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.
Another year went by without getting a power meter for my road bike, so my hope is on Santa Ray.
Pedal power meters
SKYDIO 2!!! …
Ok fine id get a Gopro max ?. Why? Overcapture, duh.
I’d get my wife and Edge 530 to go with her new bike! :)
I would love a power meter for my bike since I use Zwift on my trainer.
Ironman training is whispering I need to train with power either via a power meter or a smart trainer.
I would get either a new computer (Garmin edge 830 maybe?) or a wahoo climbr since I plan on doing a lot of indoor training this winter.
DJI Drone because I haven’t found a way for Santa to approve that yet. Thanks!
Thinking I’d be up for a new bike computer… the Polar v650 has seen its better day!
A Go Pro as i can’t justify it myself!
Need a new Garmin!
Forerunner 495 to gift to my runner husband
Definitely need an upgrade on my gopro, so I’d be looking for a fancy new GoPro Hero8 Black!
FR 945 would be my pick.
A GoPro Hero 8 Black would be a great addition to my cycling equipment.
Belated Merry Christmas Makers! I guess it’s time to upgrade the old 920xt, likely for a Fenix or something.
I’d love to get the Garmin Forerunner 945, the perfect replacement for my Ambit 3.
I would get Forerunner 945 to replace my old one.
I tri-ed Santa for a Garmin 945 but he bonked before he came to my house.
Can you be my Santa? So I can help him next year.
A Garmin 935. Could use it for my IMFL in November.
Would love a new Garmin GPS!
NEO 2 to get some watts on those dark nights
Let power power my ambitions
Garmin forerunners 945, so I can track various physical activities and exertion in the new year.
I want a KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE KICKR BIKE soooo bad! (you have no idea how hard it is to intentionally mis-spell KICKER 50 times!).
I’d love a pair of power meter pedals for my bike!
I would love to get a new powermeter
Nothing beats knowing your power while riding, so a power meter!
I would like a SRAM axs etap upgrade kit to my mtb.
i would like to win a GoPro HERO8 Black Action Camera to use underwater greek islands
Wahoo kickr for sure
Favero assioma duo because i really need more power
I’d like a Garmin Venu for my girl birthday. It would be a nice gift.
I‘d use it to pimp my bikes with that 500 bucks :) merry xmas and enjoy the rest of 2019 – ride on!
New Garmin Edge because the old edge is on its last ridges.
I would love a kickr climb to go with my core
I would like to get the Garmin forerunner 945
I’d love the Favero Assioma pedals to put on my indoor recumbent exercise bike. Currently using one to help manage a multitude of chronic illnesses through low heart rate exercise and with a pair of pedals I could link it up to Zwift and make the time pass just that little bit easier.
Win or not, looking forward to more from you in 2020.
Thanks, Mick
Gopro … any version will do. Time to start making some videos ?
I would get assioma pedals or edge 530. Need to up my game :) Thanks Ray
Garmin Forerunner 945
Santa would you please bring me a 945 so I can stop dragging this big phone around to listen to tunes?
DJI Mavic Mini………Tacx Neo bike smart
Love a pair of power pedals to bring trainer power to the bike!
A GoPro, or a drone, or maybe….damn, just show me the money!
Favero pedals for me :)
A climb would be pretty fun! Or a pm for the gravel bike.
Stages power meter would be a great addition ti my CX bike.
Anything that can measure the perfect mileage ?
I really need a new cycling gps unit, preferably Edge 830, my old Edge 800 is really old and its battery is mostly useless (only lasts 3 to 4h). Thank you and Happy New Year
Definitely a new trainer (Neo or KICKR). My Vortex Smart is no longer getting the job done.
The assiomas
I wanted a FR945 but the mrs wants us to start saving for a child. Currently have a Garmin 920xt so moving up to a 945 would be huge upgrade, really want to have on wrist Hr to monitor resting heart rate and what stress work has on me during the day also.
