Heads up!!! Here’s your massive holiday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $419, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $699, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $249, (or the brand new Hero 13 or $299!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals 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
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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.
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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!
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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 2023 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 Ray. Is there any settings to control size of text (in general UI or in notifications) – to help visually impaired?
I’m not aware of any way to change the text size on any Garmin wearables, in terms of the general UI. Within a workout, you can choose to reduce the data fields per page, which increases the font size. Additionally, you can choose to use spoken audio alerts for lap times and paces and such, via Garmin Connect mobile.
All alerts also have vibrations with them, and they are slightly different depending on the specific item being alerted.
On the Venu specifically, you can adjust brightness too. And for the watch faces there’s plenty to choose from and tweak, including some that are easier to read.
Does the Venu range have audio prompts? I train with a Fenix 3 then 6 but have used VA3M (tried a 4 and sold on) as days to day / gym watches. The VAs lacked audio prompts. Unless I missed something
Yup, almost all Garmin watches in the last few years can do the workout audio prompts with a phone nearby (which will then use the speaker on the phone, or paired Bluetooth headphones).
But the original Venu itself doesn’t have an audio speaker. It can though pair to a pair of headphones, and if doing a run, you’ll get splits mid-run from the headphones.
I’m aware of those, I was hoping that Garmin will eventually introduce some font scaling – i e. in notifications. I struggle to read those.
The Garmin Fenix 6 doesn’t need a phone for audio prompts. I ran with mine the other day and no phone, just paired to some Bluetooth headphones. Ran to a workout. My watch gave me audio voice feedback for each step of my workout. Also, voice prompts until my heart rate was in range. No phone at all. I know this wasn’t enabled on first release. I believe it was about a year or so after I got the watch.
Really enjoyed this!
Thanks TS!
Thinking of getting one of these for the boss (aka wife) and was wondering if it will link up to Zwift like my Fenix 6x Pro as think she might like this version.
Yup indeed! At least for heart rate anyway. I actually have a screenshot of it in my longer review (you can just find the word “Zwift”), and in fact, at the end of that review in the comments just a few hours ago someone asked for the exact steps on how to pair it with Zwift. Though, I suspect as a DCR Supporter you’re certified in finding that setting already.
Note that it doesn’t though have the Virtual Run option, if your wife was more of a Zwift Runner than a cyclist.
Thanks Ray,
my fault I missed it whilst trying to do 15 things at once, but found it all now :)
I am indeed
Thanks,
Gib es was neues zur Fenix 7? Sollte die nicht auch auf der CES vorgestellt werden??
I don’t think he understand the German language here.
The Fenix 7 will probably come later, on Golem.de was today what of 18 January and also a little bit from the rumor mill
Thanks Ray. I’ve been waiting for this watch ever since it leaked. Ironically, I decided to save $100 US and get the old Venu 2 yesterday in instead. Hopefully, Garmin keeps rolling down all new software innovations to us with older devices.
Thank you for the great review.
Hope the new Epix 2 will also get the same futures as the Venu 2 Plus.
Thanks for a great review!
I have always wondered which watch has the best control of the heart rate when not exercising. from sitting still to running up in stairs. How fast will the clock react to the increased heart rate? how often is the heart rate measured? I work with parcel delivery and my everyday life is very active, Mabe i’m not a runner but i do it a lot in my work. and i dont have a smart watch
Garmin vs polar sensor?
Great review, again. Sold my Fenix 6 pro sapphire and ordered this one (slate/leather band). Didn’t want to wait for the fenix 7 series as it will be far more expensive.
Thanks for the video. Lots of great insights. I don’t usually watch the video, but that part at the end about Garmin pay, “Enter passcode, I’m not going to show you… one-two-three…”. Hilarious, especially coming from an ex-IT professional. Thanks for the giggle.
Thanks for all that you do Ray! I’ve picked up the Venu 2 Plus and a TickrX after looking at a bunch of your reviews.
One question I had was about pairing the TickrX with the Venu 2 Plus. It seems to “connect” and pair just fine, however when I’m in a running activity I’m not sure which HRM is being used to monitor my heart rate. From my testing it seems like the watch is being used because the HR displayed is significantly lower than the HR averages I’ve been getting with the strap.
Is there some way to set priority of which HRM to use?
Can we increase the brightness in aod watch face?