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.
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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.
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Run, work, run, driiiiiink my way through some graduations.
Didn’t get it last time… I’m sure I will this time.
Thanks!
I will be camping with a load of scouts on a rainy, cold, wind-swept airfield. There will be BBQ though so it is not all bad.
This Memorial Day Weekend I will be:
chopping & stacking 4 cords of wood with my husband-with oil prices on the rise, we want to be well prepared for Winter 2011-2012 here in Maine
We will be planting our garden
We WILL be cooking on the grill-but that is no different than any other weekend. We grill year round so how about a “runner up” prize of that case of BBQ sauce?? :)
Oh, and of course-my training schedule will fit in early morning around these fun filled festivities! a 40 mile ride/5 mile run brick, 2400 yds in the pool and a 10 mile trail run.
I am continuing my preparation for my French Alps Cyclosportive (Marmotte). So I will be doing a roadbike session of 3-4 hours (110 kms) with specific drills on Saturday. Then on Sunday I plan to do a Threshold session of one hour at the Gym.
Thank you again for then wonderful information you are posting on the blog.
I’ll be spending four days at the beach with my family.
It would be a nice addition to my workout!
I am running my first 10k race on Sunday!
My parents are in town from Michigan for Rolling Thunder so I’ll spend the weekend trying to figure out they like motorcycles better than bicycles (I prefer bicycles!).
oops…missing word
I’ll be trying to figure out *why* they like motorcycles better than bicycles!
If the rain doesn’t stop, it sure looks dark for any BBQ around these parts :(
I will most likely fix new furniture for the home office. And maybe get some miles of running in.
It’s a Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK as well. I’m shooting a wedding on Saturday in central London, I will then be meeting up with a mate nice and early on Sunday morning (6am ish) for a 3 or 4 hour ride in the Surrey Hills, the rest of Sunday and all of Monday will be devoted to some quality time hanging out with my wife and 2 wonderful children!
I plan on spending as much time as I can with my family!! If the rain stays away long enough there should be some time for some BBQ!
I’ll be working and sleeping…and eating…and that’s it~
I’ll be searching for chekpoints at forest
Camping in West Virginia…hopefully getting an open water swim in
On tap for the weekend will be a long bike ride on Saturday around 60ish miles a little swimming on Sunday and on Monday the one and only Bolder Boulder!
You have the best give aways. :)
Actually I have a three day weekend here in Taiwan. Saturday morning aquathlon – 1.5km swim followed by a 10km – first time for me to do this type of race. Should be fun. Sunday I imagine will get in a 100km ride. Hoping for good weather. However there is a typhoon out at sea – heading towards Taiwan. Monday not sure what I will do.
No BBQ here in Poland, but will participate in 10k race in Krakow on Sunday, to get close to 45:00. Keep your fingers crossed please!
Okay, admittedly there’s people doing some pretty cool stuff this weekend. But I’m pretty excited about my first double-digit run in months, since I’m slowly rebuilding after injury. And my training partner, who broke her foot 2 months ago, just got cleared to start biking, so we finally get to go ride together on Monday! It’s not running, but it’s something! Happy Memorial Day, Ray!
Taper madness: I’ve got the Vermont City Marathon this weekend so a giveaway like this is a welcome distraction!
Taking care of my three kids (6, 8, 10) while my wife is away at her college reunion. We’re going to Viva Vienna, the pet store to buy a fish, and the movies. The ten year old may run a 5K (but probably not, since the other kids may not get out of bed early enough). All my running will be before the kids get up.
This weekend I’m training hard (trail running Saturday, swimming Sunday, long ride Monday) all morning and sitting at the pool not moving a single muscle (except for my eating and drinking ones)all afternoon.
I’m going to spend it with my wife and 3-year-old. We’re going to do some hiking and biking…and then on Monday bbq up 3 racks of baby backs over mesquite charcoal…along with some grilled corn on the cob. Cheers.
training ride and cookout
I am going Camping!!!! and then while Im there I am going to the Fly By Night Duathlon in Watkins Glen, NY. This is on the race track at night!! How cool is that?!! Then a BBQ the next day with my parents on the balcony of their home. Its going to be a great weekend!!
Ciao! This would be awesome because I’m just about to start marathon training (Venice, Italy, 23 October 2011). It’s my first! :D
Maybe a Memorial Day race. Spend some time with the fam. Enjoy the day off.
Will go fishing next week.
If I don’t end up procrastinating, I’ll be studying for my finals next week and writing my thesis. In the little time that remains I’ll go for a 10 to 12K run.
