Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $449, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, and plenty more! Go check out the full list here!
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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.
I started training Tri three years ago and that’s also about the time I took my mortgage so since then I haven’t really been on a proper vacation but assuming i could I would choose a place I can swim (sea), bike(mountains) and run (crazy trails) with no limits. And the best part would be that I would be able to do all that with my lovely fiance as she started preparing for her first Tri this summer. That would be my dream holidays!
I afraid I don’t have any spectacular stories to tell. As a father of five, when we are able to vacation, I try to make it a point to at least run a few miles every morning especially if there happens to be a trail nearby. I also try to incorporate activities that involve some type of adventure that involves physical activity such as hiking or water sports. I try very hard to keep all of us active and having fun. If I happen to be training for something, I do try very hard to stick to my schedule as much as possible. It’s difficult at times, but ya gotta keep moving.
Usually vacation is inherently physical to begin with. It typically involves something like rock climbing, hiking, cycling or backpacking so I don’t fret about missing a workout.
Running and swimming – but making sure the running is nice and gentle and takes my somewhere out of the ordinary
Easy runs with my wife.
The best thing about vacation. Is all the time I have to train. Don’t have to worry about work. Just out and run, cycling and swim. Sun and fun.
Marathon Pace 10K!
Press on! Take what the vacation brings you… Ocean, OWS. Mountains, trail run….
Depends on the holiday of course. A recent city break in Rome involved ice cream, pizza and pasta.
Summer camping in France involves a ride or run every day. The car resembles a Tour de France support car.
Vacation is a chance to start my morning run at 9am rather than at 6am :)
Running of course! And sometimes swimming…
Don’t change anything, bike comes with me on vacation, its the first thing in the car!!
As per program, it stops for nothing! Diet on the other hand…. ;)
i always aim to keep the running up on Vacation, but usually only end up doing a single short run.
I always say i’m gonna follow my program but then, 2-3 days pass and I usually run 1-2 times and take it easy!
Have a good vacation!!!!
Early morning run before family is awake
Just following the usual training program. Mostly running.
I try to stick to schedule, as much as I can. Recently we registered, the whole family, to a 5K. So we will be running according to our training plans at the campground.
Vacation? Does not compute!!
Chuck in trainers and a sports bra and I’m good to go. Plus swimming in any avaliable body of water. Have a great trip!
press on as per the schedule!!! Do even more as you have more time available!
Last vacation was punctuated with a 10k Boxing Day run at my old harriers club and park runs in the UK and Singapore, with plenty of downtime.
First thing I pack for vacation are my running and swimming gear, first priority in the bag. If it’s a roadtrip to our family home out town, I bring my bike. Training proceeds according to the program as much as possible. I also always research the place I’m going to for interesting places to swim, bike, or run in.
Beer all the way!
Depends on the vacation (most of mine involve climbing of some kind). Generally, though, it’s body-weight circuits and jogging.
Going on a long run, then cycling for half an hour. After this some barbecue :)
Usually just a light run in the morning before wifey wakes up. During the day there will plenty of walking, swimming and 20 oz curls in the evening.
I normally don’t do any training while on vacation.
I try to find local races during the holiday.
I generally aim to keep running, just because often a run is the best way to explore a new city/area. But I don’t run as much and diet goes completely out of the window!
I usually increase the amount of training during vacation but also the variety. Pre-vacation is it all about cycling but during I add swimming, hiking and some running.
Running, swimming and lots of ice cream!
focus on recovery eating. #feedingthecouchpotato
Running and freeletics wherever i am, for example at the fire fighting academy this week. 21k is coming
I love to plan vacations around a race. Get to travel a little and swim/bike/run. Of course my wife gets final say on the destination, so I try to give her a few options. Hard to remember the last time I took a vacation that didn’t involve a triathlon.
Some HIIT Training in the hotel when work travel or light jogging if on vacation!
Swimming in the lake! & Running in the mountain!
Running mostly. Too hard to swim or bike. Early morning runs are a great way to take in the sights.
Bike / Swim / Run and the repeat! :)
With small kids, vacation is about the only time I’ve currently got to train some. Access to grand parents for baby sitting, decent roads outside the door for biking. Will pick things up again a bit more seriously this fall.
what training?
I try to stick to a schedule, but if I miss a run it is not big deal. I head out early before the family wakes up.
I try to get in some swim and run sessions. If it’s possible i prefer to bring my bike to combine sightseeing and training.
i try to get some workouts in – maybe not the full schedule but partial
No vacation, racing all year around.
I usually run more and always combine a holliday trip with a race
Switch to just running as the bike stays at home and the pool is for relaxing! Usually a run in the morning before the rest of the family are up and then meet them for breakfast.
I like to run in new routes and explore… This means more miles than usual :) If I can I bring my bike to see the coutryside. Doesn’t happen that often though… both: vacation and riding on vacation.
I do what my coach tells me to do. In general that means I’m always carrying my swim/bike/running equipment wherever I go. Vacation does not mean it’s ok to be a slacker ;)
In Shedule:
more trainings,better pace,harder trainings.
In real life
more beer,better partys and training with hangover in sunday morning:)
Mostly running or swimming…
Vacations are the events I am training for at home. I search for challenging routes whenever I get of of town and thats when I hit the most miles.
ruinning and bikking is all what we love
I always cut back on training and enjoy the area I’m on vacation by visiting different areas.
