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.
Tag Archives: CES
GoPro Labs 2021 New Features For Hero 9, Hero 8, Hero 7 and Max
For pretty much the second time in GoPro’s history, they just now added camera features to significantly older cameras – in this case, the Hero 7 in particular (the other time was the GoPro webcam mode). You may remember last … Read More Here
15 Years This Week: The Forerunner 305 Was Released: How does it test now?
It was 15 years ago this past week that the Forerunner 305 was released, at CES 2006 (Consumer Electronics Show). Arguably the device that began it all from a GPS running watch standpoint, its famed reddish color made it easy … Read More Here
Scosche Announces New Rhythm+ 2.0 Optical HR Armband
Here’s your complete details on what’s new and different with the new Scosche Rhythm+ 2.0 optical HR armband, which transmits dual ANT+ & Bluetooth Smart. Read More Here
A Look at EatMyRide: Automated Nutrition Planning with Strava/Garmin Integration
While at CES last week I had the chance to get a bit of a demo from one of the companies within startup pavilion. This pavilion is a bit like speed dating for companies. They’ve got a very small stand … Read More Here
First Look: Amazfit’s Crazy Treadmill & Wall Display System
The most common question I get while walking around the CES show floor each year is: What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen here? Every…single…person asks me that. Every hour, every day, every year. And generally speaking this year it was … Read More Here
Stages Further Lowers Power Meter Pricing to $299
No matter how you feel about single-sided power meters, there’s zero denying that Stages and their timing of the decade deal with then Team Sky, dramatically increased power meter consumption. In the rising tide lifts all boats department, they took … Read More Here
Suunto 7 with Wear OS–Maps, Music, Payments: Everything you ever wanted to know
(**UPDATE: There has since been a Suunto 7 In-Depth Review. Follow the link for the most up to date information**) There’s only two words to describe the just announced Suunto 7 GPS watch: Hail Mary. How this story ends will … Read More Here
Coming Up Next Week: The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020!
If I had to summarize what I expect I’ll see next week at CES into three words it’d be: Huh, that’s different. CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, is of course the annual gathering of the world’s tech companies to show … Read More Here
Quick Update on Stages Dash L10, M50, and L50 Bike GPS Units (First Test Ride)
(*** In case you missed it, an in-depth review was posted of the three Dash L50, M50, and L10. See the link for more info.) While most of the cycling focus this week may be on the Tour Down Under in … Read More Here
Round-up video of all my CES 2019 final thoughts up!
With CES behind us, I’ve wrapped up and published almost everything that I plan to talk about from CES 2019 on the site already. While it was a bit of a quieter year for sports tech and wearables at CES, … Read More Here
Suunto expands TrainingPeaks support, as well as opens integration doors
The easy title for this post would simply be “Suunto adds TrainingPeaks support”, but that’d be both confusing and only half-correct. First, Suunto as a company has actually long sync’d to TrainingPeaks from their Movescount platform. That’s the platform that … Read More Here
4iiii Shows off Power Meter Theft Tracking Capabilities
Sitting innocently enough in a booth for Tile-competitor Chipolo sits a 4iiii dual-sided power meter. To say it’s out of place in this booth at CES would be an understatement. But, it’d also be missing the point of a fascinating … Read More Here
First Look: Body Heat and Solar Powered Matrix PowerWatch 2 GPS
Each year at CES people invariably ask me what’s the most interesting thing I’ve seen on the show floor. Some years, there’s many options to choose from. This year? Not so much. Still, my answer this year oscillates between this … Read More Here
First Look at the new $129 Withings Move ECG
It seems that Withings finally has its mojo back. After they were bought by Nokia, they entered what was more or less the dark ages for the company. We saw little to no innovation, and in fact, moving backwards in … Read More Here
First Look: Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music Cellular/LTE (for Verizon)
Today Garmin begins their journey with cellular enabled wearables, announcing the first such device, the Vivoactive 3 Music Cellular/LTE. Actually, technically it’s called the Garmin Vivoactive 3 connected by Verizon, leaving zero doubts about who exactly it’s available for. And … Read More Here
First Look: SOLOS Gen2 Wearable Sports Heads up Display
While both Google Glass and Recon Jet have ridden off into the sunset, there are still 2-3 companies working to capture your heads up display glass dollars. One of them, SOLOS, was back at CES again this year showing off … Read More Here
Wahoo Fitness at CES: Update on the KICKR CLIMB Timelines
(Update: The Wahoo KICKR CLIMB has since been released, and you can find all the details from months of testing and use, here in the Wahoo KICKR CLIMB In-Depth Review) First Look Like many fitness tech companies at CES this … Read More Here
Running On Peloton’s New Tread Connected Treadmill
