Heads up!!! Here’s your massive holiday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $419, the Apple AirTag 4-Pack for just $69, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $249, (or the brand new Hero 13 or $299!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals 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.
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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 2024 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.
2 mile run in old bean town in 20 degree F
-2 C with snow in MTB in Padua in febbrary of 2013. I ride with ice on brake cable
Half Marathon in Temple Texas 35 degrees. What made it so fun was the 17 mph head wind..
I temporary moved my home base from Hong Kong to Ithaca, NY (finishing off my MBA here). I haven’t been running outdoors yet, but walking to the University (15min) at chilly -22 degree C or -7.6 Fahrenheit on my first day at Uni was kind of a nice welcome. ;)
Last Sunday…. I returned from Lima, Peru, where the temperature was at 27°C. In my home country, there was -12°C. I did 20k run in -12°C which become my lowest temperature for running ever. H
Being a tropical creature, anything below 17ºC is cold… so I usually stay inside and ride the trainer but my run in 6º C last week was more than I bargained for…
End of December hovering around zero in Kent with a blasting rain. Love running in the rain!
29F and sunny here today in Denver. We had a little snow overnight, so went cross-country skiing as an alternative to a run.
I’d have to say my coldest workout would have been 4.5 miles when it was about 25 F here in DC a few weeks ago. Oddly enough, it was also my fastest run ever.
Here in Ottawa, Canada I have done many runs this winter in temperatures in the -20 to -25C (-4 to -13F)range, with windchills of -30C (-22F) or colder. It’s all what you get used to!
Got caught in an unexpected rain storm during the TNF100 Hong Kong across the ridgeline of Pat Sin Leng. Temps were around 50F before the rain and visibility dropped to a few feet. COLD!
living in Australia, I don’t really have to deal with swim/bike/run in the cold. My coldest swim was in Canberra Triathlon, the water temp was about 19 degrees Celsius
20 degree’s, now I feel that wasn’t so bad after reading some of these comments!
Running for the morning commuter train in the single digits
20 degrees so far. Been way, way too snowy and icey this winter to get out when colder.
It was so cold one day this summer in Australia I had to wear a t-shirt.
I ran on the treadmill of a submarine water temps around us was basically freezing
Just some icy snowy mess that I tried to ride my new Mtb in, not very successfully I might add. Still got 1.5 miles though and wouldn’t change a thing!
5km run in -25 with windchill. Icicles on my nose on my way back home. Shivering but glorious.
About 8C, yeah I know not very cold, but I am in Sochi right now and this is not your typical Winter Olympic weather!
Just after Christmas in CT, 16 degree weather with a gusty breeze making it feel much cooler for a 7 mile run. There were many days in January that were colder than that but due to a knee injury I have not been running very much lately.
I had 2 days off work because of the weather last week, and on the first day when I didn’t have to go in I thought, “Nice! I’ll go for a nice long run.” I only ended up going 4 miles though, when I made it out my neighborhood and onto the main road I lost my shielding from the wind, and I wimped out and turned around!
Not the coldest day (termperature wise) I ran this winter but the wind just made it seem cold.
A six miles run at -20 celcius…That is hard at first!
It was in my living room on the trainer. The heat went out so I had to ride to stay warm!!
I went for a 10k when it was -16f… Inside.
20 degree run 10 days ago. At least I got to test out my new running toys!
Just last week! My hands were so cold, even with two pairs of gloves!
Went out and spun a few miles at 7F. All for http://freezingsaddles.com points!
Live in San Diego so…I think it got below 50 once this winter.
Local hills on the SF Bay peninsula, leaving my house at 5 am in the dark and temp dipping to a rare 22º. Head to toe layers, even balaclava. Feet in neoprene, two pairs of legwarmers on, merino under the jacket. Windstopper hat on in addition to the balaclava. Mist/fog/moisture in warming air cutting through anything that didn’t block wind like little daggers. Couldn’t feel my toes for an hour afterwards. I know it’s nothing compared to people in other places, but this was the worst I’ve ever experienced on a bile.
14 miles in a Minnesota snow storm. Brutal
Running in single digits – cold enough that I had to pull out a PR so I could get back in the warm :)
6 miles in 25F, not really much to complain about
-4*F tempo run in the dark, early, morning. Warming up was nearly impossible.
