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 would buy a new direct drive trainer.
Fenix 5plus or Garmin 520plus, it’s a toss-up right now.
I would get a power meter for my bike. Probably pedal based.
I would love a crank based power meter so I can wear some proper winter boots for training outside in our crappy PNW weather.
A fenix or bike trainer would be nice.
A new power meter would be sweet!
If I were lucky enough to score the prize then I would drop the $500 on a trainer. We are about to take off on a 12 month caravan trek around Australia and the trainer would keep me fit (and sane)
A assiona power meter would be perfect. I’m looking to get serious with my training and race more and this would be perfect
I would get polar vantage v because I’m in desperate need of a new sports watch
My running shorts are getting kind of ratty. That’s probably where I’d start.
i would like to get a power meter
I think an Edge 520 would round things out nicely!
The favero assioma pedals
I’d put it towards a direct drive trainer (probably the new Tacx ’budget’ one) so I can enjoy Zwifting and watch DCR You Tube at the same time without having to turn up the volume quite so much?
I’d go with a new kickr core smart trainer, it just seems to be such an excellent piece of the 2018 cycling tech!
A double sided power meter to help me train more effectively.
A power meter would be useful
Farming fenix 5x
garmin radar
safety first
merry christmas
A pedal based power meter is in my future.
Fenix 5 as it does all kinds of tracking plus looks nicer when wearing dress clothes than most GPS watches.
Santa forgot to bring me a power meter!
I’m still missing a GPS unit so Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt would be nice. Also a pair of sunglasses to replace my Aliexpress Foakleys would go a long way. ^_^
Garmin fenix 5 because my old watch gets to dated.
Oh, so many possibilities! Wouldn’t mind upgrading to a smart trainer, or getting a better bike computer for training (as much as I’ve enjoyed the Magellan Cyclo 505 my wife got me years ago – and it’s performed admirably – it’s missing some features that would help for training). But really I’d probably invest in some new running gear. Training for my first half-Ironman next year and my running shoes are getting worn, but what’s worse is all of my compression shorts are getting worn out and the crotch areas are starting to cause chaffing on long runs. Been using chamois cream more for running lately than I ever have for cycling!
Also, just a short plug for my triathlon team’s charity (Team IMA). If any of you do the Amazon Smile thing (go to smile.amazon.com and part of your purchase is donated to a charity of your choice), select ASD-Oregon as your charity if you don’t already have one. Our team is promoting this charity that helps kids on the autism spectrum. Good luck everyone!
A new Fenix 5. Would be perfect all around watch for this ultra runner.
For me it would have to be Favero Assioma power meter. It’s just a sad thing to go to no power reading when not on the trainer…
I came up empty on my wish for a power meter for my tri bike this Christmas.
A new running watch.
Garmin Fenix 5X!
Fabulous site. All I wanted for Christmas was music to go with my Felix 3HR, Soooooo, I was hoping for a Fenix 5 Plus.
Wahoo KICKR Core so my wife can ride indoors with me this winter!
Much like the right number of bikes is n+1, is there ever such a thing as too much gear? ;-) My next upgrade is to Wahoo Bluetooth speed and cadence sensors for easier connection to Zwift mobile.
A better smart trainer…
Santa mustn’t have been able to fit the Wahoo Kickr down my chimney. A higher tech trainer would help with motivation and workout efficiency.
Go pro hero 6, loads of great uses
I want a Garmin watch so I can be super cool like all my friends.
Fenix 5 !
Giro Aether MIPS helmet and a Garmin Varia radar light
A Fenix 5S+, please!
I think this is the moment to train with a power meter.
Thanks in advance Ray. Happy Hollidays
Fenix 5 plus is my choice. A great upgrade to my gear.
A Garmin watch so I can monitor my Heart Rate
Fenix 5 Plus because, more power! *Tim Allen grunt*
I would get some power pedals or a Harmon 520 plus
I’d get a pedal based power meter that is dual sided so I can swap it between bikes! The single sided ones I have been using are all different so it makes training accurately difficult.
I would get myself a Garmin Forerunner 935 – just to be able to use distance from Stryd while having a nice GPS track and because I would love to use all those cool statistics the watch has to offer.
