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!
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.
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.
a 3 mile run for the newly married couple is on the cards
Leisurely run / walk together around the lake.
Only work training for me – a daylong teambuilding session. Hoping to duck out for a brief run though!
simple 6 mile training run.
Pre-work treadmill intervals
Play tennis match with league team
Spin in the morning then tennis lesson in the after noon.
I will be racing a 10k at Montreal’s Bizard Island Winter Challenge
Running in the morning. 16 Km
Bike/run brick for me then a brewery tour and a Broadway show for Valentine’s Day
Nice Cross Country Ski would be good.
I’ve got a 10 mile run in 20 degree weather in the morning while my better half has an easy day at 5.5 miles. Gotta burn some energy to make up for the V-Day pizza on Saturday night!
A one mile swim and….
Tomorrow will be a double bill: first I will meet with my training buddy Hedi to do some fitness, which for me means 10km on the handbike and some core stability training the machines. Then I’ll rush home to change, and head out on a 10km tempo run, in preparation for my slow, long run on sunday. Unless the weather is great tomorrow, then I won’t be able to withstand the temptation to stay out longer, and I’ll do the long run tomorrow. Long at this stage means 18-21km; I’m training for a half marathon on March 8th in The Hague. Whoever wins, great contest, great site, thanks for all the effort.
I’m the lucky winner.
18km for me, and then a walk with wife and kid enjoying the carnival
Seeing we have had 6 feet of snow in two weeks here in Boston and another 1-2 feet set for tomorrow my workout will be on a treadmill.
Well, it wouldn’t be so funny this year: 7 hours of ru—eerh, driving. But maybe a little wandering in snowy mountains after that. And a lot of ski moutaineering the 6 next days with Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 training inside.
Long ride.
20-25 bike and maybe a 4 mile run.
3 hours zwift training …Jiihaa!
5k run woohoo!
Finding time to workout at all with a new 5 week old is hard, but shooting for an hour on the trainer this weekend.
Knocking out a 1000 yard swim with the wife followed up by a core workout. This is what I get for marrying a competitive swimmer Physical Therapist.
3rd FTP test this season on Zwift Island. Probably the last one of the year that will show me a big jump in comparison to the previous one.
5K Race in The Woodlands, TX
It is already Valentines Day here in NZ. Just finished a 40km ride with my 12 year old son. A few hills and battling the wind.
A 150 km ride with my friend around North Yorkshire. Tan Hill is the mid-point so looking forward to a ‘romantic meal’ at the highest Inn in England.
A 2.5 hour bike workout, then ice hockey later!
Looking forward to a Zwift virtual metric century!
Wife is pregnant, so a couple of mile walk with wife, breakfast then 50 mile ride.
Criterium racing for me with family watching on.
im doing 58km mtb route with my pals from madroño mtb club
Sneak out of th house at 6 for a swim, back for bereakfast with my wife Ingrid Head out on the bike at 11 after Ingrid leaves for some a shopping expedition. Back before she makes it home around 3. Out for dinner at 6, tucked into bed around 8:30 to enable a repeat on Sunday.
A 20 mile trail run in the plans.
10 mile bromance run on Saturday morning, followed by a half marathon trail run on Sunday.
14 mile progression run
Signing up for Timberman 70.3 and trying to convince my husband to join me!
Treadmill miles for me and my love….-35 F windchills this weekend. YUCK!
A spin on the indoor bike trainer for me!
A one hour elliptical workout in the morning…too cold in ny for a run…but gotta be able to eat guilt free on the v-day dinner outing!
Pool in the morning, run in the afternoon, and hopefully some more physical activities in the evening… Haha!
Do a cold snap indoor brick…
An hour spent in the pool, teaching my better half some total immersion swim techniques.
6 mile Indoor run due to -5 and than valentines dinner with wife and then 25 mile indoor bike before starting the night shift.
Doin a 15km run, slow and steady:-)
Swimming in the morning and running this afternoon With my beloved
3.5k Swim, 1h run (hill intervalls) and 1 short recovery bike ride. I guess i´ll be rather tired tonight.
We are driving from paris to britanny to run together the noz trail (18km trail at night) from the glazik challenge. It is going to be fun :)
Mine was all about walking the shops with my wife and daughters, I made about half my daily target on my M400 and didn’t have to break a sweat.
Raced in a running race carrying a water melon and managed to tear my hamstring. I’ve had better valentines days.
Both of us getting up before 5am, me for a cycle, her for gym.
A nice ride before the snow hits!!!
1.5 hrs on the computrainer this morning. Post VDay 2-hr Splash and Spin
Went to sky in pustertal (Italy). Alas brown fields around, but wonderful slopes..
6 km normal run. Thereafter finished with new record strava at segment! :)
Park run this morning then steak supper at home with my lovely wife!
1.5 hours on the bike followed by 30 minute run. Valentines Day brick.
Two hours on the Mtb in Barcelona
Training a couple using my “old” Garmin FR205. 2.5 miles today.
