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.
first Powermeter!
I would get the power meter that I’ve been postponing so long to buy
Fenix 5s! Because I want to improve my training over what I have now.
I think I would get $500 worth of goodies from Clever Training :)
A Garmin Felix 5x so I won’t have to bring my Edge 500 in my pocket all the time when I run/hike!
Tacx Neo 2. My significant other do not see the value of me investing in cool stuff.
I‘d get a power meter, probably pedal-based.
Santa must of ran out of time on Christmas Day as my KICKR Climb did not arrive, need one to enhance the suffering during the Tour of Sufferlandria!
A new bike computer would be perfect
I would get a new smart trainer Because my Trainer Road would be happier.
A trainer! I’ve been looking at the Kickr and the Neo for a while now. Since Santa didn’t grant my wish, I’ll guess I have to take matters in my own hands.
vivoactive 3 music, to give as a gift
Definitely a smart trainer to make the winter go by faster!
Power Pedals for the N+1
Can I have the new gopro camera please?
A new car?
Four 100$ pairs of shoes
A Garmin Watch of some sort.. (which may cost me out-of-pocket-extra-cash!)
Definitely my first power pedals! (Favero Assioma)
Would get a stages powermeter to get ready for next year’s LBL challenge ;)
Garmix Fenix 5s plus I’m rose gold because it is the best Garmin watch and is so pretty.
I’m in need of a more accurate and reliable gps watch and probably go with the fenix 5 plus
Power meter for outdoor riding
I’d love to get a smart trainer.
I’d probably look at the Assiomas. I use a Kickr Snap for training and it would be nice to have a power reading while on the road.
I would get a new watch
GARMIN Fenix 5 Plus as my Edge and Vivo are getting old. I have changed the battery in my Edge but the GPS tech is now failing. The Vivo battery is starting to loose it duration and I use that on the bike, pool, skiing, running and hiking so the Fenix 5 Plus is the answer.
I new bike trainer
I’d get an Apple Watch Series 4 with cellular, so I can run without my phone and still have cellular access in cases of emergency.
Would have to be a new Garmin watch, Fenix5 or 935 or perhaps replace my ageing 510.
Nice problem to have!
Fenix 5 for the win :)
A new Fenix 5X
A smart trainer to kickoff 2019!
Garmin fenix 5. Because well why not!!!!
Methinks a Tacx Neo 2.
I would definitely go for GoPro. This is a perfect camera to record my memories and adventures from hiking and climbing trips. It is a thing I must have.
Santa lost my powermeter in a technical stop at some pub. The old drunko…
Happy new year everyone!
One of those neat Fenix watches!
A new bike computer or a powermeter would be perfect. Happy holidays!
I’ll probably get A Garmin 520 as I lost mine somehow, or Fenix 5 to replace my old Fenix II.
New wheels/ new anything
I’d love a set of powertap pedals as stages don’t make a 180mm arm to match my cranks.
I think I would use the credit to get a Forerunner 645 music for my brother. He didn’t seem to be particularly thrilled with my Christmas gift this year. Socks don’t seem to work well as presents.
Always time for a new garmin!
Power meter so I can do some legit training.
I’d get a Garmin Edge 520+ so I can at least pretend like I’m riding my favorite roads in sunny Utah and Colorado while I’m on the trainer…in my room…while it’s 33 and raining out in North Carolina.
A smart trainer! My old school one can be super loud in our tiny apartment
A Garmin Fenix!!
I’d like to grt one of the new Suunto Watches.
A Garmin Fenix or Forerunner to replace my old, rusty 610
A bike computer
I would go with a new Fenix watch.
Wahoo Kicker
Smart trainer Tacx neo to train with Zwift :)
I would get a new Power2max powermeter because mine is getting quite old by now!
a powermeter, badly needed one. thanks
A new running watch with HR and music so i can leave the phone and HR strap behind.
Would love to put the money towards a new trainer.
New running watch for my wife. Current one makes her frustrated
Definitely a power meter although not sure whether I’d go crank or pedal
A new garmin watch.
fenix 5!!
Garmin Vivoactive 3 w/music. I need tunes on my trail runs! :)
935 my Fenix is destroying my wrist while marathon training
Tacx Neo because I really need it!
Fenix 5P because I’d like to have the music on it
I would get a Garmin Fenix 5s Plus because it’s just perfectionism packed in a smal and handy tool!
Whatever Garmin Fenix the prize credit will buy!
During winter time I cannot cycle outside regurlaly, a tacx trainer with possibility to connect to Zwift is definitely on my wish list…
A direct drive smart trainer for my wife and I to share.
I already love my vivoactive 3. I probably wouldn’t upgrade watch. I would probably upgrade my shoes which are at 340 miles of running, and use the rest of the balance for a GoPro.
Fancy running watch, or a powermeter.
I would get a Garmin Fenix 5s Plus because it’s just perfectionism packed in a smal and handy tool!
Honestly not sure. Kit is getting old but I’m not sure what is out there
A new watch. Suunto 9?
A Garmin 935. My old 910xt needs to be retired
I would get a new fenix to replace my old fenix 2.
I’d like an Apple Watch
I want to go electronic this year! Di2? Etap? Don’t care.
Was looking for a GoPro!
I’d probably go for a Garmin 935. The Fenix 3 won’t run several Connect IQ apps I’m interested in.
I would definitely get the GoPro Hero 7 Black – Hypersmooth would bring a whole new perspective to on-the-Run videos!
New bike computer with decent battery life!
new watch for the new season ;-)
a new garmin watch, the apple watch comes up short when running intervals
A smart trainer to finally get some Zwifting done!
A Suunto 3 Fitness would be great.
Polar Vantage V or Suunto 9, because just started running ultras and need something with better battery life than my M430.
garmin 935. someday im going to win this thing!!!!!
Harmon Vivoactiv 3 w/ music. Because iPod shuffle is dying a slow death and I don’t like to run with my phone.
I would buy Assioma pedals. Mostly to be able to transfer powermeter between bikes.
Sigh. The fabled quark power meter fairy didn’t show up…
I’d like a Fenix 5 as I am working toward my first triathlon this year!
A smart trainer.
I’d love a Fenix 5 to kick start my 2019 training plans
I’d get a fenix 5, to fulfill my hiking and triathlon needs!
I’d have loved if santa dropped an F5+ but it seems I wasn’t enough of a good boy this year… maybe I’ll get lucky this time
A power meter. Need to start training with power :)
Seriously would love to upgrade to a kicker core?
Either a Fenix 5 to replace my watch which battery doesn’t last long enough to my taste or a powermeter for my mother
Replace my old forerunner 220
I’d like to upgrade from a KICKR Snap to a KICKR Core