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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!
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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.
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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!
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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 went for a long run on the snow, fun fun fun… anyway when I reached my fuel belt to get my water I noticed that it turned into ice, hello dehydration! Now I keep my water inside my jacket.
Moving to California, kind of reduces the amount of cold I deal with. The coldest ride I can remember though is when I was in Kingston ON… biking to school (university). I was going down a hill, and the ice on the hill caused me to slip, and the bike was gone from being underneath me in a split second.. after which I was sliding down the hill on my ass. :)
COLDEST RIDE this winter…
Big Island, Hawaii — 68-degrees…
But compared to doing the 800-miles back home in Kirkland Washington where it was 32-degrees I’m super excited to have been here in Hawaii.
it’s funny when u mention the coldest run, i live in Israel so we don’t have that cold weather here, i think the coldest run i did was when i went to a run after work, at around 11 pm and it was 5 c (Celsius), and i was very under dressed because i didn’t thought it would be that cold, but eventually i did a nice 15 KM instead of the 7 km i was supposed to do just because i was warm while running and didn’t want to stop.
Frozen Turkey 5k in Illinois in February. Temp was in the 20s, not that cold, but the wind was blowing the sleet sideways as we ran out into the country on the out n back course. Lungs were burning after that event.
I’m in Florida so not many runs that are too cold. A couple runs this week at 48 degrees, which according to your what to wear in what temperature post, would allow you to run in shorts and a long sleeve.
It was -10C before 45km/hr of wind chill. This is my usual winter commute, and it is quite fun to watch the ice forming in my arms :) the whole eyelids sticking together thing gets tired though…
while in vacation in Montreal last year, minus 15 Celsius.
It was -10C before 45km/hr of wind chill. This is my usual winter commute, and it is quite fun to watch the ice forming in my arms :) the whole eyelids sticking together thing gets tired though.
Cycling to Sunrise early in the year:
http://www.visitrainier.com/pg/parkRegion_sunrise/Mount-Rainier-National-Park-Regions—Sunrise
My friend and I – going up were fine; actually hot trying to climb the mountain – we get to the top and freezing fog rolls in – going down I thought I was going to crash because my hands were so cold that I couldn’t apply the breaks – teeth chattering cold! Half way down we met a fellow cyclist wearing shorts and short sleeves – the color of our skin convinced him to turn around – I think we might have saved his life!!
I don’t know if it was my coldest run but my very first race was in March of 2012 and it was flippin cold and I didn’t own any nice running gear yet. I just had cotton tshirts piled on with no gloves or ear muffs or anything. I was completely unprepared. I also had on glasses because I was getting LASIK in 3 days so they were fogging and SO COLD the entire time!!!
Moved to Ohio this past summer. Out in the teens these days. Cold enough for me!!
It was -10C before 45km/hr of wind chill. This is my usual winter commute, and it is quite fun to watch the ice forming in my arms :)
It was -10C before 45km/hr of wind chill. This is my usual winter commute, and it is quite fun to watch the ice forming on my arms :)
I don’t the coldest temp, because actually, I don’t mind the cold. I just dress for it. But I do remember a couple of times when I’ve been done, my leggings are covered in ice from my sweat seeping through and getting frosty :)
It was -10C before 45km/hr of wind chill. This is my usual winter commute, and it is quite fun to watch the ice forming on my arms :) the whole eyelids sticking together thing gets tired though.
I am entering for my husband as this body doesn’t do much runnng anymore. . . but the coldest I have ever been was skiing at Brian Head, Utah where base elevation is 10,000 feet. There was a wind chill on top of the mountain to about 5 below. For a Vegas girl, that is bitter cold !!!
Thanks for the contest. . . my husband deserves to win !! hee hee
When I was a kid, my coldest hike was done at -67*F. And as an adult about a year and half ago I went for a morning run and the water in my nathan hydro pack froze in the drink tube within the first 2 miles (i think it was in the upper teens or low 20s in Houston of all places).
On a run around Cornish countryside lanes before Christmas, it was cold enough anyway…. before coming across some sheep in the road which turned out to be my uncles. Had to stop for ten minutes and and get them back in the field before carrying on, by which time all of the joints had ceased up.
-5*F laps around the park, just to see if my winter gear could take it!
