Heads up – Massive Black Friday Deals List is Live!!! The Garmin Fenix 8 is $250 off (even the Fenix 8 Pro is $100 off!), the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on sale, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is $249, the GoPro Hero 13 Black, DJI NEO, and a ton of other brands/deals, including Wahoo, Oura, Whoop, Polar, Samsung, Google, and more than 100 sports tech deals here!
It’s back again – Amazon Prime Day…err…Days. That means that most (all?) Amazon country/regional properties are doing pretty substantial deals across the board on all sorts of products for today and tomorrow (July 16th and July 17th).
Update July 17th! Here’s the most-ordered items off this last for yesterday, the first day of the two-day sale:
#1) Garmin Epix for $449:No surprise here, this is an incredible deal, especially given it’s still getting new feature updates, as recently as this past weekend. Note: This is *STILL* available. Once you click on the product link, then choose on the sidebar ‘other options’, and you’ll see it there for $319 for delivery in 10 days. Also, check both color options for non-solar. #2) Garmin Forerunner 955 for $319:Also not surprised on this one, by far the lowest price we’ve ever seen the FR955. Note: This is *STILL* available. Once you click on the product link, then choose on the sidebar ‘other options’, and you’ll see it there for $319 for delivery in two weeks. #3) Apple AirPod Pro for $168: Interestingly, they dropped the price further mid-day from $188 to $168, and that seems to have done the trick to push this into the top 5. My go-to headphones for daily (and running) usage. #4) Garmin Edge 1040 for $449:Again, no surprise here – an amazing deal, especially given it’s getting all the new Edge 1050 features too. #5) Garmin Varia Radar Taillight for $149: I’m actually surprised this broke into the top-5, as it’s kinda the usual sale price. But hey, a deal is a deal.
In some ways, a July sale date for sports tech items is timed perfectly. That’s because typically Black Friday deals are for ‘older’ things, rarely the ‘just announced’ stuff that often comes in the late August to October timeframe (especially cycling trainers and watches). But with Amazon Prime Day being in July, there’s more opportunity for brands to put things on sale for a one-off summer day. Typically speaking though, don’t expect to see things on sale that were announced this year.
To take advantage of Amazon Prime Days you simply need to be an Amazon Prime member. The good news is that you can sign-up for the free trial and cancel later if you don’t find value in it. Just hit up this giant banner below to do so:
I’ve organized all the best sports technology Amazon Prime Days deals (and a few others I’ve found) below in the tables by category. I’ll be updating them throughout the next two days. Keep in mind not all deals last (in fact, most don’t). So if you see something that’s hot, I’d strongly suggest buy now (and return later if need be).
With that, onto the deals! And thanks for supporting the site via the links below. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Enjoy!
Europe Folks Note: This year almost *ALL* of the watch/cycling deals you’ll see in the main lists are available in Europe too! So you can click on those links and it’ll theoretically redirect to the correct Europe store. For the most part, the %-off are the same (a first!).
Watches & Wearables:
This covers anything you can wear that’s watch-like or activity band-like, including sensors. Generally speaking, you’ll mostly find deals here that are on things I’ve written about in the past. So you won’t find a deal on some random non-sports tech watch here, or on socks. Unless the socks have some crazy sensor or something in them.
We did see lower just back in July, at $199. So I'd probably hold out a bit more here. Assuming that happens, you can't beat this watch at this price point (heck,not even at $226 either).
Perhaps this deal will get better, but right now at $20 off...nah. Given the price of the Garmin Epix Pro has flirted into the $429 range a bit over the past few days (and is a vastly better watch), this needs to drop down closer to $299 to be worth picking up during Black Friday pricing.
These are the just-released AirPod Pro 3, with optical heart rate sensors in them. These are my daily-driver headphones these days, and even more notably, the heart rate accuracy is incredibly good in these.
This is the first major sale for the Apple Watch SE 3, which came out just 2 months ago. It's essentially Apple's 'budget' offering, yet it still has all the same software features as a higher-end Apple Watch Series 11, as long as the hardware permits.
This is the first time we've seen the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on sale, and given it's $100 off, that tends to be the typical sale price for the holidays/Black Friday for the current/just-released version.
This is a great price for this watch. Note though that technically speaking, this is a price reduction (took effect Nov 14th following the launch of the Pace 4). Most companies would first call it a sale, then make that sale price the new price as a price reduction. But COROS often beats to a different drum. Kudos on being upfront about the reduction though!
This is a great price for this watch. Note though that technically speaking, this is a price reduction (took effect Nov 14th following the launch of the Pace 4). Most companies would first call it a sale, then make that sale price the new price as a price reduction. But COROS often beats to a different drum. Kudos on being upfront about the reduction though!
These is the new model just released this past summer with stronger anti-scratch resistance (I even dragged it down a textured concrete pool desk, lens-down, to show this).
⚡ This is (by far) the lowest price we've seen on this watch to date. This is their first full smartwatch focused on kids activity tracking and gamification.
⚡ This is the go-to sale price for the Fitbit Charge 6. It happens often, but it still doesn't take away from the fast that it's argueably the best bang for your buck fitness tracker out there.
If you're looking for a simple and inexpensive activity tracker, you won't go wrong with a Fitbit (or this Inspire 3). It's got literally all the same software features in the Fitbit app as a higher-end Google Pixel Watch or other Fitbit device, except...just tiny.
⚡ This is Garmin's newest kids-focused and LTE connected smart watch. Our three daughters have been using it for about two months now, after using the original Bounce 1 for years. This is a *massive* upgrade over the Bounce 1, both in features/hardware, but frankly also battery life. My review should be up next week, but if you've got any questions drop them in the comments below.
This is the activity tracker that both of our oldest daughters have used for years (age 8 & 9), as well as most of their friends now. They/we all like it. Check out my full in-depth review for all my thoughts. That said, the new Bounce 2 came out two months ago, and while my review isn't out yet, it's a far better product. But, quite a bit more too. The TLDR on that review will be that it's the best kids smartwatch/tracker to date (for both parents and kids), but obviously will cost you $100 more.
