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I’m DC RAINMAKER…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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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!
Have some fun in the travel section.
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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!
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.
The only issue with their Iron Distance battery claim, is that’s for a new battery, and it’s barely enough to finish the race. If you use it while training for a year, with the inevitable decay in battery health, I wouldn’t trust it to last. I think I’ll stick to my Fenix for now. Either that or I need to get much faster! 🤣
Agreed, most aspects of battery life aren’t really where they should be for most products.
The bottom end target should be the specifications are valid for two years of use. Three or more years either with or without an at-cost battery replacement program would be closer to what I would like to see.
As far as charging it too frequently or too long, that just shouldn’t be possible. People have better things to do than re-organize their life around recharging products.
I really want to see interval/lap/segment average power on all screens, especially custom workouts. For me this is the difference between using WorkOutDoors and the workouts app.
Now do swimming. I’m enjoying my AWU immensely, but the pool swimming implementation leaves a lot to be desired.
Do you have more information about the “standard 400m tracks” issue? I ran on a short track, the watch prompted because it recognized the track location, it snapped to the lane, and it recorded the distance perfectly.
Apple only provided that it’s standard IAAF specifications for 400m tracks, but not other tracks (i.e. shorter tracks or tracks with different geometries).
Interesting, thanks. I’ll try another lane next time to compare. And there are some more oddball tracks near me. I’ll go run (slowly) around a few more of them.
I wonder if they state “400m tracks” because that’s the norm and it makes them sound like they support Real Running, but when they asked Siri to find all of the running tracks, if she secretly did a better job.
Hi Ray,
But the running track in Garmin F6Pro never worked for me on other track than 400m track. It records the run on 200m track, but the recorded path wasn’t aligned to the lane.
Now I’m on F7 and I tried it only once on 200m track, because after four loops, the watch started to show the values as if I was on 400m track. So I suddenly run twice faster, the distance passed by two times faster and I got +400m after each loop instead of 200m.
I wrote a lot of questions to Garmin forum, but I never get an answer from Garmin, if this function is for 400m track only.
People would be crazy to underestimate Apple on as a serious competitor. The Apple Watch already has the platform for everything you mentioned on your bucket list and part of it would just require some data analysis and calculations as proven my apps like Athlytic and Ready to Train.
I bought an Apple Watch Ultra, because I was interested, I am fully in the Apple ecosystem, and I liked the integration. My concern was battery life with the standard models. I tested it for the full 30 days, and I returned it.
Bottom line – the battery life. I routinely was able to get 3.5 days out of it, working out for one hour per day, and most days that was a GPS run. I turned most of the alerts off, and I installed a grand total of ONE app that did not come installed on it. That was a water tracking app. I did not use it for music, or phone. Just txt alerts, email alerts, and oh yeah….checking the time.
Even though I charged while showering every morning, and I knew I would make it through the day, I felt like my whole world started to revolve around charging, or being worried about running out of battery. And the one day where….something….happened and I went from 80% to 10% in one hour of sitting at my desk.
It sounds bad when I write it all down like this.
Maybe I am not the target market for Apple watch. Which makes NO sense. Maybe I didn’t give it long enough.
Maybe the Apple Watch Ultra PRO MAX will add another 3 days of battery life…somehow…. and that would make all the difference.
Anyway, went back to Forerunner 955 and 15 day battery life.
Totally agree that it would be better to not worry about it, but there are plenty of sedentary hours for me to charge. I just have a watch charger next to the phone charger at my desk.
D) Full cycling sensor support (namely power meters)
Yes, I am hesitating to purchase Ultra because it does not support them.
Isn’t track mode for people who don’t really use tracks?
I know quite a few people love the have a trail in strava that matches the map 100%, but for tracks you don’t really need the info.
I train on a track once a week and I know what times I have to run on 200m, 400m, 600m and 800m for my workouts.
If I look at my data in garmin connect afterwards, the distance per intervan is wrong, the pace it calculated is wrong, but the time is spot on and I know I did the correct intensity.
Now for the big question. Is this trackmode actually useful? Running a 200m interval at a steady pace isn’t difficult. 800m is more of a challenge. On my watch (a forerunner 935) pace by gps isn’t accurate and on tracks even less.
Does trackmode help here in any way? Otherwise I think this feature is only useful for people who worry how their strava looks.
