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.
The Kona airport. If you’ve never been there, it’s pretty cool. All outdoors.
I can’t think of a better reason to sit on a Hawaiian beach than having just finished Ironman Hawaii.
gd
I love watching the recap in December where they have the back stories and highlight the people that went through a lot to get there.
Scott Rigsby finishing in 2007, being the first double-leg amputee.
seeing underwater gatorade ads
Epic 2008 recap video, watching it again and again.
I love watching the stories behind the Kona athletes when I watch the tv production of the race in Dec. Watching how these athletes have dedicated so much and overcome so many obstacles like having no legs, heart transplants, age..etc..drives me to train harder and know I can overcome my fears of swimming. This led me to finish my first 1/2 Ironman in 2012.
not a good memory, but i very much remember getting my ass handed to me on the run..very ugly.
Watching Chrissie pushing through the pain barrier last year
For the sake of the competitors, I hope the vog is gone from Kona by tomorrow. Our State has been blanketed with the stuff most of the week.
I was always a distance runner, but watching the age groupers finish at Kona, the pride, the happiness, made me pick up the sport, and visualising my finish at 2013 Ironman Tremblant for my first full Ironman. I hope I can go through those amazing emotions. AND…I have to say, seeing Chrissie Wellington cheer/welcome the athletes is one unselfish way to give back to the sport. Props!
Watching Danish Rasmus Henning placing 5th in his Ironman Hawaii debut in 2009.
Watching the warm weather when its cold up here.
love the site
Visiting Kona last year for the race, staying at the Sea Village and “commuting” to town. This involved jumping off the lava rocks in front of our condo, swimming out to the swim course turn-around buoy and swimming the course into Dig Me Beach. Best commute ever!
Stitch!
Being amazed my friend Scott Coey made it to Kona! Incredible what people achieve while holding down a full day job. Go Scott!
I haven’t watched it yet. This will be my first time.
Trining hard with my bike!!!
Walking on the beach on our last night hearing the cheesy Hawaiian version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and thinking it sounded pretty good!
hi Ray, thank you for the giveaway!
Dirk Bockel finishing 4th at the 2011 Championships in Kona … epic for our small country of Luxembourg
Favorite Kona memory is watching Chrissie kill it just days after a bad crash!
Watching Julie Moss collapse and get passed in the final stretch in 1982. Oh, and honeymoon!
I was inspired to start training for triathlon after watching IMWC last year.
Is ‘Longboard’ much worse than chocolate covered macadamia nuts?
I don’t have any Kona Tri specific memories, however I do have fond memories of wandering around Hawaii, and I will be returning to the island thus november.
And of course, I love Kona coffee!
I hope to go to Hawaii some day–how’s that?
Thanks for the giveaways, Ray.
Racing on my Kona MTB and Cyclocross!
Kona 2012 The Danish Top triathlete Rasmus Henning’s farewell to the top elite triathlon.
The beaches, beautiful
Watching the Coffees of Hawaii – Floating Espresso Bar
My favorite thing is swimming in the ocean in Kona, a close second is watching the race every year.
Last year I rode 4 hours on the trainer while watching Lieto and Crowie crushing on the bike, it was fun to see the Power measurements of some of the athletes (you can see them real time thanks to some SRM transmitters) while watching mine, obviously I suck compare to them, but it was a fun workout.
6300 miles away … but one day I’ll make it to Kona. (maybe even with the 910xt? ;-)
The cannon blast!
Ahhh…Diamond Head
waiting for the nbc coverage year after year
On my first trip to Hawaii, we stayed on the Big Island. I made sure to go see where the race started and a lot of the course.
It was great to see.
Will be watching while I’m doing a trainer work out getting ready for IMAZ
Winning a GPS watch?
Pinneapple =)
Kona shmona
Watching the insanity!
Missed going there, last time in Hawaii, but I do love their coffee.