This is Garmin's premier line of diving watches, which is based on the Fenix 7 seies, rather than the Fenix 8 series. Still, it's by far one of the most capable dive+everything else watches on the market.
Garmin Descent MK3i (Dive watch with air integration) - $250 off!
This is Garmin's premier line of diving watches, which is based on the Fenix 7 seies, rather than the Fenix 8 series. Still, it's by far one of the most capable dive+everything else watches on the market. The 'i' version (MK3i) means that you can connect it to an air tank monitor transmitter pod.
This is the lowest price we've seen on this to date. The Enduro 3 is simply the Fenix 8 with a MIP/Solar display (but without the scuba or voice calling features). It gets all the Fenix 8 features and updates otherwise.
⚡⚡⚡ This is a fantastic deal. By far the lowest price we've seen this! The Epix Pro has a flashlight which the regular Epix lacks, plus the newer Garmin Elevate Gen5 optical HR sensor with ECG support.
⚡⚡⚡ This is a fantastic deal. By far the lowest price we've seen this! The Epix Pro has a flashlight which the regular Epix lacks, plus the newer Garmin Elevate Gen5 optical HR sensor with ECG support. Note: Availability on this deal fluctuates, just keep checking back, I'm sure it'll pop back again (it always does).
⚡⚡ If you wanted the battery life of a Fenix MIP series without the cost of a Fenix 8, this is basically your best deal. Plus, unlike the base Fenix 7 series, the Pro series includes the flashlight and Gen5 HR sensor with ECG.
⚡ If you wanted the battery life of a Fenix MIP series without the cost of a Fenix 8, this is basically your best deal. Plus, unlike the base Fenix 7 series, the Pro series includes the flashlight and Gen5 HR sensor with ECG.
⚡⚡ This is very unexpected, and is an Amazon-specific deal, not a Garmin-supported one. Thus, I expect it won't last more than minutes/hours. Grab it while you can! [Update: This keeps fluttering back and forth, just keep checking!]
⚡ The Fenix 8 keeps getting all the new software features of the Fenix 8 Pro that was launched two months ago. Setting aside that Fenix 8 Pro which gained LTE & Satellite Messaging, this is otherwise the most capable sports watch on the market.
⚡ The Fenix 8 keeps getting all the new software features of the Fenix 8 Pro that was launched two months ago. Setting aside that Fenix 8 Pro which gained LTE & Satellite Messaging, this is otherwise the most capable sports watch on the market.
As a general rule, the Fenix E is the watch that literally nobody is buying, and makes no sense at higher prices. The hardware is simply the Epix Gen 2 with Fenix stamped on it. That watch is going for $400, though I expect we'll see it down to $300 over Black Friday. However, one *KEY* difference with the Fenix E, is that it includes all of the software features of the newer Fenix 8, whereas the Epix Gen 2 doesn't get all the new software features. Otherwise, save your $200.
⚡ This is (by far) the lowest price on the Forerunner 265, which was recently replaced by the Forerunner 570 (but at nearly twice this price). What's fascinating about this sale price, is it's well beyond the usual sale prices for Garmin for this product. This pricing is 100% an Kansas-themed 'Hello!' to COROS and their just released COROS Pace 4 at $249.
The Foreurnner 55 is a great option if you simply don't want to spend a ton, but still want a super-capable runners watch (and general activity/sleep tracking watch). I've heard a lot of you get it for teenagers that run, as a great/inexpensive way to track their runs, and still be a good everyday watch.
⚡ This is the lowest price to date on the Forerunner 965, which is logical given the Forerunner 970 came out this past spring (which essentialy adds a flashlight and some other running metrics/features).
⚡ This is a very unexpected sale, just launched, on this very new watch, which is Garmin's top of the line Forerunner watch with virtually all the same software features as the Fenix 8 (but in a plastic case and without the diving features).
The Instinct 3 series came out earlier this year, with both an AMOLED and Solar variants. The big upgrade over the previous editions is the inclusion of the flashlight in all sizes, and a massive ugprade of sports features.
The Instinct 3 series came out earlier this year, and the Solar edition in particular has 'unlimited' battery life in certain scenarios. The big upgrade over the previous editions is the inclusion of the flashlight in all sizes, and a massive ugprade of sports features.
⚡ The Garmin Venu 4 just came out two months ago, and one of the big ticket features is the LED flashlight built-in. However, it's also got a ton of other new features, as Garmin merged the codebase with the Forerunner/Fenix series, resulting in a boatload of added things like Training Readiness, Acute Load, and more.
⚡ This is the lowest price we've seen on the newest product in the entire Garmin Holiday 2025 sale lineup. This is basically a blend of a Forerunner 970, Venu 4, and Fenix 8...but super thin. It's argueably one of the best deals here at $599, though, Garmin is still clearly trying to figure out the right pricing to drive purchases.
⚡ This is the first time we've seen the Vivoactive 6 on sale, which is essentially a Venu 4, but without the voice/calling/ECG features (and a few other tidbits). It's probably one of the best deals in Garmin's lineup (sale or otherwise).
The newer Pixel Watch 4 came out back in October. I see the Pixel Watch 4 as a pretty substantial hardware upgrade over the Pixel Watch 3, notably due to satellite SOS, as well as a user-replaceable battery.
⚡The Pixel Watch 4 LTE includes satellite SOS connectivity, even if you don't activate a cellular plan on it. I'd strongly recommend getting the LTE version for $50 more, to future-proof you a bit there (or, to save your bacon in the woods).
This is a great dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart (with two Bluetooth Smart connections) chest strap that you'll often find me using as a reference strap in heart rate sensor testing. We only tend to see deals on it around Black Friday, always topping out around 20%.
If you're looking for a good solid high-quality strap, that does both ANT+ & Bluetooth Smart, for a reasonable price...look no further than the Polar H9
This is a very solid deal. It's got virtually all the software features of Suunto's higher-end watches (minus the app store), and just came out this past May.
