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.
I would love to have fenix 6 pro and a new stryd pod
945. Need a toy for motivation!
favero assioma duo for me
First world problems for sure, but I would be hard pressed to decide whether I wanted to replace my P1 pedals or my old kickr.
I would like a new, more silent, trainer. Third child on the way so no place left in the house where I’m far away for them to sleep sound
I’d get a pair of Favero PMs as my “hotel bike” PMs. I’m in hotels as often as I’m home, and I have to take my PMs off my bike every time I hit the road. Would rather have a dedicated travel set.
Apple Watch would be great
I would put the $$ towards a wahoo kicker core. Cause Canada is home and I live in a snow belt and the biggest difference I can make in terms of time is an improved bike time in adventure racing. Aka map and compass racing.
I’d like to get a Wahoo KICKR Headwind fan and a Garmin Edge 530. Thank you, Ray!
A powermeter. The Favero Assioma Uno would be great!
I’d get the Fenix 6x!
I would dearly love a Garmin 530 or 830 as my trusty 520 has seen better days! Also keen to add proper navigation, so I can get out and explore some trails on my new bike.
I would like to finally get the Favero Assioma power meter for my bike
New Suunto watch, because I love the new battery options!
A Garmin Fenix 6 would be great.
Go pro to film my kids
I would love a KICKR Climb!
I would end up picking a new watch, likely a Garmin.
I would get a new GoPro Hero 8 Black to get the better audio. Thanks for your work.
Not sure, just got a new watch and head unit for Christmas. Need to add a Varia radar at the very least!
Any Garmin bike computer would be great but a Fenix 6 would make my Christmas dreams come true
Fenix 6X :)
Would love a good triathlon watch, since I aim to do my first this year!
I keep hoping for speedplay power-based pedals! Or a new watch!
A nice Garmin watch.
Whatever will make me less fat.
Tough call – either a new trainer or a set of Assiomas. My pain cave needs a training upgrade!
Fenix 5x please
Or suunto 5
I would love to get my wife a beautiful Vivoactive 4s in Rose Gold
Oura ring or Emfit qs, I really would like to monitor my sleeping.
I guess I was on the naughty list because I didn’t get the wahoo kickr climb I wanted.
I need a new powermeter for my new speedmax
A bike trainer would be my choice! It’s already been a long winter in my mind.
My Garmin Edge 1000 crapped out. I need a new 1030!
Apple iwatch 4 to track fitness activity!!!
Garmin 1030. My 1000 brooke
Would love a Fenix 6 for marathon training.
Really could use a trainer of some description.
I’m committed to a couple of events in the summer and need to build up endurance.
Wahoo KickR
Definitely an indoor trainer as it has been sooo wet out there!
I’d get a Fenix 6 cause my 935 is on its last legs !
If like a Garmin Venu watch
Fenix 6 please
Garmin Vector 3 so I can do some power meter testing.
Would love something to finally replace my ancient FR305 that died earlier this year!
Some kind of Fenix 6. I don’t need one, but definitely want one!
Hello. Seasons greetings. I’d get a Garmin fenix 6.
Paul
I’m thinking that a new Fenix 6 would be MOST appreciated! “Why” you ask? Well because Santa didn’t think that I was “worthy.”
I’d put it towards a Wahoo Kickr Core!
Garmin FR945, so i finally get maps and won’t get lost in the forest. :)
I’d buy an Garmin edge
A quarq sram red powermeter would be great to compliment my bike
Would love a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt to replace my dying Garmin
Love a Garmin watch!
I would like to update my bike computer so new Garmin Edge 530 could be nice.
Nice idea on the paddle board, always wanted one of them!
I’d get the Stages Cycling Ultegra R8000 Power Meter for my Road Bike … I don’t currently have one and I use the Neo2 for Zwifting… so it would be interesting to compare outdoor power to indoor Zwift & Neo2 power.
I don’t like asking the husband for expensive gifts so I’d need to win one or save up and buy it myself!
My Garmin 630 has lost its heartrate connection. I would update my gear to have a heartbeat again ;-)
Martin
The Assioma Pedal Based Cycling Power Meters! I haven’t got around to getting a power meter on my bike due to their super high price. It would be awesome to be able to get one and have power data outside of zwift!
$500, half way to a Fenix 6
I’ll would like a powertap
I would get the garmin Fenix 6
I would looooooove to get a new trainer! Old one is creaking away.
Some kind of action cam to record my bike rides.
Favero all the way…
New Garmin Edge 530, because the battery is getting tired on my old 520, to the extent that it gives up after 50 miles…..
I would live to enter the giveaway! I’d love a Garmin Fenix 6s! Thanks for your great articles!
garmin 945 it would be!
A Garmin InReach would be great!
I’d love a garmin watch with music !
Fenix 6x for my training pal…me
Time to buy a gopro or a power meter. Thanks Ray.
Power meter pedals as I try to get back into shape for long sportives. Thanks!!
Kickr Climb!!
The Favero Assioma Power Meter!
Mostly so i can sing “i’ve got the power” anytime someone asks me if I ride with power, LOL.
Good luck to all!
All I wanted for Christmas was a Fenix 6. I wanted the other reindeer to be in awe of its superior fitness tracking capabilities.
It probably will be a 945 – because of the music that my 935 lacks. Or maybe the Favero Assioma because I am tired of Garmin stuff being outdated every 9 months.
I would like the Garmin 945 because my 920 is not working anymore and need a replacement!
It would have to be favaro assioma dual sided pedals. In still running the bepro S and they have been amazing but with a new N+1 I need some bee pedals!!!! ????And happy Xmas to you and yours Ray
My fenix 6 or kickr climb were too expensive for Santas workshop :(
Mmmm I’d love an Edge bike computer.
A new bike computer for the new year.
Garmin Fenix 5
Scosche Rhythm24, to work with Zwift on my new smart trainer, and because my old heart rate straps are all fraying (yay?)
Whoo-hoo! An opportunity to get something fun for myself ?. A new watch for triathlons would be nice ?
New Garmin bike computer that links to Trailforks! More wooded adventures for 2020; less reliance on phone!
I’d get the Garmin fenix 6, for the music and the maps. I’d love to be able to leave my phone at home and have everything I need on my watch!
Probably a GoPro Hero 8 black
Tacx Neo T2 for use in Michigan USA where it’s needed 9 months out of the year! Wheels off!
GoPro 8 or 945
Assioma Pedals to finally start taking training more seriously on the bike!
My Vector 2’s are on their last legs. Could use a new power meter.
Assioma or maybe 6S Pro for my wife!
I would probably get a 945 – really interested in all the new features it has. That, or a trainer, since it’s so humid down here.
I would like a Garmin 945
I’d buy a GoPro camera because I didn’t get any:)
I’d get a Garmin Fenix 6 because I need a new GPS watch. My current Apple Watch is getting extremely slow and a bit unreliable.
I would love a couple of pairs of Next %, shoes to train and run my first marathon in.
Favero Assiomas for my bike.
Hello Santa!
A Garmin fēnix 6X would be my dream present…