Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $429, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, (or Hero 13 bundle for $339!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list here!
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Here’s how to save!
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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.
4
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.
seeing all the athletes crossing the finish line, specially the last ones crossing it before the cutline giving everything they have, all that suffering and determination is something amazing!
watching a repeat of Julie moss crossing the line a few years ago. pure commitment and determination right there!
I remember staying at the Mauna Lani hotel as a kid with my parents the weekend of the race. We went out to the Queen K highway where an aid station was set up and handed out water bottles to athletes. It was a great time and planted the seed to my future endeavors in triathlon.
My favorite memory is seeing these incredible athletes compete in one of the most beautiful places in the world! The combo of world-class athletes and Kona is killer! Love it!
I was hooked when The Chrissinator, Chrissie Wellington, made the biggest upset in Ironman Hawaii history 2007. I believe she’s only athelete who did the impossible by winning as a rookie at their first Ironman World Championships the 13 October, 2007
Earliest: a replay of the Welch/Ingraham finish not really understanding what I was watching. Actually watching: Jacobs/2012 race and thinking that is something I want to do(on a smaller scale for now)
Catching it on TV randomly when nothing else was on in late 90’s. I was thinking these people are super crazy and must not have jobs. Now I think, I might could do that one day!
The 100th Kona Ironman from Luis Alvarez, the Mexican Ironman ! It´s the only triathlete that has done all the Ironmans. Google this man, very interesting story !
Watching an 80-something man that refused to give up. He fell down over and over, he had to hang onto anything he could find along the way. But he never quit. He crossed that finish line. It was at that moment I realized that I was NOT too old to do this. If an 80-something person can cross that finish line, so can I!
I can’t remember what year, but watching an NBC broadcast with my dad.
Chris McCormack winning his first championship in 2007. Running across the finish line with sponges in his kit.
Watched it for the first time last year on NBC’s presentation. Amazed at the athletes and it has motivated myself to try and train for an ironman event in 2016.
Craig Alexander breaking the course record in 2011!
Watching a montage about celebrities and athletes training for the event in 2011 prompted me to watch a little of each event since then.
Last year watched and cheered on Gordon Ramsey. Just on te TV, dream of competing in it and just love to watch. One day I shall.
Watched it on TV (wide world of sports I think) when I was a kid. Back when nobody ever heard of a triathalon before.
Never watched it before, can’t wait for this year!!
That quickhandshake between McCormack and Raelert, Kona’s 2010. why? cause it is a moment that combines the human spirit, the mental strength, the need for a sane touch from a friend and a piece of self awareness and modesty that is sometimes rare in elite level pro’s… :)
i’m in
2007
After years of being inspired by watching this event each year I finally did my first in 2012 and my second in 2014. After having completed twice I am even more amazed at the level these athletes perform in such challenging conditions.
My most vivid memory would have to be Julie Moss crawling.
Watching Dave Scott just dominate, with Mark Allen raising the bar in subsequent races…..
Watched the whole thing 3 years ago from bed with my laptop when I was sick with some kind of viral illness.
The battle between Chris McCormack and Andreas Raelert in 2010 with the handshake. That was true sportsmanship and a great performance from both men.
would have to be at a local bike shop..I had no idea about triathlon competition but was mesmerized! Who’d have guessed not too many years later my wife and I would be competing in the Miami 70.2 in a few weeks!
Walt
I remember watching back in the 80s when I was a kid thinking that was nuts!
I have only watched it on TV but I have for years. One day I will go see it in person.
My earliest memory of watching Kona is seeing Dick and Rick Hoyt compete. I realized at that moment that I was in my “prime” and couldn’t finish any kWh of an Ironman. That was the year I started training.
Not Kona only but watching this IM compilation video on YouTube to motivate me through the long workouts en route to my first IM finish.
Streaming while running on my treadmill.
I remember watching a double leg amputee attempt this awe inspiring event. Though he did not make the time on his bike I think about him each time I want to say my legs are burning during training sessions. Cheers.
I was working as a beach lifeguard and a co-worker was talking about this crazy event where they raced more than 140 miles through the most brutal conditions imaginable. I thought he was full of crap, but I made a point to watch it on TV that year (2004) as Norman Stadler dominated the competition on his way to the title. I thought to myself after seeing that race that I could no longer consider myself a tough athlete until I did an ironman. As a swimmer I had always thought I participated in one of the hardest sports… I felt like such a wuss that day.
My first KONA experience was watching the 2011, 2012 and 2013 recap videos you YouTube this summer. This weekend, a friend of mine will be competing and I can’t wait to see how her day unfolds.
We had a guest speaker come to the local ski/bike shop. He did a presentation on triathlon basics and how he eventually qualified for and did Kona. Awesome and inspirational!
Watching in the ’80s as a teenager thinking why would anyone run through a lava field?
1984 Dave Scott’s win .. Inspired me anything is possible .
Julie moss epic fight in 82!!
watching it online when I should have been paying attention at a meeting …
all the great inspirational stories on nbc’s coverage.
Chrissie’s hat-trick in 2009. Doing the mother country proud.
Watching the end and being amazed at those who finished just under the time and being congratulated by the winners from earlier in the day.
Downloaded a video from youtube to my celfone and watch it over and over while waiting for wifey.. :)
1998 after watching my first IM Canada in Penticton. The big island took the sport to a whole new level.
three years ago after finishing my first sprint tri.
first experience was watching it on ABC Wide World of sports!
