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.
Shoveling snow fast enough to maintain HR Zone 3.
Ran 28 miles at TWOT (the wild oak trail) in Virginia.
1\2 marathon in a snow storm for my Valentine’s day workout!!! Love those frozen eyelashes ;)
Easy 12 km run.
Then heading to the bar with the misses to try some delicious Trou du Diable brews.
I biked on the trainer on Valentines Day.
I did a nice bike test – 3 min all out, then a 10 min break then 20 minute all out test… Fun stuff. Cap the night off with some evening geocaching in 0 degree weather and snow (ended up not finding any of ’em)
Chasing a toddler.
Sunny 30k
25K easy run on 14th and another 16K on 15th
Trainerroad session – Sweet Spot Base
Running together through these snowy Wisconsin forests.
Taking a day off from training to rub each others sore bodies.
It’s above zero! Into Hartley Nature Center to figure out which trails are for the XC skiers and which are for runners…
Laid low so I could run the Columbus Road Runners Club annual Winter Run. 7.5 miles in balmy 8 degree weather with 10-15 mph winds.
It was 65 minutes of tempo running: 5m WU + 30 minutes of medium intensity + 20 minutes of high intensity + 10 m CD = 13.5 km. Felt good.
I challenged myself to run my fastest 5k!
2 Hr Brick for Valentine’s Day training
A stinking hot summers day in the southern hemispohere, so a quick jaunt around the park with the dog followed by an ice cream. Fuelling the motor!
A hour if tempo run Saturday and then nice easy 27k Sunday
Day spent at London triathlon show, then home for speed work for running, then early night for a big ride on Sunday.
I’ve ran to my bike in the shed, a 100m sprint. And then, I cycled to the movie theather, 5km!
6 mile run
A 5K run in Richmond Park in London.
Ran 6K then ate like mad all weekend.
Going skiing with wife and kids – can it be any better?
Scheduled rest day since I moved by long run up one day. My first half marathon on March 15 in NC :)
Gym workout
I’m currently on ski vacation in the swiss alpes and I’m looking forward to a nice winter mountain run.
10km jog follow by a 15km bike ride later in the evening
14 miles with my wife as we train for Pittsburgh Marathon
Will be doing 2 hours of surfing early morning, and 2 hours kitesurfing on the afternoon
9km run on Saturday. 110km ride (with a 500m climb) on Sunday
easy 5km run, 1h gym + 20min bike ride
10km Trail run with the GF. “Valentines’ Couples 10K Night Race” ! Possibly a 2KM swim afterwards
60 min easy run, fast turnover, HR under 150
Morning jog for me :)
Just slow 8 mile run along Charles river in another of our recent snowstorms…
15km slow run then grabbed some coffee and flowers for the wife
5 k recovery run
Sufferfest Violator on rollers while the wifey did p90x plyometrics in the other room. Funfetti cake in a heart shape after as part of our ongoing valentines day tradition after the workout.
7 km hike up the hill.
45 mile bike ride – first long ride of the 2015 season after a 3 month cycling hiatus! Ouch!
Cal 10/20 race
It’s too cold to go running or cycling outside (bad asthma) so i’ll go to the gym for weight training then home for some sexercise.
40 min interval training on home trainer.
Bike 26.4 miles…outside in the nice weather…
Since it is very icy outside, a half hour riding my ‘kicksled’ (‘spark’ in Swedish – link to en.wikipedia.org).
Sex. :-)
We woke up early, went for a swim at our local pool. Afterwards we had a great St. Valentines Day brunch. To cap off a great day, we went for short run (it was freezing today!), and came home to snuggle in front of the TV.
I went for a nice easy 5k. Very enjoyable. Only just starting to get back into it.
Bike in the hotel then brisk walk around the city.
Long Run for her, Long Ride for me. She got a massage stick – I got beer. Awesome.
Rest day
Was racing a multi sport race across the south island of New Zealand.
Recharging after an awesome week of riding in Tucson with the Cycling House, now shovelling snow in Boston.
carb loaded on about 5 lbs of dark chocolate
Ran a 6 mile run with my favorite running peeps! It was a perfect start to the day!
53 miles biking; short swim. Beautiful Texas day.
I took Valentines day off to spend time with my family. My long run will now be on Sunday. I am planning 8 miles this week.
No training here. Resting up as I’ll now be biking it to work from now on. 8 miles to. 8 miles from. For a guy who mostly runs and does minimal cycling, I’m kinda scared.
Easy run in the morning, sleep and watch tv all day!
Still recovering from surgery – running and yoga starts next week. But I did put up some beautiful kitchen tile and made the guy at Home Depot gasp excitedly when he saw the before and after pictures!
10 mile mountain bike ride
Swam in the Malabar Magic ocean swim both 1km and 2.4km races.
15th Feb in Australia but 14th of feb in US of A)
came second in 1 km for 45-49 year olds
came first in 2.4 km for 45-49 year olds.
My wife took our girls to netball trials
Does helping someone move house count? No stairs, probably means that’s a no. Will have to make up for it out on the bike.
Swim for 2km followed by a 10km run to build the based for coming 3 km swim and half parathon race in two months.
I completed a 243km multisport (cycle, run and kayak) race across the South Island of New Zealand. My partner took part also but got to the finish line long before me!!
We celebrated Valentine’s Day with a 13 mile muddy, technical trail run. This was our 26th married Valentines Day, and we always get in either a ride or run to celebrate!
Regular 10km run
7 mile run. Training for Hyner challenge 25k
Simple 10k run
Nothing – Valentines day is clearly not for training !!
5k speed work while my wife enjoyed a lie-in followed by bacon & eggs :-)
4.15 hour bike in zone 2 / 3, followed by 15 minute tempo run
We both did a 28km slow run; building up for Prague.
Easy 6km couples run
put our baby in the pram and go for a walk up/down hills.. Fun Family time and get excerise too…
54 mile ride at IF>0.75
long run over the sunrise.
Slog home from airport
10k run on an indoor track with friends followed by some recovery over Netflix :)
Pool swim
7 miler, in 28 degree temp, before nailing down a few more indoor.
10 miles slowly…
Well… It was going to be a 3 hour ride on my new TT bike, but a windstorm canceled those plans. 6.5 mile run instead…
Stop start run keeping up with the 3yo old his balance bike
Going swimming with the wife and kids. Do a quick 1 km!
Rest day for me… still training right?
Training? As much mountain biking as I could handle. Turned out to be 30 miles worth.
Short run around the lake
10 mile run for me, then unknown mileage running after my kids. For her, chasing the kids and studying for her Nurse Practitioner classes. Some margaritas and chips were had at some point.
It wiĺl be indoors as it’s minus 20c outside, and that I too “paresseux”!
Shovel snow and chase my daughter outside!
Training camp with the folks at #JourneyFitnessCompany on the island of Bintan
14k running
Ran a Valentines Day 5K, low 30s, rainy and ice patches. Wishing for more snow in Alaska!
Having my sweetheart pace me on a bike for my long run.
Participated in a 60 mile Gran Fondo on Sunday.
running on a treadmill because it is so cold outside.
Love!