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.
new GPS watch, the apple watch isn’t cutting it.
Gotta have the Fenix 5 Plus. Between teaching spinning, being a personal trainer and a cyclist, it is a HUGE upgrade from my Vivoactive 3. Hiking too! PICK ME, OH PLEASE! OH PLEASE! OH PLEASE!
I’d love to get a Garmin 645 music GPS watch. Thanks.
I’d take caramel waffles
It would seem to be the time and weather to buy a new trainer
Time to get a Garmin Fenix 5x
A Wahoo Element Bolt, never get lost again.
Probably a Fenix 5X. Been lusting after one since they came out!?
I didn’t get the Assioma power meter as it was too expensive.
A direct drive smary trainer or power meter pedals for my new tt bike.
I would love to get a Garmin 935. Fingers crossed!
I would get a power meter or a bike computer.
I need to up my indoor training game. KICKR Desk and Headwind trainer. My current desk is an old rickety 1/4 bookshelf and I use a fan from the 70’s, so there’s no airflow and Zwift sways back and forth.
A power meter for my road bike because I’m missing this information on my training and it is the gadget I could not afford to buy… !
Go Pro Hero 7 Black, to help capture races, and technique.
The Garmin HRM-Tri+Swim strap set… because even though I love my Fenix 5, the fact it doesn’t track HR while swimming is a bummer.
Probably changing my tacx Vortex to a Tacx Neo!
I think I would get a new smart trainer so I can get the Climb eventually.
I’d get either a Polar Vantage V or a Garmin Fenix 5 Plus. I currently have a Fitbit Ionic, and it works alright for me but it lacks some features I’d like to have, and it’s taken a few dings and scratches from bouldering.
Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music. Training for first marathon now just using old non-GPS watch and GPS android apps. I want something I can use as a general smartwatch, and later for swimming laps also.
If I won I’d most likely get a Stac Zero Halcyon trainer. Or maybe I’d get the Favero Assioma power meter. Or maybe a new GPS watch. Heck, I might have to get everything on my list.
A GoPro Hero 7 I reckon!
I still need to get a non-trainer-based power meter
I would get a tri watch, probably a Garmin 935.
A Fenix 5 Plus – my F3 is showing it’s age a little, and music without the phone would be lovely!
Thanks for the give-a-way. I’d love to use this towards a cycling power trainer or power meter for my Tri bike.
A power meter so I can see my poor power figures on the road as well as on the turbo!
Never asking for a power meter makes it hard to get one!
Time to start training with more than just virtual power. I’d go for the Favero Assioma power meter.
I’d replace my old Garmin Vectors with the latest iteration.
Favero Assioma’s Because Garmin Vectors are rubbish and SRM Exacts are too expensive!
I wish I had received a pair of p1 pedals from power tap
Was hoping for a power meter to take my training to the next level!
Possibly upgrade to a Fenix 5
I’d either upgrade my watch or go pro.
Garmin 520 Plus, cuz my computer’s ancient
And a garmin scale too, cuz i love food
Probably a Kickr Core as my kickr V1 is a bit tired
After reading and watching your’s and Lama’s reviews of the Favero Assioma’s and also talking with a club teammate of mine that has the single sided, I’m convinced that for me, and my introduction to cycling with power, Assioma’s would be the way to go. Great Price point, very good accuracy as DC Analyzer has shown, and ease of install/use (which is good for me because I’m definitely not a wrench or tech head for the most part) make these the next tech upgrade for me, for certain.
I think I’d hold out and wait for the 945 music – it’s gotta be coming, right?
Cranked based powermeter
Favero Assioma, despite not being able to pronounce them, I would love to have them!
Oh Em Gee, a Fenix would be so amazing <3
100% a direct drive trainer – I’m through with tearing through trainer tires!
Fenix 5 to help get back in shape post-baby #3.
This could go towards garmin vectors so I can train harder to beat my other half!
I’d really love a Garmin 645 music watch, to replace my Vivoactive HR which I think is about to die!
I can’t believe Santa forgot to leave a Power Meter under the tree!
