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!
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.
Early morning runs on the beach, swim in the ocean. Always an easy week, no pushing.
Running! I love running in a new city
Walking around, taking in the sights. Maybe a run. Depends on where I go.
I usually integrate something into my vacation. Alpine hiking or mountain biking, a vacation is just a chance to try something new.
If possible I try to run – usually short runs of 45-60 minutes.
Running and walking…
Running and Cycling wherever it is possible.
Not the regular workouts, but we try to do an “active” vacation, like a multi-day mountain hike. Garmin Fenix would be perfect for that!
Running, to explore my vacation surroundings … an scenario for which, I might add, a GPS watch would be incredibly helpful!
I “try” to get a run in between the beers and buffets
Horse riding is always top of my list of things to do on a vacation. Everything else can take a back seat for a while.
Durring vacation I often cut back quite a bit. I do try to get in some running kilometers. Fingers crossed!
trail runs ;)
A quick jog up and down the beach, hop onto the bike to grab some Real Bread from the bakery in the (distant) village.
Watch the water for clean sets of waves, enjoy the surfing.
In the afternoon, thermal winds kick in reliably; launch the kite and enjoy smoothing riding on the water.
In the evening, it’s all about uncorking and heavy-lifting of glass, to be finished by crawling back into the tent after a fantastic sunset and some time at the campfire.
I use my vacation time for what ever I need. If it is a mental break or a physical break/change, I’ll choose something that will benefit me in one way or another.
Running to explore and also swimming if possible.
I try to keep to my training schedule, but I usually end up eating junk food and carbs. Oh well, a little carbo loading never hurt did it?
Running along the river until I was tired
a Stage race is a holiday from work, if its not a stage race it depends on the location, running is a good way to explore in the early mornings.
1 hour run each afternoon to make room for more dinner and cocktails
Running and squash if venue is nearby
I always plan to stick to my training and/or find something unique to do like a trail or mountain. But invariably the plan loses :-(
While on Vacation, I usually only focus on running as much as possible. I get the cycling done before and after vacation. I also try getting some swimming workouts while on vacation.
Holidays usually give me a chance to mix things up. Without trying to fit things around work and kids I can run drop in longer runs or try to add open-water swimming into the mix.
Swim drills are also a fun way to include my daughter in my training whilst we are all in the pool.
Good idea!
I normally plan to go on holiday to somewhere I can swim, bike, run but it turns into eat, drink, dance! That the provides the guilty motivation for the coming year.
I plan ahead and fit a running plan when I’m on vacation. And the plan leaves plenty of room for chocolate and icecream !!
All about running while on holidays – unless of course you can bring a bike…
It’s hiking and/or running. The hiking is pretty much a guarantee most vacations, the running is usually ad hoc.
Take my favourite running shoes and then make too many excuses!!
Short runs
Light swimming in the sea, or exploring cities on a bike
I try to carry on with the plan… Try.
Just running
Due to exclusively traveling for climbing purposes, the only training I get to do on vacation is early morning hilly runs and yoga on rest days. Should be mentioned that the better the climbing the less I will be inclined to train.
I usually cut back a bit so my holiday is more relaxed.
run if possible. burpees if necessary.
I cut back except for small runs.
Vacation = free time = more training
Vacation = free time, so i like to get max out of it by doing 2 workouts per day (morning and evening).
Now that I can not run any more coz an injury, on vacation I usually do cycling and a litle bit of swimming.
Run jump go biking… Usual stuff
Vacation often results in a training vacation as well.
Free watch giveaway I’m in!
I like to run bike and swim!
Try to run around the area before the family wakes up–usually don’t stick to the typical training schedule that I would otherwise have when I’m not on vacation.
I cycle to my cabin in the woods and practise my swimming on the nice warm lake next to it!
On vacation, I mostly run. If ever there is a nearby pool or a beach, then I swim.
Vacation? Tends to be something active like ski touring, or else I often pack the running shoes.
Just adapt to the situation to fit in the most training with what I have, usually to help offset the increased food intake!!
Morning bike rides and afternoon swimming
For me, there is two types of vacation. The one where I run around with a camera in a foreign and exotic city or country for the whole day, which is technically not a sport but exhausting nevertheless. And the second one, which is sports focused, like a mountainbike vacation, which is obviously then full of riding from morning to evening. :-)
only evening walks :)
Next trip will be the upcoming UK bank holiday weekend. Spending the weekend in Devon so that we can do the 100 mile Dartmoor a demon sportive.
I mostly go on vacation when im not really training hard for any specific event. But I do like to go for lots of open water swims in the ocean. Most relaxed but some are more traininglike ;)
Run, hike or swim. It’s too hard/expensive to take a bike places.
I usually wake up early and do my long runs in the morning. Too hot during the day!
Always run and bike when when we drive. Almost always bring my swim kit but rarely make it to the pool. The exception is when visit my mother-in-law in Victoria, BC as she’s around the corner from the enormous Commonwealth Games pool complex.
Yeah holidays are usually where the training dips. Lying by pools rather than swimming in them.
I’m a cyclist but on vacation it is recreational running! It’s the best way to see new sights.
