenix 5 plus
I need me a forerunner 645 so my Garmin playlists can live out in the wild without my pixel around.
I could really use a direct drive trainer
My Garmin Edge 510 is crabby – and sometimes doesn’t accurately track my speed. My husband has a 520 that works perfectly, so he is often showing faster than me on Strava – even when we rode together an entire ride! That can’t continue! :-) I need my own 520! :-)
A smart trainer! Would love a good excuse to stay home in the wee hours of the morning to ride than head to the gym.
Fenix 5 plus – but I could change my mind and and go for a kickr climb
I’d get a Vector 3 to improve my bike!!
A Wahoo Bolt to replace Garmin Edge 520. Sad story.
I’d like a new bike computer like the Wahoo ELEMNT.
I would like to have a vivoactive smartwatch to know the time.
stages power meter
I would like a new fenix 5 +.
Wahoo Climb. Broke my hip and who knows when I’ll actually ride outside again!
The Fenix 5s+ probably as I can’t really wear my running watch as a daily watch. Not very original as a choice, I can see that now :) Happy New Year everyone !
I’d probably upgrade my old Fenix (yes, the 1st one!) to the Fenix 5.
I’d love a Fenix 5s Plus, small but awesome!
Fenix 5+ would be gooo
Garmin Vector 3…..I need the data I am sure it will make me faster…
Either a suunto 9 or garmin fenix 5 plus would be my choice
I’d like a power meter, don’t know which one yet…
I’m about ready for a new running watch. Thinking of one the the Garmins with Spotify… Forerunner 645
Go pro hero
Wahoo Kickr for the wife!
kickr climb to complement my kickr core
Some kind of direct drive trainer… gotta get back on the wagon
I would get a new trainer. The computrainer is gettIng old…..thanks Ray!
i’d probably use the money towards upgrading my very old trainer. a shiny tacx neo perhaps
Cause I’m awesome? The win would validate it!
I would get the GoPro Hero7 Black so I can record my latest adventure!!
Planning to get a power meter soon, to step up my training. If I win, it will be Garmin Vector 3. Otherwise I will likely buy used Stages ?
GoPro Hero 7 Black would be awesome for my next summer cycling trip
My son says 2019 is the year he will train more than me and run faster than me. To prove that he is right, he needs a new watch. E.g. the Forerunner 935 or something similar.
A Garmin Fénix 5s, please, please.
A new trainer to replace my decades old, squeaky, stiff piece of junk
I’d get a Wahoo Kickr Core! I’m in need of a direct drive trainer that’s much quieter than my current wheel-on trainer that wakes up the kiddo on my early morning rides! Save my training! Save my marriage!
A new multisport watch. My garmin 310xt is getting really old and don’t sync anymore. I’ll have to study which new watch to get but I know where to study this ;)
Garmon pedals, heavily subsidized please !
New GoPro!
I would love to change over to either Eagle drivetrain (I need 2) or a direct drive trainer.
Edge 1030 so I can read the screen!
I’d love to get some sort of “smart” bike trainer. Maybe something by Wahoo.
A GoPro or Garmin camera for my bike.
Garmin so I can find my way back to the place in Mexico I dropped my last garmin.
Fenix 5+, Could be time to upgrade my current Garmin
I’ll take anything, not greedy..anything will greatly help. Thank you
I really need good smartwatch with Gps, and the best one for me is Garmin Fenix 935, it will be better than my phone…