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!
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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.
Swapped from rugby to triathlon training – easier to get out of bed for an indoor pool or treadmill than a rugby pitch
Mountains are always a place for the extremes so prior planning and an abundance of suitable layers is the order of the day during winter
London doesn’t get truly cold but cycling moves exclusively to the trainer and it takes a little more self discipline to go out for a run when you’re guaranteed darkness and just above freezing rain tests your clothing choices.
It’s getting wet cold and windy so the bike hibernates and the trainer goes in front of trainer road for a couple of months! Other than that the runs become a bit shorter and the swims are all indoors.
I ride more my bike on trainer at home. When I ride outside, I put on winter clothes. Also It so funny to ride through the snow on mountain.
I live in Canada and adapting to winter is a matter of taking of advantage of the snow, rather than fighting it! Good gear is key: rented cross country skis/snowshoes, or microspikes if you’re going for an icy run. For shoulder season (the worst!) when you can neither comfortably bike nor even ski, it’s time to hit the climbing gym and pool. In any event, the common thread to motivation is big groups of friends (piling into a car full of people and skis to drive up to the snow belt, early on a Saturday) and hot chocolate. With egg nog. And rum….
Dress warm and forget the excuses.
Lots of trainer riding in the basement…instead of Netfix and Chill for me it is Netflix and sweat.
I switch from shorts to long legged tights and keep on running!
Keep up the great work Ray!
im a lucky one who lives in the sun scorched island of ireland where short sleeves are worn throughout the year……..
more clothes
More time on the trainer and more time running during my lunch hour. More layers on Saturdays.
When it gets cold, I bundle up and brave the weather. If it turns snowy or icy I have no choice but to run on treadmills. :(
I replaced my road bike with moutain bike few weeks ago and I try to ride whenever it’s possible. When the weather is really really bad, I choose running. Additionally I do some core excercises with my girlfriend to strengthen the muscles and prepare properly for the upcoming season. I hope it will bring the expected results.
I don’t train my training up but just my gear instead. I primarily run so I can usually make it work but on occasion will get on the treadmill if the weather just won’t cooperate but that’s not too often in Alabama.
Put a heater next to the wind trainer – add a layer of clothing. And Go.
I live e in Southern California – in January I just wait until mid-day, or put on a second layer before heading out…
Running in winter means wearing an extra shirt and long tights, means wearing a headlamp and a reflective vest, means running more lonely, and is, however, as much fun as it is in any other season.
SoCal weather is great in the winter, so no change
Here in Sweden with all the snow and cold weather, we prefer xc-skiing and indoor biking, instead of road biking. The ice is to thick to break, so we do all the swimming indoors. If it’s below -15° we still running outdoor.
In Chicago it can be hard to maintain running mileage outdoors. Layers, layers, layers, layers! Use the yaktrax when you need them and don’t be afraid to netflix and mill if it’s below 0!
Live in San Diego, so not too much required to adapt to the “cold”. Usually just a light running jacket and reflective gear(it’s usually dark when I run).
Thanks to remind me – I have to change a battery in my torch :-) That’s it.
Count me in!
This Winter I’ll be encouraging the French security forces to ‘take out’ the violent Islamic scum, their recruiters, and the scumbag preachers before they perpetrate their next massacre of innocents.
Berlin winter here, so some snow, wind and freezing temperatures. The bike sleeps in the cellar, running slows down when icy…
I focus mainly on running and add in some gym and snowboarding
Just put some warmer clothes and run as usual
I hit the gym and trainer
For me, it’s all about transitioning to the inside.
Switch to track cycling and cyclocross, two winter sports…
But also enjoy riding the snow in the mountains
I just bought a Vortex Smart, based on your recommendations, and choose to stay out of the cold all together! :) I also do more diving. Yes I know that doesn’t make logical sense.
I swich from cycling to running, and moan about it till the spring.
I train less and eat more. Damn isn’t it meant to be the other way around….
iam in!!! give me this garmin!!!
I eat a lot more and train a lot less. It’s called hibernation.
