Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $449, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, and plenty more! Go check out the full list here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
Here’s how to save!
Wanna save some cash and support the site? These companies help support the site! With Backcountry.com or Competitive Cyclist with either the coupon code DCRAINMAKER for first time users saving 15% on applicable products.
You can also pick-up tons of gear at REI via these links, which is a long-time supporter as well:
Alternatively, for everything else on the planet, simply buy your goods from Amazon via the link below and I get a tiny bit back as an Amazon Associate. No cost to you, easy as pie!
You can use the above link for any Amazon country and it (should) automatically redirect to your local Amazon site.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
1
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.
2
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!
3
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.
4
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!
5
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.
Did my long run time to compensate with lots of chocolate. Would love this watch!!!
I LOVE YOUR REVIEWS! Okay, so I was starting a regular 10K run yesterday and turned on my garmin 305 to it telling me ‘battery low’- sh*t. Too far from home to go back and re-charge it, so just ran anyway and it lasted the entire run. Gotta luv garmin. go-go-garmin!
Hello DC. No funny story, but would love to use the watch for my first Marathon training. :)
After 3 Marathons (Colombo, Tel-aviv, Berlin), 2 Half Iron-mans (2 X Eilat) and of coarse many other races, I think it’s about time I should upgrade my basic Polar model… And my birthday on April 30 would be a great opportunity!
Thanks :)
Planning for a long run on Saturday so I can overload on the ham and potatoes on Sunday.Winning the 610 would then allow me to give my 210 to my wife.
I have a level entry hrm watch. Would be great to have this spanking new gamin watch to train for my first half marathon in gold coast Australia :)
Nothing compare to garmin watch!
My leg is in a cast -broken foot from Paris marathon training- and my Dad passed away a couple of weeks ago. Earlier today I planted a rose bush in memory of him and that is my weekend workout. I will be back running in four weeks time and the 610 would be a fantastic companion! Thanks Ray, all the best from Brussels, Belgium.
i plan to do speed work for easter morning and then head to church after.
Planned workout: Saturday start building a deck. Sunday run 12-15mi. Thanks for the detailed reviews!
Plan to do some indoor riding today – 40 miles. Then a rest day tomorrow. Can’t wait!
Thanks, Li from Philadelphia.
I plan do to a long run on early Easter morning – soon enough to catch the easter bunny ?
Adding mulch and cleaning up flower beds on Saturday (yardwork counts right?) and a 6 mile run at the local track Sunday.
Worst hidden easter egg ever was some years ago when my mum hid my sisters egg in her compost, and there were maggots entering the egg. We let it be in the compost and it’s still there – hopefully just soil by now…
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I think i will train in my city, Rome. Happy Easter to all of you!
Got out today for a ride … and it started to snow! When will summer come to New England!
A nice new and free computer would sure ease the cold…
In this holy week I will participate in a race 7km beneficial in Nigran Galicia Spain. It’s for a good cause so it’s worth getting on a Sunday for it. In addition to training that played for the week, raining but I do not I love running in the rain.
Where I live is traditional to give a thread-like cake, I love it! uncles each will give it away until you marry. If it were not I would never marry! My guys gave me one of three kilograms.
I’m going to buy a garmin but if I get the one you give away can spend the money on some good running shoes.
A greeting from Spain
Happy Easter Day!
No easter eggs here – they do these “Semana Santa” processions. This year, however, the weather is losy and for the first time in about 80 years processions in Sevilla have been cancelled…
I picked up the running bug in Afghanistan over the winter and lost about 20 pounds. My deployment blog is at http://is Murphy.blogspot.com . I just had my first stride analysis and picked up some great shoes that should help me with my form. I’m looking at watches and fund your blog for the reviews. Can’t afford the model here, so figured I’d throw my hat into the ring.
Hoping to get picked for the NYC Marathon (will find out on the 27th…) The 610 would really help out my training! Thanks for the great reviews.
Plan: To recover from my ankle pain, I will run my first half marathon the next saturday 30th and Ive been stopped for the last ten days.
I just came back from running my plan for the weekend; 6.23 miles as I taper for the St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Half Marathon next week.
