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.
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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.
I like to spend my vacation on a seaside so usually I run barefoot on a beach
Early morning runs exploring the local area, so I can justify the ice creams and cocktails during the rest of the day. Maybe a few lengths of the pool, dreams of an ironman, all to be forgotten when I sober up/get home.
I’ll try to keep up with my schedule, but I’ll always end up doing way less miles than planned.
There are usually some compromises, but I try to follow my normal program.
I try to run, but most of the time, just kick back and relax :)
Most of the times it’s a few morning runs before the rest of the family wakes up :)
I always plan to do some workouts or at least some “fun runs”, so I take all of my gear. Unfortunately up until now (so for 3 seasons) the plan has never worked and I ended up mostly laying on the beach :-D
Vacations is a good time to offset higher calories intake (wine, beers, junk food) with more training
Not really efficient training-wise, but that’s OK, I don’t care :-)
This year, vacations mean work in the house. Next time, a lot more time on the bike !!!
Most of my holidays revolve around a particular activity (cycling, snowboarding, hiking), on my backpacking holidays I try to walk everywhere instead of taking a bus to keep my activity levels up.
I am always fascinated by mountains. Hiking, trail running, skiing, climbing.
Eurodisney to watch Avengers at the imax 3d and Cycling to Chateau Thierry on sunday if it’s not too rainy
On vacation I enjoy in discovering new landscapes….and I do it running
I’ve started to bring running gear wherever I go. When vacationing in the country in summer I try to go off-road whenever possible, and preferably off-trail. Sometimes I bring my bike, sometimes I don’t.
I do comfortable runs enjoying the view!
Mostly relaxing but I usually spend some days hiking. Some swimming if a swimmingpool , lake or sea are available.
Assuming a summer holiday I will always try and do some swimming, either open water or in the pool (but usually just slow and steady technique work) and I might try and squeeze in a couple of short gentle runs…
all of this assumes said holiday is not just an excuse for a warm weather training camp in which case schedule is ramped up.
Take the opportunity to run, bike, swim and Yoga… Possibly in a very nice spot with the family. Everyone is happy, pasta and other food never taste so good…
I usually have my running shoes with me and take them for a run whenever there is time. That’s the way I do it in vacations.
Vacation = open water swimming. Runless bliss
I usually do lots of hills and long slow running
I usually adjust the schedule and go for some easy runs
I usually only travel for races so I’m either near the end of my taper and not doing much, or BALLS OUT RACING. :)
Most of the time we hike only! But next holidays Im planning to enjoy exploring new places by running instead of walking. Keeping the shape!
I prefer to take long runs and less intensive, so that I can experience the countryside. So less intens, more scenic.
swimming & cycling wherever possible
Mostly running – 5-10 km og longer distances (16-21 km). I usually ramp up low intensity long distance runs during vacations since I have more time to do those then. :-)
Enjoy running somewhere new, then enjoy the ice cream and wine even more…
It’ll cut down a bit, but I’ll try and keep in ticking over. Some recent holiday destinations have been partly chosen due to the availability of hiring bikes and getting some longer rides in … Lanzarote for example
Depends on where I am. Usually short run intervals and gym sessions only. Longer runs if I can get away with it.
Usually i don’t take my training schedule with me on my vacations trips. Main activities are swimming, laying on the bitch and riding bike. But only as casual as it can be ;)
Vacation is for training and racing. Period!
Vacation is for rest and relaxation. So my only sport activity is drinking beer and eating ice cream.
Mostly running and hiking, looking for new spots. Trying no to push hard on intensity, just enjoing the envoirment, and landscapes.
Longer runs combined with hikes, normally from 20-30km routes.
I also cross-trainning with my mountain bike.
We vacation wherever there is ocean, so lots of beach runs!!
I try to adapt my Training, but some ice cream days are also welcome :-)
During my vacation i’m picking up the pace. Every other day I get up early to drive to the boulevard of Fuengirola in Spain. The boulevard is my starting point for a run. Afterwards to the café at the end of the boulevard for some aqua, café and a pan con tomato.
I usually try and find a local 5k if on my own, otherwise I tend to do unstructured late morning runs to check out the local scenery. No track work!
I usually plan vacations around a race ie. the family is going on holiday to Mallorca in September it just happens Ironman Mallorca happens half way through.
If it’s a hiking holiday: no training
All others: do a couple for 10-15K easy sessions
Ice cream and chocolate snacks are added to that, of course
Normally my vacations have a lot of walking but I still love getting out for a morning run while everyone is still asleep. Best way to jump start the day. And if I’m near a beach, I can’t help but do a couple laps up and down the shoreline. Now if I could only just figure out how to effectively bike while on vacation I would be set!
Vacation time is exactly the time to plan some nice mid-day / longer workouts than usual, since it is harder to manage schedule in working days. If the vacation plans conflict with intensive training – some extra running is always an option.
At the moment I step it up carrying or towing the little one!
Explore the area on a run.
My vacations are usually full of exploring – city’s and country side.
After a full day walking the streets I don’t have the energy for any more exercise!
Running and open water swimming + time in the gym.
When on vacation I keep training but at somewhat lower frequency to fit the family-constraints!
