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.
Hawaii 1992 Mark Allen v/s Cristian Bustos
I remember televised coverage of an early 90’s or late 80’s Hawaii Ironman with Paula Newby-Fraser winning and Jan Ripple coming in later stumbling on all fours. Very determined competitors, a great motivating race.
love to visit Hawaii someday, watchin Magnum PI to get into the mood…
Iron War. Watching two giants pull the best from each other was, and still is, amazing.
I remember televised coverage of an early 90’s or late 80’s Hawaii Ironman with Paula Newby-Fraser winning and Jan Ripple coming in later stumbling on all fours. Very determined competitors, a great motivating race.
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Nothing quite soo good as Kona Macadamia Nuts… unless it’s perhaps Kona Macadamia Nut Coffee!!
I’ve never been to Kona, but if I win I’ll surely go!
Unfortunately, my only memories of Kona are from watching it on TV. Hopefully that will change some day!
..kona underpants run..
Watching Chrissie overcome her bike crash injuries to win.
I love the stories of the non-elite competitors, the ones that barely make the finish cut-off time and how they struggle to get there
watching Crowie set a new Kona record
Kona brewpup….mmmmm beer
nice, very nice
Watching Chrissie Wellington win last year.
Hawaiian coffee
Great Kona quote from @russelcricket on twitter this morning:
“Always be yourself. Unless you can be an Ironman… Then be an Ironman.”
I don’t have any memories, but I’d like to go someday.
Thanks for the time you but into your site.
Macca and Raelert running side by side down alihi drive.
I need a birthday present for my boyfriend :-) first watch, then trip to hawaii
Hula heck deserves to win this competition?? I do!
Hawaiian Shirts :)
My favorite thing about Hawaii are those crazy monk seals!
The turtles!
Seen Team Hoyt
link to youtu.be
Watching it on tv for the first time when I was a little kid, it still amazes me.
The inspiration of watching everyone finish…even and especially the final finishers.
Last year i watched it for the first time on internet because a friend of mine was participating. Since then I do swim, bike, run as well!
I could really use one of these right about now!
Underwear Run
Macca and Raelert shaking hands during the marathon.
Kissing my wife moments before crossing the Finish Line last year!
Iron War
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Kona is definitely all about the coffee for me, but love watching the race on TV
Macca winning 2010
Iron War
Sea breeze and nice scene~
Iron War
Midnight finishers
Going on vacation to Hawaii for the first time ever, straight into the worst rain storms for decades…and still completing my interval training…
My only Kona memory is doing the 112 miles on the Kona course on Computrainer. Prob the single hardest thing I ever did ;)
Poi is delicious
The day after the 2003 IM Hawaii, I spotted Faris Al-Sultan sitting at the swim start eating a loaf of bread and humus.
My best kona memory happened this morning, starting my day off with pictures from the kona underwear run, curtosey of timex and fb. :)
Watching the swim start online. So cool!
Friends of mine have been in Hawaii last summer.
Supporting Chrissie and all the Brits online.
And the coffee that one of them brought me back!
Watching the start of the swim….
Julie Moss crawling across the finish line on wide world of sports!!
I don’t think you can go wrong with the Kona underpants run.
The wind! I can’t believe how much wind hey have to ride and run against.
Well, I enjoyed drinking Kona coffee when I working in Berkley last summer.
Amusing that when I tell people outside of the multisport world that I’ve done an Ironman, they instantly assume Kona. I wish…
Looking at vid’s from Kona on the tube, first time hearing about it! *embarrased*
Best Kona memory? Hopefully before 2020 and me finishing the race.
Love the regular folks racing along side the top level pros. You don’t see that in Formula 1, do you?
Hoping to create a few Kona memories in the next few years. Can’t wait to go.
The first British winner, Chrissie Wellington!
Hawaii-Five-O
Visiting Hawaii for a family cruise! cmt268
Watching Chrissie win even with all her injuries. Inspiring
Kona Pipeline Porter for the “any Hawaii anecdote” category. And, for the race category, imagining the politics behind who gets to be the volunteer inside the changing tent, where world-class athletes with killer bods strip down for the better part of an hour. I want to read a race-report from THOSE people!
The First time I saw the Hoyts’
Go Rappstar!
Never been to Kona. And will never probably make it to Kona. Closest I’ll get is that some relatives live on Oahu….and watching the race on the December broadcast (Universal Sports).
But I *need* this watch. Not for triathlon…but thanks to your posting, I realize that I need it for the one-legged racing. I’ve decided to take up the sport, turn pro in a year or so, and own the World Championships…
Thanks,
alan
Hawaii is the only U.S. state whose land area is increasing (from volcanic eruptions).
Chrissie’s win last year! Lady is tough.
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Reading about Chrissie Wellington’s epic road rash and torn muscles… after she’d demolished the 2011 Kona. And being even more impressed. Also, one of my favorite labs is named Kona, and kind of resembles a chocolate-covered macadamia nut. AKM
I don’t think I’ll ever qualify for Kona, but if I’m there to watch the race, I would like to swim over to the Coffees of Hawaii boat for some delicious coffee.
How the heck can you sustain your pace, with all these long trips, your deep reviews, your cupcake testing duties and still maintain what seem to be an excelent humor?
hearing about kona for the first time is what got me interested in triathlons in the first place! and what got me to your website!!
Well, the first girl that truly broke my heart was from Hawaii. So as a revenge I messed with her toothbrush, we are even now…
Mmmmm…. Kona ice cream…
watching the end of the race with the crowd cheering on the people who aren’t the elite people
My favorite Kona memory will hopefully be this year when I watch it for the first time!
Still never been there. But sometimes dreams come true. Maybe one time I will enjoy Ali’i drive.
Ops, I forgot to include Kona in the previous comment, probably because before stumbling across its name on your blog I just didn´t have a single clue about it, except as a coffee source, competitor to my own preference, Brazilian coffee (since I hail from Brazil, that shouldn´t be too surprising:))
Was just in Hawaii for my honeymoon, though we didn’t get to the big island :(
First Crowie win, hope another one tomorrow ;)
My favorite memory is of the woman with one leg. She didn’t make the run cutoff, but her continued effort was inspirational!
Reading peoples blogs about them competing at Kona and making me want to have a go at a local tri.
watching the live stream
Sun, ocean, beach, running and surfing ;-). For sure, it is an awesome place.
The nicest sea aroud Fabio
Thanks, Ray.
Realizing while running in Kona that I’m terribly adverse to heat.
May I just say… Pineapple!
Actually, watching Crowie smacking down the youngsters last year was pretty sweet!
The Hoyt team (link to youtube.com) – true Heros!
My Kona related memory is when my team coach and another team member came back from Iron man regensburg with two slots to kona :D
Seeing my teammates in last year’s promo video!
My favourite memory is the age gropers. Especially the ones with really soft hands. Meow. Oh wait, that’s not a memory—that’s a fantasy. Okay, then I suppose my best memory was reading about Julie Moss’ finish, as gross as the read was.
Watching Chrisse Wellington smile and all others cry, pity she is not racing this year
My parents took me to Hawaii when I was a little girl and too young to remember it. But I absolutely love hearing my mom tell me about how much fun we had when she took me swimming the dolphins. She even has a picture of me kissing one!
I found out a former boss completed the 1982 Ironman along with Julie Moss. To hear her tell it, it was just something cool to do and it is amazing what the race has become 30 years later.
Kona is beautiful.
Surfing in Kona and the Kona Brewery.
Triathlons!