Planning to break in my new running shoes!
Sorry, no good stories. But I really want to win this contest.
I caught my five year old eating a peep this morning. I thought he had somehow found the stash I had planned to put in his Easter basket tomorrow, so I checked the bag and the package was unopened. Confused, I asked my husband if he had given the boys peeps. He had no idea what I was talking about. I asked my son where he got the peep – he said in his basket. So I checked last year’s Easter basket, which I had gotten out of the closet. It still had grass from last year in it, and underneath the grass was year old, hard jelly beans and peeps. These baskets have been in boxes and moved across the country last summer, unpacked and put in the closet. And yes, the peep was still good.
Plan to run 10 miles on Sunday and then eat 10 pounds of chocolate.
Nice Site! I love your reviews and still trying to figure out which Garmin watch is best suited for me now!
tempo run friday, long ride today. Taking Easter off to fill my belly!
Located 23 carboard bunnies on a an eggciting Easter trail with the family today. Their names were: Hazel; Arthur; Peter; Primrose; Yo-Yo; Einstein; Amber; Sammy; Thumper; Edelweiss; Rose; Flopsy; Ronald; Oliver; Mopsy; Snowdrop; Cottontail; Orion; Thomas; Lopsy; Anchor; Noddy & Digger. Could have done with a GPS to get round that bit quicker! Hitting the north-east coast of Scotland on the bike tomorrow for a training ride. Use the first letter of each bunny’s name to make up a sentence!
(Thanks for the reviews; iancwhite@talktalk.net)
I plan to go for a 10k run then negate that benefit by indulging in some chocolate eggs.
Celebrated Easter by training away on my own in preparation for Penn Relays on Thursday,will be my first race back after a 3 month lay-off due to injury.
I live far, far from home and always spend Easter on my own. One year, my boss invited me over to her place for this lovely, spring holiday… perhaps feeling sorry for me. Feeling obliged to “stop by for a few” after my morning trail run, I did. The boss’s brother, husband, and husband’s best friend then commenced the pouring of the margaritas… non-stop. Needless to say, I was having a lot of fun! I stayed all day bbq-ing, socializing, etc, and not surprisingly, had to take a cab home. I ended up dating my boss’s, husband’s best friend as a result of this very different Easter experience. Awkward!
I live far, far from home and always spend Easter on my own. One year, my boss invited me over to her place for this lovely, spring holiday… perhaps feeling sorry for me. Feeling obliged to “stop by for a few” after my morning trail run, I did. The boss’s brother, husband, and husband’s best friend then commenced the pouring of the margaritas… non-stop. Needless to say, I was having a lot of fun! I stayed all day bbq-ing, socializing, etc, and not surprisingly, had to take a cab home. I ended up dating my boss’s, husband’s best friend as a result of this very different Easter experience. Awkward!
i plan on running 30k next week.
shmulik segal
segal71@gmail.com
Plan to ride 40km on Sunday and then run 5km.
No funny Easter stories, but I will have a great training weekend. Highlight of which is the Kids Egg Hunt that our pool organizes. Imagine 4 lane pool full of floating plastic eggs. Each one has penny in it and about 50 kids around the pool. Once the hunt starts the pool looks like it has piranhas inside as kids scramble to get their allotted eggs. It is a lot of fun and then we will stay to play around in the pool. So yeah that will be the highlight for sure.
Great reviews! Thanks!
Hi there! :)
Hi there! :)
I’d love to win one for my hubby, who is in the Navy. I’d love for him to be motivated to work out more for his overall health and mental happiness. We have some beautiful country roads for him to run on…
We will be having family over for Easter, after church.
Heather@BlessingsPourOut
gonna try a 16k run using my old 405, a 610 would be nice ;)
Newbie runner. Greatly enjoy your blog and I appreciate the give away. I hope I get a chance to sport the the 610 and obtain some of my goals this year.
I am entering a comment for the Garmin 610. My funny story is just that I am trying to teach my 4 year old son about easter. The fun part is that we are Muslim and so its pretty much a whole amount of time helping him appreciate other religions while trying not to overload him or confuse him with!
mustafa aziz
mustiaziz@hotmail.com
No funny story, just plan to eat and get fat.