If only that were true. I bundle up like an Eskimo and head outside. If you ever want to race in the cold (aka Norseman; which is on the bucket list) then you have to train for it!
winter. There is no winter anymore. Thanks to our industry ;)
I will have my focus on running and swimming during the cold and dark days of the year.
Run a little, cycle a little and swim now and then. Eat lots and drink more than normal.
My running hardly decreases at all, I just layer up and run a little slower. My winter base has been one of the things that sets me up for strong springs. I also get on my trainer a few times a week, I hardly find time for outdoor cycling, so the winter is when I get the bulk of my yearly riding in.
Finally a watch that I can wear to work!
put on tights, put on gloves, deep breath, and ride as normal
no bike for 4-5 months and more swimming but same running!
I use the treadmill at the gym more, and layer up some. also, I’ll sub out more days swimming than running at the gym. living in georgia, generally our winters are pretty mild. it was 70 degrees yesterday, the week before thanksgiving.
I’ll wear more layers when running and cycling. Mountain bike rides will be shorter and avoid the hardest climbs which become impossible when ground conditions deteriorate and traction is reduced.
Thank you for providing amazing product reviews and a really interesting blog!
I live in Brisbane Australia – I have to put lights on the bike, because its still dark when I set out……, very inconvenient ! haha………, maybe a wind vest as well ?
I’m a Lucky Duck that has recently moved to Australia.
Been from Ireland, this move was a welcome one.. No more FREEZING COLD Winters.
Exercise is must easier down here, running on beaches and promenades…
In Canada, it’s layers layers layers – and when that doesn’t do it, treadmill.
Living in North Florida I am able to Ride and Run year round. I recently picked up arm and leg warmers and they have been awesome so far. I keep the same short sleeve jerseys from the summer but add the sleeves. Saved money having to buy new Jerseys/Kits… Ordered some lights for the bike so I don’t get stuck in the dark and I run with flashlights and a petzl.
Swimming is still doable indoors or even a heated pool. This is where I need to work more. I have found that just making to where I have to drive 7 miles to swim has severely impacted my swim schedule which I don’t want to do anyways. :) I will push on!
Keep on running through the snow to get ready for the spring races
Adding a few layers to survive the -20
I am calgary so ride outside not an option.So I ride my Tacx bushido and using Zwfit!
Thanks
I decreased in winter and a few hours of training and kilometers a week , also lame less bike one day and do more of gym or pool.
Do some crosstraining in Gym combined with trail running and MTB in Winter.
Live in Calgary so I ride my bushido smart and ride using ZWIFT!
Same procedure as every year: swap my bike for my running shoes… or cross-country skis !
Biggest change for me is trying to schedule my runs with the daylight. Winters here aren’t terrible but running alone in the cold, dark night is just asking to be yelled at by the wife…
He Ray,
Just in the netherlands we can continue allways with running. I prefer the mud and do more off-road in winter (weekends). To get more strength I alternate with MTB trips as well. In the evening we do once a week a running bootcamp to strengthen the body alterated with some HIIT’s
rgs to you all folks in Paris – we’ll support you by our thought.
Living i cold Denmark I bring out (or in) my home trainer, but keep commuting on my old road bike.
Same amount of running and less open water swimming ;-)
I run and swim just the same (I live in NYC and like running in cold weather better than i do in the august heat…). as for biking, I get on the trainer occassionally, but honestly have yet to find it satisfying, so I take a soul cycle class to remind me what pedaling feels like.
Well, I hope to get back into running very soon. Hope there will be no change in winter, we’ll see about the show.
Just put on more clothes unless the weather is too bad. Then is the dreaded treadmill.
We went with running last winter as ussual. However we’re bit lazy this upcomming season, so hope to get back on track (trail).
Colorado weather takes a little adaption but gives no reason not to train. My bike lives on the trainer in the house. My running involves extra layers (actually my favorite time of year to run) or a treadmill if the weather is bad. Finally…. the pool… always feels warmer when it is cold outside!