I’d upgrade my trusty Garmin (920xt) to a newer multi-sport model; looking at the FENIX 5S (or PLUS)!
Electronic shifting for my tri bike!!
A new Garmin!
I just saw a Garmin 1030 for the first time and wow. It’s massive. I think I want one anyways though! Or a direct drive trainer ?
Easy! Wahoo kickr core too replace my current trainer…
I’m interested in a new smart trainer
I would be upgrading to a Garmin 935!!!!
need a new GPS computer for my bike!
Would love to start out the new year with a Fenix 5 PLUS for the music and mapping features not in the original Fenix 5!
Fenix 5+
I would love to get Garmin FR935
the vectors 3’s would be perfect … or a climb …
Fenix 5, as an Update to my f3
Vantage M. Still waiting to see what the next firmware updates bring.
Smart trainer would be a nice replacement for my current Tacx Blue Motion. Or maybe Garmin inReach mini. This is the backcountry skiing season afterall. That would actually make even my wife happy.
It will be great to get the garmin varia radar 2.
a Favero Assioma power meter
I would love to get a Fenix 5S Plus. I always get lost on trail runs, therefore I need a map on my watch.
Well i would like a descent running power meter.
I’d get a Wahoo Kickr Snap or upgrade to a direct drive trainer! I currently have a “dumb” trainer… #sadtrombone
Definitely, flat roads outside my home. But since that is kinda impossible, I’ll settle for a power meter for my bike. Preferably pedals.
I would like to get a power meter so the bike can stop being the worst segment of my race.
935.
Because I have 2 wrists…
I would buy a Garmin Forerunner 235 and some more
brooks running shoes because my 4 year old TomTom Runner just recently died. Then a friend gave me her old TomTom & that died too. Plus, I always need new running shoes.
Still haven’t got that Fenix 5 or even the 5 plus haha
Would buy a Fenix 5 Plus, because would like to have maps on the wrist.
I would get a drone (probably a Spark) or a Garmin Fenix 5. Can’t choose between the 2!
Time to buy a power meter, before the UCI bans them!
Garmin 935xt – the upgrade from the 920 I just can’t seem to justify!
I would get a kickr core because my old school non-smart trainer is no fun on Zwift
Tough one. I need some new power meters and the Favero would be an awesome option now i have a mix of Shimano and Campy (and maybe some SRAM 1x soon) on my stead collection. Failing that, the wahoo element looks pretty tidy.
garmin 1020 to replace my garmin 1000
Accessories for my new Garmin, plus a power meter!
I would like to spend it on the successor of the 935 next year!
A new training computer. I’m still uncertain, If I should stick with Polar (Vantage V) or move to Garmin (935 or Fenix 5).
Hi Ray: I’d get a KICKR core for the winter season. Thanks!!
I would get a bike hitch rack for the car. Reason being, I’ve become tired of making a mess in my car every time my girlfriend and I get out on the trails and then have to put our bikes inside the car some how!
I’m interested in upgrading my bicycle gearing to an electronic one.
I’d get a power meter so I can train harder!
Santa got me a watch, so maybe a GoPro?
I didn’t get a go pro 7 in my stocking but I’d really like one…
I’d probably get a Garmin Fenix 5s plus to upgrade my VA 3.
A pair of some sort of Assioma Favero power meter pedals so I can depress myself with the tiny numbers they report…
Definitely a P2M NGEco!!!
I’d probably go for a bike trainer like the Wahoo Kickr Core so I could connect to apps like Zwift to help my training.
Garmin Vector 3s so I can do bike workouts while I’m away working at Christmas
I would put the money towards a set of Garmin vector 3 pedals. Because I really need a power meter for outdoor training! Thanks
I would have loved to get a garmin forerunner 635 music for my husband. His old tomtom is starting to give him trouble.
Would love a new Garmin
I would like a power meter, please, so I don’t have to swap wheels!
I’d get a GoPro Hero7. I’d start by taking it snorkeling in the Carribean (the trip is booked and paid for). And then I’d take it snowboarding in the Canadian Rockies.
I need a cycling helmet with visit or a giant cycling glasses
A Fenix 5 Plus would be just fantastic!