Would like to upgrade to Garmin 1030 for my bike.
Power metre, so I can weep at my poor post-xmas W/kg.
I’d get the updated Neo 2 T with it. Because a Neo 2 isn’t enough.
a nice pair of favero assioma would be ideal to start the sporting year in the best way
I’d get a gopro for sure
A Fenix 6 cos it’s time to upgrade from the model 3
So many things to chose from. Mavic mini or go pro please Santa (Ray). Actually a running buggy would be awesome.
It would be a hard decision for me between the Garmin 945 and the Favero Assioma Duo.
I’d love a set of ASSIOMA duo pedals, I’d suggested to my partner I might get some after the Xmas expense had been paid for.
Image my surprise when on Christmas morning I opened a set of (flat, probably bmx) pedals… In response to my (obviously) bewildered face my partner said “I got you some of those pedals you were going on about”
Thanks darling
DCR I would really love a new Garmin fēnix 6X Multisport GPS Watch – Sapphire Edition!!! ??
Forerunner 945. I’d really like to measure how slow and steady I swim.
I would a Garmin Venu because it is the most versatile wearable out there at a cost that far less than the Fenix series.
I would do the Assioma pedals, had my eye on those for a while.
A new GPS unit as my trusty Edge 500 is getting less trusty.
a new garmin!
I would love a power meter so i can train verder and beat nu friends on the bike.
I’d get a new watch to replace my Vivoactive HR.
I’d love a wahoo kickr!
I am getting really unhappy with my Fenix 5+.. the OWS results are mediocre at best and no more real feature upgrades for a watch that is not much more than one year on my wrist..
So.. long story short: I‘d probably use it for an F6 and swear at Garmin for spending even more money with them even though they have in my mind not treated the 5+ customers in the right way..
A power meter crank is still on my wish list, because I ride in spd pedals.
A Fenix 6s pro for my wife, of course! She will be doing here first olympic distance this year!
I need a KICKR core as I liv in the frozen tundra
GoPro Hero 8 to get that smoothness in some videos or the Garmon Fenix. So many choices!!
Happy holidays Ray
Definitely I would like a power meter pedals, because is the time to train with that metric.
Thanks in advance and congrats
A New GoPro camera
i would buy some Big Agnes camping supplies to kick-start my trekking….
I did not find Assioma power pedals under the Christmas Tree so this needs to be corrected.
I did get what I’ve dreamed of ?? so what I need now is the wahoo kickr climb ?
I would get my wife a new watch. Probably 935 or something for triathlons.
apple watch want to leave the phone behind
Favero assioma power meter, because I’m still and probably will be waiting next Christmas for my IQ2 power meter. Really need them for the start of the season and the tour of Sufferlandria
I want an Edge 530 or probably another watch for my GF
Garmin edge
I’d like to have a bike navigation, such as the Garmin edge 830, because I tend to lose track while booking and find dead ends too much for comfort…
Looking to buy action cam probably Hero 8 Black
I would get the go pro hero 8 to record all my awesome adventures to come with all its new mods!
Any sort of power meter would be great for my bike.
I would definitely buy a set of power meter pedals!
I’d love a smart trainer, my dumb one is no fun even with power meter on my bike, just not the same.
Hey Ray, love your channel.
I’d like the Kickr Climb to help me keep the Zwift training going through the winter so I’m ready for Majorca in March for my 50th birthday!
Keep up the good work!
A new bike trainer!!! Thanks as always for your awesome work and giveaways!
I’d grab the Garmin 945 so I can track my workouts and progress while listening to stored music!
A Wahoo Kickr Climb, to prepare on the hometrainer for La Marmotte next year !
Garmin 945
I’d love either a smart trainer to train for IM Choo or get the Normatec boots for better recovery.
I’d buy a running watch to kick-start my running
I would love either a newer ForeRunner watch or some kinds of action cam set up :-)