Reduce Time and distance barefoot running training.
But increase number of trainings per weeks…
Still hard
Grow a beard and keep on running.
I’m an indoor calysthenic guy, so working out in my flat is easy, no matter the weather outside. :)
I’ll continue running through the winter, but living in Salt Lake UT makes it great to cross train with skiing.
How do you adapt your training schedule for winter? Do you change sports altogether, or do you happen to be one of those lucky ducks living in Hawaii?
Hi DC, I happen to live near the US Capital and Winter does set it pretty nicely here. My approach to training is to switch to mostly maintenance rides/runs on treadmills/trainers and increase the frequency of swimming drills.
I try to sneak in a weekend ride when the weather collaborates, and do short runs during work lunch breaks.
Take care,
Felipe
I am in the Pacific Northwest. No sport change for the winter. Biking now requires rain friendly wear, as do my runs. Rain shells, warm leggings, gloves and hat (or balacavas) are the norm now until late Spring.
Trail shoes for ice and snow, running tights and base layer/long sleeves for sub 5C, headlamps for evenings. No reason to stop running unless it is really hazardous underfoot. Swimming = pool. I haven’t got room for a trainer so the cycling suffers… maybe I should take up spin?
I live in New York City, but don’t change my training schedule at all. Just put on more clothes.
Just brave the elements, run and cycle more
Short skirt and a lonnnnnnngggggggg jacket
Living in basque country just put more clothes and run!
I put on warmer clothes, traffic vest and sometimes even lights
I switch over to the trainer at night and ride mid-day on weekends and once during the work week.
I use to do some indoor training, plus jogging and swimming. But I’m a little lazy in winter, I admit it! :-)
October through November I leave the bike at home and go for a run instead. In December I get the trainer out and dreaming about better weather while pedaling on a balcony.
I switch to the treadmill to run during the winter. I hate the cold!
Get dirty off road, in the woods, to sharpen up bike handling skills. The intensity of a night ride in the woods gets the heart and mind going. If I won’t have time to clean the bike afterwards I will enter the dungeon, and take a tour of Sufferlandria.
Run between the rain drops & schuss over the snow (sometimes stopping to recover a shoe lost in a snow drift).The hardest thing is getting out of the door!
More strength training at the gym and extended runs,rides and swims at lower effort!
I just bundle up and run outside. Also use the bike indoors on a trainer.
In the winter, I tend to do less of everything and a little (very little) more strength training.
I own a variety of athletic for every type of weather imaginable. The only thing that takes me indoors is rain when I need to cycle.
Not that bad anymore. Smart trainers and things like Zwift….
Living in Sweden I just have to make use if the snow and cold. Meaning it’s a lot of skiing and skating. Running still work perfectly well with trail running shoes and the road bike is exchanged for a mountain bike with spiked tires.
Absolutely no change to training except for switching to the winter bike. TTFU ?
As a runner living in a warmer part of Texas, there is really no need to change sports or training practices. Around here, winter is the best time to get outdoors and run (as opposed to the oppressive combination of heat and humidity that plagues us in the summer). The only change I make is breaking out the headlamp and reflective gear due to the shorter days.
Winter? I live in CA.
Still running regularly, but now in tights and gloves. =)
Warm clothes, plus Zwift/TR when things get really rough out there.
Yes, softer, nicer, not so hard training, creating the suffer soul for the next year. To build inside myself.
I like to hit the gym and use the treadmill and elliptical machines to get my cardio in.
Its all about the turbo…….oh and muddy off road fun!
it crashed commenting on my phone, so second attempt
in winter my options for running become very limited due to the darkness mainly but i try not to reduce
can’t wait for summer-time to be back :)
Keep ridin’ those Scottish roads when they are ice free, other elements are character building! add in the rollers and a bit of running. Also started Metafit – that’s sore :)
Swap road bike for mtb, seek out the mud to run in, and be ready to hose kit and self down after every outing. But I admit the wetsuit is packed up and I’m back in the pool, instead of the lake.