Sat: 110km TT then 3 x 2k run off the bike. Sun: 2.5k swim then 3 hr bike. Sweet!
Saturday rest. Vermont City Marathon in Burlington on Sunday. Burgers and dogs on Monday!
I’ll be spending the long weekend doing a couple of easy runs, and figuring out what my training schedule for the summer should look like.
Nope, no barbecue involved this weekend. Instead, I am racing TriStar 33.3 in Worms, Germany (yup, that’s really what it’s called). That is unless the stupid ash cloud extends into southern Germany and they close Frankfurt.
Ray,
Weekend starts tomorrow with a long flight to Honolulu in preparation for the upcoming Rhoto Ironman 70.3. Saturday is the travel recovery day, a bike ride, and visiting friends/family on Oahu. Sunday is powered hang gliding and hanging out on the North Shore and finding a quiet place to swim. Monday is for Hiking up Koko Head and beach BBQs with friends and family. On Tuesday we head over to the Big Island for the final preparations for the 70.3!
I actually am going to a BBQ Saturday in France (I live in Belgium). Luckily Saturday is my rest day so I can kick back and fuel up for a short training run Sunday!
Staying at home, doing yard work, getting some running in, and hopefully stealing a few minutes for myself to do some shopping and grab a latte. Thanks for the great blog!
Shiny! Spending this weekend at a Wedding on Saturday and then heading for a trip to the Zoo on Monday!
Big weekend of swim, bike and run planned.
Bussy weekend taking a 9 hours flight to Buenos Aires and returning back on Saturday. Probably some running saturday morning, and a wedding tomorrow friday !!
I´m planning to explore some new routes in near by park witch I found this week.
This coming weekend has activities with the kids planned and a big endurance ride on the cards for the Monday which is a holiday in the UK.
Need new running bling!!
:)
I love the blog. Thanks.
I am going to take care of my son and run. Probably some tennis friday eveining and a deserved barbecue on saturday. Sunday swimming and boating !!
Please, count me in.
Regards,
Leszek
lta [at] gridia [dot] pl
I’ll be spending some QT on my bike Saturday and Sunday, attending a rehearsal dinner Sunday night and marching in parades on Monday morning with the wedding to aforementioned rehearsal dinner on Monday night.
The weekend gets extended to 4 days for me, as it is capped off with my final for my NYS EMT-CC class. FUN!
I’ll be running!!
Spending the weekend in rehoboth
I’ll be doing a long solo ride, long group ride, and a run
Saturday I will be a technical official in the 18th annual women’s triathlon in Herzliyia, Israel (link to women-tri.com). Maybe a 10k run afterward.
My plans include getting ready for a house inspection (we sold our house!), my daughter’s first sleep over at our house, chasing my one year old, and trying to get a few miles in Saturday and Monday.
I’ll be biking followed by Lobsterfest! A friend is flying lobsters in from Maine for everyone to feast on here in Texas.
Hope I get it this time…
We’ll be camping in the mountains and cooking on an open fire!
I’m running in the Alexandria Running Festival Half Marathon on Sunday. I pray that I finish – it’s gonna be a hot one!
hope to do a slow run on Friday on my road to recovery… and spend the weekend with the family.
Saturday – club ride & relax
Sunday – ssprint triathlon
No 3-day weekend for me!
This weekend I’ll get a good group bike workout in. A long run. Two picnics, both with heated pools so I’ll be taking full advantage of that. And of course, any free time will go towards yard work. Thanks for the giveaway!
Nothing special, just some work around the house and lunch with a friend!
Oh yeah, and perhaps some running…
Ray,
Thanks for the blog and information!
Lots of running and BBQ.
Clinton from NC
Aaahhh, I love a long weekend! I am going to go to a graduation, the big city running store and lay low.
Bar-b-q? I’m sure that I will – I live in the South where that is a common meal. Thanks for the great give-away.
Thanks for the great 610 review. If it weren’t for you I probably would have purchased a 405 this week when my 305 finally gave out after almost four years of service.
This weekend up I’m running in the Run For The Heroes – Race Across Georgia. I’m on an 8-person relay running 260 miles for a great cause. Check us out! link to bit.ly
Hi Ray
I plan on a really quiet Friday and Saturday. Sunday taking the kids for a road trip to Philly for a Pat’s Steak.
I enjoy your website. Keep up the good work!
Andrew
Here you go once again, please, let me win guys, lol.