While the new Suunto Vertical 2 just came out a month ago, if you wanted to stock-up on MIP-based display watches before they disappear, here's your chance. This is also the lowest price we've ever seen on the Vertical 1, which is otherwise still a very soild watch.
Got a bike? Then this section is for you. Everything from bike computers to bike lights to trainers, it’s all here. I won’t generally be adding things like brake cables or bike seats here, but if I find a good deal on a cassette to stack on that new direct drive trainer you just bought, I’ll probably list it here.
⚡The Favero Assioma Pro MX dual-sided power meter pedals deal is a no brainer. I use them in my testing constantly along with the PRO RS pedals. Note for US folks: Favero does include all taxes and tarrifs in the price.
⚡The Favero Assioma Pro RS dual-sided power meter pedals having their first sale yet. This deal is a no brainer. I use them in my testing, and will likely pick up another set in this sale. Note for US folks: Favero does include all taxes and tarrifs in the price.
⚡This is a very solid deal, and is still one of the best bike computers Garmin has ever made, especially when you look at the battery side of things (it lasts far longer than the Edge 1050).
⚡At $249, it's pretty much impossible to beat this deal in terms of bike computers. There's no competitive option that beats it on features/battery/etc at this price, or frankly anywhere near it. Sure, it doesn't have a touchscreen, but it's not as bad as it used to be (I did a stint on it this winter for a week or so, and was fine).
⚡⚡This is the lowest price we've seen on the Garmin Edge 540 Solar to date, which has gained virtually all of the new Garmin Edge 1050 features as well. And notably, lower than the Edge 540 without solar (which is kinda silly, but hey, win for us!).
This is Garmin's radar without the light, so it's a bit smaller as a result. Same radar tech though, and compatible with Garmin/COROS/Hammerhead/Wahoo bike computers.
This is Garmin's standalone radar+taillight option, and $149 is pretty much the standard sale-price. Even despite all the new radars out there, this remains the most accurate option on the market. Now, only if Garmin would just re-release it with USB-C. C'Mon Garmin...maybe next year?
This is the first time this product has been on sale, since launching last spring. I'd argue it could have used a $100 off sale...but hey...they don't consult me.
This is Elite's previous-gen trainer, but it's still a reliable workhorse. This bundle is paired with the Zwift Cog/Click, though, you can also buy it without a cassette for the same price.
This is one of the most popular indoor trainer fan companies out there, which rivals the Wahoo Headwind fan but cost a fraction of the price. Of course, it lacks ANT+/Bluetooth integration, but realistically if you really want that you can add a smart outlet for $10 to toggle it on/off from your phone if need be. It's one of the ones in my rotation.
This is the go-to sales price for the NEO 2T, though has become more frequent over the past year. It's still an incredible trainer, and is the top-end non-moving trainer from Garmin/Tacx.
⚡ This is the lowest price we've seen to date on the Tacx NEO 3M, and finally takes it down to a semi-logical price (compared to it's competitors). This is a good buy, and obviously, given it's only a year old, I definitely don't expectany sort of new version of this anytime soon (the last NEO series unit was about 5 years between versions).
This is another very popular fan that people use for indoor training/cycling, especially due to inclusion of the remote and remote holder to clasp on your handlebars.
This simulates the up and down motion on Wahoo KICKR trainers moving your bike up and down. Also, there's virtually no product except SNAP, that Wahoo likes to put on sale more. Wouldn't be a sale around here unless this thing was discounted.
⚡ This is a very solid deal for this bike, and the lowest price to date. I actually like the KICKR BIKE SHIFT more than the higher-end KICKR BIKE V2/Pro, mainly because it's both quiter, and seems to be more resillient to issues (less complex design).
⚡ ⚡ This is a very very good deal, for the KICKR CORE 2 that just came out two months ago. My full review was just published last week after an absolute boatlod of riding, and even buying an extra unit to validate things. This model is the one with the Zwift Cog/Click, whereas the 11sp cassette model is also the same price.
⚡ ⚡ This is a very very good deal, for the KICKR CORE 2 that just came out two months ago. My full review was just published last week after an absolute boatlod of riding, and even buying an extra unit to validate things. This model is the one with the Zwift Cog/Click, whereas the 11sp cassette model is also the same price.
⚡This is actually the lowest price we've ever seen on the KICKR V6. Wahoo says we won't see a new top-end KICKR this fall, with them instead focusing on the new KICKR Bike Pro, KICKR CORE 2, and all their new bike computers/radar/etc...
Action Cameras & Drones:
Wanna record it? No better way than an action camera. Anything that’s action camera-related or drone-related, you’ll find here. That’s especially true of action camera mounts, which are often found for great deals around the holidays. Same goes with drones and drone accessories. Usually a great time to pick up an extra battery or extra props.
This is last year's model. And sure, the Action 6 came out 48 hours ago, but honestly, the initial rection hasn't been kind there. I just started testing it, so more to come very shortly.
Look, don't buy this drone. This is the drone that never should have left the napkin at the lunch table at DJI's HQ. The unit breaks easily (as I, and many others found out), and doesn't really do anything super well. Literally, buy any other DJI drone except htis one...you're welcome.
⚡ This is a great little drone as your first drone, especially for sports usage, where it'll do an astonishing job following you (running, cycling, etc...). And, you can crash it a gazillion times without any problem.
NOTE: This is not sold by DJI directly via Amazon. DJI itself is NOT selling the OSMO 360 in the US, and WILL NOT support/repair it in the US. That said, it's a solid deal if you're ok with those risks.
This is GoPro's budget option, which includes a full color touchscreen on the back as well. The main benefit is it's super small, but note it's not quite in the same quality ballpark as their higher-end cameras. If you want size and GoPro ecosystem on a budget, this is an option. But with the DJI Action 4 just $20 more than $199, that offers notably better quality.