We don’t get too low here on the Wet Coast of BC, Canada. -5C run maybe?
I have run in colder temps, but it was always go outside and get started, so it wasn’t so bad.
I did a 5K on Jan 4 that I stood around in shorts and a tshirt for an hour before hand in 20* weather, with some wind. By the time the race started, I was freezing. At the half way point my hands hurt so much. But I did medal in my age group with a 22:xx, so I was pretty happy with that.
I am in SC and currently have runners knee, so I am anxious to get back out there.
First ride on my new bike the temp dropped below freezing on my way home and had to walk the bike home.
this morning’s KP half marathon in san francisco: pouring rain, temps in the 40s, and wind! even so, it was a beautiful course … and i finished 68 seconds short of a PR!
It’s summer in NZ, I nearly had to put arm warmers on one day. Or there was this day in springtime that was cold: link to inspiring-riding.com
Here in Indy did Mayor Ballard’s Polar Bear Pedal on the 1st of January. Temps were in the teens with wind chills in single digits, snow on ground but roads were salted and was quite an enjoyable ride. Even got to have a short chat with our mayor while we were riding.
Interval running drills. It was around -15 C RealFeel -25 C :)
Mine was at about 20* around Seward Park. Cold enough to start, but it felt colder on the lake side!
Coldest run: a Jan 4 race called “The Resolve.” It was a 5K or 10K, or if you were an optimist like me who thought the weather might be decent, you could run both in “The Double.” The weather was probably good the day I registered (which always makes me think it will be good on race day…no, there’s no logic to that, clearly), so I signed up for the Double. Unfortunately, the weather on race day was miserable: snow, wind, and a high of about 20 degrees. Ran the 5K, warmed up in the car and then returned for the 10K. At the end, I had my 9-miler in the bag for the weekend, bragging rights, and, best of all, I was the fastest female running the Double! I’m not all that fast (4th in AG for the 5K; 3rd for the 10K), but I managed to be faster than the only other woman crazy enough to run both. And there was a prize! (Yogurt, sunglasses, Kind bars, and a gift card to Sports Authority!) Yay!
50km training ride for a 130km winter race. It was -30oC with a nasty sidewind. Finally got my layers dialed in but alas, my goggles fogged! Wind drifts on the country roads and only had to push the bike a few times ;) My first winter as a winter cyclist, and I’m loving it! Great to celebrate bike power all year round. cheers
my first race for the winter is actually Feb 9th.
Training during the winter though has had its ups and down; from injuries to mechanical failures
12/21/13 Longest night of the year and ran 12.21 miles in 30F weather with icy roads and light snow/sleet at 10pm with a garmin 620 to benefit charities by Nike
On the banks of the Mississippi River, with a 20MPH headwind and a temp of 20 degrees. Brutal
9°F 4 mile run then 5×200’s then the 4 mile run back. Numb all over! #seattleseahawksSB48champs!
23 km in -23 Celsius last February. A lot of frozen parts.
Negative Fahrenheit outside meant 13 miles on the treadmill. My biggest accomplishment was to not go crazy…
There were also plenty of snotsicles on said ride :-)
Went for a swim at my local club and found out they just switched out the water. Ice Cold! I was the only one dumb enough to still get in. Had to be 50 degrees. My toes were numb but I completed my mile swim. Never leave home without your wetsuit!
10 miles in Long Island with temps in the single digits, below zero with the wind chill factor.
Living History Farms 7 mile cross country race in Des Moines Iowa. 10 degrees at the start of the race with fresh snow the night before. We had to break the ice in the streams before we could cross.
Pick me! Don’t remember what the question was and I can’t bring my self to scroll back to the top while on my iPhone
Chicago…January…Wind…Snow…Drifts. I didn’t want to know the temp.
My coldest run this year has been 50 degrees, I am going to miss San Diego when I move.
My wife and I completed a goruck challenge in okc together! 11.5 miles while wearing a 30 lb ruck lead by a special forces combat veteran! http://www.goruck.com
Running at 5am in 45F weather. I’m from California and to me that’s cold.
58 .. san diego
Not too cold so far! 11 miles in 60 degree weather here in San Diego!
<16 deg T-day 5k running in 3" shorts and a singlet after stripping out of the Mjchlen Man snowsuit.
