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.
Doused in smelly farm run-off on a soggy 80km ride in the Peak District
Body attack+body pump +rpm… It was raining today!
Had to cancel the run to buy a house – definitely won the valentines sweepstakes with that move!
We’re on the couch now, but we started the day with a 15km Hot Chocolate race run (and I got 3 PRs :)
1 hour on the bike. 4 mile interval run. dinner with the lady!
45 min on my trainer
9 on Saturday, 18 on Sunday.
A nice flat 50k cycle down the Gold Coast seafront to work up an appetite for a great french meal at Sanctuary Cove
13 on Sunday plus an open water swim.
A trainer ride in the Dordogne Valley (or at least the TacX video recording of it).
A trainer ride at home. And then watching an indoor athletics event.
got in one of my best marathon long runs ever (21.36 miles in 3 hours 10 minutes) of which I ran the first 10 miles with my mom…the perfect running partner :)
My Personal Valentines Day Challenge – 14 miles for Feb 14th on a local scenic paved nature trail. I have only done up to 6 miles recently – met this goal with success! Have my eye on an upcoming marathon and my first GPS watch (Vivoactive). Thanks!
I won’t be doing anything on v-day, but the next morning I plan to hit up a local studio in the city to do a ride on CompuTrainer. It’s snowy and cold in Toronto so indoor riding is a nice option in the winter!
Did Ormskirk parkrun 5k – awesome :-)
Slow run of 5k near a river :)
I ran the San Antonio Rodeo Rampage 4 Mile. First year running ut for me and it was pretty fun. Afterwards, took the wife out on the town.
Sufferfest videos!
Hi to all, today is tri-training 1h master swim, 1heasy spin, 1.5h running hilly course. Than great supper !!!
4.3 mile run, nice easy pace and felt great despite the temperature
90 minute treadmill run in the hotel workout room before my kids wake up.
Making my boyfriend freeze outside running with me
10 miles in the Philadelphia snow
Ride or die!
60 minutes on the bike, indoors with intervals
2 hr bike ride…it was freezing by the way
I ran 26km on a 165m track to avoid running outside in -20c and blizzard like conditions.
Climbing Passo Pordoi on my indoor trainer, while outside it is cold and covered in snow ;-). Then romantic dinner..
24 km run, training for marathon
good luck
90 minutes of hot yoga!
Sweetheart shuffle 5k with the family
A 30-minute evening run in the city.
1+ hour ride on computrainer using Netathlon online riding platform. (like Zwift)
1 hour long run up and down to the nearby hill.
42 mile ride with CVC club from Westlake Village to Grimes Cyn.
2 Hour Spinnerval in the garage with my amazing wife, followed by a Paraglide flight from Skyport, working the thermals for a little bit before a nice, safe landing…followed by iced coffee with my wife. Great day!
We ran 13km and 8km each, in different locations, training for a half marathon in May.
A 35 mile group ride with LBS.
An 11 mile group run with the Half Wits.
2 hr mountain bike ride through the hill country…
We braved the winter cold for a romantic trail run in the fresh fallen snow
I took a HIIT class at the gym
Just saw this post! My V day went as follows:)
We drove out at 6am to the stadium, where she did pacer training with the running group for the blind. She did a 10km pacing run with them while I did a 12km easy run alongside.
Next was a healthy breakfast with coconut juice for hydration! And we purchase fresh produce for the nights dinner.
Next up was Hot Yoga in the afternoon for 90mins together at the yoga studio at Little India.
Next was a relaxing swim for both of us. She is a freestyle gal while I am a breast-stroke guy.
We went back together and made dinner together and the rest is private
Brad here, my Valentine’s Day plans for training are to get in a spin for 45 mins with new endurance heart rate zone method I learnered last week!
60 min run and 2500 yard swim
Washington DC tandem ride to Leesburg and home. Total 91 miles via Potomac, Whites Ferry, return on the W&OD Trail. Ray, you should know all these roads: Macarthur Blvd., Piney Meetinghouse, River, Willard; Edwards Ferry!
We got home just before a snow squall blew through Washington; we saw it roll in from our balcony. A good day to ride despite the lack of sunshine.
6.6 miles on the Greenway!
My plans involve teaching loads of fitness classes and hitting the trails for 10 chilly ones!
Enjoyed a 13.1 mile training run today with the mild weather before bitter cold and snow sets in.
I’m in Cincinnati for the weekend. I meet up with a local trail running group (I found them through FaceBook) to knock out 14 miles before the bitter cold swept in.
