Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $449, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, 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.
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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.
First time I saw it was 2004 from my army barracks. I was amazed and instantly hooked.
First time we watched it after getting initiated in our fake Triathlon Club along with all the Macca drama… :O)
Watching Tim win in 2002 after winning in 2001
The age grouper that didn’t make it for the swim-finish cutting on time. He looked devastated but he returned the next year I believe. I found some common things since I’m not a good swimmer but always keeping the momentum and good attitude going on!
This was the first year I watched it live and it was awesome. I was using the tracker and the live feed while reading Lava and Slowtwitch. Made for a great day.
Watching Rinny mow people down on the run. Amazing…
First time online this year!
I have a friend who’s husband did it. I looked at her pictures. Does that count?
I was a kid watching on Wide World of Sports
remind me of the Kona half early this year, i was there.
Seeing Paula NF staggering down Hualauli Road and being passed by Karen Smyers. PNF had a blank look on her face and glazed eyes. She very clearly had given everything that day.
My best memory of Kona World Championship was when Macca and Raelert was doing a repeat of the Iron War. However, my favorite part is also watching the finishers cross the line in the final hour.
my favorite part was watching all finishers crossess the finishing line
The female race leader pulling up with severe cramp and being passed within site of the line.
Moss-McCartney, years after the fact. I was only about ten when they raced. Still an awesome moment in sports.
Watching that little race in 1989 with Dave Scott and Mark Allen working SO hard and being Soooo close! Amazing and inspiring!
Julie Moss 1982
I love watching the finish line. This year it was great to see Apollo Oni finish and still look energized, since he’s a relatively new cross-over athlete.
Chrissie winning the year she had had the accident. Inspirational!
2 years in a row watching Rinny absolutely eat up ground to erase the gap and cruise to the win…what a beautiful thing to “watch”.
Watching the athletes tread water before the swim start always captivates me…
When Chrissie Wellington won just a week after her bike wreck.
Watching Craig Alexander run…smooth as butter. Then there was the year he pulled up cramping, still to make it to finish in record time.
first time I watched it was about 10 years ago on one of those tape delayed specials they show on a Sunday afternoon during non-football season; made me want to do one
Watching Mirinda Carfrae smash the run two years in a row! Course record! Amazing coming back!
Team Hoyt- if that does not inspire you nothing will!
This year when Renny passed everybody on the run it was awesome!!!!!!
Watching it 2 years ago and saying out loud “I’d like to do that one day’. Next thing you know, my wife had signed me up for two sprint triathlons the following summer. That started it all for me.
To be honest, I love watching the mad dash into the water!
Watching the Father-Son combo Team Hoyt.
TEAM HOYT!!
I saw a film of the 2010 Kona Ironman with McCormack and Raelert having an incredible finish. However what inspired me to do triathlons was the story of the “normal” people taking part of Kona; to learn their stories, to see their difficulties, determination and tenacity was a breathtaking for me. It was almost a documentary about the spirit of ironman. I loved it.
Not even sure what year it was, but watching on TV with my brother’s wondering what insanity was being shown.
Seeing Chrissie win Kona for the 3rd time! Fantastic!
After years of only watching the replays on TV, watched it live for the first time this year.
The best is the run into the water. Every year looks crazy!
I remember seeing it for the first time on YouTube :) as a runner i was just browsing for something inspiring and I was blown away by how thought am iron-man is. Pretty cool stuff!
A few years back there was an amateur athlete feature on a young guy who was a double amputee competing in IMKona. I always make my sons watch those segments, they are my absolute favorites.
Moss on WWS.
Scott v. Allen…Watched on youtube….Incredible!
I watched it on youtube and I loved seeing the water filled with people from around the world. Hook me up with the new 920 I am looking forward to the upgrade.
As a road cyclist I would watch the NBC broadcast, but it wasn’t until Norman Stadler’s 2006 bike split record that I began to follow more intensely. He was an animal on the bike!
Watching Dave Scott and Scott Tinley on ABC Wide World of Sports in absolute awe!
Watching Kona 2013 highlights on youtube last year.
Watching Carfrae crush the run back to back years. Inspirational.
Only having got into triathlon’s last year, and just running my first Half Ironman this year (Muskoka!), I am still new to Ironman events so this year’s Kona was the first time watching for me! I watched the coverage all day online (in the midst of home renos, cooking, and then doing 40km on my indoor trainer), and I think the best part for me was watching the updates of Miranda Carfrae absolutely destroy it on the run course! It was pretty amazing to watch her determination as she was just tearing it up!
The memory of watching a woman collapse near the finish line and struggle to finish the ironman and thinking they do this for ‘fun’, it was Julie Moss.
Watching Normann Stadler win in 2006 after setting a new bike course record
Mark Allen on his Kona experiences and lessons. Brilliant!
Watching the NBC highlights on YouTube
My first time was in Iowa i did not know anything about triathlons and my friend spend the day drinking beers and getting me into th sport
Leanda Cave holding off Rinny in 12
I love watching the uber-bikers ride away, and the chase happen on the run.
Probably watching with my grandfather when I was younger, before I even knew I wanted to give triathlons a shot. Thanks for the opportunity.
Scott and Allen, the Hoyts, Carfrae, Wellington, Alexander, all on youtube while I was as training for my first half iron distance back in 2009.
Watching the nbc coverage of the ironman on tv about the ordinary people competing and finishing. Very inspiring.
Seeing the oldest athletes crossing the line with a smile is always the best part!
I agree with the last comment…I was way more interested in the average joe competing…not sure if you can ever call a Kona participant average, but none the less…heart felt.
Watched the coverage a few times in the past