Good Friday session at the gym, elliptical, bike & rower…easy 5 miles Sunday morning…and plenty of chocolate in between!!
Excellent review! This is my first time reading your blog and found it is great! Keep it up! See if I can get the watch!
My workout this weekend was a race rehearsal 56 mile bike followed by a short brick run. Sorry no funny Easter story. Jason Z.
This watch is great. See if I can get it free!!
run run run, but wish I knew how far I ran….hmmm, a GPS watch sure sounds attractive ;-)
Thanks for the voluminous info!
My weekend workout was an intended 4.5 mile run today. I went out in the heat of the day, and faster than expected, so I only got through four. You get antsy when you’ve been on injury rest, and when it feels good it’s hard to slow down – so I’m satisfied with my 4 anyway. We’ll visit CO for the first time this week, and hope to try a run at high altitude, which would also be a first.
RB Jr.
I’m deciding which GPS watch I should buy. After reading your review I made up my mind to buy the 610. Thanks!
I ate my long weekend’s easter egg supply by Friday night. I will probably go for a big run on Sunday now!
Cool running gps!
Wow what a great giveaway. Love the blog as well! :)
Just finished doctoral degree and plan to get a garmin forerunner as present to self. accepted challenge from daughter to run first half-marathon by fall. will need all the help i can get
Nice! Thanks for giving away a 610. That’s a kind gesture. I ran a hard 4 mile race today so tomorrow will feature a recovery run.
Larry K
mac.hive@me.com
Injury recovery mode. Did a 10.5 mile bike ride today. Sleep in Easter morning.
Hi DC,
I came across your site while researching about FR610 on world wild web. I have to say you have put up a fantastic collection of stories, tips and reviews. I’m definitely a fan of you now.
However I’m doing my first 5K on 4th June (Ypeeee!) I’ve been using the Nike sports kit but it is very inaccurate. I like your reviews and stories very much. So keep it going.
And I want this bad boy watch. LoL
Thanks.
Long run this Saturday… Marathon training. Gotta love it. Oh yeah, many years ago I did find a colored egg under the couch cushions 3 weeks after the fact. Not fun.
Thanks for all the info.
Yesterday my 3 year old asked to go to a store to buy her cousin a birthday present. We said, sorry, it’s good friday, the stores are closed. She responded, i like bad friday better because all of the stores are open.
Kids say the darndest things.
DC I always read your review, really detailed and usefull.
Thanks!
Migue.
DC, always follow your reviews, really detailed and useful!
Thanks a lot!
Migue.
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Long run today in prep for my first 5k coming up next week.
I remember one year when my sister and I got the large chocolate bunnies for Easter – the big, hollow ones. Mom thought is was too much chocolate for us to have all at once so after we’d eaten the ears (of course) and maybe a foot and the tail, she took them and made the disappear. We didn’t find them again for months. The chocolate had that odd white coating that old chocolate gets (not mold), but we were kids so of course we still ate them.
[My knee has been twinging recently so I’m not running this weekend. Heading out to go rock climbing on Easter Sunday instead.]
Wow an excellent review of the 610 and now a giveaway. Sick man!
Looking forward to trying the new Garmin. I’ve got a 310XT and am fairly happy with it!
I got 2800y in the pool and then 12.5mi run with 4 at tempo today. Tomorrow is 55mi on the bike. Overall it will be a good weekend of training.
Yesterday (saturday) I did 45 min of interval training on the bike. Today I am resting and tomorrow I will be doing an easy 60km ride to Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast.
I’ve had a hard few weeks so this weekend I plan to recover. Will still be doing a long ride tomorrow though.
Gonna be a lazy day to kick back and enjoy the weekend.
Good times remembering dying easter eggs and hiding them in my Grandmother’s yard. TRG.
Planning a sunrise long ride on easter Sunday.
Planning a sunrise long ride on easter Sunday.
Years ago, we had a tradition of renting a beach house from friends of ours during spring break/Easter. While at the beach we would dye eggs with the kids, and then early Easter morning, we would hide plastic eggs (with treats) around the beach house and in the yard.