Cliche but julie moss
My best memory was the feature on the Blazeman Roll, such an inspiration.
Watching highlights last year and thinking ‘will I ever be good enough?’
Julie moss’s crawl. We used to watch Wide World of sports every weekend.
Epic Julie moss!
Blazeman rolling across knowing it could be his last, the guy that did it 17yrs in a row into his 70s, or ironwar. There are so many. Or the countless friends, patients and training partners seeing their dream through.
Being a teenager, watching Mark Allen and Dave Scott duke it out in 1989 truly marked my imagination. They were out of this world but they defined who I was going to become growing up.
Crowie, Macca, Rinni and the rest… #GoAussie!
Watching it on Wide World of Sports.
The Crawl by Sian Welch & Wendy Ingraham during Ironman 1997
Macca on raelert while i drank mai tais!
First kona memory watching the 2011 kona om tv
1997, still in VHS!
Wide world of sports- Julie moss.
chrissie Wellington tribute to blazeman roll
May sound strange but was an episode of Magnum P.I.
I watched Julie Moss on YouTube a couple years ago. Her dedication and fighting spirit mindblowing
Julie Moss.saw it when I was a kid, and got goosebumps. Saw it again recently and had the exact same reaction. Inspiring!!
First memory was about awesome start in the water. Since then I think it’s one of the most beautiful moment of the race with the happy finish.
I Watch the tv wrap up nearly every year. I am inspired by the average Joes finishing the race.
Remember seeing Kona in the 80’s on ABC wide world of sports…a Sunday tradition. I was always confused as a kid who Bud Light was the sponsor. Was this the hydration on the course?!
As a kid watching wide world of sport highlights featuring Dave Scott winnine.
watching PJ win it all in 2012!
Crowie…need I say more!
The first ironman race I saw was the one when Macca won for the second time… I was hooked and decided that was the sport I wanted to do…
Mark Allen and Dave Scott duel!
Happened upon the 2009 edition on TV as I was prepping my gear and pinning my bib on my shirt the night before my first marathon. Magic!
Around 10 yrs old first time . . . just amazed. Later watched Craig Alexander win in 2008 with my wife and telling her ‘I could do that’. Motivated me to start doing tri’s in 2009. Still waiting on a Kona lottery win.
2001 flipping thru stations stopped and watched the age groupers at midnight in awe
My first memory was accidental. I came across it flipping channels and ended up watching everything I could, in awe, of the strength and endurance of the athletes.
macca picking up the chocolates for his second win. Just awesome to watch.
Rey,
Met Pete Jacobs in the Philipines for 70.3 2012, followed him to victory that year at Kona!
Has to be the year that Chrissie won it after flatting. I remember from the footage she’s blowing past people on the bike and one woman pro says to another “she’ll blow in the run” and the 2nd says “no the run is her strength” or something along those lines… #awesome
Thomas Hellriegel winning in 1997
I remember watching it as a kid. I couldn’t comprehend the distances at that age. Even now in my 40’s I’m in awe.
Due to time zone differences, I tend to fall asleep during the run, so I’m glad about the wrap up a few weeks later. Best moments are when waking up and seeing some Swiss doing well.
seeing my dad stick his head out the sliding door staying in the air condition as I passed by on the bike on Alii drive
First time I saw it was by mistake looking for a soccer game and ended up watching it instead of the soccer game
Rinny killing it
My first memory of watching Kona was when I looked for inspirational videos related to running and triathlon on YouTube and some of the clips there were snippets of Kona races.
Watching the crazy swim mass starts.. those guys/gals are nuts haha.
The first time I ever heard of the Ironman World Championships in Kona, or Ironman at all for that matter, was when my boss qualified for Kona as an age grouper. His excitement got me interested, so I watched as many videos as I could find on utube. I got inspired and started working out myself. 3 years later and 80 pounds lighter (still would like to loose another 20-30) I’m training for my first ultra-distance/Ironman race next summer. The Julie Moss and Paul Newby Frazier videos are the most memorable to me, because they show how far the pros are pushing themselves and how quickly it can all go wrong.
Chrissie Wellington kicking butt her third and fourth times at the race
2010 McCormack and Raelert side by side, shaking hands during the run.
watching when i was a kid and at first wondering “why?” then “i might try that some day”
Watching the Julie moss crawl on you tube after my first triathlon to know what an ironman distance was like.
2012 as I prepped for my first 70.3 the next day.
Macca on his second win. Last 10k was a great race.
My best memory of kona was watching all the leaders push themselves to the limit. Truely is one of the moat amazing things you will ever see.
Easy one for me…when Chrissy punctured and then eventually pulverized the field into victory. Brings chills just thinking about it.
the very first time seeing Kona from YouTube, amazing people transform into Ironman!
2013 Kona… watching on my lazyboy eating chips… never ran a km in my life… never rode a roadie bike… afraid to swim in the deep… but i declared ” I wanna be an Ironman” :) Just finished my first 70.3 distance, Ironman PH last aug :)
it was 5 years ago. I had only been involved in triathlon for 6 months, but I was hooked. Didn’t know much about Kona, but in reading all the magazines, it was obvious it was THE race. I tried to follow on the computer as best I could, but it wasn’t until NBC replayed the race that I realized just how special that race was. The pros, the special stories…it was overwhelming. I think I teared up watching those last few people cross the finish line.
Haven’t missed it every since…can’t wait until tomorrow!
i’ve only seen the race on TV but as I watch them I always think how much I would like to be there and how beautiful the scenery is.