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…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
You'll support the site, and get ad-free DCR! Plus, you'll be more awesome. Click above for all the details. Oh, and you can sign-up for the newsletter here!
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.Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? No problem, the product comparison data is constantly updated with new products and new features added to old products!
Wanna create comparison chart graphs just like I do for GPS, heart rate, power meters and more? No problem, here's the platform I use - you can too!
Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
Get all your awesome DC Rainmaker gear here!
FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
- Why haven’t you yet released a review for XYZ product you mentioned months ago?
- Will you test our product before release?
- Are you willing to review or test beta products?
- Which trainer should I buy?
- Which GPS watch should I buy?
- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
- I’m headed to Washington DC – what do you recommend for training?
- I’m from out of the country and will be visiting the US, what’s the best triathlon shop in city XYZ?
- What kind of camera do you use?
-
5 Easy Steps To The Site
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
Would have loved to hear the conversation where they “talked you in for a little run.” Do you remember how it went? Totally cool to run with those guys. Great job, keeping up with them!
Interesting read! I look forward to the V800 write up.
Guess that’s what happens when you bring a Garmin watch to a run with Suunto guys.
Is Suunto planning release a new ambit or a new multisport watch this year?.
I have just bought a sapphire ine :-(
Strava is evil… I also find myself gunning for segment records…
Also looking forward to the V800 review. Have a 5 year old 310XT ready for decommissioning. And wondering if the V800 is worthy.
you’re currently 2nd on that segment…:)
My favorite part of this post is the picture where you can see your shadow taking a picture of your current pace.
The event you missed: Vantaa Triathlon, Sat 6/7/14. Olympic; Sprint; “Express”.
Yup, KOM gone: The Straightaway Sprint.
Yup, by Phil and Markus, the guys I was running with. Phil was one of the faster ones, and Markus was about 2 seconds ahead of me. All good, it’s fun times!
(I’m generally not a Strava segment person – in fact, I think this is the first time ever I’ve gone out for a Strava segment.)
Ha, apparently that was no casual run, judging by the new top results. :)
Funny that Strava pulled up some 2012 results for that segment. I guess it takes a while to work through the millions of old tracks to find matches.
Interesting that Phil’s device shows up in Strava as ‘Suunto Ambit2’. Mine only shows as ‘Suunto’. I wonder why the difference?
Among the triathletes training on/in the lake was this woman (possibly NSFW!): link to instagram.com
She’s a “glamour model”, a reality-tv starlet and a wanna-be. And she’s competing in triathlon for charity on saturday, got any pics? :D
No, the only womanly pic I have was one my camera took when I bumped it coming out of the water. But, the woman I got the random picture of looks more like Rosie O’Donnell.
Sorry to disappoint.
How long was that swim in Kuusijärvi? in meters.
One of the Suunto guys said he thought it was 750m for the loop I did. My swimcap GPS method gave me exactly .50 miles (804m).
Which, is close enough in my book. The exact track I did compared to what was measured by a boat/etc probably differs slightly.
Thanks! Just curious since ! do a chunk of my open water swimming there, and also thought it was 750m. And yeah, close enough!
Out of curiosity, what watch do you currently use for triathlons? I think I remember you saying you prefer to have a dedicated device for each sport (ie – Garmin Swim for swim training, Edge XXX for biking, and Garmin 620 for running), but I was curious if you take that approach for race day too?
i have the same question. Switching would increase T1 and T2 times so i don’t think that’s an option. But how to move your hart rate view from watch to eq Edge and back (when bike is over)? ANT could do this i think, but the upcoming V800 together with the V650?
I tend to be a single-device per sport person. Likely simply because I have them all. On the swim I’d wear the FR910XT though, and depending on how I felt I may take it with me on the bike. Since Garmin splices all the sports up anyway afterwards as long as I get the chunks I’m happy.
It doesn’t increase my times since the Edge sits on my bike (ready to go), and the watch I just leave in my shoes. So I just grab it and put it on while I’m running (somewhere in the first kilometer/mile).
And since it’s ANT+, they’ll both work together at the same time with the HR strap. For BLE, it will work with the V800/V650, because they’ve done some work on rebroadcasting.
Wow! Really cool to see pictures of so familiar places in your blog. By the way I’m racing in that lake tomorrow. Vantaa triathlon is the first big triathlon event of the season in Finland. The sport has become very popular here. Most of the bigger events are sold out. The most popular one: Finntriathlon, in Joroinen sold out in days back in September last year when they opened the registration.
Funny that you were at Suunto, running with Suunto people, yet you were wearing a Garmin running watch, and then later a Polar watch while you were there.
“Hey guys, I know that your products are some of the best on the market, but Ima just test out these other products while I’m here.”
Yup. I’ve only got so many hours in the day. So, gotta use those hours to get the tests in on the products for upcoming reviews.
Maybe he did have a Suunto product on him too, just not allowed to show it yet…
Swam in that lake myself a few years back after some training for Yukola the big all night Orienteering relay that have in Finland 15,000 people running round the woods.
What an awesome mini-training day you were able to “squeeze” in. Looks like a great place to train. Thanks.
Hi Ray, I remember some time ago you wanted to bring some devices deep diving somewhere in Belgium… it seems that now you have a second option in Italy, not far from Venice. It’s called Y-40 (cause it’s 40m deep)
Very nice. Thanks for the heads up there! Didn’t know about that one. Yup, still trying to find time to get to the Belgium one.
Tell us things about Ambit 3…colour screen, bluetooth,…come on Ray!!!
You say it! At the moment movescount will shut up some hours the next days (advance notice) … reasons? Well, maybe Ambit3 … and the stopping of all updates/upgrades of Ambit2 (like one year ago happened with the Ambit1?!?).
I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
Joachim
Hello Ray … just read that Suunto will release their new Ambit3 at OutDoor in Friedrichshafen (10th of July 2014) …
No answering regarding A3 may be an answer ? ;)
My posting is just for those people who are planning to buy an Ambit2 … if Suunto will do the same behaviour like regarding A1 they should think about waiting for A3 at least…
Joachim
No side trip to check out Omegawave being that you were so close?
I visited them last time I was there: link to dcrainmaker.com
..and subsequently haven’t heard from them since.
Well, Ray … nothing of answering regarding Ambit3 can also be an answer ;) There are news that obviously Suunto will announce their new Ambit3 in the midth of next month (WatchUSeek =>OutDoor in Friedrichshafen/Germany) ;)
Joachim
PS not so interesting for me (a former Ambit1er – still angry about Suunto behaviour regarding us) but for people who are thinking about buying the Ambit2 ;)
Ambit3 peak etc … well, Ray, we are waiting… Guess, you will inform us in the middle of next month ;)
Joachim
Well – we were right with out promising I guess ;)
Joachim
It seems that you can buy it already and it will ship out on September 1st. :)
Suunto Ambit3 Peak Black HR (mukana sykevyö) | Varuste.net
Thinking about dishing the Fenix 2 for this one.