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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.
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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!
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.
I remember them having a load of ads at what seems like umpteen Kona’s ago. Was that two years ago now or have I gone mad and it was just last year?
How was the weight of the new model?
It didn’t feel notably heavy, heavier than sunglasses, sure – but I’ve found that once you past the first minute or two of plunking anything on your head (i.e. an action camera), you usually forget it’s there.
Glad to see this in your hands at least, but tired of waiting for it. Looks less appealing and bulkier each time i see it now.
Also worried about weight while sweating during cycling(head angle). Unless they hook behind the ears or have a “head band”.
With their delays have they been able to keep the hardware inside up to date? (If you noticed the processor inside Google glass in the current version is a very old cpu as it was never updated from the initial version while newer cpus get faster and use less power)
Any word on supporting people who needed prescription glasses?
Not sure how often you would need to adjust the display but a wireles handlebar mounted control would be nice.
That’d be pretty cool, especially if they just ‘simply’ enabled usage of the ANT+ Remote Control profile. Thus you could use either the Garmin Edge or VIRB remote, or the O-Synce remote to control it. All standardized, so it’d be relatively easy plug & plug-wise.
I *want* to believe that they will pull this off because it has so much potential. The tangible thread of hope is that Recon has production experience in the snowboarding environment and there seems to be a some pretty good adoption and use in that domain. At this time I’m tilting toward the skeptical side because there are dozens of situations where they could let someone just go and ride with the thing, but they seem to always do these limited demo sessions. No disrespect meant to Ray here, but this is the umpteenth example of wearing the glasses indoors that I’ve heard of.
I’m really hoping they can pull this off because it sounds fantastic. Eager to hear about the hands on use though.
Ditto.
Don’t get me wrong, prototyping virtual eyewear is a tough nut to crack. Yet there is a line between R&D demonstrations versus near real world production ready demonstrations.
Why do I think all the hints about the production facility point to Motorola?
Nope.
I think your expression in the photo says more than any words could.
Ray working in IT myself I have to say (And I am not ashamed to say it) you are one of the best technology observers out there. If I wasn’t in the sports I would read your articles just for that.
Great Job
April Fools?
I am still hoping they dont delay again but Im still skeptical. I have lowered my expectations im other not to dissapoiny myself and have set my mental production date to 2017. Im still one of the early adopters.
You mentioned that the lenses will be interchangeable? Is that a new iteration? I was an early adopter, but canceled my preorder ages ago, mainly because the lens was fixed…..
That’s a good point, I believe that is new. In the last picture you can see the little ‘access door’ that’s in the middle of the glasses that releases the area to swap out lenses.
ANYTHING to stop Chris Froome looking down at his data all the time. :-)
It could be OK for running, for cycling I have my doubts: there is something to be said about having full visibility on the sides, be it traffic or checking other riders.
The display pod looks positively huge, way too thick. It seems they picked a really big frame, on a smaller one it would look even more bulky.
… aaaaaand now I’m glad I didn’t pre-order.
Hi Ray,
I do have one concern. I plan to use this in time trials. Will the Jet be able to it together with tight fitting time trial helmets like say, Specialised McLaren TT Helmet?
Hi Ray,
I do have one concern. I plan to use this in time trials. Will the Jet be able to fit together with tight fitting time trial helmets like say,Specialized McLaren TT Helmet?
this is exactly the same question I was going to ask?
Plus now it’s far more bulky than the original so it’s not as cool/neat looking as when I pre-ordered, plus at that level of bulk I have concerns the aero is affected flowing around the TT helmet.
that thing is a brick… thanks but no thanks.
This is slightly off-topic but Google Glass is pretty much dead. It served its purpose as an experiment in wearable technology and to get people talking about its possibilities but pretty much everything Glass does, Android Wear does it better and less intrusively.
That doesn’t mean that Glass won’t make a comeback in one form or another in the future, but for the inmediate and medium-term future, Recon doesn’t have anything to worry about.
A bit of a catch I think… It is predicated on a smart phone if I read right. Not sure my phone battery would hold up to a 7hr bike ride using GPS + Bluetooth, never mind an IM. Never mind if I want to carry a smartphone with me – nah
I think a note 4 would last that long as the battery life on it is great… it is a big phone to keep in your back pocket and not knock on which could ruin your ride
I like the concept, but I have both myopia and presbyopia and typically go runnng with contacts that just correct myopia: is there a way to scale and/or focus the display, and perhaps contrast or display color, to accommodate visual acuity issues?
How does one hear? I see three little holes at the end of the unit (photo 5). Is that the speaker location? How does it sound, especially when there is ambient noise?
“Oh good, the pods and connectivity points are slightly larger than past prototypes” said no consumer of sports technology ever.
Is there a coolness factor that I’m missing? because these glasses certainly don’t look cool…
Of everything I’ve backed on Kickstarter, this is what I’m currently looking forward to the most. Along with the BSX Multisport edition (which Ray coincidentally did a write up on recently) this really has the potential to add value to my current training program.
I’m hoping that BSX or other developers use the SDK provided with the Recon to develop solid integration between the instant feedback Recon is providing, and the multisensor capability the BSX offers. One display computer, one sensor suite.
All that being said, the device does look a bit bulky, so I’m going to have to get over the Robocop “glasshole” stigma that I’m instantly attaching to this.
Finally, I do hope that the device comes with a clear lens for night running… though one assumes that just running lensless should be fine unless there is a structural issue.
Would I be able to sync this with my Garmin Edge 705 to get turn by turn instructions on my cycling route?
No, the Edge doesn’t have any interfaces for other devices to talk to it for navigational things.
Ray, I’m not sure to what extent the Jet depends on a smartphone app for (part of) its funcionality.
I guess internet access is one obvious function, like it is now getting more important for devices like the Garmin Edge 1000. Do you know (or have a “feeling”) if Recon will be biased towards (give priority to) iPhone or Android based phones, or will apps be available for both at the same time?
I’ll get some clarification there. I was hoping to sit down with the guys at the ANT+ Symposium, but regrettably there were only so many hours in the day (even with starting each day at 5-6AM and finishing at 1-2AM). So, we’re going to catch up likely sometime this week on things.
In any event, looking at past Recon products, they’re pretty even on that, though, likely with a slight preference to Android since the unit is based on Android.
How many screens of data do you actually see in the HUD?
I have been following this for awhile and almost purchased it when it was supposed to come out in the first quarter of 2014. It is obviously disappointing that it has been delayed. I am not sure the utility as a triathlete. Since have a Garmin 1000, I am usually able to see it pretty consistently while riding. When running a race, however, this seems intriguing as it would be nice to get constant feedback for cadence and pace while not having to look at a watch on the wrist. Does it do cadence?