While I just went for a 7 mile trail run on monday in 5 degree F temps, -11 windchill, I think my coldest was actually in January in my first year of running. It was right around 0 F with -15 windchill, and at night so I didn’t even get any radiant warming from the sun. I came back with the world’s most spectacular amount of ice accumulated on the beard I grow for winter running. I don’t remember how long the run was or how far, but I do rembember being cold for a good hour after I came back home and being slightly concerned that I may never see certain parts of my *ahem* anatomy ever again.
I live in Norway. All my runs are in the cold!
My coldest run was in -14C ploughing through new snow, in Sweden. It was at the other side from where you’re going, in Gothenburg on the west coast =)!
Did a 17 mile run a couple of weeks ago in preparation for a marathon this spring. It was sunny but the wind chill was at about 1*. The tube on my CamelBak froze solid!
Yesterday NYC 16 Deg. Have to watch out for the happy hr frozen vomit on the manhattan streets.. lovely.
-24 Celsius, cycling in Lithuania on February 2012. Short video link to youtu.be and Endomondo track link to endomondo.com
My coldest run ever was actually last Saturday – it was 23 degrees when we met our running group, and the entire route was covered with frozen fog, so it was SLIPPERY! I live in Portland, so it very rarely gets that cold (usually we’re just wet!), and I had to layer on pretty much every piece of running gear I had! :)
About 3 weeks, I went on a snowshoe run up White Top (second highest point in Virginia), wearing 3/4th length tights and compression socks for makeshift full-length tights since I was foolish enough to leave my full length tights at school over winter break. I also thought it would be a good idea to start up the mountain at 7:30 pm, well after dark and when the wind was REALLY picking up. Windchill was about -10 above treeline, and I finally turned back after my toes then my fingers started going numb.
Coldest run was last week right around 0*. Aching/cold joints felt like running in slow-mo. Always good to get out though!
I try not to run outside unless it’s above 10 degrees F, but we’ve been having a cold snap here in Minnesota, so I just bundle up!
Last winter on a night orienteering (20 km) it was -15*C. I was running (too)hard, that i was covered with frozen sweat over two layers of clothes; chest, arms, back, … It was no option to stop, just run over hilly woods with headlight, cutting snowy night.
The best thing after was hot tee and dry clothes after finish line.
Ps: i love trail running in a snow
Coldest run in recent memory was a 5 mile run today in NC. Just made it home early after they shut down everything due to ice-rain, everything is very slippery right now.
My coldest run was at -12°C in Austria. The only issue were my arms, which got a bit too cold.
At the Boise Ironman on June 9, 2012 I froze for 2 hours prior to the swim as I waited for my swim wave 18. It was raining and the temperature was 29 possibly lower with the windchill. After a delay and a bike route detour announcement due to the 50 mph cross winds and subzero windchill. I was suffering from hypothermia which made the 52 degree water feel good. The smart people wore their wetsuit on the bike. I took 16 minutes in T1 to put on 4 layers of clothes and a trash bag. There was snow on the hill tops. All the extremities were numb. I got off the bike and started the run. I couldn’t feel my legs until mile 1. My toes were numb until mile 3. I ran harder, and harder just to warm up. Ironically the sun came out around mile 3, but it was still cold even though we were all already soaked.
The coldest I’ve felt on a run was actually not when the temperature was the lowest. I ran a marathon in 38 degree temps and pouring rain (for the whole 26 miles). Had hypothermia by the end and needed help opening food and my gear bag because my fingers didn’t work anymore.
Yesterday I ran in -5F with a windchill of -25. I was covered from head to toe including ski goggle and a face mask. It actually didn’t feel that bad since I was dressed appropriately. That being said, I’m ready for warmer temps, say 25F.
I went for a very short run here in MInnesota this week. -10*F with -35*F windchill. Even equipped with numerous layers involving gore tex, I never got through my “warm up” in both its sports and literal meanings.
My coldest one was tonight, It’s freezing a -11 C. But the wind picked up after about 20 minutes into the run. Boy oh boy it felt that cold, when I got home I thought I had become a girl……. ;-) But I made an excellent time, just to stay warm.
