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.
Getting a Kona Brewery beer after a long run along part of the same route used for Kona.
Awesome – to win this !
The theme song for Hawaii Five O has been in my head after reading this post. Thanks for a great blog.
mai tai on the beach
Getting a text from my friend’s wife saying he was about to cross the finish line waking me up so I could turn on the live stream and watch it as I was living in the UK at the time.
Love to watch Kona race! Always fun!
Helicopter flight over volcanos was pretty awesome.
Dreaming of competing there oneday…
Chrissie Wellington 3peat
I dream of doing the Kona one day!
Swimming with Nemo. At least this way I know I will always be found.
staying awake til 5am, watching the race live last year
My favorite Kona moment: Watching Macca and Raelert duke it out for the win in 2010!
totally inspired by the non-professionals completing and finishing before the cutoff.
My first proper mountain bike as a kid was a Kona. I rode that thing everywhere :-)
Thank you,!
The thing that still amazes me… How it all started!
And the sheer number of km’s (now you can tell I’m from europe) in the race… The fact that you still run a marathon after the swimming and cycling is pure amazing for me. Maybe I’ll get to that in 10 years, or maybe never, but I find that amazing ;)
My Kona memory had to be watching Chrissie Wellington power through in spite of her recent injuries and win the 2011 championship
Chrissie Wellington overcoming injury last year was pretty epic.
Enjoyed many things while visiting – hitching a ride on a large manta ray, the coffee, shave ice, laid back people, etc. Really a beautiful place.
Never have had an Hawaiian shirt
The coffee, it’s gotta be the coffee.
The coffee, it’s got to be the coffee.
Never have had an Hawaiian shirt
Keith Jackson talking about the lava fields on the Gatorade commercial.
Watching the Hoyt’s race Kona was always inspirational
I wish i had time to prepare the kona triathlon :(
Kona grass – what a beauty! Jan
As a New Zealander – Cameron Brown’s 2nd place in 2005. Here’s to first place in 2012!!!
Blazeman
Listening to people tell their stories
Wellington’s Return last year
Julie Moss crossing the finish line in 1982.
I dream one day I’ll be in Kona…
Kona heat! :-)
Scott vs Allen is a fond memory of mine.
incredible beaches and sea
I have been to Kona.. but would like to go back. Next time to swim, bike, & run.
My favourite memory of Kona… watching the dozens of athletes qualify for the event, such an inspiration.
watching a colleague finish live on the internet feed.
Without a doubt it’s The Underwear Run. In Australia we’d call it The Undies Run.
One of my favorite Kona memories comes from volunteering with hubby. When bike catching i got to catch Rinny’s bike in 2011 :)
One of my favorite Kona memories comes from volunteering with hubby – while bike catching i got to catch Rinny’s bike in 2011 :)
Mmmm Chocolate covered macadamia nuts after a nice open water swim, with some very concerning current.
What I know about Kona?
That I really want to go there sometime.
Meeting Jack Johnson at a Surf Competition!
Seeing Jack Johnson Play!
Seeing Jack Johnson Play!
I give myself 3 years to prepare to finish Ironman. Kona wait for me in 2015, here I come!
You should go to Kauai. It’s the best island!
Thanks for the giveaway! (pick me)
Seeing Jack Johnson Play!
Seeing Jack Johnson Play!
Love me some Garmin
Seeing Jack Johnson Play!
watching wellington make up so much time after her swim last year
Seeing Jack Johnson Play!
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Seeing Jack Johnson Play!
Watching the past world championships and hoping to also be there one day as a competitor!
Watching the live stream online a few years ago, I saw an age grouper cross the finish line and start to cry. I know this is common because of all the emotion that goes with Kona. But seeing it live and unpackaged really affected me….and has stuck with me. We’ll see what I feel next May at IMTX.
Buying my first mountain bike: A Kona Hahannah, in 1996
Whoops! Sorry for multiple posts! I thought the security feature was rejecting me:-(
My favorite Kona moment was watching Mirinda Carfrae win in 2010. It was such an interesting women’s race — compelling television.
My only Kona memory are the ironman photos. :-(
Our local running group had a local triathlete in to talk about her participation in Kona last year. Very inspiring.
The rise of Chrissie Wellington.
Watching Norman Stadler’s meltdown in 2005.
Running to the summit of Mauna Kea, tossing a snowball, and then swimming with sea turtles… All in the same day!
My fiance doing field work for her Archaeology degree a few miles from where the bike turn around for the race is :)
Looking forward to staring at my computer monitor for 8+ hours.
Team Hoyt, if that’s not inspiring for someone I don’t know what is….
eduardo@guemez.net
watching the facebook comments from my friends competing
I first heard of Hawaii Ironman from the story of HIV-positive and Kona finisher Jim Howley. It made such an impression and that’s when I decided to start doing triathlons.
michel
mralonso_99@yahoo.com
My hubby loves the 1989 Ironwar between Dave Scott and Mark Allen.
He’s big Dave Scott fan and I would love to win this for him
quetzalina_74@yahoo.com
Just watching on TV and dreaming of going to Hawaii first, and then competing int he Triathlon second.
This will be my first time watching an Ironman, unfortunately not on site but at home. Would much rather be there :-)
Chrissie winning despite her crash. Legend of the sport.
Mom marries a hawian, gets hitched in Vegas =\
Am I allowed to say Steve from Hawaii five-0 with his shirt off?
The Blais roll across the finish line.
Never heard of Kona until I heard of the Hawaii Ironman.
Best memory, when Chrissy got a flat and Rebeka Keat gave her her CO2 cartridge.
Chrissie Wellington!
Watching Chris McCormack run (and win) with ?ice stuffed in his shirt, reminded me of my wife when she was breastfeeding (chest-wise, not running-wise!)
Sunset…
garlic shrimp at North Shore…mmmm
I watched photos of Kona. It’s a lovely place. Hope to visit those beaches some day…
Macadamia nut coffee!! Gotta keep energized!
Went there on our honeymoon 10 years ago. Can’t wait to go back.
Watching “Crowie” beat the 15 year old course record last year, unbelievable
I second the comment about them all running in Hawaiian shirts!
While watching what I believe was the 2010 competition, when one of the females lost the lead sometime during the marathon, an announcer casually mentioned that she ran a pr that day of 2:52, making it sound like it wasn’t even a thing. Speedsters!
Sadly, I have never been in Hawai, but I remember the first time I watched the IM on TV and my immediate thought: “These people are CRAZY”
Hawaii was the best holiday ever.Got engaged there
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I recently read “Iron War” Its a great book about the epic battles between Dave Scott and Mark Allen. If you’re reading Rainmakers blog you will probably like this book.
Future Kona memory: watching it in person! (If I get lucky, participating in it.)
Pineapple! At McDonalds? Yes.
One of the best meals ever, The CanoeHouse at the Mauna Lani.