This has become one of my favorite drones, given it's tiny size (fits in my running shorts pockets) and ease of use. Plus, you can crash the crap out of it (hundreds of times for me and my wife) without any issues. This combo includes an extra battery and fast charger.
⚡ This is a solid deal on a solid drone, and one of the two main ones I use when taking videos of myself hiking or running. This includes the two extra batteries as well as the fast charger (so 3 batteries total).
⚡ This just came out this past August, and is a great little unit. The pod isn't quite as tiny as the Go 3S, but the features and quality are a huge step up (especially the removable MicroSD card).
This is one of the best 360 action cams on the market, alongside the GoPro Max 2 (both have their pros and cons, check out my full comparison guide linked).
Other Sports & Fitness:
Anything else that’s sports and fitness related that I think is interesting will be here. It may not be super techy – but it’s stuff that most readers will be using in pursuit of their running/cycling/swimming/hiking/whatever.
Product
Sale Price
Amazon
Other site
Sale Notes
FeedBack Sports Pro Mechanic Bike Repair Stand - $50 Off
We use this stand for both any of the work we do on any of our bikes (well, except the cargo bike). Super quick and easy to take out when we need it. Note: Feedback Sports is a DC Rainmaker Partner
FeedBack Sports Pro Mechanic HD Bike Repair Stand - $55 Off
I've got this setup, andit's basically got almost everything I need for regular/daily bike maintenance across virtually all of my bikes. Plus, in theory I can keep things tidy in that carrying case....I mean, if I were to actually put all the tools back in it. Note: Feedback Sports is a DC Rainmaker Partner
The Garmin Inded BPM is Garmin's medically certified blood pressure monitor. It integrates directly into your Garmin Connect account. I use it on occasion as a comparison for wearables, and it works just fine (obviously it's already medically certified by the FDA, so I say 'works' here in the sense of usability/functionality/etc...).
I use this scale, merely for the weight tracking functions (not body fat). It works just fine for that piece, and integrates with the rest of your Garmin data. If you aren't in the Garmin ecosystem, there's plenty of (far) cheaper options.
⚡ This is the lowest price we've ever seen for this. This is my defacto satellite communicator when out of coverage area, and I've used it on a number of major treks over the past two years when well outside of cellular service, both in a 24x7 tracking mode for friends and family, but also there in case of emergency. Would strongly recommend for anyone doing anything in the wilderness.
This came out last fall, and is the second time this has been discounted, but now to the lowest price to date. The key difference with the new Plus model is that it adds the ability to send photos and voice messenges via satellite. I've used it a bit, and it's pretty cool because it makes it a lot faster to just say something rather than type it out, but the $499 price seemed excessive. $399 makes it slightly more palatable.
This is one of the other more popular display-laden rowing machines. I haven't tried this, but my sports-tech reviewing buddy DesFit has (linked at side) and liked it.
These are the main gels I use when I don't need the bigger 90g ones. So for example doing something a bit shorter where I don't want to carry the bigger 90g packs (mainly running). Note: Precision Fuel & Hydration is a DC Rainmaker partner
Precision Fuel & Hydration PF90 Energy Gels 10pkg - 15% OFF
I primarily use these 90g packs on all my adventures, roughly doing 90g/hour for cycling/trail running/hiking/etc... Note: Precision Fuel & Hydration is a DC Rainmaker partner
My wife uses the Theragun, and absolutely loves it, in the most hatefun kind of way.
DCR Random Gadget List:
This is basically the mostly totally unrelated gadgets and things I think are cool deals that I’ve likely bought one or five of (you can never have too many, right)? Some of it’s probably photography stuff. Some of it’s random stuff like chargers and battery packs that I use daily, fun camera gear I use to make videos like sliders and turntables, and well…just random things you’ll find around the DCR Cave. It’s all random…but it’s all awesome randomness!
Product
Sale Price
Amazon
Sale Notes
Adobe Creative Cloud Pro (12 Months) - $389 off (50% off!)
As a side note, you can cancel and take advantage of this. Which, is precisely what I did when I realized my existing plan was gonna be stupid expensive. In any case, I use the Adobe Creative Cloud Pro suite for a lot of what I do.
⚡ This is an awesome deal. I use my iPad primarily for TrainerRoad as well as Zwift when not with a larger display. I also occasionally use it for other apps, namely Indievelo, Kinomap, Rouvy, and Peloton. But I pretty much test every smart trainer app on it. For all these cycling apps, the graphics capabilities is really pretty irrelevant, so having the absolute top-end/latest model won't make any difference. I prefer the budget options.
Apple 2025 14" MacBook Air Laptop with M4 - $250 off
See my other note about the MacBook Pro. While I'd love the MacBook Air instead, the singular reason I use the MacBook Pro is the added USB-C port (2 vs 3 on MacBook Pro). Otherwise, this spec-wise woudl do the trick.
Apple 2025 14" MacBook Pro Laptop with M5 - $250 off
This is the updated/newer model of the MacBook M1 Pro that I use for all my video editing. In my case, I still use a 2021 14" MBP, with relatively modest specs (32GB RAM). And I've been super happy with it, even while editing complex drone/action cam videos with 4 concurrently 4K streams in a multicam configuration, it has zero issues rendering or anything else.
This is the singular piece of apparel that's lasted the longest in my collection - some 15-16 years of buying the same socks. Heck, some of them are probably half that old. EIther way, this be the ones I use. Love them (well, except for hiking and trail running, then I use other stuff that goes higher). I'm wearring them as I wrote this post too.
We have more Nest cam's than I can count. No really, we have half a dozen at the DCR Cave alone, plus more at home. We love them. Nest Cam's really only go on sale about 1-2x per year.
⚡ Let's be honest: This place runs on Nespresso (or, well, the knock-off pods we buy). But, the machine is Nespresso. Without it, reviews most definitely would not get done (and certainly not on time). This is a pretty sweet deal if you ask me!
Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven - $120 off
I use the Fyra 12 (with wood pellets), and love it. The Karu 12 is essentialyl the newer version of that, and there's both a gas-only version, and a multi-fuel option (gas or wood). Love it!
