Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $429, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, (or Hero 13 bundle for $339!) 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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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.
On more than one occasion I’ve found stray easter eggs with my lawn mower the weekend after. Talk about explosive!
Thanks a bunch for the 610 review. I can’t imagine a more comprehensive one, and it’s made me think about “accidentally” dropping my 305. :)
When I was a wee little boy, my brother came downstairs to the basement on Easter and told me that everyone upstairs was eating my chocolate Easter Bunny! WTF!? I go flying to the steps and slip on the linoleum floor and bash my two front teeth into the stairs and bend them back 45 degrees! What an Easter! Luckily (and this hurts though) my aunt is a dental hygienist, and was competent enough to know she could just pull, yes pull, the teeth back into place. OMG that hurt even worse! Worst Easter ever, but always garners a quick quote from my brother on Easter every year which I promptly flick him off for.
Easter egg hunt during a trail run, the only problem when we found them not sure we wanted to bend down to pick them up since ours legs were so tired from all the climbs.
Me Me Me (Please!)
Every year when we were kids my mom would hide the Easter baskets for me, my brother, and eventually my sister to find. When my little sister was born, it became fun all over again because we were quite a bit older than her. Also, our baskets were not just candy . . the Easter Bunny was very good at putting some little toy or token for us to play with on that day too. One year Mr. Bunny tried to add something new to our baskets. So, we all find our baskets and proceed to bring them to the kitchen to go over our goodies. Well, my little sister won’t touch her basket. We’re all trying to ask her why (she was about 2 at the time) and she finally blurts out – “The Easter Bunny pooped in my basket!!!” My mom had decided to add chocolate covered raisins in the grass!!! :D Now that my sister is 31 we always talk about how the Easter Bunny is going to poop in our baskets . . and she relays just how horrified she was to see that he had relieved himself in her basket!! LOL! Definitely a family story that doesn’t die.
7 mile run Saturday and a 11 mile run Sunday
When I was younger my mom would dress me and my two older brothers in matching Eater outfits and it was usually something ridiculous and pink. Thankfully that only lasted a few years!!
Long run on the dykes near home is planned for a beautiful sunny day in BC!
RAY
thanks
doron from tel aviv
I plan on running 12 miles on my six year wedding anniversary.
Much to my chagrin, last Easter we adopted a real bunny. She is the gift that keeps on giving – of the rabbit raisin variety!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Planned workout: Saturday 15 km and Sunday 18 km
Weekend Workout: Marathon eating of chocolate, jelly beans, and any other sugary, tasty items!
Well, I can’t think of any funny Easter stories off hand. I think this weekend I’ll still be doing some recovery runs after last weekend’s marathon, and hopefully take the bike outside for the first time this year!
When I was six, I won a chocolate bunny in an Easter egg hunt, left it in the car during brunch, and was left with a chocolate puddle and two eyes.
I would love to win this! We have Easter picnics with the family for fun. I am glad to hear you are coming to St. George for the ironman, we live close and it is beautiful! Good luck!
The new Garmin looks very sleek – I’d love to see how that translates in terms of functionality and readability. Also, it will be interesting to see how it fares against the upcoming Polar RCX5.
I asked my 4 yr old daughter what Easter was all about and she said “Easter is when Jesus turns into an Bunny”
Going to run before hitting the family buffet. I’ve tried running after once, and it was not pretty. I consider this reverse carb loading more effective.
Two hour run on Saturday, two hour bike on Sunday. My Garmin 405 battery charge doesn’t hold past the 3 hour mark anymore, so an upgrade is in the near future.
I’m training for an Iornman. I have a 8 mile run Sat. 16 on Sun.
45 min swimm Saturday and a 35 mile bike Sunday
I must say, your one lucky guy to be testing out all the latest new gadgets! I am extremely interested in the Garmin 610. I was going to purchase a 310 but decided to wait until something came out that was a little sleeker looking. Looks like Garmin has finally got a watch that I could comfortably purchase/wear. Unless that is if I win this draw! hehehe… Keep up the great gear reviews and good luck with ur tri’s!
