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.
4
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!
5
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.
Hi,
I can use a Powerpod to get my wattage not only on my Wahoo but also when I’m on the roads.
Garmin bike computer. I get lost
Vantage V just to get a change from Garmin.
Fr 645m, I’m missing that music bit…
I need a new garmin, edge 800 series
Need a new heart rate strap. Will get more stuff with $500…
I was really hoping to get the RunScribe. I started running about a year ago and I’ve been constantly struggling with little issues. I believe with the RunScribe I could use the data from it to determine if my PT is working and/or at what distance in the run my form breaks down (e.g. when I should call it quits).
I guess the Tacx NEO 2 Smart trainer was too big for Santa’s sleigh.
The Wahoo KICKR. Winter is upon us and Watopia calls.
Tacx Neo because I need to ride more in the winter when the weather is crappy
Smart trainer for IM training
I’d put it towards an Edge 1030. I’m ramping up my training, and the performance metrics would be very handy!
A silent trainer! so I can train when everybody’s sleeping :)
All I wanted for Xmas was a replacement for my garmin 920xt….maybe the fenix 5?
Forerunner 935 or Fenix 5s (undecided at this point)
I would get a power meter for the road. I would like to keep the power training from the Turbo during winter onto the road
I’d love to get a power meter!
Garmin Fenix 5 so I can it all!
Something to improve muscle balance overall.
I would go with a power meter so I don’t have to keep moving pedals between bikes
Power meter pedals please!!
crank based pm for vanity’s sake (front and back wheel have different spoke colors due to using different wheel for pt hub)
A good swimming watch or watch with swimming capabilities
Dji spark or a go pro…tough choices!
Would love a garmin 820 for all my cycling needs
A decent powermeter! Since I started liking coffee and caffeine, training with heart rate isn’t as accurate as it used to be :-)
A smart trainer for Zwift
A new watch. Something with Garmin Pay would be great.
Garmin fenix 5X Plus – would be really nice- the old Garmin has started to act up – and does not really like to be left on for that long ..
I’d get a Kickr Core for quiet indoor exercise
A new garmin watch. Probably the 645 music!
A new Garmin 1030 bike computer would be a nice gift from Santa
Garmin forerunner 935 so I can start tracking my runs, swims, and bike rides.
Garmin Fenix 5x Plus to replace my aging Fenix 3.
And thanks for the giveaway Ray!!
tough question, probably a direct drive trainer for this cold winter!
A kickr core trainer
I would love a Wahoo Kickr to get me through winter training
Wahoo Kickr please!
Looking for a set of power meter pedals
Got to be the Favero Assioma power pedals. It would be awesome to have a set for the track bikes…
I would get a smart trainer so I can Zwift?♂️?♂️?♂️
New Garmin watch!!!
Santa Ray is coming to town!
Been wanting to build up a new bike with eTap, so the $500 would go towards a eTap groupset.
Probably a more updated gps watch or maybe put the credit towards a power meter or kickr.
smart trainer for me as the Bushido has just started getting noisy after a couple of years, so it’s well out of warranty… Must have been the Alp du Zwift repeats to get the tron bike…
I would love a direct drive smart trainer! Thanks
A new Garmin, as my old one keeps nagging me
A nice Garmin head unit; seems kinda extravagant w/ multiple Garmin watches but it would be a nice addition for my aging eyes.
Definetly Would get a (GoPro) Action Cam. Which one? Well, the best… Have to read some DCR reviews First…
I really want a Forerunner 935, as my 920X is getting very long on the teeth and I need a watch with a very long-lasting battery.
No question: Fenix 5x plus! I need to get this music-shit on my wrist ;)
New Kickr to replace the first gen one that can then move onto son so he can join in the suffering… (sufferfest all the way for me!)
Sunto Spartan. It’s time to upgrade my watch.
hm…a gopro hero session? or perhaps the new dji? ;-)
I pretty much got what I wanted … although I would have liked for the CABLE I bought for myself to be working correctly.
If I won, I would probably get a Kickr Climb.
I’d sure love a power meter to help me train smarter. ;)
The triathlon ugly Christmas sweater because my daughter wants me to wear one and I refuse unless it’s the triathlon one..
Would like to try training with power meter pedals.
I would get the new Polar Vantage V.
I’d love a fenix 5s plus for tri training and general daily use.
I’d get my dad a running watch, a garmin 645, that let’s him listen to podcasts while he s running. Might encourage him to head out a bit more.
Maybe new Garmin watch? :)
A power meter of some kind I think. Do they still see the C1 power meter from Powertap.
Still need that power meter for the gravel bike, single leg pioneer would be just fine
I think I’d get a go pro. I’ve started trying to record adventures on the phone and it’s just not cutting it
I’d get a Garmin Edge 1030 to replace my 1000. Love the new features of the 1030!
A new trainer, cause I’ve gotten a bit fat in 2018.
Hero 7 Black
Garmin 935, time to upgrade!
Garmin Fenix 5s
Features vs Standby time
A new watch would have been lovely.
I would like to replace my Fenix3 with broken watchband for a shiny new Fenix5
A silent bike trainer for my next challenge, triathlon. :)
I would get a power meter!
A new power meter as my old one is not working well.
I need a new multisport watch to replace my old and dying Suunto Ambit 2s.
It’s time for a new Forerunner!
Oh. Power meter or …
I’d get the Garmin vector 3’s. Time to move on from the hub based power meter!
Smart trainer, probably a wahoo kickr core. Would have to decide what app to use, but cross that bridge when come to it.
Hero 7 Black
Indoor bike trainer!
New trainer for winter!
Suunto 9, because I need something for ultra distances.
Think I’m ready for a power meter of so e description.
Upgrade my Kickr so I can look at accessories like Climb that won’t work with my Gen 1 version.
I would love to try out a new suunto spartan version on my long runs.
I’d like a nice gadget that tracks my activities as well as my day and with which I can listen to music and even pay my post run banana.
I want a fenix 5+, spam, a polar Vantage V, a suunto 9, spam and spam spam spam spam….
I’d definitely buy myself that GPS Watch I always wanted – I’m still using my original Polar Loop which is now approaching 5 years old. Help a brother out :)
a smart trainer to cope with the dark, cold and wet belgian winter !
I’ll probably defray the cost of a new trainer… Or maybe finally upgrade from my ailing Fenix 2.
I want a new smart trainer!
No idea! But maybe a new bike trainer?
Vivoactive 3 music annnnd?
I think I would get $500 worth of goodies from Clever Training :)
a watch!
a gopro to help with swim coaching
I would go for a Garmin Edge 1030! Love my 520, but feeling the itch to upgrade lately