I use Philips Hue stuff all over the DCR Cave/Studio for lighting, both obviously colorful stuff in the background of shots, but also just for automation of the lights. Same goes at home. Love it (mainly when it's on sale like now). Starter packs are a good place to begin, and then I love the light strips (such as pictured).
We have a few SONOS speakers around the house and DCR Cave (the Ikea variants at DCR Cave), but by far our favorite is the Roam, which we take outdoors into the garden during the summer, beach vacations, AirBNB's, etc... It has a battery in it, and also connects to both WiFi and Bluetooth. Love, love, love. I think the main reason I love it, is that we heavily use it in summer, so...kinda reminds me of summer.
SanDisk 1-4TB Extreme PRO Portable External SSD - 30% off
⚡This is one of the two the high speed drives types I use to store the footage I'm actively video editing. I typically buy the 2TB and 4TB ones, and then eventually offload the footage onto a NAS array when I'm done.
Sony Alpha 7 IV Full-frame Mirrorless Camera w/ 28-70mm Zoom - $400 offThis is the main camera I use for still photography and video b-roll. I semi-recently wrote about all the photography gear I use, linked at side here.
I have bigger Synology NAS units at the DCR Studio/Office, but I also have a smaller unit (this one) that I use to keep various piles of data here too. I like the Synology stuff, as it's generally quite dependable.
With that – thanks for reading, and for supporting the site via the links above.
Thanks Ray for this as always, some okay UK deals too.
Drone wise, worth mentioning the HoverAir X1 which is 26% in the UK today.
Also Nanoleaf is around 36% off – good for the pain cave.
I currently have a 245 and am looking to upgrade to one of these. Which would you recommend? I really like the 245, but looking for a slightly larger screen, better battery, and some more “sports” activity profiles (football, tennis, hiking, etc.). Is the 955 worth it in this regard, or should I just go with the 255?
I had a forerunner 165 w/music I found for $249 last week, currently in shipping but can be returned. Is the Apple Watch series 9 or the forerunner 255 music better deals/better watches at those deals? At those sale prices they’re all in the same range. I looked at 165 review originally and looked over 255 just now.
That’s tough. They’re all kinda different watches. Apple Watch is more on the smarts side (iPhone owners only), whereas between the FR255 and FR165, the FR255 is more about deeper sports training, whereas the FR165 attempts to sorta bridge the divide between an Apple Watch and a Garmin FR255.
So I think I’ll stick with the FR165. The Apple Watch I ruled out pretty quickly because of some of the negatives you listed in your review and the battery life (I had forgotten about that). I have an Edge 840 already (keep forgetting it’s not a 540). So I really only need it for gym workouts and running. Having the touchscreen and the brighter screen are more important to me than having all the extra features I won’t use.
@Ray, on another note – did you get any reports about failing barometric sensors in Edge 530/540? I had 3 530s where the sensors died or went crazy – Garmin replaced them eventually switching it to a 540 – but just had 540 start showing erratic profiles (and it’s not a calibration issue when it essentially shows you’re cycling up while descending)
Is there any hack for that, or is it just acknowledged issue? Had a 520 for 4 years and never saw problems with that one
I’m actually having the same issue. Just replaced my 530 which had elevation calculation issues. I’ve used the 540 for less than 100 rides and now having the same issues. Just did a completely flat ride with my 9 year old and it said we did over 500ft in 11 miles. There’s not 500 ft in 20+ miles of that rail trail.
Have either of you done the warm soapy water bath? Just stick it in a bowl of warm water for 15 mins, with some light soap (or not), and then give it a bit of a light shake, and then rinse it out after. Typically, it’s mud/dirt/road oils/sports gel/etc… that gets stuck in the port and gives wonky stuff.
Closed, though technically, it doesn’t matter. The unit is actually IPX7 certified, even with the port open (something I’ve tested numerous times for years). IPX7 is 30-minutes at 1-meter deep. So even a few hours in a shallow bowl is nothing.
But in this case, the barometric altimeter port isn’t actually in the same cavity as the USB port, so you’re good to keep it closed.
I’m convinced that Amazon Prime Days is an orchestrated campaign between Amazon and manufacturers to unload previous year’s inventory and older models (e.g. Garmin Edge 1040) before Black Friday season. Am I wrong?
There’s tons of products that have no replacement anytime soon, or are entirely brand new. Look at the Fitbit ACE LTE for example, from just last month.
While replacements are likely for some of these products based on historical norms (e.g. new Apple Watches in September), the reality is that almost every product on the list is actually the current gen product.
I’m always happy to get last year’s inventory at a lower price. I got my Forerunner 255 for Black Friday, after the 265 was out. Then I got the Edge 1040 at the recent sale at REI when there were really strong rumors that the 1050 was just about to drop. Some things I want to be on the cutting edge for. These products don’t usually fill that bill. :-)
Different amazon markets, half of these are US market and non of them in Europe. Fenix 7x Pro SS is listed here 500something, but price in amazon.de for example is still 750
I am thinking about a drone for photography, not really doing video, and maybe get an affordable one to learn flying before splurging on a Mavic 3 … there is the Mini 4K and the Mini 3 on sale on German Amazon – which would you recommend for photos? Is the image quality the same or close enough to go for the cheaper 4K?
They’re both very very similar, however, the Mini 3 (non-Pro) does have a better sensor pipeline than the Mini 4K. I’m not quire sure if it’s worth the extra $130 (sale prices) for the base unit – especially if it’s just a temporary stepping stone to a bigger Mavic 3.
That said, i think you’ll be surprised how good the Mini 4K is. For daylight photography/videos, you’ll almost never notice the difference between a Mini 4K and Mavic 3 Pro. Where the main difference you’ll see is low-light photography/videos, and of course the features (e.g. obstacle avoidance, active track, etc…).