3 mile light run
20 kettle bell swings 20 burpees x5
Walking around Legoland with the family during school vacation.
Did 1 hr bike and wife went to kickboxing
Playing some pond hockey
A 10k Skate ski race in Minneapolis, MN
I´m sick so I will spend the day watching squash rallies in the sofa
11 mi long run
A 13 km run in the aerobic heart rate zone.
1 hour on the stationary bike, followed by light weight session and stretching with the misses
I always fill these stupid things out and never win. Like usually I am running on valentines day, going to eat a big dinner with my wife afterwards and wake today and run more.
DS
In the negative 20 windchill range, so I ran 48 laps on an indoor track, very romantic if you ask me
23 kms X-country skiing. Getting ready for the Vasaloppet !!!
Mobility routine to losen up tight muscles and a casual run through the forest ;)
Spending the weekend training for a Sprint Tri within two months. Saturday brick of swimming / running and Sunday swim / bike.
I’m sick so I’ll have to wait a bit. But can’t wait to go for a run!
12 km in the Wood
6.6 Km single run… :)
A ride on the trainer whilst my wife was working on her yoga
Nice 6 miler with my wife
As usual running with dog as far as possible :-)
It was a cold one here in Illinois. Saturday, it was a Concept2 session, while my wife ran on the treadmill. Then Sunday, I was on the bike/trainer putting in a good workout, while she enjoyed some extended sleep!
2.5 hours on the bike trainer for me – seemed like forever
Running together with my wife around the lake in our subdivision.
run 2.14 miles to the cupcake store :)
Spent the morning on a nice 10km training run with the girls from the athletics club and then had a long late night ride with the hubs testing out my new bike shoes. Finished the day with a cheeky couple’s 5km fartlek. Knackered but great fun
50 mile ride in the hills and wind with my wife.
First long run of new training program. Was supposed to be 2 miles, but did 2.5 instead. And my phone Died with GPS tracking, so I could really use a watch :)
6 mile run around the neighborhood.
I live in Phoenix, AZ. Will plan on doing a hike with my lovely wife in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.
About 20 in the dirt on the mountain bike followed up with about a mile swim in the ocean.
Skiing in the morning and 9 mile run in the afternoon.
Time on the cyclops trainer if it’s wet. Out and about if it’s dry. ;)
I plan to go snowboarding for some cross training on Valentine’s Day.
Biking to our favorite coffee bar for a latte and pastry!
I don’t have any plans yet, but indoor rockclimbing would be fun.
My wife and I are running together in the local “Sweetheart 5k” race.
Going to keep it pretty simple for Valentine’s Day with a bit of shooting on the basketball court, and probably a few flights of stairs. It’s the night before that when I’ll be getting in the main workout (run and a few basketball games).
training for annual half marathon at end of March
We are skiing and trail running this weekend, plus going to see some live music on the night itself.
On Sat., a local 5K fun run in Vancouver called Love2Run with my spouse!
3:30 hours, hilly road workout on the bike.
I am a total beginning runner, training for my 1st 10k. For this Valentine’s Day though, it’s all about my 10 yr old son. He get to be on ice for the first time ever, because it’s not safe for him normally, to try out sled hockey!!! We are so excited for him!! :-)
My wife and I will be staring at each other side by side on the treadmills as we dredge through yet another long winter in Chicago.
Getting ready for the Austin Marathon on Sunday!
I’ll be carrying water and riding my bike while my friend does her long run.
Fix the bike and ride in the beautiful Bay Area weather
Climbing to the three crosses hill with my wife
Aiming for a PB at Parkrun in a warm and humid Sydney summer
Long ride – 3x20min at race pace. Last ride before TAPER!
Finishing up a level-2 avalanche course with my sweetie! Her Forerunner is getting old and charges grumpily….
I ‘ll participate in a 100km race
Looks like good weather this Saturday, so we (wife, kids and I) are planning on 6 miles Valentine’s Day afternoon. Then we can feel a LITTLE less guilty for the post-Valentine’s-dinner dessert!!
Hopefully I can get in a 30 minute run.
Early morning Crossfit session then heading to the beach for some walking along the cliffs and taking in the sun.
Have yet to decide between either a short pool swim with my wife or a 5km run.
More of a President’s Day run since I’ll be busy with the missus on Valentine’s day, but doing a 22 mile run at The Wedge, in the San Rafael Swell in central Utah! Complete with friends, an aid station, and guaranteed fun!
Heading out for a 50mi bike ride with focus on hills!
5 mile fun before dinner
my traingsplan says I should go for about 2h on my Kinetic trainer..
Hot Chocolate 15k
Hope to go on a bike ride with my husband… and follow it up with a movie and dinner.
The weather here is brilliant here right now!
The day will start with a light 2 mile jog, followed by coaching my son’s “Orienteering” team during their Nationals meet.
Rehab spin on the trainer with my lady
i’m currently injured, so unfortunately no workouts for me
15mile run!
