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!
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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’ll do some running but mostly vacation is about relaxing for me.
When I am on vacation, I try to find the biggest mountain around. I get such an unbelievable high early in the morning when I can look down on the whole world from the highest vantage point. My happiest memories of my honey moon are (leaving my newly wedded beloved!) setting off at the crack of dawn from a Sicilian beach to wind my way up craggy volcanic roads. Just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and not get too distracted by the view…
Typically I try and walk as many places as I can unless I’m by the ocean in which case I will swim at about the same pace as at home during training.
I love getting out of the city and doing a little running and biking on mountain trails
Increase my cycling miles and use up all my rest time.
I generally continue on with my usual workouts and many times increase activity due to the calorie consumption boost that usually accompanies vacation.
Mostly run to see the sites – and always bring the bike if driving to the vacation destination!
I usually keep up my activity level, but don’t follow a schedule while I’m on vacation. I fit in a run or two when I can and do family bike rides and walks. My Dad and I will usually fit in at least one fitness ride at the beach.
Nothing changes, I’m just free to change what I like, and mix it up on vacation to offset the “vacation diet”!
It depends on the destination; if it’s pretty, coastal and features great trails, then I ramp it up, but if a gym is the only option I give it a break.
Vacations!? What are those??? I would probably just run…in the morning before the wife and kid wake up.
Depending on plans. Regular weights sessions stay regular (ideally). No work gives opportunity for longer adventures depending on family requirements.
Will usually stick to my run schedule, and get a swim in and/or cross train if the facilities allow.
On most trips, the training is typically solo exploration (long) runs where I try to hit a few landmarks along the way. Running the whole Vegas strip last time I was there was nice!
I disable all alarms and wake ups on vacation… Sleep is my preferred activity
I like to do early morning walks from the hotel and explore the local area a bit. Great for finding out interesting spots to eat at later in the day!
I love a good destination race, but if I’m with the family I prefer to keep my running mileage moderate – enough to enjoy excess calories but not too much as to take away from time with my wife and kids.
Life should be one long vacation spent with hubby and the kids – as work gets in the way I just enjoy the actual time off with them when I can
exploring the scenery with a long run through the town/city
Try to find a half at the vacation spot to see the area.
Biking or running before my travel companion wakes up.
Just enough to burn all the calories consumed :)
Fit some training in but keep it causal and unplanned. Family trip, family comes first. If the training never happens so be it.
The runs are the easiest to do…just bring shoes and go for it. Otherwise, the best vacations are sport specific, i.e. a ski trip or, even better, a mountain biking trip with a bunch of friends. The crazy amounts of workouts are done seamlessly on the bikes…too much fun. Now, I want that F3 so bad. :)
I usually try to run early in the morning since it’s usually a pain to bring a bike
I try to get in at least a 5K run in the morning whether on the treadmill or exploring the town.
Trail run & swim
Try to get some running in on vacation.
I have been trying to record runs everywhere I go. Recently traveled for my first race. IT was GREAT!
I usually try to run at the minimum but usually working out gets pushed to the side because family wants to see me for some reason…
Well my husband doesn’t let me take my bike trainer on vacation so I usually end up running and/or hitting the hotel gym.
Running with the wife. My bike goes with me if we have room. I do my best to keep up with my schedule.
I like to go out for a run early in the morning and try to stick to my training program as best I can.
i usually use vacations as a rest period, with little or no training. if im somewhere pretty, i like to go on hikes or easy bike rides and enjoy the moment, instead of training.
Training is hard enough to do when I’m not on vacation, but mostly I try to fit in some cycling and not eating too much.
Hiking and biking
Since I have more time, I usually go for longer runs, besides, vacations are only for two weeks long, so it does’t change a lot my routine and I get the chance to enjoy the city (Mexico City). If my girlfriend is on vacation too, we’ll run together even though it will be a shorter and light run, but a really pleasent one.
run in the AM and swim in the afternoon
Stick to running and finding new routes.
Running near the hotel I’m staying at – a nice way to get a feel for the surroundings.
As vacations a ‘break from normal life’, I use them to mix-up my training. Normally I do mostly cycling and swimming, therefore I use vacations for running and (if available gym work). It’s hard to change routine, but it makes it feel different from my normal day to day, ie, feels more like a change and they say ‘a change is as god as a rest’.
Honestly, vacation is vacation. Ice cream and bon bons for me!
I just press on as normal or schedule a “rest week”
No training on my vacation, just eat eat eat sightseeing and spend like crazy.
I typically do a running race with my wife and kids. We have done 5k to half marathon. I have sometimes done some very focused training on vacation. I once ran 15 miles around a 1/3 mile cruise ship. Diet generally suffers, but I typically add additional strength training due to extra time without work.
Slow early morning runs around the city I’m visitng
What vacation? I always combine vacation with new sport adventures. Last vaca it was Kite Surfing (didn’t happen because there was no wind but that’s another story). Before that it was Free Diving, sailing, climbing, shooting, you name it.
If I’m in training I do my best to stick to the schedule but not cut int sightseeing too much. In St Lucia, I ran on the beach barefoot, hit the treadmill to beat the mid-day heat, and also took in the scenery on shorter HILLY runs.
One of the best ways to explore a new city is on foot. I train everyday on vacation!
Running during vacation is the ultimate excursion!
I just try and limit the amount of junk food that I come across on vacation.
Generally some running and maybe biking. Rarely I will do swimming.
Depends on the vacation. Sometimes it’s business as usual, but mostly I tone it back quite a bit and enjoy the area.
Vacation training = increased focus on the run! – great way to discover the best bakeries and ice-creameries of a new location by expedited exploration on foot!
I always try to get a long run in early during a visit to a new city. It definitely helps with learning the layout and provides some quick sight-seeing.
Casual running to enjoy cool and sunny mornings if weather is good at our frequented beach town.
run, walk,ride, drink.
not necessarily in that order.
Try for one run, but end up the rest of the week eating ice-cream.
I always attempt to workout enough to keep me from feeling bad for eating what I please.
I usually take my summer holidays in the south of France. I like running in the small rocky mountains called Esterel. It’s also a premium location for riding, both on and off road. But my favorite training is the villa-to-beach workout: a run through the moutains, from my family’s villa to our favorite beach.