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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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.
Too much snow to run, so it’ll be 14k of snowshoeing through fresh powder (may as well make the best of it)
It’ll be 10 degrees, so probably in front of the fireplace doing intervals on the trainer. 35 days, 9 hours, 55 minutes until Spring!
Recovery day as part of spring Marathon training plan; if you can count chasing a 2 year old and a 5 year old around IKEA as a recovery day…
Nice stroll around the lake
I’ll be cuddling with the kids while my love gets her training run in. Then I’ll have a hot coffee and warm breakfast waiting for her when she returns.
30 min trainer ride, recovery pace
I will jump on the turbo trainer with my beloved wife for an hour and then go a bit mountain biking.
ski patrolling in the morning!
Winter training long run for me!
Boston weather of late has been a bit nasty for runs and training. Will get in a 5K tomorrow before yet another storm. Hopefully the wind chill is less than expected. -20F or so is not very comfy.
Running for 30min + (hopefully) some swimming
Pool work. By which I mean laying by the pool.
5 mile run, first week of training for the Frederick, MD half!
45 minutes on the bike trainer, and then some body weight strength exercises. still too icy around here to safely run or bike outside. =(
Celebrating my birthday and hopefully getting in a training ride outside or a sufferfest inside
Early morning University track and field practice followed by a nice easy 6 miler
A free day but we will be volunteering at the Black Canyon Ultras with my wife :-)
This day is all about love, peace!
10k recovery run
Will be a 17 mile run and then some football in the afternoon.
Training for my first 50km in spring :)
After 300+ miles during the week, Valentines Day will be a rest day.
Tobboganing with the family. Skating outside.
I’m going curling!
To get back into training! I just finished my sixth marathon a few weeks ago and have been slacking off since. :-P
Simply easy recovery run with my second half.
Early morning swim, then snow tubing…does that count as a workout?
Going out for a long walk with the dog!
Great, i want it
For valenbtine’s day it will ne anything but non training! Sometimes other things pass first !
Hitting the bike trainer for an hour.
rest day!
Four hour ride on the bike trainer followed by a 12 mile run!
Moving followed by a relaxing walk to explore the new neighborhood.
I want to win. Thanks
Because it seems like I am the 1,151st person to enter it’s GOTTA BE A 1,551 metre swim.
Oh no!
18 km run in Bois de Vincennes in preparation of our first Semi Marathon de Paris in two weeks!
My training will consist of rehabbing my knee.
First swim of the year, time to get back in the pool.
It’s supposed to be Alaska cold in Ohio tomorrow. Both kids, however, will be away for the day, so we’ll be doing some “clever training” that I can’t really talk about in on this site, if you know what I mean [wink, wink]. No fitness gadgets required to know what heart rate zone we’ll be in.
We recently celebrated our 22 wedding anniversary and two days ago was the wife’s birthday, so a couple of new gadgets would be a icing on the cake.
Que bonitos. Matias
70km road race.
My family and I are racing in a the Amazing Grace Race 5k to race money for Grace Bunke an 11 year old who was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma and has undergone constant chemo and a surgery to have the tumor in her leg removed. The money raised will go toward a “running prosthetic” which is not covered by insurance.
Happy Valentines Day!
Neil
I live in Boston where we are getting (another) blizzard, so I am going to try to run 4 miles without getting buried!
Valentines day will be spent running to & from work :( While my wife gives about 1000 couples massages(shes a massage therapist)
Unfortunately, recovering from surgery. Anxious to get started on Spring training!
Just run with my love out there would be great. :)
Planning to set up and ride my new Wahoo Kickr this weekend… But I did buy some Girl Scout cookies for the spouse.
Buenos relojes. Saludos
A 2km swim on the beach!!
Getting outside for a run with my pup. Dogs need love on Valentine’s Day too!
Short run with my son in the park.
Snowshoeing in the mountains up to a welcoming (and warm!) cabin for early evening dinner with my wife… and the kids! . An early morning 10K run will get my day started on the right foot!
8 miles in the park. It will be cold in DC!!!
4 hour endurance ride
Palm Springs Century Ride
10 miles or 13.1 Half Marathon.
3 loops around dodger stadium for hill training
sprints ride in the morning followed by an hour on the spin bike then probably an afternoon swim.
Bikram Yoga with my wife, and then an 8 mile run with the 2 and 4 year old…hopefully they get out of the stroller every mile with me again for the burpees!
