Deals Still On This Weekend! A huge number of the Amazon deals are still going! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $459, and the Fenix 8 for $100 off. The Apple Watch Series 10 for $279, the GoPro Hero 13 Black for $329, smart trainers, drones, action cams, 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!
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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.
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 2024 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 spin indoors for an hour a day, six days a week, and I swim a lot more than usual. I get some extra aerobic outside by skiing and snow shoeing.
No lucky enough to live in Hawaii, so thankfully Zwift was created making indoor training much more enjoyable. Winter activities might include snowshoe hiking or skating.
Living in Cyprus, it is rarely cold here
Have to admit, I train more often in the winter on the treadmill than the roads. At least it keeps me going!
i eliminate cycling in the winter & stick to running
Start getting the trainer kms in, but also hit the indoor climbing gym. Maybe get a couple runs in before the snow really starts falling.
Nothing changes unless it’s icy… then I make friends with a treadmill
More trail running, and of course treadmill and trainer time. I love to do long trainer rides while watching football (both kinds!)
Living in the north forces me off the road bike and either on the CX with studs, full winter gear and a lot of hassle. Mostly the trainer gets the job done instead, and with Zwift evolving to a full fledged training tool, this winter may be better than most.
Cheers, and thanks for a great blog!
I typically stop cycling and start doing some backcountry skiing (I live in Innsbruck, Austria; so its easy). Still go swimming and running as scheduled…
I don’t live in Hawaii, ugh!
I move indoors, and then sneak out when I can’t take the treadmill/trainer any more.
I typically just add layers and be more flexible in terms of when workouts/long runs happen during the week to accommodate the weather as best I can.
Suck it up and run outside or, if I must, get on the treadmill.
I wear warm clothing or get on the trainer/rollers. When will you have the in depth Epix review? Can you comment on Epix vs Fenix 3 and which one you would buy after your time with both?
Thanks
Jason
Would like to to some snowshoes hikes in the german alpes with my epix, but for that is the epix to unreliable at the moment.
I’m in Austin, TX so I can swim bike and run year round. I do tend to bike more and swim less though.
More running, less riding to cut down the time spent outdoors in the cold and also to avoid the icy roads out there!
You just need more layers!
stay in the gym, or xc skiing, or indoor running, or yoga :) beacause in Lithuania is bad winter weather for bike riding.
Winter is training season here. After summer ends I’ll start adding more intensity to my cycling and running. Summer is really when training changes, more about maintaining what I can over the hottest 2 months of the year and coming into the cooler months ready to start racing.
Adjust my training for winter? I’m in Illinois–we LOVE winter! Screws into the shoes and keep on running.
I head into the gym to run on the treadmills and my wife is a Spin instructor so I ‘Have’ to go to her classes.
I live in Michigan, so I get no break from the winter weather. I just add more clothes and get out the door. Biking moves to the trainer when there is too much snow.
Fleece-lined running tights!
Switch sunglasses out for ones with transitions lenses for extended dawn/dusk.
I try to get as many afternoon runs in as possible.
Only difference is on nasty days I ride inside
Less formal training. Traction devices when necessary.
Trainer rides and XC skiing
I move indoors – Bike trainer and treadmill… most of my swimming is already at an indoor pool so there’s no change there.
There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing
Just keep on trucking outside through the Chicago winter.
Winter needs enough rest so that I can’t wait to start training again.
Changing to MTB and as soon it starts snowing I’ll put the skins under my skis :) And of course some evening runs during the week.
Dress in layers
Still mountains, but run is changed to ski touring. The best part of the year is almost here.
I skip the bike and focus on long runs and doing some strength work in the gym..typically offseason style i guess:)
I will just add layers and continue on thinking it is 60 degrees outside. Mind over matter, right?
During the winter I focus more on strength and weights which are easily used indoors. I try to keep in the habit of getting on the rollers a couple times a week so I don’t forget how to ride… Oh and I eat at lunchtime instead of going out for a ride in the cold.
More treadmill runs, pool time and bike trainer runs on the Zwift island :D
Just layer up and keep on going, and enjoy the snow!
I layer up more, hit up CrossFit a couple more time a week and focus on aerobic base training.
I do a lot more weight training and HIIT along with the odd easy swim.
Also i would like to add the my daughter was born this morning – i’m very proud.
I run mostly during lunch time when I can and I try to not take into account the weather. I go anyway if my schedule is free!
Pain Cave and STOUTS!
Gym, turbo trainer, lots of swimming and cross country running in the snow
Move indoors. (Snow on the ground in Albuquerque already!)
Trail running – treadmills suck your soul. Also I change up the mantra train.race.beer, to beer.train.beer. Lots of similar minded people here in Golden Colorado!
In Canada, the open water swim in winter is not recommended. For swimming, indoor pool. Running, indoors and outdoors and switching some training to cross country skiing or skate skiing or snowshoes. For the Bike, indoor and occasionally rent a fat bike.
The Fenix3 would be great for the multi-sports since the FR620 only support bike and run.
I have read this somewhere and did like it: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just soft people.”
I live in MN, so winter is no joke. I still run down to about -15F, but I also try to xc ski 3 times per week. I’m a total winter bike wimp.
I’ll continue with swimming indoors, cycling will be done on a trainer indoors. But I will continue with the running outdoors unless it is absolutely freezing. Perhaps also do some cross country training.
No change of activity types just more relaxed, more base and more indoors.
I just bundle up and strap on the yak-trax when things get snowy.