Try and keep with running schedule – not necessarily for as far or as long as usual. Scope out interesting runs that can fit with the itinerary of my family. If travelling with friends, rope them into running with me!
During vacations, my training definitely dissipates. They usually involve a fair amount of travel and busy days, so it can be hard to fit in established training time! However I also tend to spend a lot of time walking, and if there is a pool or a body of water nearby, you can bet I’ll be in it. If I actually have the time in my days, I usually try to take the chance for some longer runs.
i usually try to get a run or two on vacation, but it’s definitely not hard training. It’s vacation!
drink beer, eat pizza & bitch about being fat
Usually the time Training skyrocks when I have vacation, usually a lot of running. because I love exploring new places with the running shoes on. Usually I make up the route while running :) a great way to see new things
I keep running. Don’t usually bring a bike, don’t want to antagonize wife and kids too much
Training usually takes a back seat other than to get a couple of short runs in to keep ticking over.
Laje swimming and gravel riding in the country side!
When on vacation I continue to train though not with as much intensity. If I swim, bike or run it’s in more of a recreational mode.
Cut back and rest! Eat Ice scream!!!
Signed on for my first race ever. I’ve been a lone wolf runner for the past 5 years and just recently have been experimenting with running with others. Good fun so far!
Every tine before going on holiday I tell myself that I am going to do my training rigorously, but I find myself far from what I planned. Usually, I manage to do a run or two, depending on the length of the holiday, the weather and my spare time (I do not want to get my better half upset). Usually I run by feel on and do something similar to Fartlek, but without paying to much attention to my watch.
Have a nice holiday!
For most holiday if it’s not a specific training vacation, I pack my running shoe’s. If possible i’d like to throw the bike in the back of the car and take it with me. Just to be sure, take the swimming gear as well ! Nothing better then hitting the mountains early in the morning.
Thanks for all the reviews you do, makes life for the rest of us mortals a lot easier!
Usually have an active vacation anyway, so no specific training plan
This year will be training trail running for a 90K race after my vacation.
Riding every day!
During vacation mostly running, if I have nothing else consuming my time; nearly 10-15 km every second day. Since I am running in the very late evening or during the night you can explore a way faster than during the day when the steets are crowded.
Endurance – Hiking (aka walking around behind girlfriend shopping)
Strength – Farmers Walk (aka carrying shopping)
im on vacation now and i worked exploring the city into my training days, easy run through one neighborhood and harder workout through another
typically on vacation I will cut back some so that I have more time with the wife and kids this translates to 5 or 6 miles a run. If its a vacation with extended family, I will most always throw in a couple longer runs to escape the maddness of the family-pollooza!
I keep running, there’s no better way to explore and visit… The training plan changes a bit though, more long, slow runs, less intervals…
My next holiday is a triathlon camp in spain this coming week :-)
BTW, do you do something of the comments in these giveaways? A basic poll option would allow to know what people typically answer to your questions (sorry, I don’t have the patience to go through all the comments ;-)
I plan my holidays around parkrun locations, mainly for my 8yr old son’s benefit mind you!
I don’t remember the last time I went on vacation without having a race lined up! So though I am in taper mode, I always run. It’s a great way to see new places and I have vacationed in many beautiful places that I might not otherwise have visited. Oh and I always get to bring a nice shiny medal home as a souvenir!
I always pack my running gear. It’s nice to have some change in my running scenery and enjoy the new surroundings! It boosts my training.
Push a little harder to counter the BEER calories!
No stress about training on vacation. Do whatever feels good.
Vacation means touring the place by running or via bike :)
Up early and running the previous day’s beers away.
Bike&Beer
I just try to keep running at least a 3x a week, because you now, i’m in vacation =D
Running and cycling
Vacation time is family time, only light training.
depends on where I am but I try to scale back and give myself more flexibility in terms of what I eat and how much I train.
Either riding my own, or renting locally if air travel is involved.
Vacation means I can finally ride some serious mountains. So cycling cycling a bit of swimming and yeah pizza!
Typically treadmill running as I can get away with that when the kids are sleeping. Otherwise hiking or walking around all day.
Early morning run and then spending the rest of the day with the kids and wife at the beach.
I try to keep training as usual. I enjoy swimming, biking and running and my wife and friends bike/run, we are outdoor people. The only thing that changes is we add in a hike, kayaking or some other outdoor activity we have been wanting to try or have missed.
If I’m at home? Two-a-days! In Mexico? You’ll see me running laps around the resort trying to work off the previous night’s excesses! But it is hard to do a long run at 6am when hungover and already horribly humid and hot.
Always pick a vacation spot with a place to swim (lake, beach). Do you training early in the morning then act like a “normal” person the rest of the day, eating ice cream :)
On most vacations I will continue running but slack on swimming and biking. I have had plenty of vacations that turn into no running and a lot of pizza, beer, and ice cream though!
Usually cut length and increase intensity. If a work out gets missed no worries. It’s vacation!
on vacation like to swim in the sea for once and do the hill runs and rides
I’m a rower so I like to find an erg machine. Failing that, it’s an early morning run in the still empty streets of the area.