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 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.
Garmin Reviews
Tiny Garmin Charging Battery Mini-Bank: Worth It?
Back a month or so ago, I ordered a mini 3rd-party Garmin charging battery bank. I can’t remember if I stumbled upon it myself on Amazon or if a DCR reader pointed me at it. Either way, way-back-when, I ordered … Read More Here
Big Garmin Public Beta Update Adds 25 New Features to 2025 Watches
Slowly but surely, we’re starting to see the benefits of Garmin’s consolidated platform take effect. I believe this is the very first time we’ve seen every device on the new platform get/start the public beta on the exact same date/time. … Read More Here
Garmin Lifestyle Logging & Health Status: Everything You Need to Know
Amidst Garmin’s rush of new watch products yesterday (even including super-interesting new Oakley Meta Vanguard AI glasses integration), there were also two new features that launched for existing Garmin users. The first is available to literally everyone on the platform … Read More Here
Garmin Venu 4 Hands-On: Everything You Need to Know!
Garmin has just announced their Venu 4 & Venu 4S watches, which are their mainstream, but sportier, competitors to the Apple Watch, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy Watch. And at first glance, based on the relatively thin marketing materials, these … Read More Here
Garmin Instinct 3 Crossover AMOLED Hands-On: Everyhing You Need To Know!
If you had ‘Garmin makes another Crossover watch’ on a list for the year, it certainly wasn’t on my bingo card. I say that not because it isn’t cool (I think it is), but because it was the watch that … Read More Here
Garmin Edge 850 In-Depth Review: Brilliance at a Price?
Garmin has just announced the new Edge 850, alongside its sibling, the Edge 550. The two units are nearly identical at first glance, but as always, Garmin differentiates them slightly in both hardware and software features. But that wasn’t the … Read More Here
Garmin Fenix 8 Pro: LTE, MicroLED & Satellite Messaging Hands-On: Everything You Need to Know!
It’s here, the new Garmin Fenix 8 Pro & Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED. These two new watches add in both LTE & two-way satellite messaging connectivity, as well as brighter displays for both, including the first wearable to use a … Read More Here
The Garmin Venu X1 Complete Beginners Guide
Just a quick heads up that I’ve published my complete guide for the new Garmin Venu X1, diving into not just all the new features and how they merge together the Forerunner/Venu/Fenix lineups, but of course the watch as a … Read More Here
Garmin Fenix 8 vs Venu X1 vs Forerunner 970: Every Difference Compared!
The Venu X1 is, according to Garmin, the blend of a Forerunner 970, Fenix 8, and Venu 3 series device. They noted that it was the culmination of designing a device without being held to the norms/limits of a given … Read More Here
The Index Sleep Monitor Actually Works 24 hours a Day? A Complete Test
So what happens if you wear only the Garmin Index Sleep Monitor, and no other Garmin watch, 24×7? What data does it contribute to your account? What’s missing? And how does the battery hold up? After publishing my Garmin Index … Read More Here
Garmin & Zwift Announce Tacx NEO 2, 2T & 3M Virtual Shifting
Garmin has announced that virtual shifting is now available on the Tacx NEO 2, 2SE, 2T, and 3M smart trainers, in conjunction with Zwift. Additionally, the Tacx NEO 2T & 2SE is compatible with the Zwift Ride frame. Finally, both … Read More Here
Garmin Index Sleep Monitor In-Depth Review: Worth it?
Garmin has a long history of developing sometimes niche products, often at double-take prices. This is one of those products. I’ll save you a bunch of reading and tell you straight-up at the beginning of this review, that while I … Read More Here
Garmin’s New Edge MTB Cycling GPS Review: How’s It Different?
Garmin has just announced the new Edge MTB cycling computer, a GPS that’s…well…specifically designed for its namesake – the MTB community. It’s got a smaller profile, a new mount, along with some new features that track downhill MTB routes and … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 970 In-Depth Review: Brillance at a Cost?
Like clockwork, two years later, we’ve got ourselves a new flagship Garmin Forerunner. Or in this case, two new Forerunners: The top-end Forerunner 970, and the mid-tier Forerunner 570. And relatively true to their historical releases, they’ve brought a blend … Read More Here
Garmin Venu X1 Hands On: Everything You Need to Know!
Garmin has just announced the Garmin Venu X1, a watch designed to bridge the gap between Garmin’s existing mainstream Venu series (which typically targets recreationally active but not overly serious endurance athletes) and that of their Forerunner series (which typically … Read More Here
The Garmin Forerunner 970 Complete Beginners Guide
Just a quick heads up that I’ve published my complete guide for the Forerunner 970, diving into not just all the new features, but of course the watch as a whole. If you’re coming from either older Garmin watches, or … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 970 Hands-On: Everything You Need to Know!
Garmin has just announced their latest flagship Forerunner watch, the Forerunner 970. This watch takes many of the new smartwatch elements found on the Fenix 8 and Venu 3, and merges them with new sports features not previously found on … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 570 Hands-On: Everything You Need to Know!