Dreaming about ever going there…
I will be watching Asdis Kristjansdottir the second Icelander ever to compete in Kona and hopefully the first ever to finish!
Seeing Chrissie win last year in spite of her many, many injuries from a bike crash 2 weeks prior to the event. Talented, tough, determined woman!
Watching the last competitors pushing to meet the cut-off. That stuff is out of this world courageous!
The sky, the sun, the waves … someday I’ll be there :)
I will be watching Asdis Kristjansdottir the second Icelander ever to compete in Kona and hopefully the first ever to finish!
The WW2 memorials in Hawaii are a sobering reminder of the sacrifices made to secure the world we currently live in.
Still just dreaming about Kona
another awesome giveaway. DC misses you Ray!
Watching the whales from the beach in Feb/March.
Expecting to see LA this weekend.
A Cruz
Lava rocks!
Seeing the Hoyts and other remarkable athlete stories for the first time makes me want ironman
One of the best views is Eneko LLanos running for the victory!!! Very few spaniards there, but impresive……
No memory yet, hopefully one day!
Seeing the live stream last year, hopeful to be able to do so this year again.
Watching Danish Rasmus Henning.
Ukuleles and volcanoes, oh my!
Hey- I finally BQed after 3 years… now you want me to KQ? well, perhaps a 910xt would help me get there, but it’s gonna’ be harder now that they’re giving blood tests to age groupers.
Sorry- no Kona memories to share… yet.
snorkeling!
Hoping some day to be able to compete in tri event, would be nice if it could be in Hawaii…
Kona coffee in 1984 with family when we escaped the projected madness of the Olympics in LA. (Bob K.)
mmmmmmm. chocolate covered macadamia nuts :) — actually, i remember running in oahu during a conference and thinking “yikes, kona competitors run in this crazy humidity???”
If I win, I will learn swim and do a triathlon!
Hiking Mauna Loa and the park rangers telling me “if you wander off the path we will never find your body”. Getting up there it was like the surface of mars, and I stayed on the path.
Amazing Beaches
Dark chocolate covered macadamia nuts… could use some more!
Ray
I can’t wait to get back to Hawaii and learn how to surf. My Kona dream.
Missed kona this year…. Maybe next year. IMFL in 2 weeks.
Ray
Can’t wait to get back to Hawaii to learn to surf. My Kona dream.
Seeing Dave Scott get 2nd at over 40.
Wish I could visit Hawaii sometime, sure would have pretty nice memories…:)
I really enjoy drinking Kona coffee, no matter where I am.
There is nothing more beautiful than departing “Dig Me Beach” and swimming in Kailua Bay with the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, hit the coffee dock, and head back.
Grazie Ray !
My Kona Memory will be made when I get to watch it live in Kona some day!!
Grazie Ray!
Sandy beaches of Kuai !
Wllington winning after fixing her bike for nearly 15 minutes…
Watching the swimmers from underwater.
I’d like to win, thanks! jeffeichen@verizon.net
Ah, Kona! No two ways about it, best memory was my IM PR in 2005. It was one of those freakish “no wind on the Queen K” years, and boy, did that ROCK! Contrast that with my first Kona in ’98— nearly barfed on the swim. The water was so rough that I kept getting mouthfuls shoved down my gullet by the waves. Good times! :) —-TriBaby
Chrissie Wellington for sure…so inspiring
Coffee, Kona Coffee comes to mind.
Thx 4 the generous offer!
Aloha,
I have no memories as yet, however I will try my hardest to qualify next year
My wife and kids keep hounding me to plan a trip to Hawaii.
Every mile I run and cycle gets me closer to Kona homestretch!
Sun, beach, paradise…
Watching it and being inspired to train for my first tri.
Never been to Kona, but I’d love to win this prize! Still ride my 1992 Kona mtb everyday though, does that count?
Beautiful place – wish I could have been there during an IM.
I hope to go to Hawaii some day.
Greetje and Gerrit Go Go Go in Kona.
Normann Stadler’s flat tires.