DJI continues to pack incredible sensor pipelines into their lower end drones. Heck, the Air 3 matches and often beats the Mavic 3 Pro (because the Air 3 sensor pipeline is actually newer and more powerful). I did a bunch of side-by-side stuff during my Air 3 review, and it’s impressive.
Maybe a bit bike tangential (but hey, a pizza oven made the cut, right), but I just bought the Flextail Zero pump for my bikepacking setup, after realizing during a long bike tour, just how much time and patience is lost inflating my sleeping pad.
Weighs less, and takes up less space, than the inflation sack, and seems to last 9-12 inflations between recharges.
It’s not cheap, but I love my Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping pad.
Just spent 17 nights on it, interspersed with a few random hotel nights, and slept just as well on it, as hotel beds.
I’m quite conflicted — I’m interested in upgrading from my Edge 530. Would you pick a 840 even though it’s the same price as the 1040? Or should would you wait for the 850 series given what we’ve seen with the 1050.
Totally depends if you want a bigger screen or not. The Edge 840 also has secondary buttons the Edge 1040 (and oddly 1050 too) lack. Both are great units, I use them interchangeably.
If you’re looking for something like an Edge 850, I’d assume that’ll be on the 2-year refresh cycle, thus Spring 2025.
Fwiw, I have the 840, and really, really like it.
But was jealous on a recent bike tour, of how much more battery life a fellow rider was getting out of their 1040.
I’d say the big factor is if you plan to do consecutive day bike touring, or do any single rides lasting more than 20 hours.
I had a couple of connected features going, and my 840 died just before I finished my first day’s 17-hour ride.
I do like having both the buttons and the touch screen.
While the touch screen is nearly flawless, and much improved over previous models, my head pours off sweat on long ascents, and the persistent dripping on the touch screen both builds up some glare, and can mess with the touch screen, at times (though constant rain, does not). It’s nice being able to lock out the touch screen, and use the buttons, for that niche case.
Thanks. Yeah, Polar raised all their prices at some point in the last year or so on lots of stuff. Didn’t catch that in the database (I enter in the sale prices in a slightly different section, so they don’t show up to me side-by-side when manually entering).
Do you think the Fenix 7 deal is really worth it with Fenix 8 just around the corner?
Retail on it was $800 but on slickdeals I saw it go for $600 several times over the last year and it’s a 2year old watch at this point for only $50 lower than a price point from November 2023.
It’s not a bad deal but feels like with the 8 coming out the value is just gonna plummet to like $350-$400 used in a month and losing $150-$200 value immediately.
Hi PJ,
I noticed that if I used the link for the 955 at the very top of this article, and then followed the instructions written after the link to choose other sellers/other options it works to get the pricing. I just bought the watch for $319 and it should arrive July 31st – Aug 1st.
When I use the link in the actual article under the Watches and Wearables section the pricing is higher, like $449 or so. I hope you see this and are able to purchase it at the discount using the link at the very top of the page!!
It’s still there! But, it’s not showing by default. Two-second fix:
Simply select the ‘Other Sellers on Amazon’ on right side of product page, and you’ll see it there, new from Amazon, for delivery next week. Amazon will automatically prioritize faster shipment over lower price.
(Pro Tip for anyone else looking at a deal that’s seemingly missing, it just means that basically Amazon had to order more from Garmin, and isn’t showing the default deal pricing unless you click to expand it.)
It’s not a bad deal, but I’d be kinda hesitant. With the Edge 1040 at $449, and still getting updates for likely at least another year or so (including a big slate just a few weeks ago), I think the extra $60 is definitely worth it.
If not for the updates, then certainly for the speed/etc…
I have the messenger, and just used it for a 23 day remote excursion, and loved it.
I think it’s a more useful product than the Mini 2, myself.
Same/longer battery life, much better text interface, easier to stow, can back-charge devices, etc.
Reduced navigation features, but frankly, I used my phone/bike computer/offline maps for that.
Note: a phone with no cell data signal will still accurately pinpoint your position and heading on already downloaded maps.
Yeah, I generally prefer the Mini 2 over the Messenger, purely for being able to attach it to a backpack/etc…
It goes on sale here and there a few times a year. Honestly a bit surprised they didn’t put it on sale now, but I suspect the reason is that enough people are buying them already mid-summer.
Have you heard anything on relative sales of Messenger vs. Mini 2?. I bought Messenger simply because was cheaper and didn’t care about clipping it to a pack, but I see the Mini discussed more and Garmin hasn’t made any accessories for Messenger.
Hi Ray,
Thank you so much for posting this!!! I’d been waiting for the 965 to go on sale, but this discount was more than enough for me to pull the trigger on the 955.
I just bought the watch for $319 and noticed that using the link in the article under the watches and wearables section drops you off on the 955 Solar White. It looks like this amazing discount is only available for the non solar black.
The link you provided at the very top of the page drops you off in the right place though.
Correct, the different sized units came with the Epix Pro series, which weren’t meaningfully on sale here. They were on sale back a few months ago though. :-/
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Thanks Ray for this as always, some okay UK deals too.
Drone wise, worth mentioning the HoverAir X1 which is 26% in the UK today.
Also Nanoleaf is around 36% off – good for the pain cave.
Awesome, good catch – adding in!
Forerunner 955 is also on sale
Yup, good catch! I had it in there, but didn’t apparently hit save. Fixed!
I currently have a 245 and am looking to upgrade to one of these. Which would you recommend? I really like the 245, but looking for a slightly larger screen, better battery, and some more “sports” activity profiles (football, tennis, hiking, etc.). Is the 955 worth it in this regard, or should I just go with the 255?
Form goggles 1 gen is 140€ in Europe. It should be a similar discount for the US as well.
Doh, good catch – had an e-mail about that. Both Gen1 and Gen2 actually (at least in US).
Thank you RAY! So Helpful. Would you take the Epix 2 for $499 or the Fenix 7 Solar Sapphire for $230?
(Just sent my broken old Fenix 6 to Garmin, who offered the above deal on a refurbished F7SS. Epix 2 tempting, but worth the extra $280?)