My wife and I will be doing the Strava Gran Fondo 150 cycling adventure on a tandem. This should really put our relationship to the test.
We’re expecting a high below zero tomorrow, so I think I’ll set up the rollers next to the treadmill and see if I can win Basement Races with my girlfriend.
A 10 km run and a dinner with my wonderful wife in the evening
Morning swim of 4,000 yds. Thanks Ray!
A 10 km run along the river.
A 4 mile run for training for a half marathon and then hopefully heading to a rock climbing gym with my fiancé (one of our favorite activities!)
20 mile run in what looks to be 25 mph winds. Gotta get ready for the Shamrock marathon at the end of March!
Rest day today, after some Sufferfest-fun yesterday. Looking forward to some mountainbiking during the weekend though.
12 mile run with 3×15 minute MP or faster blocks
7 km morning run in the forrest
10 Mile run around Amsterdam & Vondelpark/Rembrantpark
A quick 5 mile run outside if it’s not too cold in upstate NY – otherwise it’s the indoor track for me!
Sneak out the door, run really fast, return with flowers and breakfast to counteract any anger at my escape, realise she didn’t care anyway.
Suffer fest ride the day before, easy run on Valentine’s day, cyclocross race Sunday!
Off to the gym in the morning to do a run on the treadmill. Then later in the day a 90 minute Trainer Road/Wahoo Kicker session. If I happen to do the 90 minute session tonight, then a 60 minute session tomorrow.
2 km swimming before lunch time in Bratislava
tri team workout on the trainer on Saturday morning while the wife is away on a business trip.
1 hour run training session with the tri club, we are in the woods on Saturday so its hill training reps!
Will bike there and back so I will count it as a brick session!
Thanks Ray!
We have another foot of snow coming in Boston so I’ll be on my trainer watching the snow fall through the window.
Taking it easy with just a little bit of mountain biking Saturday, 9 mile run on the schedule for Sunday though.
Allowing the wife a little r-and-r while i take our little tike out for 5mi run.
Nordic skiing at lunch today.
45 minute run tomorrow.
25 minute run sunday in a foot of snow…
24 mile long run.
Under the weather this week – so a weekend off from training
I plan to spend the day with the one I love: my sweet, sweet Cannondale SuperSix Evo. I’ll take her in our favorite climb, Fernwood and Tuna Canyons. Then I’ll pamper her with a thorough scrubbing, from top tube to bottom bracket. And they say romance is dead!
A 5 mile run in Johns Creek, GA! Awesome giveaway. Thank you!
6 Mile run and strength training.
Beach run and then a swim…..maybe with the kids
hope to find time for a 4 mile run in between other v’day activities
Going for a nice snowy, below freezing run with the pooch
I plan on a 7 mile run followed by a swim.
It’s -26C with a Wind chill factor of -39C,the same for tomorrow, so it will be indoors,
30 minute warm up on the elliptique, 40 minutes on treadmill and then finish off on the bike.
Take a shower and take the love of my life out for supper
Interval runs back and forth to the thermostat since it’s going be -15 degrees below zero with the wind chill here in the Chicago area.
I’ll take my fiancee ice skating (Nordic skating) if the ice-reports get better. The backup plan is a 15km slow sightseeing run in the area where we are looking for a house…
Building my new bike!
4 mile interval workout, should be gloriously!
well, it just snowed this morning so my ride is probably cancelled….an easy 4-5 mile run will probably be in store. Thanks!
Seeing as it’s going to be -10 with the wind chill this weekend…morning spin class, then teaching a Tango class with my wife.
For tomorrow, I have sheduled a rest workout. Hopefully I can endure more than 7 hours sleep, followed by interval of laziness. To finish a valentine dinner sprint with my wife.
It will start off with indoor triathlon training (I mean, its winter here with snow and cold weather, so you practice where you can) with some friends and hopefully friends to be. It will take place inside a swim/sport-center, which is cool. We will start with running on threadmills, then some biking and finish of with swimming some laps. Its going to be like no pressure at all, just working out with friends :) Maybe I’ll also go for a run in the afternoon or spend some time on my trainer, who knows!
(thanks for the article on trainers btw, really helped me choose!)
In the early morning a 60K on the spinning bike, quick shower and go watch my son’s soccer game. In the afternoon a 18K run. My wife won’t see me much tomorrow, but I’ll make it up in the evening.