Gonna run 13 or 14 miles and keep my fingers crossed for good weather for the Broad Street Run on May 1st.
(Oh, and eat Peeps. Will run for Peeps.)
If I add a Garmin 610 to my Garmin 310XT, I’ll have a Garmin 920XT!
If I add a Garmin 610 to my Garmin 310XT, I’ll have a Garmin 920XT!
No crazy Easter Bunny stories, but I am looking forward to the Cry Baby 100K from West Bicycles here in Knoxville this weekend. First real test of the legs this year.
I’m opting for an “adult easter egg hunt” this weekend… think adult beverages instead of chocolates. And of course a bike workout too!
I have this odd memory of dying Easter Eggs with my parents and sister while watching Die Hard 2 on TV. I mean, why were my parents letting me watch this at such a young age? And while participating in an Easter tradition? So odd.
No workout this weekend. Saving my energy to deliver all those eggs.
I’ve followed your blog for 3 years now, and haven’t commented yet. But this seems like a great time to start. My season up here in Saskatoon Canada doesn’t officially kick off until May 28th, for the Saskatchewan Half Marathon so I’m still building up to race volumes. But this weekend is 25km run on Saturday, 100km ride on Sunday, and then a bit of rest on Monday.
Hmm, Easter story? Not really, just the run of the mill eat turkey-get tired story. Yum, turkey! Good luck this race season!
Hello Ray,
Great reviews i have spent three days of this week reading a few of them and they are so great. Still up in the air on getting a 310xt or this new 610. Can’t wait to see the full review of the nike+ gps watch too.
This comment has been removed by the author.
here the bunny comes and its may daughter 5th birthday so double party
We are going to the beach! I love running on the coast…one of my favorite places!
Ray,
Great reviews have spent a few days reading about all the great new tech out there. Keep up the great reviews. and thanks.
I was so distracted by the 610 that I (nearly) forgot about the Easter Story / weekend workout:
When we were kids, my parents who liked the idea to go for an all-family-members walk around the fields and woods, used to hide the Easter eggs (and other goodies) the morning before the joint walk nearby the path (sort of to incentivize their three walking-lazy kids). So, on one of those specific Easter sundays, we went on this “Easter walk”, each of us kids trying to beat the others in finding the most chocolate goodies. However, on that day regardless how hard we looked, we could not find any. Also my parents were startled as there the goodies were not any longer where they had hidden them. After a collective, but futile search we went back home. Later that day we learned that the kids of the neighbours had discovered our Easter eggs earlier that day and happily collected them.
Lesson learned: I will not hide Easter eggs for my kids outside the house this sunday. Rather, I will hit the road for a long bike ride (~ 4h) followed by a run.
would love this for my wife. She thinks it is cute. As you must know from the girl cute is good
I am training for the Blood Sweat and Gears century. This will be my first mt. century. About 2 months to go.
ctwagons
rtroyer1@embarqmail.com
Hello Mr. Dc Rainmaker,
This weekend will be nice and quick like all the rest, lol..I will have a pretty soggy and wet one. I will throw the kids outside in the back and let them find the eggs, and then run in the house and promise me they dont get hit by lightening…lol Again Like I said very quick and short.. DID I mention void the tornados??????
I can neither confirm, nor deny that I have pulled this prank……..fill the plastic Easter egs with the nasty tasting jelly beans. I’m talking about the ones that taste like puke, garbage, etc.
And a side note…. do NOT forget which eggs have the gross jelly beans & which ones have the tasty jelly beans.
ray,
great reviews, really love how in depth they are and how you get the info out there for all of us.
probably do a short brick
Thought I’d impress my new boyfriend by hiding Easter chocolate for Sunday morning when we went to Victoria, BC to camp for the weekend. I hid the chocolates when I packed as we flew there first. Left the chocolate in our packs in our tent. Note that there are grizzlies in the area where we camped. Sunday morning, revealed the eggs…didn’t realize that this was a dangerous move to store food in our tent with many bears in the area. Any case, he appreciated the gesture. Lessons learned.
Funny easter story… does my brother eating peeps until he barfs count?