I’d definitely go for a pedal based power meter, because I need new pedals (trusty left hand [foot] speed play doesn’t have long left) and getting power measurement at the same time would be sweet!
Thanks!
Fenix 5 for triathlons would be sweet!
I would love to get a couple new jerseys and pairs of shorts. I’m wearing mine out.
Desperately need some new lights for winter Ray
Fly6ce would be brill
A GoPro Hero 7 for my Tough Mudder son!
I’d love a Garmin 645 to help with a great year of running
Cranked based powermeter
I would certainly get a nice bike GPS computer.
Happy Holidays!
GoPro Hero 7 to my girlfriend, its time her GoPro 2 camera gets put to rest.
I would like to get the Kickr Climb, cause indoor training would be a lot more fun !
Taxc Neo 2 trainer for the winter training in Switzerland for next years ITU tri season!
New power meter for my possible new bike pedal power
I’d get a Fitbit Charge 3 and some waterproof headphones/MP3 player; we’ve been waiting for ages for a device that could handle heart rate and a version of GPS, while being waterproof at the same time – but then we spent our Christmas budget on other people!
I’d get a Garmin Fenix 5 that looks stylish but is functional.
A Fenix 5 to replace my trusty Forerunner 220 that doesn’t like the cold anymore and generally takes a nap around 20mins into each run :-(
I would love a power meter. Hope I win!
A new crank based power meter! Thanks
GoPro hero 7 black because I don’t have an action camera yet.
I would put it towards a trainer. I’m in upstate New York, and a lot of the roads are not rideable in winter, and I’ve promised to get my ass in gear this year, after health and marital scares. And I have a race in March! Oops! :)
A Garmin 935 of course! It’s time to trade up the 920xt!
Garmin HRM-Tri+Swim strap set
Power meter would be good for triathlon training
The vantage V. I would like it.
Dji Osmo pocket to film all my adventures
I would get the Polar Vantage V because of its battery life in GPS mode and because I think it would be the best at getting me more in shape over time.
Fenix 5X plus for my wife to motivate her to start doing sports with me
Garmin Fenix 5, that all the ads were showing me for a while after I checked its specs on DCR.
“By supporting the site through Clever Training you also can save 10% on basically anything they sell (or get points instead).”
I found this listed on the Clever Training website as well. However, I was sorely disappointed when I placed an order and found that isn’t always true. And, they don’t tell you what items are excluded.
500 for one – me :)
Didn’t get the fenix 6!
I’d do Powertap or Favero power pedals, its time to up my training and my FTP with a more strategic power based approach.
Garmin 935 as my old Fenix 3 is giving trouble at this stage
Power meter
Smart trainer so I can rehab my Achilles rupture.
maybe pedal based power meter or maybe hub based
A shiny new Garmin 935.
I didn’t get a Suunto 9 G1 Baro GPS so hope to win it here :)
Kickr Snap for Zwifting!
The GoPro 7 has excellent Slo Mo and I want it for underwater work filming blacktip sharks. You can see their eyes shift at 120 FPS. Amazing!! The stills of reef sharks from this camera are also amazing.
I’d like to upgrade to a Wahoo Kickr Core because a virtually silent trainer seems like a great idea.
Power meter because can use indoors or out!
I didn’t get the Fenix, but that is hardly a surprise.
Kickr Climb!
A new Fenix 5 Plus HD Pro Retina S, or whatever it is that Garmin calls their latest Fenix watch.
I need a Fenix 5X Plus to replace my Fenix 3 :)
New multisport watch. My Fenix 5X has worse GPS reception than my old FR 910xt!
I would love to get a new Garmin remix to jam to tunes and have a guided workout.
The all in one Garmin fenix 5s Multisport Training Watch 42mm. It fits my wrist size and will be a 365 day companion
DJI Osmo pocket. More compact than using gimbal + phone.
A power meter or a replacement for my Fenix 3. I’m still not sure
probably a new watch – hard to resist upgrades!
a fenix 5 for my first iron man would be soo cool!
Kickr Core. My hearing is suffering and so is my rear tire on my dumb trainer!