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.
I have yet to win something from a giveaway but with loot like this I gotta keep trying.
I’ll be on call, so I’ll be nervously eying my phone hoping nothing crashes!
my family will be visiting me!
I am headed to my girlfriend’s cottage. Nothing like a camp fire and some smores.
I’ll be on call, so I’ll be nervously eying my phone hoping nothing crashes!
I’ll be on call, so I’ll be nervously eying my phone hoping nothing crashes!
This weekend should be some excellent day hiking along the Mississippi River Gorge and then some awesome grilling, including grilled corn, ribs and buffalo burgers!
I live in Chicago where the weather of late has been in the 40’s with wind and rain. Rumor has it that temps are supposed to be in the 80’s – 90’s this weekend. So, depending on the weather, I will either be having a cookout in the Indiana Dunes OR bundled up with a stack of movies.
I plan to enjoy the weekend with my very pregnant wife (3 more days until she’s full term) and I hope we’ll make it through the entire holiday weekend before the baby comes!
Friday: Course setting for Sunday
Saturday: Preparing for Sunday
Sunday: Night orienteering!
Please quit posting here, I want to win, lol.
Driving 5 hours to go to a Friday night wedding, then home for a weekend of training and finishing up our kitchen renovation.
Heading to see family on the Gulf Coast!
Weather permitting, climbing Mt. Saint Helens on two wheels. Awesome PNW ride.
No training for me this past long weekend. I spent the whole time out at a ball tourney. Great blog.
I’ll be trying to log some miles to prepare for an upcoming Ragnar relay! Have you run a relay like that? Love the blog –
Great blog, just started reading a couple of weeks ago, saw one of your reviews mentioned on Beginner Triathlete and wandered over. Planning on grilling something on Monday with friends. That is about the extent of the plans.
I’ll be logging some miles to prepare for a Ragnar Relay! Love the blog-
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Running, playing with kids, and cooking.
Scott Bonder
sbonder@friedbonder.com
404-995-8833
Pick me! Swim, run, repeat (off the bike for a few days)!
Running the comrades marathon this weekend, 87kms, but a fantastic experience I am told! Will definitely braai, or bbq as you guys call it, over here in South Africa it is our national pastime.
This is great that your giving away a second 610, enter me in the drawing but im sure you will have 1200 comments like the last time. Keep you the great post really enjoy reading them.
Long run Saturday morning, then kid’s soccer practice, then a little bit of outdoor house maintenance… THEN — 2 full days of eating and drinking much more than I should.
As a chilean living in Quito (Ecuador), and because we too have a 3 days week end (Pichincha battle commemoration), i won’t be running but making a big “asado” (southamerican BBQ) on sunday. I will have some “picanha” (brasilian cut, just with salt), some “tapa de bife ancho” (argentinian cut)and some “chorizos”, with good chilean wine and lots of different salads… Might go for a bike ride anyway.
Ramalamahamdam
I am spending the weekend relaxing in Amelia Island, FL – but starting the weekend out with a 5k open water swim!
I’m running the Bolder Boulder.
I plan on riding my bike 250 miles! woot woot! :) no really, 250 miles in less than 20 hours.
Relax after my Riga Marathon 2011 :)
We’re moving house, so my weekend will consist placin things in boxes only to take them out again some hours later – deep joy!
I’d rather be running ;o)
I want in!
My plans include “cougar hunting,” yes the 40+ female kind. Live music, beer and awesome relatives grilling out at the lake.
Hi,
I’m going to the mountain, to enjoy my parents and try to make some bike trip, maybe Vallter 2000…
Maybe a 10-11 miler and some good family time
BBQ with the family is in the plans along with a couple runs and some time on the bike.
Wow – I’m number 834.
Mostly hikes and bike rides here.
Heyo!
I’ll be spending Saturday biking out to Nyack (from NYC), then pool party and BBQ that night. Sunday will be Watching my girlfriend’s niece’s soccer game followed by more BBQ. Then Monday will involve some chores around the apartment and perhaps eating leftover BBQ! Bring on the summer!!
We’re moving house so I’ll be spending my weekend putting stuff in boxes only to take it out again a few hours later – deep joy!
I’d rather be running ;o)
BBQ with all the fixings and some bike riding too.
Going to try to get in three good runs in between plenty of work around the house. No BBQ plans at the moment :<(
I’ll be racing a 10 miler on Sunday and riding long Monday, then pigging out on BBQ!!!!