Good article Ray
So…. Ever since the AWU came out, I’ve been contemplating Trading Up my AW7Cellular to an AWU instead of upgrading my 935 for a 955 – my 935 has had enough after 5 yrs of use – it still works, but is having issues!
On my Training Runs/Swins both my Watches have been on, and I am impressed with the Accuracy of the AW and the Functionality of it!
But, like was said by many having to get Athlytic and/or Workout Outdoors for analytical data, VO2Max, Training Ranges, etc is Very annoying!
That being said, I’m also a Recreational Diver with over 60+ dives who is looking for Dive computer – I already have one, but one integrated Watch would seal it for me; I could hand off the Dive computer to my Buddy/Son.
I’ve been Very torn, spend for a new Garmin or upgrade my AW and have one watch “to rule them all”!
Problem is all these quirks:
* Touch Screen/special button/Gestures Just don’t replace buttons when your hands are wet or with gloves!
* Battery having to be in Low Power/ultra Mode is just not a replacement for a battery which lasts For weeks!
* Having to Purchase/Subscribe to all these 3rd Part Apps – For me: Athlytic, Workout Outdoors, Oceanic (for Diving) is something that is annoying and Apple could at least cover the features minimally!
So, I’m probably going to hit the Purchase Button on The Garmin 955 Solar in the next day or so!
Garmin 955 – besides having all of the above, it’s in that Sweet spot for me! It is also a watch that is not that big/heavy to wear all the time!!
Apple will get there though, it’s probably about 2-3 yrs away from me switching – if they get there – and I’m certain they will!
But that Diving Watch that I Need…..
On Training runs I’ll probably still wear the AW – instead of taking my phone, but it’s not yet ready to be my 100% Training watch – YET
Mike,
FWIW Workoutdoors is a very small one off purchase, no subscription. A cheaper alternative to Athlytic would be training today.
The ultra now has 3 buttons, so don’t need to be using the touchscreen.
I guess my summary is Apple Watch is the best smartwatch and “good enough” (for me) sportswatch. I’ve had multiple Garmins (935, 945, Fenix 5 & 6) they were average at best smartwatches but the best sportswatches out there. I sold my Fenix 6 and gone all in on the ultra.
I tried the AW Ultra out, and a big problem for me is that the screen still goes to sleep after a few seconds when using 3rd party apps like WorkOutDoors. At the time I tried it out, WorkOutDoors didn’t support the Action button, either. For me, the problem with the screen going to sleep is that an app like Workoutdoors won’t be able to respond to gestures like double-tapping the screen or twisting the crown, which basically means it’s hard to use it without looking. Yes, pressing both side buttons still works when the screen is sleeping, but that’s error prone, and it doesn’t work if the app isn’t active (e.g. if you’ve returned to the watchface)
I might feel differently now that WorkOutDoors supports the action button, but there’s still no way have to have both Pause/Resume and New Lap/Interval mapped to single button presses on the AW. I also kinda hope the action button comes to the smaller Apple watches.
Garmin has a lot usability issues so I’m kinda glad they have some competition here. On the other hand, I hope Apple doesn’t wipe them out, as they have a unique product.
WorkOutDoors has now been updated to make use of the Always On Display. Apps needed to be updated to make use of that feature.
After becoming a father I’d like to put a vote in for wrist based running power that works when running with a stroller ;)
The “race route” feature seems to be quite buggy concerning route detection. Did a lot of runs (done twice, no deviations) that should have produced race routes, but they didn’t. Only routes I ran before watchOS 9.2 was released are available as race routes and are updated, whenever I run them.
I am still very much attracted to a running watch that allows one to make calls. As far as i can tell…Its still just Apple (between Garmin and Apple). I dont want to have to carry a phone connected to the watch, just call with the watch! My question: I have put off swapping out my garmins for apple because traditionally garmin got better feedback with regard to the HR monitor and GPS. Two mega important things for runners and cyclists. Does anyone have any insight on whether new gen Apples have gotten better? As far as i know garmin has no option for calls (sans phone). Obviously i have an affinity for garmin, has worked well for years over 4 watches, but i am open to change.
Hi, with latest Beta Garmin is adding this
link to forums.garmin.com
Adds database of 400m running tracks all over the world.