Friday I’ll hopefully only be working for half of they Day at the Harlem Armory in NYC(full time National Guard). Then I go home and try and dig out a falling retaining wall, to set back up. Fun. Saturday is more of the same, while having a garage sale, trying to clear out some clutter, so we can get some more clutter. Sunday I will be coming back to Harlem, so we can ship approximately 35 soldier’s off to an afghanistan training mission. Monday will be spent at a parade in the morning, and then my Aunts house, as they are throwing a BBQ. Should be lots of fun, and lots of food. I like food.
I’m looking forward to taking some time off and visiting with family!
Thank you for another awesome giveaway! I plan on eating some great food off the grill, getting some kick-ass off-road miles in on the bike down at Mohican and maybe putting some road miles in as well. I’m close to breaking 1000 miles for the season and this weekend just may do it!
This upcoming weekend begins my base volume training for my 1st IM with a long ride at the beach and some dreaded ocean swimming. Oooo did I mention the heat has picked up just in time in NC?! yay…*grumble*
Running, biking, running, and eating.
I’m spending my weekend running the Stockholm Marathon (and recovering from it)!
It is currently raining excessively, hopefully it will clear up for a long run tomorrow, relaxing up at a friend’s lake house on Saturday, and time helping my dad back home in the yard on Sunday. Should be great! Thanks.
Couple long rides and runs on the WO&D trail, hiking Great Falls if the Potomac will ever recede and of course lots of grilling!!
I’ll be having a cabinet install party for my kitchen remodel
Great Blog Ray, Unfortunately, I won’t be doing any training this weekend. I’m the only person to get the flu during spring!
Producing and timing the Alexandria Running Festival.
In Canada, so the long weekend is long gone. But I did a great ride Saturday and a good brick session on Monday, with socialising and BBQs in between. Three days weekends are always better than two day weekends.
The island of St. Kitts!
Leaving today to help the people of Joplin, MO. KC has some fine BBQ sauce if you decide to give that away too! :)
No big plans…run, BBQ at some point. Looking forward to the long weekend!
I’ll start running again! Although my hand’s fracture is not completely healed I have doctors release to start again :-) As it has been almost 3 weeks of an easy run on Saturday should do the magic!! Anyone else starting with barefoot like running but in minimal footwear??
A busy Saturday ahead with kids’ sport sandwiched between a 5km race and a mini MTB adventure race. Sunday will be all about family and relaxing but too chilly for a barbie here!
Wish I was going to be outdoors, but I will spend most of my time driving to see family.
Next weekend I’ll do swim in swimming pool on saturday and I’ll race on sunday a cross country in the highland of Trieste. The race is very nice but long for me 18K. Then I’ll recover some hours and probably start my open sea season with my first long swim in sea.
If I’m so lucky to win the Garmin you can send me a mail to fabio_saitta1963 at yahoo.it
Heading to see family and coach my mom in the pool so she can start swim training!
Hello, I hope I win this one…would be a great tool for my half marathon.
sitting int he sun all day saturday then family and friends bbq on sunday. relaxing on monday. gotta love that extra day
Yes please!
I am working all three weekend days!!
I’ll be doing some lung-bursting hills, a long run on Sunday, then rewarding myself with some coconut salmon noodles and a couple of Colonsay lagers, from the smallest island in the world with its own brewery!
Well… I’m in Italy, and it will be a hard cycling weekend on the roads of Giro d’Italia.
Together with a friend, we’ll start cycling in Susa, and climb on Saturday Colle delle Finestre, Sestriere, down to Susa again, then Col du Montcenis and Col du Chaussy, with final descent in La Chambre where we’ll spend the night after 220km and over 5300m uphill.
On the next day we’ll start climbing Col de Glandon, then down to Le Bourg’Oisans, L’Alpe d’Huez climb…and we’ll come back to Susa through Col de Lautaret and Col du Montgenevre… after other 200km and 5000m uphill. It will be a hard weekend, but weather forecast are good, we’re strong, and the Giro atmosphere in the air will help us doing great!!!
Cheers!
I’ll be doing a local sprint tri on Saturday, followed by a long bike ride and some swimming sunday and finally some relaxing and bbq with the family on monday.
Greetings from Finland!
No 3 day weekend in South Africa. Will be going to my sister in law 30th birthday party and hopefully get in a couple of long runs on Saturday and Sunday.
I’ll be heading to the lake to relax this weekend. Also try to get in a couple OW swims and runs.
DC here in Australia BBQ season is over so i will make the most of any good weather and get out for a run and a ride in between taking my eldest son swimming
Cheers
McDonk
Hopefully dry out from all this rain and get a good ride and run in! Oh yea, and a BBQ this Sunday!!!
Swim Bike Run. Is there anything else??!!
Moving, then squeezing in a few workouts and hopefully an easy 40 miler on Monday!