That’s tough. Personally I prefer the Epix screen, but it really comes down to preference.
I suspect if you’re already in the Fenix camp, then a F7SS for $230 is a pretty solid deal.
Is the Fenix 7 Solar $230 or $230 off? $230 would be a crazy deal.
it is $230 + tax for a refurbished model from Garmin to replace my broken F6 sapphire.
Purchased the sapphire for $600, so I feel Im getting back in trade in value nearly what I paid for it.
Oh I see, Garmin is offering it to you at that price, it isn’t on Amazon, correct?
Hi Ray, Hover X1 or DJi mini 4k?
Thanks Ray!
Withings Scales are 20% off for Body Smart and 25% off Body Comp (Scan is still full price) Eufy/Anker P3 is 33% off. Wish DSM-BIA scales were cheaper
THanks, added in!
I had a forerunner 165 w/music I found for $249 last week, currently in shipping but can be returned. Is the Apple Watch series 9 or the forerunner 255 music better deals/better watches at those deals? At those sale prices they’re all in the same range. I looked at 165 review originally and looked over 255 just now.
That’s tough. They’re all kinda different watches. Apple Watch is more on the smarts side (iPhone owners only), whereas between the FR255 and FR165, the FR255 is more about deeper sports training, whereas the FR165 attempts to sorta bridge the divide between an Apple Watch and a Garmin FR255.
So I think I’ll stick with the FR165. The Apple Watch I ruled out pretty quickly because of some of the negatives you listed in your review and the battery life (I had forgotten about that). I have an Edge 840 already (keep forgetting it’s not a 540). So I really only need it for gym workouts and running. Having the touchscreen and the brighter screen are more important to me than having all the extra features I won’t use.
@Ray, on another note – did you get any reports about failing barometric sensors in Edge 530/540? I had 3 530s where the sensors died or went crazy – Garmin replaced them eventually switching it to a 540 – but just had 540 start showing erratic profiles (and it’s not a calibration issue when it essentially shows you’re cycling up while descending)
Is there any hack for that, or is it just acknowledged issue? Had a 520 for 4 years and never saw problems with that one
I’m actually having the same issue. Just replaced my 530 which had elevation calculation issues. I’ve used the 540 for less than 100 rides and now having the same issues. Just did a completely flat ride with my 9 year old and it said we did over 500ft in 11 miles. There’s not 500 ft in 20+ miles of that rail trail.
Have either of you done the warm soapy water bath? Just stick it in a bowl of warm water for 15 mins, with some light soap (or not), and then give it a bit of a light shake, and then rinse it out after. Typically, it’s mud/dirt/road oils/sports gel/etc… that gets stuck in the port and gives wonky stuff.
Though usually big spikes are something else.
With the “port” cover open or closed? I’m a little scared to try this lol.
Closed, though technically, it doesn’t matter. The unit is actually IPX7 certified, even with the port open (something I’ve tested numerous times for years). IPX7 is 30-minutes at 1-meter deep. So even a few hours in a shallow bowl is nothing.
But in this case, the barometric altimeter port isn’t actually in the same cavity as the USB port, so you’re good to keep it closed.
I’m convinced that Amazon Prime Days is an orchestrated campaign between Amazon and manufacturers to unload previous year’s inventory and older models (e.g. Garmin Edge 1040) before Black Friday season. Am I wrong?
Sorta wrong.
There’s tons of products that have no replacement anytime soon, or are entirely brand new. Look at the Fitbit ACE LTE for example, from just last month.
While replacements are likely for some of these products based on historical norms (e.g. new Apple Watches in September), the reality is that almost every product on the list is actually the current gen product.
I’m always happy to get last year’s inventory at a lower price. I got my Forerunner 255 for Black Friday, after the 265 was out. Then I got the Edge 1040 at the recent sale at REI when there were really strong rumors that the 1050 was just about to drop. Some things I want to be on the cutting edge for. These products don’t usually fill that bill. :-)
Kickr Core – $425 link to amazon.com
Do these deals not last all the way through Prine Day? The 255 Music seems to be $349 now, not $219.
No guarantees. Amazon may have sold out their stock at the price
Different amazon markets, half of these are US market and non of them in Europe. Fenix 7x Pro SS is listed here 500something, but price in amazon.de for example is still 750
If you look at the Other Sellers on the right side of the listing, it is still there for $219 from Amazon. Just not delivering for a week
Hello Ray,
I am thinking about a drone for photography, not really doing video, and maybe get an affordable one to learn flying before splurging on a Mavic 3 … there is the Mini 4K and the Mini 3 on sale on German Amazon – which would you recommend for photos? Is the image quality the same or close enough to go for the cheaper 4K?
Kind regards
Konstantin
They’re both very very similar, however, the Mini 3 (non-Pro) does have a better sensor pipeline than the Mini 4K. I’m not quire sure if it’s worth the extra $130 (sale prices) for the base unit – especially if it’s just a temporary stepping stone to a bigger Mavic 3.
Thank you! Went for a Mini 4K, if I really end up enjoying drone photography I will need something with a better camera anyway :)
Enjoy!
That said, i think you’ll be surprised how good the Mini 4K is. For daylight photography/videos, you’ll almost never notice the difference between a Mini 4K and Mavic 3 Pro. Where the main difference you’ll see is low-light photography/videos, and of course the features (e.g. obstacle avoidance, active track, etc…).
DJI continues to pack incredible sensor pipelines into their lower end drones. Heck, the Air 3 matches and often beats the Mavic 3 Pro (because the Air 3 sensor pipeline is actually newer and more powerful). I did a bunch of side-by-side stuff during my Air 3 review, and it’s impressive.
In the Netherlands Amazon still charges € 469 instead of € 329 ($ 359) 😢
Sorry, for which one?
Pizza oven is up to $350 unfortunately….
That’d odd, I still show it as $239. Are you signed in with an Amazon Prime account, with a US address as the shipping address?
The $350 sounds like another unit somehow (since it would be $300 without the sale).