A few handy cycles
Nothing gets in the way of the schedule ;)
Just swimming, biking and running in nicer, sunnier locations (hopefully)
But at a minimum the running shoes get squeezed into the luggage.
More training during vacation.
Maybe a light run or two, but mostly ice cream.
I try to keep the weekly mileage, but I reduce the training days. So mostly one run becomes longer and less intense, but I try to keep the quality day.
Strongly depends. May be an IM race at a location I always wanted to go to for vacation. May as well be a relaxed run up and down the beach. If at the sea, definitely swimming – love to swim and count fish :-)
When on holiday, i usually end up exercising my stomach
I like to take my running gear with me and then get distracted by wine and chocolate
Just wrapping up a 2 week vacation now. It’s been training as usual, except, there isn’t any struggle trying to get workouts in.
On past vacations, haven’t gone in a while, my training amounts to parking the car in a centralized location and then walking everywhere. Actually I would consider this active recovery or possibly even cross training. What ever its considered, it sure makes my Fitbit One mighty proud!
My last vacation was leading up to my first half Ironman. So the actual vacation involved lots of cycling, swimming and running in the stunning Swiss Alps!
I like to look for races near my destination to add variety and change of scenery to my running.
In summer time (beach) I usually run and swim.
I normally run less distance and I do some fartlek.
I swim openwater 30 minutes aprox.
I forget bike !. Too difficult to transport ……
And of course I golf ( I know it is not so common for a triathlete)
All the best
Training on vacation is all about offsetting the indulgences for me. And exploring new places out running.
When on holiday I do nothing, it’s basically a normal week for me, I think about all the things I’d like to do and wonder when I’ll get round to doing them. Then I’ll make a tea.
Morning run by a seaside, best vacation that you can get
This is why I train – so that on holiday I can gorge guilt free :)
Doing my long bicycle workouts during vacation.
I generally cut back and bizarrely – whilst I never touch a treadmill at home, I generally end up on one in the hotel gym whilst I am away.
I need to man up and get out running in new places outside when I go away. Yes, yes I will!
Cut back the volume a bit – it’s a vacation after all.
Run a little. Swim if it’s possible. Bike rarely.
STOP and RELAX this is what vacation stands for me :)
I like to run along a beach or on coastal paths when on holiday, but mostly find the draw of the barbecue to be too strong to resist.
Simply trying to keep up with my training schedule (mainly running)
On vacation I like long runs. They let me see more of the area while requiring minimal equipment.
Some easy runs or long walks, by the sea or through the city that i am visiting. Its nice to combine sporting width sightseeing in new areas.
mostly cycling on vocation if have good weather
Usually dusting my old Sunn titane MTB and riding every singletrack of southwest of France.
I run, ride or swim when I can
Work trips – hate hotel gym bikes
Vacation – Forget it, pass me the ice cream ;-)
I run as per usual. Check out popular places to run using Garmin Connect heatmaps, then I am good to go.
Vacation training typically means more activities but a whole lot more alcohol.
Usually running, trying to push the limits a bit. However family comes first during vacation.
On a vacation I love the long exploratory run to checkout the area. I always seem to find something interesting! If I’m feeling really organised, I’ll check strava before I leave to find good hills/spots to run.
More training, less (regular) eating ; -)
More mountain biking, exploring new trails and more comfortable time for trainings/recovery with beer :)
always running and TRX at the hotel room .
I take it with me …….
Usualy fartleks.
Vacation time is training time, therefore I run as often as I can. It’s also a great opportunity to stray from the old routes…
I like to run when on vacation in a new city. Strava heatmaps are great for looking up popular routes in a new location, then get out on foot and explore the city.
Sometimes I try and swim in hotel pools, but they’re often unusual sizes which makes it hard to do proper sets.
I try to get in an early morning run every other day or so while on vacation.
If it’s a proper vacation the training gets binned completely. Although I’m likely to be doing something active anyway – skiing or walking or some such…
I start with arm curls (cocktails for weights) move onto some serious planking (sunbed for the base) and usually end the day with some high level cardio in the local gym*
*nightclub
The watch I would love to use for my next triathlon … (thx dcr for let this happened)
I usually end up dropping back to just swimming… but then again i’ve not been on holiday since I started training in earnest for triathlons so I don’t actually know what i’d do!
I tend to follow my training plan but if there are no races coming up then it’s usually more beer… err culture and less running
If it’s summertime, swimming and hiking. If it’s not summertime yet, only hiking… and lots of relaxing
I am trying to do as much possible crossT; run, swim and cycle
I use vacation for long slow exploration runs, biking for transport rather than training, warm open water swims (far south of Boston) and lots of liquid carbo loading!
I try to keep with whatever schedule I’m doing. Maybe relax it a bit depending on how much time I have.
I like to do some swimming and if possible take my race bike to do some uphill. If that’s not possible, I go running…
I have some short ‘sport-dedicated’ holidays with friends, typically climbing some famous Tour-de-France mountains with the bike. On the family holidays, I’v have no approval from my CFO to do long sport activities, so only short runs in the early morning to maintain the level….
Training… Isn’t that the walk from the hotel room to the deck chair?
Ice cream and asados… But I try to go out and run