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.
Spin class with my other single friends
slow run to the beach and back, for about 8mi
<3
Heart Breaker 10K; from a HS called Liberty! ;-)
P90x3 with the lady
50 min run/walk as part of my road to recovery!
60Km ride at 0530 ’cause my wife is 1200Km away visiting my daughter
A day of snowshoeing.
A 33k run, then a fondu supper together.
7 mile shuffle with a dodgy back
Riding the bike with the wife in Whistler! It is the middle of winter and there is no snow, score for the cyclist I guess.
Core training in the gym
A couples trainer ride.
For Valentine’s Day: a 10 mile run in 20 degree DC weather, along the Mall and Tidal Basin. I just ran the Ragnar Key West using a borrowed GPS watch. And it helped a lot, running through the everglades in pitch darkness. I would love to have a Polar M400.
I’m planning to do a trail run in the morning, and a walk with my wife in the evening.
Working on ankle strengthening after I sprained my ankle this week :(
A master’s swim session that is promising to be “brutal!”
Valentine’s Day suffer fest – 3K Swim + 100 K TT + 5 K run in 30 degree heat in Dubai with a bunch of friends who are either single or their valentine is far away, all dressed in Red…
30mi bike ride around Zwift island!…while the missus is out running :)
Longish Saturday run of 10 miles in the morning.
Cycling with the husband in Whistler, BC! Yep thanks to the unseasonable warm weather bikes win the day!
a relaxing 5km run around the park! :)
5 mile trail run with wife and kids in stroller with pt stations every mile.
Nice long ride followed by a solid brick run along the bay in beautiful Brisbane!
Resting for next day austin texas half marathon
The wife and i will be on the trainers hiding from the cold weather.
Just finished week 6 day 3 of #C25K on #Android @c25kfree! #everymomentcounts #run #running #health #fitness Cal 315 4.35 km #endure
Planning on a 13 mile training run in the freezing cold and then some yummy coffee after!
morning run with my pup
Gotta work, so I may commute on the bike. If not, I’ll hit the trainer after. Thanks!
Finished the Tour of Sufferlandria. Looking forward to checking my FTP.
My wife and I will swim for an hour at 7:00 am, followed by a 90 minute spin class on our own bikes, but the club’s fluid trainers, then a short brick run near the club for two miles. Afterwards, we’ll shower up and go to a Mongolian grille to celebrate and refuel. It’ll be fun, tiring and romantic.
Celebrating being single with a nice pre marathon shakeout run.
My wife and I run a bakery together. So I’ll wake up at 4am bake some heart shaped goodies and fill the showcases. Hopefully I’ll be done by 1pm so I can get my 2:45 trainer ride in. After the ride I’ll prepare dinner for her and our kids so it’s all ready by the time she come home from work. Pasta of course … Long run is planned for Sunday morning :)
I’ve got a 6 mile long run as part of my training for first ever half marathon.
I’m just gonna do a quick run with a buddy tomorrow, busy day otherwise, as my girlfriend returns from a week with her family. We often run together and it would be awesome to get matching GPS watches finally. :) Thanks, Ray!
A two hour indoor brick and some tele skiing if I’m lucky!
Rest day on the beach with wifey sandwiched by a 30k run on the 13th and a 150k bike on the 15th.
Looking after 4 kids doing house stuff and might try a 5 km bike track if it doesn’t rain
Body Beast Workout and a 2.5 mile run for Valentine’s Day!
20 mile trail run
14 miles on the 14th!!
computrainer group ride early then the house work for cross training;
– keep up the great work
9 mile run in prep for upcoming half marathon
We went for a nice walk rather than me heading for me usual solo run. Followed by the usual competitive (and grossly innacurate) competitive comparison of fitbit and garmin stats. Surely the natural conclusion is we must both adopt garmin for our tracking ;)
I’ll be going on a 10 mile run!
Dong intervals on the trainer
Plans for me is to knock another Trainer Road ride to work on my FTP. Great program! The better half is going to take our Aussie, Kona, out for a run. Then we will go for a few mile walk this evening to get our alone time from the kiddos! Gonna be a good day.