I’ll be spending Saturday morning on my long run, followed by a relaxing weekend enjoying my son’s high school graduation on Friday night. I’m sure BBQ will be involved but I haven’t thought that far ahead (although my wife probably has).
I have been running with the new Nike sport Watch GPS, but wouldn’t mind an Garmin FR 610 as well.
All the best.
No great plans. Bike ride tomorrow and 5 day weekend to wear myself out doing yard work
I plan on getting in 2 long bike rides and a long run. Carolina BBQ in on the menu.
I’m riding my bicycle from here in the burbs of Atlanta to my parents house in South Carolina
friend’s wedding and hopefully a nice long bike ride :)
Spent the Victoria Day long weekend not doing much of anything! Had BBQ, swim lessons, run, shuttled kids around a bit, and had tons of kids roaming the neighborhood and stopping by for snacks.
travelling for a graduation party. Ugg!
Spending time with my wife on our anniversary. Getting her to do her first TRI this summer, so hopefully we will spend a lot of time training.
This saturday I’m hoping to be able to take my first run in (by then) a week due to an injury. If I can’t I don’t really know what to do. Read blogs and take a walk, maybe?
Enjoying first run-free weekend of the year following the Edinburgh marathon last weekend. Hopefully will be bbq weather too, but knowing Scotland unlikely to be.
Will be racing my first tri of the year in Vint Hill, VA!
Riding the Gatineau Park loop!
Relaxing on Beach. Maybe a long run.
Golfing with my dad on Saturday, Grilling out with friends on Sunday. Smoked Brisket is on the menu.
hey now!
This weekend should be some excellent day hiking along the Mississippi River Gorge and then some awesome grilling, including grilled corn, ribs and buffalo burgers!
This coming weekend I will go to a picnic on sunday at my sister-in-law’s. More importantly on Monday I will be making BBQ chicken with my daughters (age 1.5 and 6) while we sit and watch patriotic movies and I still might go running that day :)
Flying down to FL for a friend’s wedding. Hopefully I’ll get in some open water swim practice while I’m there!
Hi Ray! I plan on going to Tae Kwon Do class, buying/planting flowers, running and biking this weekend. And of course cooking out! Melanie in PA
Friday I’m running with my sister during her second day of Couch 2 5K. Saturday my wife, daughter, and I are going to hike the falls at Watkins Glenn and I’m going to run 3.5 miles in final preparations for my first 5K race, in fact first ever race June 4th. Sunday, heading to Niagara Falls, Ontario CA and maybe grabbing a cheap, chintzy hotel room for the night. Finally, Monday, run 3.5 miles, last longish run before the race, then recoup and get ready for the week :D
Run to Remember Half Marathon in Boston
Great giveaway Ray, it rains too much in Ireland for BBQ’s I bought one 2 years ago and it’s still in the box
I start to use the F610 in my first marathon.
I’ll be basking in Arizona sunshine: basking defined as swimming laps in an outdoor pool, riding and running under blue skies, and golfing as much as I can. After a soggy spring in the Pacific Northwest, just want to soak in the sunshine.
Ray, I remember when there were a small enough number of comments that you cut up the entries and put them in a hat! You’ve become so popular.
Cape Cod this weekend, open water swim in the lake, ocean isn’t enjoyable yet, long run on the bike path!
I’m gonna run tomorrow morning, thon go to see how good Johnny Depp in Cariben Seas with m’y children, thon have a bbq party during champion’s league end game…bécote running as well!
After Ironman of Lanzarote today was the first day that i run! I am very happy!!
Jose from Spain
Spent last weekend at the family cottage, which of course included being BBQ’d for and doing a turn at the helm of the BBQ. Good stuff!
12 mile run Sat, 62 mile ride on Sun and convincing my gf to buy a bike on Mon.
Love the blog. How about the case of BBQ sauce along with the watch or as a runner up prize?
Ride on Sat, Run Sun, Ride Monday then release at 35+yr tradition Memorial Day n’hood party.
Hi everybody!!!
I mean’t “relax” not “release” at party. That sounds awful.