I train every day – generally runs to take in the scenery, but short and fast as I’ll have handed over parent duty to my wife for 30 minutes or so!
I leave for vacation tomorrow!! Predominantly running around and exploring. Although I may rent a bicycle for a day or two
I bring my running shoes and try to squeeze in a short run before breakfast at least once.
We tend to run. We try to not get lost, but we’ve not been entirely successful on that part. (Return to Start is a wonderful feature!). In Kuala Lumpur this time we did a couple of out-and-back runs, partly because we got a bit lost, but found a large piece of infrastructure that ends up going past our hotel (ooooh, monorail!) so we just followed that back.
Last time we navigated via the PETRONAS towers. I do not recommend that idea, because whilst it seems like a good idea, because they’re so tall you can see them from very far away, so when you go off course you can go off course for *miles* and still see them. It was sheer luck that we got back the way we did.
most often our vacations are around some kind of activity like hiking or riding with a bit of relaxing
On vocation I prefer run in the morning and then easy swim.
Go for a run. Because a pair of shoes is a hell of a lot easier to pack than a mountain bike.
Long run before lunch to work off the inevitable beer, wine, ice cream that follows !
Everything stays the same except hydration which switches to beer.
I love running in new places, this year cancun
Running if possible otherwise… nothing!
usually I go on vacation close to a see, so I do two type of runs, both barefoot, one on sand and the following day in the shallow water. It consumes about 30-60% more calories in these conditiin, so I can endulge myself eating more ;-)
Training is cut back. Wife is understanding most of time but not during vacation
I would like to say train as scheduled, but I’m lucky if I get a run in.
No ice cream and chocolate bonbons, but not much better.
I normally take it easy whilst I am on holidays and just do a few easy runs.
No bike but more runs. If nothing more than to counteract the ice creams!
My weekend training now is based on push as hard I can get on leg true stairs one day and anther one tray to make two hours on trainer. And mean time in bed recovering broken femur.
Long rides with road or mountain bike. And of course some ice cream and grilled sausages, also.
while on vacation (always family driven), i stick to my training plan (if i happen to be in the middle of one), which i surprisingly find easier. on top of the running, i am able to squeeze some swimming into my vacation schedule a pool is available.
On holidays training will mostly cut down to swims and/or runs, depending on where I could fit in some (mountain) hikes, but ofcourse the best training remains: rest, and staying on top of your nutrition with a nice cold beer :)
usually i run with my daughter riding her bike close to me.
almost 20km each time.
very nice to do that with her, and share a moment.
Well that’s tricky, because when choosing the vacation sport, yhere’s a negotiation with the lady on whether training is allowed or not. And if yes, what kind. It usually ends ups with some running and swimming in the sea. Never tried race-vacation so far. BY
I usually switch to early morning running when on vacation. That way I have the whole day to spend with the family relaxing and enjoy our time together.
when on holiday, with or without the bike, I use it as an excuse to get in some extra mileage regardless of the pace. It’s all about exploring somewhere new for me but with a few speed sessions thrown in after some exploring!
Morning runs followed by pie and ice cream.
I like to keep working out. I tend to do early morning runs while the family is sleeping in. I once drove all night from salt lake to newport beach california. I unpacked and hit the boardwalk. I did my run at a pace way faster than I ever have before or since. I think I was so tired of being in the car and confined that I had an incredible need to run fast. The 4500 foot elevation drop probably helped as well. I than came home an crashed.
I take a vacation to go on a cycling vacation to get in some extra miles!
I always intend to continue training (running), but then don’t.
Most of the time I’m able to continue my normal schedule during the first holiday days, but I tend to slack a bit near the end :)
I always plan top train, but then the wine and sunshine gets me! My wife and I did run and cycle on out honey moon though. Was great fun running together on the beach.
Running is easiest. But beach holidays with some paddling for a change are nice.
On vacation, I _try_ to stick to my training plan and execute as usual. It doesn’t always work out though.
Vacation means 50% “lazy time”.
The other 50% is a slightly more intense training than usual with the first advantage that I am free to choose my training time and secondly depending on the location where I spend my vacation it can be quite motivating to expore new areas…esspecially on a bike (this usually means the cycling distances are longer).
thanks :D
Going with 4 friends for their first trailrun!!!
Lets see if they like it as much as I do
Some strenght training maybe, but mosty lot’s of playground/walking with our little girl.
I will be taking my cyclocross bike to the forrest for a one hour interval :-)
Since ‘the girl’ is not really into sports I mostly shift to eating ice-cream. But those calories are burned away with a lot of walking through cultural places.
Rental bike riding :-)
Mostly running seasoned with a bit of gym.
I jog between stations, between terminals, to catch my transport before it leaves.
I ran along the streets, to catch a bite before the dessert shop closed for the night.
Most importantly, I race my girl, to see who can last the longest, on her shopping trips.
On holiday, enjoy the early morning run to avoid crowd at a easy pace to discover and enjoy the sceneries along. NO PR pace, just a run to make me less guilty to enjoy the local food later during the day :-)
A few short runs
I try to keep on running as time allows. It’s one of the best ways to see a new place, or get to know a familiar place better!