My plans for a Valentina days is run to my house as fast possible… If you known what I mean…
13.5km running in a -35 celsuis winter day in Canada!!!
Going for a couples skate ski.
Rest! 16K trail race tomorrow.
Two hour bike/ run brick today. Long run before dinner out and the snow hits tomorrow night.
Saturday is run day: 1 mile warm-up, 2 mile time trial on the indoor track, and then 10-12 more miles at LSD pace if I can stand staying indoors. With temps at -1ºF and 25MPH wind gusts forecasted, outdoors is a poor option. Without the wind it would not be so bad.
3km easy+ 18km@3:55 + 3km easy
Recovery ride on indoor trainer.
Getting ready for the summer racing series here in NC. Really just trying to stay warm this week. After that back out to the trails for some time in the saddle.
6 miles on the treadmill, pizza and cupcakes!
Running 10km in munich
Going to be cold. Think I’ll spend a few hours on the mtb.
Setting the alarm to wake up before the kids so I can head down to the hotel gym to get a 5 mile run on the treadmill in.
running through the Marin headlands
elliptical, bike on trainer, and two machine – too cold for outdoor work stil!
just a simple workout.
1 mile swim, 4 course lunch and 3 mile run.
left the bike part out :P
Double Day! 8 mile run in the morning and 25 mile trainer ride in the evening. My wife loves me. :)
5 mile run
Resting on Valentine’s Day for a half marathon with my wife on the 15th.
An easy 90 minute trainer ride on my Kickr – not very romantic.
easy 4 miles in the park
tomorrow nothing, but the day after valentine’s it will be back to picking up the shovel….yippee
Trainer ride to beat jet lag from overseas trip.
We’re looking forward to a nice cross country ski…10 miles in the crisp Valentine (February) air.
I hope to be on my mountain bike for a long, long time.
Volunteering at a local animal shelter.
Its 0 degrees here and negative teen wind chill. I’m lucky to make it to the car.
Flying into Chicago and enjoying the city with good friends
10km run
My Valentine’s training plan is to use my Garmin GPS mapping to “run-draw” a heart with an arrow thru it.
Going do 45mins on the trainer and the wife will do 30mins
4 hours at 145bpm on the Massamutten trail.
Sadly I am working in Shanghai for a few months so will not be able to spend Valentines Day with my awesome fiancé.
Instead I will hit the treadmill followed by a spin bike class this afternoon. The air is too bad to train outside which limits options somewhat.
Hannah (my fiancé) has a crossfit session today so while apart, we shall be be training hard in order to look and feel awesome at our wedding in May when I return to the UK :-)
5 Mile run!
A nice long run in the AM followed by a dinner with family.
Running a 5k cupcake run :) in training for a half for next month.
Did a pre-race swim tune and and bike spin.
Sprint tri in Ohope on Sunday morning :-)
Since my wife is sick, I’ll be leading her beginner half marathon training program in their first long run! It’s only a few miles, but a few of them are brand new to running!!
Headed up to VT for some family time – downhill skiing!
Easy 5 miles
If Vday is on a Saturday then I will be running with my club like any other Saturday.
A 3k at the track in Canberra.
I’ll be working, only dreaming about that I run I am dying to take.
90 min Vo2 max bike (thanks coach!
Either a midday MTB ride or some trainer time on Zwift.
Riding in the 8 degree weather on my fat bike.
Just a couple of short easy runs
Spin class nursing my injured knee and shoulder :-(
3-4 mile run at medium pace
There’s a winter storm warning in my neck of the woods, so 20 cold, cold miles in blinding snow looks like the best fit for my weekend.
My Valentine’s weekend plans are to run my first half marathon on Sunday morning! Looking forward to it.
too cold and i will stay at home. my son will have swim practice though.
11km hill trail run
Ending an eleven day running streak with a rest day
Wife on holiday – whilst the cat’s away… 70k ride in the morning, 15k barefoot run in the evening