Last winter in NZ, I was getting up early(ish) to get my weekend rides in but don’t own any winter gloves. So tried putting plastic bags over my hands and it works pretty well.. keeps the heat in and takes wind chill off.. nice cheap solution ;-)
No run, bike or swim has come close to a hockey game in 1972! The Elmhurst, Illinois YMCA had an outdoor rink with refrigeration coils. It was a spring playoff game and it started raining. I had to go down a block a shot and slid into 34 degree water! Midway through the second period, so many of us were becoming hypothermic the coaches stopped the game.
Gosh, the temp had to get down to at least 50 degrees. It is tough living in southern California.
While I’ve had some really cold sporty moments as an adult too, I still remember the winters from my childhood in northern Finland.
I used to bicycle to school. When it was colder than -40C (incidentally -40F), the wheel hubs (the bike was stored indoors for nights) started to freeze while riding so that after some 2 km, the bike was so heavy to pedal that I had to abandon it and walk the remaining 2 km. I would then pick it up again on my way back home.
Mo i Rana in Norway. It was two years ago. it was -24 degrees and I went Nordic skiing in a local trail. Suddenly ran moose with three calves over the trail out of the darkness. I’ll tell you, my heart rate went high.
Rev3 Half Full triathlon last year. Temps were in the mid-40s and it rained throughout the swim and the bike. No good way to dress for that! People were getting pulled left and right for hypothermia. Craziness!
Hoping it gets above freezing soon.
My coldest run was last Sunday, It was 29 deg, Not cold by a lot of others on here but cold for me. there was a heavy frost that turned everything white. a couple times during the run I had to stop to kick off the frost that had built up on the bottom of my shoes.
Couple weeks ago I jumped off the trainer, donned my woollies and did my brick run in -25C. Thank goodness for snow plowed running paths!
Ran here, in north of France, in 2008. -20c. Running thru a field, lot of wind.
When I came back home, my noze and hears were violet..
WABA’s Lincoln ride around DC, was in the low 20s, had to wear ski goggles to keep my eyes from hurting. Hands were still painfully cold. Thankfully the ride wasn’t too long
Last October, I organised a three day group ride, The Hobart 10,000. Day 1 was to culminate at the top of the 1270m Mt Wellington. Unfortunately, it was snowing down to 300m, which meant sleet below that level, and the wind was blowing at somewhere around 70km/h. We got to the 300m mark before lunch, sodden from sleet. From there we had a 10km descent, just getting wetter and colder all the way down. It took me half an hour before I could feel my fingers and stopped shivering enough to eat. We didn’t make it to the top of the mountain. Full story at link to hobart10000.com
Last October, I organised a three day group ride, The Hobart 10,000. Day 1 was to culminate at the top of the 1270m Mt Wellington. Unfortunately, it was snowing down to 300m, and the wind was blowing at somewhere around 70km/h. We got to the 300m mark before lunch, sodden from sleet. From there we had a 10km descent, just getting wetter and colder all the way down. It took me half an hour before I could feel my fingers and stopped shivering enough to eat. Full story at link to hobart10000.com
Last October, I organised a three day group ride, The Hobart 10,000. Day 1 was to culminate at the top of the 1270m Mt Wellington. Unfortunately, it was snowing down to 300m, and the wind was blowing at somewhere around 70km/h. We got to the 300m mark before lunch, sodden from sleet. From there we had a 10km descent, just getting wetter and colder all the way down. It took me half an hour before I could feel my fingers and stopped shivering enough to eat. Full story at Hobart 10,000 site
Last October, descending in sleet for 10km, just getting wetter and colder all the way down. It took me half an hour before I could feel my fingers and stopped shivering enough to eat. Full story at link to hobart10000.com
Last October, descending in sleet for 10km, just getting wetter and colder all the way down. It took me half an hour before I could feel my fingers and stopped shivering enough to eat. Full story at Hobart 10,000 blog.
today, freezing and sleeting!!
Coldest swim for me was the Oregon coast in June. Not crowded, but very cold.
Stranded in the middle of a river in winter, and had to swim to the shore. (it’s a long story). About 35 degrees F.
With my club on a spring ride last year. I had many layers including hands, feet, arms, head, and legs but was still pretty miserable … Especially when I was out front pulling. Being a bigger guy that was often though as people were often trying to use me as a shield.
Last Sunday, my first “white trail”, in the snow and it was here, near Paris! The Ice Trail!