1/27/14 -5 degrees with the wind chill way too cold
Have done some short runs in the teens. Any colder and I wuss out.
I was on vacationing from the cold of Chicago in California. We were right by the Pacific Ocean and I assumed it would be warm enough for a swim without a wetsuit. Not. I have no idea what the water temp was but it was freezing.
Vall de Núria ski resort, Spain. -5 C 10K. Finished the run with a nice cup of hot cocoa and churros…
It’s been a mild winter so far in wa state. Coldest activity to date was a mountain bike ride in Capitol forest, 26 F when I left the house.
Less than 2 hours to go. The winner…..
Went out for a run in-10C to find out that I I run much better in the cold than if hot weather. Luckily I live in Canada.
Ok, I live in New Orleans, so our cold is far less extreme than most people’s cold experience. I’ve been swimming in our local outdoor pool a few times this winter when it was 40 degrees. The pool was heated so swimming wasn’t too bad but getting out of the pool was rough!
The coldest it’s been was -20F, so we went skiing. The coldest “real” workout…just ~20F for a couple of runs about 2 weeks ago. Nothing crazy, but none of this “California winter”, either ;).
Had a ride last year when it started to snow west coast cement after an hour I had 2 inches of snow covering my bike and me on all forward facing surfaces.
6 deg F. Some snow and trails. Fun run, frozen toes.
I did a buddies run/pub crawl in -25C during Christmas break. 10 miles in the dark in Edmonton, Canada :)
I’ve had colder, but by far the most miserable was standing around for hours in the start village and corrals at the NYC Marathon waiting for the start.
Setting a new mile record time in an icy early morning run at CrossFit. Girl behind me fell on ice.. Very slippery.
A night run in a frigid 28 degrees. :-) Pathetic…I know.
Ashenfelter 8k turkey trot on Thanksgiving was about 20F! The next week I broke my foot and haven’t run since, booo. A new Garmin device would be nice when I start up again!
It was a cold winter! Coldest run was -5!
I’ve chickened out a few days and gone on the treadmill, but I’d say my coldest run was around 18 degrees with 10-15 mph wind here in Louisville, KY.
Coldest ride was … 10degC… Yeah it doesn’t get cold enough here in Taiwan but at least it was windy and damp!
-5ºc with a wind chill of 20mph, in the rain/snow… shivering for the rest of the day after getting home.
My coldest run wasn’t so cold. I’m in Alabama and it was only down to 38F. It was however very windy and raining. I was running my long run while training for my first 1/2 marathon which I finished at Disney on 1/11/14. Thanks for this contest and for the site!
I live in Guatemala City so nothing compared to what most of you have had to endure. Coldest bike ride was at 45F a couple of weeks ago
Waiting at start gate to run the NYC marathon! Great race
Coldest ride so far (and it’s not even) in Los Angeles was 38F in the morning.
The coldest run was just above freezing point, we had a mild winter so far;)
My coldest training run was 18*C (65F)
I’m in Australia and it doesn’t get that cold where I live, but I have done a triathlon in 36 degrees C/96 degrees F with loads of heavy forest fire smoke.. It was awful!!
9 degree morning run in NC, should have stayed in bed!
my coldest ride at 6am (50F) was when I wrapped myself in newspaper and when I returned never even broke a sweat. port Elizabeth,south africa
Tuesday ice storm. Mobile,al. 2 mile run. Frozen snot. Enough said
No clue on the temp, but my iPhone froze. Literally froze. Chicago winter has been brutal on my gadgets!
I live in SoCal so the coldest run I’ve had was 25 degrees… Fahrenheit!
rain and 15 degrees = wet and cold
During my recent run to mt. Si the temperature was -3C at the bottom and -10C (14F) at the top.
In this year it was -23C 10km run. And my record is -28C with strong wind in last year, after that i dont run below -25C. Russia – Ural
Yep, as a south Floridian I must advise, then immediately take cover: once wore a long sleeve shirt for a quick 5 miler in 52°F / 11°C weather during a cold spell 4 weeks ago.
Here in OH, we’ve had a brutal winter. Stayed indoors for the most part, but braved a windy 10F run.
Numerous cross country skis well below zero F this year with now two instances of the polar vortex crap. I like winter, but seriously, cut this crap out.