I have a race coming this weekend here in Denmark, a 1/2 marathon across a long bridge. We’re running from west towards east so I’m really hoping the wind i coming from the west… And afterwards it’s BBQ time ;)
I was riding with a few friends a few days back and hit what I thought was a snake. So as I hit it I yelled, “Oh @##$4… Snake!” What I hit was kicked up onto my friend behind me, but what I hit was a broken serpentine belt. He did not know that. For a brief fleeting second he thought he was snakes bate. He swerved and flailed, resulting in the belt landing on another gentleman who equally freaked.
Later that same ride, I saw what I thought was a squirrel in the road. Thinking that the best way to not hit it was to aim for it, I lined the pack up to “intercept” the squirrel. With the pace line flying down the road, quickly approaching the animal, I came to a shocking realization. It was not an animal at all. It was horse manure. I was able to avoid it but my friends were not. Needless to say, I have not been allowed to lead since!
nospam@hunterlucas.com
No long weekend here down under, but we are having a big BBQ in our brand new home, hopefully I’ll have a brand new watch to go with that new home…
This weekend I go to the Belgian Ardennes for a 4 day cycling trip with friends. Look at link to runningfreeonline.com to see the results. Probably on Saturday we go to the Spa at Spa, have bbq at our house in the hills after which we settle for a good match of Barcelona – Man Utd.
Planning a run on Friday, ride on Saturday, relax on Sunday, ride again Monday and then enjoy the pool/barbecue Monday afternoon. BTW, great blog (happened upon it a few months ago and love it)!
Put me in! Please…
Hey DC, this weekend i’m going to be going for a run, hopefully for 5 ish miles with the girl and going to go on a 20 mile bike ride. All while wearing the fr60. I want to check out the cadence sensor in my bike. If I win the girl will be getting a very nice birthday present. Cheers, Liam Salisbury, UK
I’ll be running in the mornings, before the kids wake up – after that celebrate my youngest daughters third birthday by baking a strawberry cake! She’ll be getting her first bicycle, a lovely little hotwalk! Thanks for all the great posts!
Hola desde España! I’m a loyal follower of your blog and your impressive reviews. Next weekend will be the last one before law school finals, so all I’ll be doing is cramming for tests, especially procedure, and dreaming about the following weekend, which will include a 100Km roundtrip bike ride to a reservoir, and a BBQ at home, with my homemade chipotle BBQ sauce. I’ll trade the recipe for the Garmin! ;-). Abrazos,
Isabel, aka MuddyTrails.
Great BLOG. Got a couple low key 5Ks planned this weekend, including one with the family.
Fred
with a half marathon of course!
I’ve got to get the car inspected and registered tomorrow. Champions League final on Saturday then some lake action through Monday.
Perfect upgrade from my FR60.
Saturday- Long Bike
Sunday- Long Run
Monday- Long Swim
And maybe eat….
And maybe go see Thor
oh! by the way! my son (10 years old) and I are running his first 5k this weekend (it’s only my 2nd one!). My husband and 7 year old daughter will be on puppy duty and taking pictures of the 2 of us running–and after that… well… it’s swimming and laying out by the pool the rest of the weekend! :-)
This memorial day weekend will be spent at the beach for and annual garage sale. The beach is longbeach washington and there is about a 20 mile stretch along the coastline including 4 towns that has garage sales. We have3 a lot of fun ever year and manage to make a little extra spending $$.
We have 2 bbq’s, a visit to take care of Grandma-in-law, a 3hr group ride/transition run, a 1:15 run/recovery swim, and then sleep. But not nearly enough.
A bike test! Grill and jet ski if it’s nice!
Here in IRELAND, can’t wait for 1st tri of the year (Balbriggan Tri – http://www.fingaltri.ie). The Irish Sea is about 11 degrees, so nice for a sprint.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL is the plan for the evening – forca BARCA!!
Since Obama liked his Guinness, I’ll have a few in his honour.
IS FEIDIR LINN!!!!!
Swim, bike, run, repeat!
5hr bike on Saturday, Ottawa Half Marathon on Sunday…. BBQs all around!
Will be going for a hike and then having a BBQ with the fam and some friends afterwards. Loving this weather!
-Jason Li
Philadelphia
Nothing special…workouts and grilling
Great site, easily becoming one of my favorites. My kids (who are four days shy of being exactly two years apart) are having a birthday party on Sunday. Saturday will be prep and Monday will be recovery…kids parties seem to wear me out.
I will kick off the weekend with my first ever Aquathlon at the San Diego Tri Club 2011 aquathlon race series season opener. also do some swimming, biking and running at some point and probably a litte BBQ action as well.