This week at CES, Peloton raised the stakes and announced their long awaited treadmill – simply called Tread. For those not familiar, Peloton is the indoor cycling studio that’s transplanted into your living room via their swanky (and expensive) indoor … Read More Here
Spire: These activity tracking sensors attach to your underwear
With thousands of companies exhibiting at CES, you see all sorts of things across a wide array of viability levels. Some stuff you see you’ll know will be a hit. While others it’s just a matter of time before not … Read More Here
Hands-on: Scosche’s New Rhythm24 Optical HR Sensor Swiss-Army Knife
I initially thought of just titling this post “Scosche’s New Rhythm24 Optical HR Band”, but in reality, that doesn’t begin to capture what they’re doing with the new Rhythm24. Because almost everything they’ve added is about things beyond the optical … Read More Here
First Look: The Suunto 3 Fitness: Lightweight Non-GPS Sports Watch
Today, on the eve of CES opening its doors, Suunto cracked the lid on their latest watch, the Suunto 3 Fitness. These small and incredibly lightweight watches are somewhat aimed to compete with the likes of Polar’s M430 watches, as well … Read More Here
GoPro exits drone business, but also drops price on GoPro Hero 6 Black
In a move that will surprise approximately nobody, GoPro officially announced they’re exiting the flying camera business. This was rumored over the weekend with the slashing of some 245 jobs, but solidified today in their earnings call. Of course, while … Read More Here
5 Sports Tech Tidbits: Hammerhead Karoo, Garmin Vivofit 4, Shimano Power, New Bike Build, CES 2018
Happy New Year! As you’ve likely noticed, it’s been a wee bit quiet around here the last few weeks. I wish I could say it was because I was relaxing on a beach, but alas, I’m exhausted from it all. … Read More Here
An Update on the Mio SLICE: How to get your slice of PAI
When Ray asked what readers wanted to see from CES this year, several of you commented about the Mio SLICE and the current status of its availability. I had the chance to sit down with the folks at Mio and … Read More Here
First Look: Suunto’s new Movesense advanced sensor platform
This past week at CES, Suunto introduced not one but two different products. Of course, it’s the Spartan Wrist HR watch that got most of the attention, complete with distracting green lights. But it was the almost not even mentioned … Read More Here
First Look: TomTom’s Newly Overhauled Sports App
As with most things in the tech realm – announcements from companies at CES usually fall into one of two camps: software or hardware. This year we saw many software focused announcements in the fitness/sports technology space. I suspect in … Read More Here
Early Look: Zwift in VR!
Back at Eurobike this past summer there was a lonely tent outside next to the bike trial area. Under that tent was a single Wahoo KICKR, a flat-screen TV, a laptop, and a bicycle. Oh, and an Oculus Rift VR … Read More Here
First Look: The Casio Pro Trek Smart Android Wear GPS Watch
Earlier this week, Casio officially unveiled their all new smart outdoor watch, the Pro Trek Smart WSD-F20. This is their second GPS watch aimed squarely at the outdoor market, following last year’s announcement with a relatively similar model. This year … Read More Here
Hands-on: Misfit’s Vapor GPS Watch
Here at CES, Misfit has significantly upped their activity tracker game by diving into the GPS watch realm. The company, known for their lightweight and fashionable wearables, announced a new $200 GPS sport watch set to release later this year. … Read More Here
Hands-on: Suunto’s Spartan Sport Wrist HR watch
This week at CES, Suunto has officially unveiled their first optical heart rate capable watch – the Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR. You may remember back this past summer, when news first came out about Suunto’s plans for an optical … Read More Here
Garmin launches its first inReach products: the inReach SE+ and inReach Explorer+
Back in February of 2016 Garmin purchased U.S. based GPS device and map maker DeLorme. In the press release of that acquisition Garmin specifically called out Delorme’s inReach two-way satellite communication devices. Those devices packed a unique capability that allowed the … Read More Here
Polar shows off GoPro camera control, new H10 heart rate strap
While Polar started off the week with an announcement about their new wearable shirt that has integrated heart rate sensors in it, they began today announcing details on GoPro camera control and a new H10 heart rate strap. I got … Read More Here
Roundup from CES Day 2: Pepcom Event
We wrapped up Day 2 at CES 2017 last night. Ray spent the morning meeting with several sports technology companies while I worked on a few other posts in anticipation of the show officially opening tomorrow. While during the evening … Read More Here
GoPro says Karma Drone isn’t dead yet
Today GoPro announced that their Karma drone, which was recalled last year will be getting the band back together again, and re-launching sometime this year. You’ll remember that GoPro shipped 2,500 Karma drones before issuing a recall about two weeks … Read More Here
Garmin launches Uber ETA and other Connect IQ Apps
Caught up in the announcement of the all new Garmin Fenix 5 series this morning was the release of a host of new Connect IQ apps, watch faces, and data fields. Garmin is making available for download apps from Uber, … Read More Here