Its summer here, so its a bike ride with my wife
ps its also my Birthday
Follow my physical therapist’s plan so I can get back in the race!
Trying to fit a 10 mile long run in between work and visiting someone in the hospital!
30 mile bike ride down PCH! Woo!
Valentine’s day seems like the perfect opportunity for a long tandem ride.
Early morning 15km run. Park walk with wonderful wife and dogs in the afternoon.
I’ll do a sweet 50-60 km bike ride – my first 2015!
I am going to complete a brick, a short northerly run in a straight line, a ride in the shape of a heart, and half a lap of the bottom half of the 400m track. Then post it all to Strava so the wife sees it when she finishes her pool swim.
I will take it easy with a 5k so i can enjoy the occasion.
Trail run in the morning!
My wife and I are going skiing for the first time! It should be very exciting, hopefully we come back with all of our limbs.
The wife is finishing her dissertation, and I am doing a short run in the morning, and a cycle in the afternoon, prepping for my first tri.
^^ Dissertation writing, and PT for my ACL after getting hit by a car.
5K Race-Pace run around the neighborhood in the morning, followed by an afternoon nature walk with my wife
It’s Mardi Gras here in New Orleans so on Saturday, our training plans are riding our bikes to the parades. So about for miles total.
Wife is away on work so will be a lonely 5-mile training run for me :(
Gynaecologist appointment with my wife, followed by running errands for the family together. Will squeeze in a late night 5km tempo run after everyone else goes to sleep.
I’ll go for a long run while my wife stays at home with the baby.
Then we exchange roles.
5 mile run with a little extra to make up for the candy.
I’ll be doing my first > 10km run in preparation for a 15km run in March!
A cold snowy run in the Colorado mountains in the morning followed by hot springs in the afternoon.
A couples pool swim followed by dinner.
Swimming and 20k run
Tomorrow i have to do a long run to prepare the marathon of bordeaux the 18th April.
But i will start early, because i need to buy a present gift for my wife
hiking on the beach at Tahoe with our sons
My V-day training is a run with the high school kids i coach. It is early in the season, this is our first saturday run so we will be doing about 50-60 mins steady state. #GoTitans
Wife goes tommorow morning and I stay at home with 2 y.o. son. Next we’ll change ;)
I’m going to go on a run with the 2 favorites in my life (my husband and my dog) running 14 miles……2/14!
Nice hike around the schwäbische Alb together
10-15 on the dreadmill
Thanks for the good luvin’ Ray, and much luv to clever training too! My training calls for a day of rest, though me and my lady will take in the NYC ice festival and silent disco in Central Park!
Does thinking about training and racing count? I’m going to decide on my first post-pregnancy race and make a training plan. 4 weeks to go until this baby is here…
Easy spin on the trainer.
I’m getting back into things, and I’m planning to do a nice and chilled 15k tomorrow, bright and early!
Running an extra couple of miles to help get faster a lower weight as wished for by my wife :-)
3k swimming and easy 2h biking with my wife to some romantic spot
1 hr with TrainerRoad, maybe even Sufferfest!
A back country ski tour on the “Niesen” in Switzerland. Hopefully the weather will be as nice as the past week!
5 mile trail run training for Ragnar Zion
12 mile long run and then the first movie night opportunity with my wife since we had kids!
6 mile run before sunrise while the wife sleeps. Then back home to cook her a lovely breakfast just before she awakes.
My wife and I are running a local 10K “together”. That is we are running the same race but probably won’t actually “run together”.
A run through between the parks at Disney World! Any suggestions for a route?
Just a quick 5k before the family gets up.
Limping back from a calf injury to put in 3 miles
34km long run yikes
On saturday, i plan a swimming training after our weekly babyswimmer class with little boy.
Bike & run brick workout.
My training plan for valentine’s day ? Stay to bed after a long training week
16 km on the day, half marathon the day after
I have no valentine’s day training plans, but I’d love to get the trip to the beach we’ve been talking about, and do some beach running!
Training plans? I’ll take the kids out for a bit while the wife has a well earned sleep in!!
Winter is not over here, but will try to take my motocross bike and ride out in the woods :)
Another treadmill run – gonna have flurries, temps in the teens and 20 mph winds. Then it’s a night out with my wife.
10 Miles as taper run for the Tokyo Marathon next weekend.
Well, it happens to be a recovery week so it’s gonna be some sort of a Zone 2 trainer workout, compensated with enough chocolate later on.
I’ll be running on the treadmill because I’m near Boston where we still have 3 feet of snow on the ground with no sign of melting :(
Probably not a lot of training since we will be working on the farm.
Have run/bike brick setup for the 14th then a pig out session with the family. Bwahaha!
It’d have to be a ride through the national park with my beautiful wife followed by a cappucino and eggs!
No training on valentine’s day, just relaxing
A wonderful walk outside will do just fine, and then relax for the evening.
My wife will have priority and some time off to go for a nice long mountain run while I’ll be looking after the kids.