Garmin has announced the new Forerunner 570, which is the confirmed successor to the Forerunner 265. Yes, you read that right – Garmin has switched up the numerics for funsies. Or, perhaps they just did it to toy around with … Read More Here
Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical vs Instinct 3 Hands-on: Everything You Need to Know!
Garmin has announced the new Instinct 3 Tactical edition, which comes in two flavors: AMOLED & SOLAR (to match the two flavors of the main Instinct 3 lineup that launched a few months ago). Garmin’s tactical-themed watches have been around … Read More Here
Garmin Varia Vue Front Camera/Light In-Depth Review: Worth the Price?
Garmin has just announced the Garmin Varia Vue, which combines a 600-lumen front light with a safety camera capable of recording in 4K. This essentially becomes the logical pairing to the Garmin Varia RCT-715 rear camera/radar combo. Of course, given … Read More Here
Garmin Vivoactive 6 Hands-On: Everything You Need to Know!
Garmin has just announced the new Vivoacitve 6, which brings it even closer to their mainstream consumer watch, the Venu 3. This new version adds in some 50 sport profile modes and a ton of running features, including running dynamics, … Read More Here
Garmin Instinct 3: Complete Beginners Guide (AMOLED & SOLAR)
Here’s your complete Garmin Instinct 3 (SOLAR & AMOLED) Beginners Guide, which covers everything you need to know about how to use the watch day to day. This is a bit different than my review videos (or the Garmin Instinct … Read More Here
Garmin Instinct 3 (AMOLED & SOLAR) In-Depth Review
The Garmin Instinct series has enjoyed enormous popularity since its launch over 6 years ago. The rugged-looking watches have always aimed to deliver some of the longest battery life in the wearable-GPS world, while still maintaining much of the Garmin … Read More Here
Garmin Instinct 3 Series Hands-on: Everything You Need To Know!
(Heads up – Jan 30th, 2025: My full Instinct 3 in-depth review is now available, go check that out instead!) Garmin has just announced the Instinct 3 series, as well as the Instinct E and new HRM-200. The Instinct 3 … Read More Here
Garmin HRM-200 In-Depth Review
Garmin has just announced their HRM-200 chest strap, a product designed to be their affordable chest strap option, for scenarios that might not work as well with an optical HR sensor. But perhaps more interesting, is that it’s the first … Read More Here
Garmin Lily 2 Active In-Depth Review: Now with GPS!
Less than 10 months after the existing Lily 2 came out, Garmin has pretty substantially upgraded the offering with the new Lily 2 Active. This watch, as the name might imply, is definitely targeting a more sporty customer, with built-in … Read More Here
The Garmin Fenix 8 Complete Beginners Guide
Just a quick heads up that I’ve just published on YouTube a super-detailed hour-long complete user guide for the new Garmin Fenix 8 series (covering both AMOLED and Solar versions). And honestly, anyone with an Enduro 3 can basically use … Read More Here
Garmin Enduro 3 In-Depth Review: The Cheaper/Better Fenix 8?
The Enduro 3 is here, and seemingly has one mission, and one mission only: Go big on battery. Nearly triple their competitors, upwards of 320 hours in a regular GPS configuration. At least in theory, anyway. But fear not, I’ve … Read More Here
Garmin Fenix 8 In-Depth Review: Worth the Upgrade?
The Fenix 8 is here, bringing with it not just new hardware features, but also the end of the Garmin Epix lineup. Or, at least the end of it for now. Fear not though, that ending is merely in name … Read More Here
Garmin Edge 1050 In-Depth Review: Brilliance or Battery?
As has been the trend for the last 2 years at Garmin, they’ve apparently grown tired of people complaining about their display tech looking like it’s from 1987. Following various Garmin watches getting brilliant and responsive AMOLED displays, it’s now … Read More Here
Best Bike GPS 2024 In-Depth: Garmin Edge 840 vs Hammerhead Karoo 3 vs Wahoo ROAM V2
It’s time for another bike computer comparison, this time comparing the best bike computers at the sub-$500 level. The price range is somewhat arbitrary – as really my goal was to compare the three most popular options from the three … Read More Here
Apple Watch vs Garmin Watch: Skiing Features Tested!
Many people track their ski (or snowboard) trips with their watches. They do so in all manner of sports profiles, from running to cycling to skiing. However, for both Garmin and Apple watches, there are features and apps that are … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 165 vs Forerunner 265 Comparison Review: All 107+ Differences Detailed
While only one digit separates the two models, the reality is that there’s a pile of differences. Many big-ticket differences (like Training Readiness), but also lots of little and more nuanced differences. The last time I did this type of … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 165 In-Depth Review: Best Budget Running GPS?
Garmin’s newly announced Forerunner 165 marks two notable occasions. First and most importantly, a revamp of Garmin’s budget running offerings. And second, likely the end of MIP-based displays for Garmin’s Forerunner series. The new AMOLED-based Forerunner 165 is now the … Read More Here
Garmin’s 2024 Q1 Wearables Beta Update: Huge New Features!
This is the first time I’ve written one of these quarterly posts where I can actually put “Wearables” in the title, rather than specifically ‘Fenix’ or ‘Forerunner’ or ‘Epix’. That’s because Garmin is actually close enough now that all of … Read More Here