I just ran Ragnar Florida Keys last Friday and Saturday, so I took it extremely easy this week. Today was an easy four miles.
I’m planning on spending the whole day with my wife…no training, racing, or athletic pursuits of any kind. We all need a break every once in a while!
My wife, youngest son and I ran a local 4-mile race this morning. Thanks!
Racing ice canoe compétition with my girlfriend cheerring and travelling with me for the weekend!
Blizzard in the NE so an Hour and a half on the turbo with Trainer Road
Snowed in in the Midwest, so time on the trainer & shoveling
Cold and icy in VT so 4 miles on the treadmill
V day training plan is a nap followed by watching the Wanamaker mile races.
It’s cold cold cold and snowy so we will be indoors doing some yoga.
26 km in the treadmill at race pace …. Plus a lot of time with my family
Some 600km driving by car towards holiday with all of my women
Some running and freeletics planed for the holiday
I’ve got a swim meet all day!
go for walk with snowshoes on the nearby trail, wine and diner after.
Ran 10K with micro spikes on the snowy trail while my wife practiced yoga at home.
I’ ll be on the trainer, my better half on the mill right next to me. Rest assured our hearts will
Be racing!
Four mile 10% grade hill run. Then come home, shower and dinner with family!
Today was a gym workout. Surf and turf homemade dinner.
Some 600km driving by car towards holiday. Some running and freeletics planed for the holiday
No training … down n out sick
40 mile ride with a 5K transition run
Signing for my first 70.3 and my wife doing her first half marathon after our 3rd son was just born
Did a nice long ride by the river!
Coming back after a year off dealing with the big “C”. Rode with the boy today the 14th for the second time out this year. Working toward the Monster Cookie metric century in April. Can do!!
Rode a moderate level effort for 27 miles, then a quick couple mile jog in the neighborhood with my valentine wife.
Valentines Day training? Umm, we’ll be doing some running. Running. A lot.
50 mile bike ride… at a leisurely pace of course so that she can keep up :)
Planned a long bike ride by the Istanbul Bosphorus with a group of people.
10k trail run for me, and a short walk with the 1st lady to prep for her first 5k race tomorrow!
Nice and easy 40min run in the snow & cold:)
Ran the 2015 Holiday Lake 50k in Appomattox and had an EPIC blow up in the second half of the race. A humbling day of racing indeed!
Easy recovery spin.
Long run for marathon training.
Taking the family for a bike ride along the greenway.
Unfortunately, no workout for me on Valentine’s Day–I’m up to my neck in snow like everyone else in Boston!
Ouch my foot hurts. No workout plans for now,
4x500m with 1 min rest on the erg, then the weights!
12 laps on Zwift Island should do it.
Exchanged gifts this morning ( for me a Starbucks mug for her a Tom tom slim band for her gps watch) went for our 40 k hill ride cold and wet. Dinner chicken pot pie then to the pool for a hard swim for me and a easy swim for her. Finished off by her season opening 10 k race tomorrow, she is the love of my life.
Am unfortunately under the effects of chemotherapy at the moment, so have had to put all running plans to the wayside. That said, I’ve been trying to reach a certain goal each day on my Vivofit just to make sure I’m moving enough (a low number as of now, but hope to get it gradually increased). Thanks for the in-depth review on the Vivofit, Ray! It’s been tremendously helpful :D
Will be paddling in a dragon boat in the morning, followed by a run in the evening. :)
Plans include sitting around the house doing absolutely nothing.
Recovering from a 25km race.
Taking turns on the treadmill while watching a movie since it is 0 degrees out with 25 MPH winds!
A nice 2 degree 9 mile run outside of Boston before next weekend’s Hyannis Half Marathon.
An easy ride on the trainer
My training this weekend will involve shoveling a foot of snow and a ride on the trainer.
Going for a 10 mi bike ride–despite yet another snow storm in Boston.
Took the whole family skiing at Whitetail only 90 mins from DC. It was perfect. Then ate lots of chocolate and drank good red wine. Everyone had a wonderful exhausting day. Now that’s a workout.
Rode up Emigration Canyon, beautiful day. Felt like spring rather than winter!
First did a 1-on-1 training session with my trainer for an hour. Then went for a run to see how my knees would fair without my knee guards. An all round awesome day for some work! =) Carla
Currently resting a stress fracture– so I will be hitting the pool.
doing couple run with the girl and dinner afterward
Handful of mile repeats
Just got home from working all day in the hospital… how’s that for endurance training? Good workout planned for tomorrow.