Move into the gym for lifting and night runs, and run on weekend afternoons. The biking is switched to an indoor trainer which this year I’m going to buy a power meter to set up my own version of a computrainer without the resistance of coarse.
“Carbo loading” during the winter ;-)
Same as most everyone else, up the treadmill runs, up the stationary bike, and hit the indoor pool at the gym.
I hate winter more than any other season. I hate everything about it: the snow, the temperature, the frost. In winter I go to the gym. I’m not happy about that, but I can’t change that either.
I don’t change a thing during the winter. I just dress warmer.
Move to the bike trainer and start watching Buffy while I ride.
More weights than usual and I like to mix in some swimming. I still run but not as many miles.
I park my bike and take out my nordic skiis for some seriuos milage through the cold Norwegian winter!
Just picket up a Tacx Vortex smart and a zWift subscription to keep me busy through the rainy days.
Fortunately for me, I live in an area where the winters are typically pretty mild. Not Hawaii mild, but mild nonetheless. I do more of my training rides indoors, more due to a lack of daylight before and after work than anything else, but otherwise I stay on the bike all winter. I do shift the training to more of an off-season mode and add gym work back in as well.
I am a Canadian snow bird, so in the winter, I just move to a sunshine country for 4 months, so no need to stop any outside exercises
Layers and more layers it will be in rainy UK.
And for those really dark icy days I have my turbo and IronMan video’s on Youtube to keep me going!
Mainly, I move my outdoor morning workouts to noon and all my evening outdoor workouts moving inside. I dislike training outdoors in the dark. Three friends of mine were either seriously disabled or killed while training in the dark.
Although I manage to maintain many miles through the winter, I try to embrace all the seasons & make the most of the cold: winter primarily is for ice climbing!
During Winter. A LOT of trainer (zwift this winter) and A LOT of treadmill run. Also back to the pool for masters and long swims during the weekends.
I ride my bike more in the winter and run!
bike trainer and treadmill
Just add more layers. Unless it gets colder than -25 o C, then I run on the treadmill.
Being a Canuk, we can get some cold winters, so the riding goes indoors but the running still remains outside!
Cheers
Pat
More clothes, shift to more midday workouts to avoid pitch black darkness, a bit more indoor gym and trainer workouts when it’s really bad outside.
A wee nip of bourbon before a run is just enough for a cold wind in Dallas.
Winter is the best! Cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing and ice skating here I come!
Living in Florida, I just up the intensity as we don’t have the brutally hot weather and high humidity during the winter!
winter training in Michigan means I go to the YMCA and stare at things.
I swim in in the indoor short course pool and stare the black line.
I hop on the exercise bike and stare at the watts/cadence.
I run on the indoor track and stare are the walls.
I will be running marathons this winter, Netflix and HBO marathons that is, on the trainer of course.
I bundle up and run outside but bring the trainer inside to ride. Oh, and I’m learning to swim for my first tri in May!
I am colder when I run….. Yaktrax when it gets really bad.
I tend to cry more.
I get on the Turbo trainer – I have a kickr based on your recommendation – and spin away in the cellar…
indoors and a have to do way too much laundry when i run outside, and xc ski.
lucky to live in Costa Rica, although some rain, all good all year round, and with a Fenix3, will be even nicer…
Winter training means either indoor training or training with rain gear here in the northwest. I do more gym workouts, more trainer rides, and try to still make some runs outside in the rain, when I can find some daylight.
In the Pacific Northwest – I start hitting the treadmill a lot more. Still plenty of mud runs, but anything that would normally be pounding the streets stops being so appealing.
Hi there, I don’t live in Hawaii but believe me, here in Miami we don’t know nothing at all about cold weather maybe like Hawaii, so no need to change any trainer, so i can swim open water year long and with these new beauty beast with me …not problem at all.
indoors, but still out when possible.
Definitely more runs in the gym, fewer in the park.
In the market for a new smart trainer. Other than that just adding more layers and HTFU
Winter’s my thing! Switch from running to skiing (nordic and alpine), and I suppose I’ll have to keep going to the gym, unless it starts snowing in there too. There are limits.
No need to change my training, swimming is indoors all year and running in the fresh snow is fun. Though the rain is less fun but o well..
I’m taking a break from running and cycling to focus on swimming and trying to learn some yoga. I am noticing my balance and flexibility are suffering with age, and I would like to un-impact my workout for a while to see what happens.
I will also get back to lifting heavy things and setting them down, like I do every winter.
Swim: Indoors as per usual
Bike: Zwift!
Run: Brave the cold and plan my route around expected snow plow routes
After just finishing my first marathon, I’m taking up swimming this winter, and am going to give the tri a try come the spring.
GAH, i hope i win. but in any event, this winter is a game changer as i just bought a Kickr and ZWIFT! Seriously, makes me so happy. was even inspired by DCR to make my own pain cave. gonna be a great winter.
I reduce on the cycling and concentrate on the swimming, trying to become a more efficient swimmer.
Start carbo loading for next year. It’s working!
I switch it up in the winter and start long distance running and doing something like P90x and put the bike on the trainer.
1) weep for lost daylight
2) gnash teeth at cold
3) muse as to why we live in Indiana
4) verify Netflix subscription working
5) spend countless hours dreaming of sunshine while on spinner/treadmill/rower… ugh!
Winter means I get to bust out my drill and put screws in my old running sneakers!
Also, I pray for snow and figure snow shoveling counts as part of my strength workout for the day.