Maybe a bit bike tangential (but hey, a pizza oven made the cut, right), but I just bought the Flextail Zero pump for my bikepacking setup, after realizing during a long bike tour, just how much time and patience is lost inflating my sleeping pad.
Weighs less, and takes up less space, than the inflation sack, and seems to last 9-12 inflations between recharges.
link to amazon.com
Holy cow that’s awesome-small. Though, I need to find a better sleeping past first. My Decathlon one sucks.
(There are many, many, many amazing Decathlon things, the pad I bought is not one of them.)
It’s not cheap, but I love my Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping pad.
Just spent 17 nights on it, interspersed with a few random hotel nights, and slept just as well on it, as hotel beds.
I’m quite conflicted — I’m interested in upgrading from my Edge 530. Would you pick a 840 even though it’s the same price as the 1040? Or should would you wait for the 850 series given what we’ve seen with the 1050.
Totally depends if you want a bigger screen or not. The Edge 840 also has secondary buttons the Edge 1040 (and oddly 1050 too) lack. Both are great units, I use them interchangeably.
If you’re looking for something like an Edge 850, I’d assume that’ll be on the 2-year refresh cycle, thus Spring 2025.
Fwiw, I have the 840, and really, really like it.
But was jealous on a recent bike tour, of how much more battery life a fellow rider was getting out of their 1040.
I’d say the big factor is if you plan to do consecutive day bike touring, or do any single rides lasting more than 20 hours.
I had a couple of connected features going, and my 840 died just before I finished my first day’s 17-hour ride.
I do like having both the buttons and the touch screen.
While the touch screen is nearly flawless, and much improved over previous models, my head pours off sweat on long ascents, and the persistent dripping on the touch screen both builds up some glare, and can mess with the touch screen, at times (though constant rain, does not). It’s nice being able to lock out the touch screen, and use the buttons, for that niche case.
Minor correction: Polar Verity Sense – 15% off. Original price on Amazon is $99. Then $85 makes sense. (you show the original price as $89)
Thanks. Yeah, Polar raised all their prices at some point in the last year or so on lots of stuff. Didn’t catch that in the database (I enter in the sale prices in a slightly different section, so they don’t show up to me side-by-side when manually entering).
Do you think the Fenix 7 deal is really worth it with Fenix 8 just around the corner?
Retail on it was $800 but on slickdeals I saw it go for $600 several times over the last year and it’s a 2year old watch at this point for only $50 lower than a price point from November 2023.
It’s not a bad deal but feels like with the 8 coming out the value is just gonna plummet to like $350-$400 used in a month and losing $150-$200 value immediately.
Hello. I don’t see the same price for the 955 when I click into Amazon – it’s much higher. Am I missing something?
Hi PJ,
I noticed that if I used the link for the 955 at the very top of this article, and then followed the instructions written after the link to choose other sellers/other options it works to get the pricing. I just bought the watch for $319 and it should arrive July 31st – Aug 1st.
When I use the link in the actual article under the Watches and Wearables section the pricing is higher, like $449 or so. I hope you see this and are able to purchase it at the discount using the link at the very top of the page!!
Looking for deal on Garmin Rally pedals. It seems Amazon no longer even sells them. Where else should I look?
Almost none of these apply in Canada. What a sad place to live in :/
…but you’ve got Maple Syrup and Poutine!
Haha, was this reply from The Girl or has her home culture just grown on you?
(It was great meeting both of you at the open house!)
I’m seeing the Enduro 2 as $949 in the US. Is it showing up as $599 for anyone else?
It’s still there! But, it’s not showing by default. Two-second fix:
Simply select the ‘Other Sellers on Amazon’ on right side of product page, and you’ll see it there, new from Amazon, for delivery next week. Amazon will automatically prioritize faster shipment over lower price.
(Pro Tip for anyone else looking at a deal that’s seemingly missing, it just means that basically Amazon had to order more from Garmin, and isn’t showing the default deal pricing unless you click to expand it.)
Just saw the Garmin 1030 for $389.
It’s not a bad deal, but I’d be kinda hesitant. With the Edge 1040 at $449, and still getting updates for likely at least another year or so (including a big slate just a few weeks ago), I think the extra $60 is definitely worth it.
If not for the updates, then certainly for the speed/etc…
hi Ray,
no deal yet on the Garmin Inreach mini 2 which I think you still recommend over the Inreach messenger, correct?
thanks
I have the messenger, and just used it for a 23 day remote excursion, and loved it.
I think it’s a more useful product than the Mini 2, myself.
Same/longer battery life, much better text interface, easier to stow, can back-charge devices, etc.
Reduced navigation features, but frankly, I used my phone/bike computer/offline maps for that.
Note: a phone with no cell data signal will still accurately pinpoint your position and heading on already downloaded maps.
Not to mention, considerably cheaper.
Yeah, I generally prefer the Mini 2 over the Messenger, purely for being able to attach it to a backpack/etc…
It goes on sale here and there a few times a year. Honestly a bit surprised they didn’t put it on sale now, but I suspect the reason is that enough people are buying them already mid-summer.
Have you heard anything on relative sales of Messenger vs. Mini 2?. I bought Messenger simply because was cheaper and didn’t care about clipping it to a pack, but I see the Mini discussed more and Garmin hasn’t made any accessories for Messenger.
Hi Ray,
Thank you so much for posting this!!! I’d been waiting for the 965 to go on sale, but this discount was more than enough for me to pull the trigger on the 955.
I just bought the watch for $319 and noticed that using the link in the article under the watches and wearables section drops you off on the 955 Solar White. It looks like this amazing discount is only available for the non solar black.
The link you provided at the very top of the page drops you off in the right place though.
Thanks again!
Would have loved to pick up an Epix Sapphire, as that’s a great price. But alas, no 51mm versions.
Correct, the different sized units came with the Epix Pro series, which weren’t meaningfully on sale here. They were on sale back a few months ago though. :-/
Thanks again great update….