One year later, we arrived back at the beach house. The next day (Saturday before Easter), one of the kids saw something bright under a pile of sticks and leaves. He discovered a “missed” egg and opened it up. Luckily, we were there to see it, as he was very close to putting the “treat” in his mouth.
Upon inspection, the treat looked okay, but we parents were sure that this couldn’t be good…besides, in only a day, there would be new candy.
New to your blog but I will definitely be back. Thanks for all of your in-depth reviews. My Easter funny is that my 10 year old son is worried that our cat will eat the Easter bunny so he plans on locking the cat in his room tonight.
No funny easter stories (Jewish) but am taking kids to egg hunt tomorrow (never done one myself). Training for Columbia Tri and just did brick workout on the course. I always forget how hilly it is. Can’t wait!
One year, I was tasked with hiding plastic Easter eggs (chocolate or hard-boiled eggs wouldn’t fare well in our Asian climate). As I worked, my precocious 3-year-old nephew, Hector*, strolled up and would’ve opened up everything I’d assembled to investigate the contents if I hadn’t given him his own egg and sent him back inside the house.
The next hour was filled with quiet work until an angry scream rang forth. It occurred to me then that Hector hadn’t pestered me since I’d given him the egg. Horror dawned on me when I remembered that the favors included MINI COLOR PENCILS. I sprinted to where I’d heard the angry voice.
True enough, Hector was beaming proudly at his fuming mum, intermittently blowing on a whistle (one of the favors). Jellybeans, tasted and spat out, scattered the floor. On the walls, from the floor to approximately 3 feet up, was Hector’s mural of what Easter meant to him and how happy he was with his egg. He had even used jellybeans to add textural contrast.
Since then, Hector has not been allowed any jellybeans.
* Name changed to preserve anonymity
Just the usual eggs hunt.
Thanks for the reviews!
Got in a solid long run this morning. The perfect way to justify all the Easter food coming my way :)
I’m just recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon so I’ll be taking it easy for awhile but a nice watch like this will give me some motivation to get healed faster!
As funny Easter stories go, when I was a kid we used to have a curious cat who would unknowingly guide us to many of the clever hiding spots that the Easter Bunny had picked out for the eggs.
7 mile run tomorrow after a delicious easter brunch!
Great reviews, looking for my first GPS watch and your site has been extremely useful.
This year? I’ll be working on Easter, and I’ll be judging everybody who comes in while I stare outside lustily as all the runners go by.
An eastern story ? I have not.
But my wife buy 10 kg of chocolate each years for just one child. So we eat this f…ing chocololate all over the year to finish it, because my daughter don’t like it too much (cheap chocolate)
It(s 9 in france, i’m going to run with my old 405(3 times repaired) one hour after my tendinite in the calf.
fingers crossed !
I used to eat Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs all the time where I grew up, though never during Easter. Now that Easter Sunday has arrived, I’m finally wanting to eat one… except they’re illegal in the states where I now live!
I would love to be the first person in Denmark to have the new Forerunner watch. Snow is gone so now it is time for rollerskies. link to swenor.com
Doing a nice 20k run for Easter here in Chicago!!
Just started Daniels’ 5k program. Woulld love some way to gauge my progress!
My Dad once hid an easter egg in the yard with a $10 bill in it. He hid it so well, none of the family ever found it. To this day he swears a squirrel ran off with his egg when he wasn’t looking!
Count me in, having a working HRM strap alone would be fantastic!
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So right now we have the best weather of whole of Europe here, but I’m locked inside to study for a test coming up next week.
My planned workout involves laying around and icing my ankle. Would rather be running, but …
OMG, a FR610!! You’re a rockstar! I don’t celebrate Easter, and plan to “celebrate” today in a way you must know well — recovering from jetlag! Hope to find the mojo for a run after last night’s redeye, but right now I’m just catching up on blogs over coffee!
Love this blog! Thanks for the review and have a great Easter egg hunt!
Does anybody know any quick and easy fix for achilles tendonitis? Have a 10k Long Island race in a week…
Happy bunny everybody!
No run today, just Easter with the kids and grandkids.