Having helped with our church’s Easter egg hunt for years, we have found more than our share of “never” found eggs. We rarely eat whats inside them though.
Workout this weekend? Hummm. Nothing great planned just running squeezed around all the kiddos Easter activies. It’s their weekend since I just had mine when I did my 50 miler…and I get another one for a quick 10 miler on the 30th but I’ll sneak that in before they ever know I wa gone. ;-)
Enjoy the weekend.
I sprained my ankle, but like reading your blog =)
Chris W (Shrek)
No funny stories come to mind, so I’ve got a 10k run and a 90 min bike ride planned for the weekend.
actor1 here….hi ray. i hope i win so i can follow h.r. as i mow the lawn….thanks!
Way cool Ray! I can’t think of a funny easter story. I’ve got a 5K race on Saturday planned!
While growing up, every few years, on Easter we always got a new Schwinn bike. That was the start of my excersizing habit. Now, this Easter will be 6 days before my 1st half-marathon. Thanks mom and dad for encouraging good health.
Planning on fitting in a number of workouts in over the holiday in between get-togethers.
Thanks Ray!
Looking forward to watching Liege-Bastogne-Liege with coffee and a few Cadbury’s Cream Eggs!
I’m planning to be biking for as long as I’m forced to be at my in-laws :)
When I was 2 years old, my parents decided to take my Easter Basket away from me so that I didn’t eat all the candy at once. Well, a little while later, my parents couldn’t find me – and when they did, I was hiding behind my grandfathers leather chair, scarfing up the candy from the Easter Basket that was so rudely taken away from me and that I had rescued from my parents! I was also completely covered from head to toe in chocolate.
If I keep buying the cool toys you recommend, I am going to die poor, but a WINNER…
Thanks for another awesome giveaway! My mom always did an amazing job hiding our Easter baskets. One year she hid one of the baskets inside of our baby grand piano. Another year, she suspended a basket in between the legs of our dining room table. She also put my brother’s Easter basket in the microwave one year. We loved searching for those baskets!
Regular 10 miler on Saturday.
Plan to do a few easy runs and play a lot with my 2 year old daughter
I’m certain this will make me faster. Well, this and training and laying off the chocolate chip cookies and beer. :)
Arriving home from church one easter, we found that our pet rabbit had gotten into the Easter baskets and nibbled on all the candy! Except the bunny shaped Peeps, he ate all of those….
For the record, the jelly beans are still edible months later :)
When I found out the Easter bunny was really my mom, she asked if it was okay if she could still pretend and leave me Easter baskets. I wanted to know if that entailed her hopping around the house or not.
Last Easter, my 3-yr old daughter hid one of her chocolate Easter eggs under her bed…unbeknownst to us until a few weeks later when she came down in the morning with a chocolate mustache AND beard.
My mom encouraged me to hide my battle beasts like easter eggs throughout the backyard for me and my friends to find…to this day there’s a handful we never recovered. During the occasional yard work we unearth one of these relics.
Looong run on Sunday. Getting ready for Honu 70.3 in June.
I remember one year being so disappointed to find out a 8 inches chocolate Easter bunny was not solid chocolate…but hollow inside.
I plan to do 8x 600 on Saturday, a long run (16-18k) on Sunday and 12k hills on Monday – pretty hard Easter workouts ahead!
This looks like it would be great for hiking or kayaking. Sign me up! :-)
Going to start my interval training tomorrow and hopefully get a little faster for my next 10K race in May. A Forerunner 610 would be the ideal partner for that!
This weekend gonna run up a local peak chasing rabbits and wild turkey on the way.
We don’t use plastic eggs, we used the real deal! Once we were missing one at the end (counted them beforehand) and spent a good 2 hours searching for it! My parents couldn’t remember where it was!
I’ve been not planning workouts since I’m not training for anything at the moment, and it feels SO GOOD to just be able to do however much I feel like!