It was so great, I just heal from an injury so I was so glad to run again, my first race of 2013, and not the last!
Just running and riding locally in NY has been incredibly cold, around 10f.
My coldest adventures were probably when I was a kid growing up in Alaska. We’d go fishing out in our boat and my hands would get so cold I couldn’t unzip my pants to take care of “nature” when I’d get back, my mom would have to unzip them for me. :(
But recently I went snow-biking with a friend and we chose to take some roads that ended up being snowed-in deep. So hike-a-bike it was. My body was ok, but my fingers on my left hand got so cold that they felt like cardboard, and both hands hurt for several days afterward. It wasn’t terribly cold out (20F), but cold enough. The times when it dips below zero (F) and your snot freezes in your nose hairs… yeah, that’s when it’s really cold.
I never run when Im cold but I do go mountain biking. One time I could not feel my feet after about the 40min mark as water had gotten in my shoes so I kept pumpin my legs but it felt I was peddling with stumps due to early hypothermia settling in. Next time this happens I would like my Garmin 910xt to whip up a steaming bowl of soup to thaw me out.. what? Your telling me they dont do that? Well I just assumed seeing as it does just about everything else! Throw in some thermal waterproof socks too, or some gaiters and I wont ever have to write such a grovelling letter again! Later DC
My coldest run was this wednesday January 23th at 07 am..
Because of “not enough time to do sports”-issues, I run from my home to my work 3 times a week, that’s a 40 min run around 07u00 to start up my day.
Wednesday at that time, it was freezing -12°C here in Belgium!
Even with my multi-layer sports-outfit the front side of my upper-legs were dark-red ice-burned and really hurt under the shower – probably wind-related. Strangest thing though… my but had the same color.
Last October, descending in sleet for 10km, just getting wetter and colder all the way down. It took me half an hour before I could feel my fingers and stopped shivering enough to eat.
Running in the winter in Indy results in more than a couple frozen goatees….
Running around without a Garmin 910xt. Oh, my GOD I feel so naked and cold!
Once, here in italy, was so cold that my little brother completely retired inside me. My wife had to work really hard to rehabilitate the situation ;–)
My coldest run was a long run for my highschool lacrosse tryouts (circa 2001). I have no clue how cold it was – probably in the single digits – but being outside for 2.5 hours running windsprints and long runs did not even warm me up – I was pretty sure I was hypothermic because I took a 30 minute hot shower, then got layered up with wool and fleece and still shivered. The coach held practice in the gym the next day.
High School 10K in Alexandria, VA, in the snow, in January. Nothing but shorts and a singlet. It was so cold they had to place the finishing popsicle stick (does anyone else remember those before electronic timing systems?) between my frozen fingers as I could not close my hand to grasp it.
I went running 2 nights (1/23) ago here in good ol’ West Virginia. Temp was around 9 degrees with 15 mph wind gusts on the rail trail. Lowest for that day I saw was -2 on my car thermometer while driving to work that morning.
This past tuesday, near Schipol airport late afternoon, -6 degrees and snow and ice all the way… It felt more like skying than running.
Thanks,
D.
Every time I ride early in the morning, I need the bed at 25 Celsius, to outside world 5 degrees, which is already minus 20. and then wind at 30 mph, it comes out like minus 3000. brrrr
Cross country skiing in -20 C – with boots that where slightly to small. Damn did it hurt when my feet got warm again and a week later the skin on my toes fell of and they where more or less numb for several weeks afterwards. Haven’t done much cross country skiing since then…
Past Sunday recovery running in -8 degrees in Amsterdam, low intensity, high freezefactor.
Training for the Paris marathon last year I was out in force 6 gales and rain (began after about 20 miles). One of those situations where you wish you’d turned back 20 minutes earlier! If I’m honest, I got a friend to come out to drop me off a sweater to do the last 3 miles.
Headed to snow bike races in Marquette MI. Been running and riding all week in 6 F. It has been fun figuring out the right items to wear!
I have been running in several cold places, but I do remember running at -8 degree C to prepare for my first marathon in Belgium in December 2010.
-20C, Finland, 30min run about 5 years ago. Can’t even recall how many layers I needed….
I once went for a swim in the middle of winter eager to try out my new wetsuit – it was so cold the mesh panels on my arms started to ice over!
