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…
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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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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!
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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.
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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.
Hi there, Polar updated its v800 with smart notifications on Android on Oct 5th, maybe worth mentioning, seems like they are trying..
…and it seems they re-enabled bluetooth in swimming mode with this firmware update.
At least Mio Link + Swimming-Metrics seem to work now:
link to forum.polar.fi
I just purchased a v800 last week, I’ll still keep the m400 for shorter runs, with the backlight on it was giving low battery alerts at two hours. However in daytime it gives 7hr 50 close enough to their claim of 8hrs. The v800 update also includes interval vibration alerts, which I love. To take on Garmin in the future and also protect the asking price they really need to have 99% of the features available at launch. I may have paid the launch price rather than wait for the features to be added and the rrp to be cut from £449 to £354. With that I feel I have a top end device for £228 delivered.
Robert, would you say the the V800 (even if expensive) is worth the money over the M400? I am looking to upgrade form using Beat/Loop/Flow/H7 combo but sitting on the fence a bout these two. V800 have the benefit of being a bit more like a watch on the design, but apart from that?
Stefan, absolutely worth it in my eyes. Vibration alerts are a must for me, as is the longer lasting battery. Plus I’ve found the GPS pace over the m400 is smoother, jumping about seconds rather than minutes. That said the stride sensor would still be the way to go if that metric is important to you. Another thing to mention in the v800’s favour is the recovery advisor. I’ve only been running for 16 months and find it pretty helpful, although I could see that a lifelong athlete may or may not.
Question for Ray, the h7 and scosche rhythm+ are both giving me similar recovery times. Is this due to the algorithm polar uses? I know the v800 does not record hrv during workouts like the Garmin and Suunto devices.
Thanks Robert
You have conformed 2 things that made me lean towards the V800. The Vibrations and the Recovery.
A design that work with a suit and including vibrations makes it possible for me to wear it anywhere, anytime.
And as a beginning runner the recovery advisor have caught my eye as well – my first reason for tracking my pulse while running is my tendency to go to hard.
I have been in a longer quest to lose weight starting at 100kg this early spring and by now reached 92, with no diet, just training 3-4 days a (30 to 90 minutes, steady 60-70% to intervals) week on exercise bike and walking 30 min every morning.
Now when the heat has left Hong Kong and the weather get cooler I feel ready to start running and get outdoors but I’m worried the joints and ligaments in my legs are far behind my cardio
Can anyone tell me if Polar has figured out a way to keep the BT connected to the V800. I’ve long since stopped re-connecting BT after leaving a room and re-entering and BT not reconnecting.
I’d actually forgot about smart-notifications until I read this post.
i would much rather be able to find a zwift spin class near me. and that’s a pretty funny look of a woman with a nice purse and instead of a normal small woman’s dressy watch, she has this enormous fenix3. and she likes it because it matches her outfit? but only when she wears that outfit.
So what garmin should do . I own edge 1000 and new vary radar. The unit with out the edge first complaint was no sound. So the edge cover that. But would would make it amazing if gives you vibrate alert on the fenix 3 when car appears behind you. The sound on the edge is small so you have earphones in you would not there it and could not see were i can adjust the sound. But please add vibrate alert for the fenixe 3 That would rock.
Looking forward to your findings on the new Microsoft Band.
Me too! Looks promising, waiting for Rays verdict :-)
+1 :D
Also, Fenix 2 got updated earlier this week (to 4.50) -though the update is bugfix-only as far as I could see.
I’m always one for reuse… seems like CT are using your comparison tables! :)
Yup, I’m good with that!
Hi Ray,
not exactly in scope of “DCRainmaker”
Kind of Ambit for Hikers,
there was also The Suunto Traverse that was released on Oct 1st. (and now “Kailash” ).
Thanks for the post. I am hoping for a “5 random things” post this week… I am vacationing in Cancun over Christmas and would love to hear about your adventures there.
Editing the photos as we speak!
Just wondering, no marathon for you this year?
Nah, not this year – just too busy. I’ll throw down on some more 10K’s later towards the end of the year. Perhaps crack into the 36min marker (I think my current PR is low 37).
Ray, did you ever do any posts about the first Microsoft Band? I have a Windows Phone at the minute, so not many fitness trackers are compatible with it, but I really like the idea behind the Band and the fact that it’s multi-platform and pretty much the same whatever OS you’re using, so if I change my phone I can carry on using it :-)
Is there a European/UK equivalent of clever training where we can buy products and support your site?
Ray is working on it, hopefully sooner than later, as I’d love to recompense him for his advice I still drink but doubt he’d be up for a six pint session to thank him? (Used to be double that :( ) anyways something with wiggle. co.uk or bike 24.de would be great. Just saying :)
That should be bikediscount.de sorry
Ray –
Do you know anything more about the new swanky sapphires? I’m curious if the leather band on the silver will run well. Also curious if Garmin will include a red band to switch out for the brown leather like they included a black rubber band on the original sapphire. Unfortunately, I can’t find any more details on the Garmin site.
Thanks,
Eric