Planning to do a 21k race on Saturday, the Two Oceans, and the driving up to Namibia from Cape Town, maybe work in a nice Trail run the day after on the farm a there. Oh, and obviously I have an excuse to stuff myself with loads of chocolate eggs, as it doesn’t count on this weekend! ;-) Happy days…
I plan to develop a workout to upload to the new Garmin I’ll be receiving next week….
Have a half-marathon planned for this sat. 4/23. Other than that just waiting for this weekend!
Do not have any funny Easter stories, just going to enjoy some family time. Also want to get in a long run of 9 miles.
Happy Easter Everyone.
Brooker
Celebrating my 40th this weekend with a 15k trail run and handfuls of jelly beans on Sunday.
Plan to eat a lot of very good chocolates.
One year we were “smart” and hid the plastic eggs outside b/f bed. The next morning, I looked out and every egg was opened with all the candy gone!
Quickly replaced all the candy b/f the kids got outside and they never knew the diff.
What was it, you ask? Squirrels? Worse–that same night I looked out back again and there was Rocky Raccoon by the swingset looking for 2nds! :o
Growing up, we had a tradition of racing the family Golden Retriever to the hidden eggs. He loved eating them, and with his nose, we never had much of a chance. All we would find were the egg shells he left behind.
Brick workout for Ironman Wisconsin in September.
2 hour run in preparation the the Lincoln Half Marathon!
Funny easter story: it was kind a funny to watch my girlfriend freaking out and standing under a door while everybody else went outside clear of any building, during last year easter earthquake in San Diego.
Training wise will be long bike and long run in preparation for Ironman France.
This year I am packing my niece’s and nephew’s eggs with grapes and nuts!
I think its healthy but I doubt they will think it is funny!
i’ve got two planned workouts this weekend. saturday is a lo0ooong training day (4 hour brick) and then i’ve got a long run on sunday. oh, and does weeding a garden that was left to grow over for years by previous tenants count as a workout? ’cause that’s on the agenda for sunday, too.
– kyndra from vancouver, bc
Ooh shiny! Its Easter this weekend? I’m doing a trail run at Cougar Mountain and on Sunday a bicycle tour of Seattle breweries on this side of Lake Union. Good times!
Hi,thanks for the giveaway! I am volunteering for our 1st annual Jelly Bean Run for our Go Far Program on Saturday, then just relaxing with the wife while we watch our daughter look for clues on her scavenger hunt for her Easter basket.
I’m going to bike/run/bike/run double brick it, then eat my weight in cadbury mini eggs. :)
long run powered by stale peeps for me this Easter….
OK, here’s my funny easter story. Several years ago I was going for easter brunch at a fancy-ish restaurant on Granville Island. While waiting for our reservation, I wandered the docks in front, and ended up on a finger at the end when I saw my friends waving at me to come in for our meal. Rather than walk back along the whole dock network, I decided to jump from the finger to the shore (you know where this is going…) because it looked like a little leap. Yep – I missed, ended up in the drink and had to eat brunch soaking wet.
gameplayname says:
does it have a calendar? I’m not saying I’m slow..
No good Easter tales. Hoping to squeeze in a longish run between brunch and dinner. Thanks for the giveaway and the previous review.
I just picked up a 305 … This one looks interesting. Always used timex
I dont like chocolate and will only eat white chocolate, and every Easter I would get a white chocolate bunny, one year, while I was eating my bunny, my brother said, you know your eating the Easter Bunny and there will never be another Easter again because of you. I cried, it was awful
we used to let the chocolate easter eggs melt a little bit and then throw them at cars….until we got caught and our parents had a “talk” with us.
After missing out on the Gate River Run 15k due to a health issue, this is my weekend to get back running. Considering trying out some Five-Fingers, just hoping not to step on any eggs.
I do celebrate easter, but I dont think i have a funny story to tell about it. I have a 60 mile bike ride and a 9 mile run :)
Coming back from an injury and getting really over weight, I plan to do a six miler on Sunday.
My plan is to keep up my current 5K training for a race in 2 weeks.
No funny Easter stories but I am planning a 40ish mile ride Friday followed by runs on Saturday and Sunday.
Nothing like a 13 mile run followed by painting easter eggs with the fam. Perfect Easter Sunday on tap