Early morning Idaho run that started off at -10. First ten minutes my dog took me out and slipped and fell into a creek next to the trail. My run lasted about 15 minutes but felt like 2 hours.
While practicing Nordic skiing for the preparation of “la Transjurassienne ” : 25°C outside, -35°C apparent with wind called “black kiss”
Lost a finger after for one month
Headed to snow bike races in Marquette, MI. Been running and riding all week in 6 F. It has been fun figuring out the right items to wear!
My coldest memory was my practice swim at lake Coeur d’ Alene in 2010 for the Ironman race the next day. The lake had a temperature around 60 degrees (if that) which made the practice swim very short!
A few days ago I went out to run with -2ºC and foggy, it was like been in an old freezer. Then it began to rain, everything goes to worst, but in the end a shy sun appears. Tough session but proud and happy.
3 months since the last time I did “the Sunday ride” at more than 5 degree… Too much time! Summer: I’m missing you!
There were some pretty cold runs during DC’s Snowpocalypse a few years ago. I did them all in the middle of the road on top of inches of snow while watching other folks uncover their walkways.
Cycling coast to coast (UK) in constant rain for 3 days, with the nights spent in a tent frozen to the bone.
North Carolina Runner here…..Coldest ever was 15 degrees F.
Realize how lucky I am after reading some of these posts! I feel warmer already!
It was so cold here in Calgary with temps well below -20 (Celsius that is my friends)…It was so cold that I don’t even remember how far and long we ran. But that warm bath and glass of vino made up for it! Love running on fresh crispy snow!
I’ve lived in Alberta (Canada), since fall 2004 and I’ve lost count of the sub -20C runs that I’ve gone on since moving here. One of the most memorable was a Christmas day run, probably at -23C with light snow falling and just how quiet and serene it was in the river valley. It was a beautiful day. One of my worst experiences was at the Calgary 70.3 and the swim in 2012. The race took place the last weekend of July, but Ghost lake is glacially fed and the water temp of 14C. Worst race swim of my life. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to complete it.
Backpacking 16 years ago in the Smokey Mountains with two feet of snow and -10 degree wind chill.
Two years ago — cycling in freezing rain.
Coldest I’ve ever been was a run right around christmas day this year. I set out with a tail wind, about 2 miles into it I started my loop and started to think about how thin that hat was on that I was wearing. Turned into the wind and sure enough….brrrrrr. 20+ mph, 15 degrees + pelting snow. I wish I didn’t just scrape down the beard.
Long story short, used the cold to motivate me to a PR for 10k that day and I didn’t loose any appendages. yeah!
One spring morning I rode to work. I forgot to check the forecast the night before and in my rush to get ready to leave I didn’t check the outside temperature. It wasn’t till I was down the end of my street that I figured out it must have been about -3C and I was probably a little under dressed (shorts and cycling top). Since I was pushed for time I thought I’d be ok. The usual 30 min ride turned into 40 mins and I had icicles frozen to my leg hairs by the time I got to work. I guess that’s why “real” cyclists shave!.
27 degrees. Birmingham, AL. Ice on the roads. Old men shouldn’t run on ice. Stress fracture.
My coldest run was -12 C a couple of weeks ago. The weather was fantastic, sunny and no wind running at Gärdet in Stockholm Sweden.
About a month ago, temperature was around freezing and part of my local trail run was flooded. 0.5miles through foot deep water, lost feeling in my feet after the first 30 yards.
My coldest run was just under a year ago. I was running as a coach with the Fleet Feet Training Team on an 18-mile training run for the Go! St. Louis Marathon. Temps were close to single digits at the start with snow and ice on untreated surfaces. I caught my size 15 foot on an uneven sidewalk at mile 1 and wiped out hard with my knee taking the brunt of it. I brushed it off and continued going, as I had a group of runners counting on me. By mile 5 I couldn’t feel the knee pain anymore, and we had a great run together. I went to change after the run, and the inside of my tights looked like a forensic science experiment from the blood that had come from my knee, and the knee itself resembled ground beef in places. For some strange reason, I always look back at that day as one of my favorite runs ever!
Few years back. Helsinki long run -10 degrees
Few years back.
Helsinki long run -10 degrees but north wind was killer!!