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!
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 swim laps at the Y, and on days it’s warm enough, I’ll go outside and run.
I am setting up my Tacx Satori again.
Run/cycle less and do more strength training indoors. And gain some fat.
I’m training to be a Spartan. The winter is just a colder time to train.
I adapt my schedule a little bit … by doing my workouts earlier :) but nothing more!
In cold New England I move out of the lakes and into the pool and off the road and onto a bike. I am not thrilled with cold weather running so a lot of catch up is played in the weight-room and pool…
In the winter I go from road cycling to spinning indoor and indoor rowing. Also enjoy TRX workouts at the gym with my son :)
love your website!
Luckily our winters aren’t too bad. I generally continue to run outdoors but will take to biking indoors on a trainer. Something about riding in the winter is worse than running in it… or maybe a treadmill ir worse than a trainer? :)
What a great looking watch ! Great for running out here in New Mexico !!
Thanks for all you do !
Open water swims in Barton Springs. No need for a wetsuit, the water stays about 70 degrees year round. Come join us next time you’re in Austin.
If there is lot of snow then freeriding on my splitboard in the mountains and if its just cold without lot of snow then still riding my mtb bike on my local trials and also doing some weight and functional training during winter months.
There is no such thing as bad weather, just soft people says Bowerman.
Houston winter, well it is cold to me. I try to brave the cold but if it is cold and wet, troll the weather sites to find a time it is not raining.
I doesn’t get terribly cold here in Central Cali, so just bundle up and get outside to ride!
I keep a treadmill in the garage
Just put on a 2nd layer on top and be done with it.
No such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. Get out there ;-)
I tend to hibernate! But seriously I use a trainer for riding due to the decreased daylight. I don’t live in Hawaii but south Texas is pretty forgiving. I can still run outside.
In cave at 25 and below
I’m fortunate that it doesn’t snow too much here so I can run all year round. I do have to change up my schedule to seek daylight or avoid stormy weather. I spend my winters base building and don’t do any tempo runs or speed work.
I just run through it. “there is no such thing as bad weather…” :)
I stop riding f/t, running p/t, and start a focused running program f/t for winter. And Maui for Jan/Feb for some warm weather training doesn’t hurt! Thanks !
Time for winter sports! Ski slopes, here I come!
I simply add a couple of layers and push through !
I live in Boulder….and run/hike/ski in whatever the weather delivers. If the snow is higher than my shoes then gaiters are in order. With 300 sunny days a year it is hard NOT to be outside.
It’s been unseasonably warm for November here in S. Jersey, but I know the end is coming. Pulled the Under Armour Cold Gear to the top of the drawers, dusted off the trainer and printed the new pool schedules. I’m a beach girl, I hate the cold.
Keep riding and curse the weather.
Headlamp for runs, and quality time on the KICKR. (and suffer the cold walk from the pool to the car, instead of just running from hom to the pool)
Shorter and slower runs, some ice skating and more indoor strengthening.
How do you adapt your training schedule for winter? Not much, even though I live near Boulder, CO, I never run on a treadmill, and I don’t add or subtract sports. Mostly I just sleep in a bit more in the winter if it is icy out.
Do you change sports altogether, or do you happen to be one of those lucky ducks living in Hawaii? Nope, as noted above, I primarily run all year, unless injured, and secondarily add in swimming and weight lifting.
I continue to run outside as I enjoy running in the cold and wind and it’s all made possible with compression/base layers to keep your muscles warm and prevent injuries. I mix up running and strength training throughout the year so not much different whatever the weather.
Change up the gear a bit. More reflectors and a more annoying alarm to get me up when it’s pitch black out.
I live in Montreal, Canada which is kinda cold. I keep running, I reduced a bit the mileage and of course I bundle up
Wear warmer clothes, carry less water!
Living in California I’m able to keep riding through the winter. I simply layer up and leave later in the day.
Building the base :)
Living in the south of England I will put extra layer on and continue running. If it turns torrential then will be using rower indoors :P
grow a beard, grab some good mittens, and grind on.
It gets cold here in Pennsylvania over winter, but the amount of snow cover can be variable. As long as the roads are clear and dry, I try to run and bike some outdoors each week. But Nov to March I do spend time at the Y doing strength training, and some cardio to account for reduction in outdoor time.
I live in SoCal, so it’s strangely just like the rest of the year. Sunblock and pray for rain.
I drink even more coffee and eat more donuts, so I’ll be extra motivated when it gets warmer.
There is always the treadmill and cross fit training to count on
I live in Sydney, so some great cycling still to be had in the winter months. The main adjustment is riding a bit later when it gets light or using the indoor trainer a bit more if it’s raining!
I hit the trails in winter both running and mountain bike
Trying to avoid injury on the turbo. might throw in an ergo if I’m bored…
Swap your summer clothes to winter clothes, add some light and ready to run and ride in the evenings :)
Grind through and love what winter throws at you.
For winter training, I typically move indoors on my spin bike. I also hope to do more weight training this winter, but as of yet, I haven’t gotten too serious with that.
My training moves indoors, and the frequency of it drops like a log.
I’m forty-five years old this year and it’s the first time I need change “my” sport (thanks for the bike honey!) I’m taking up running until the 5:00a temp rises a wee bit.
change of shoes to icebugs, warmer clothes and the addition of a headlamp for myself, and a blanket/jacket for my dog.
Michael
The older I get, the more I prepare by buying indoor equipment. I have collected many training tapes, an actual VHS player, treadmill, and bike trainer. Something about Iowa winters not getting any easier to tolerate.
Mostly the same since I use Trainer Road for cycling. Tough out the runs with many layers. If doing a run in evening then I’ll head to the gym to use the treadmill.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Glad to hear you were safe in Paris.
I live in NZ so just coming into summer ;-) but cycling is my only sport so in winter it’s pretty much business as usual, just with a few extra layers…
Switch to XC skiing. Would love a new Fenix!
South Brazil winter is not so rough. A bit wet some days and not so cold.
This would be nice to enjoy for this upcoming Denver winter
NSW Australia Ray, it’s actually better to run here in winter. I have the opposite problem and adapt summer training basically means head indoors to the boring treadmill or go running in the night and fall down a ditch, it’s dark here.
Really happy to see the supporter option. Can’t wait for your reviews of the Garmin in house optical, I’ve ordered a VivosmartHR for the other half but waiting on your approval to get a Garmin 235.
I change nothing, just muscle through the cold harsh winter
I’m in Louisiana, so winter means I will eat more oysters (and fewer crawfish) to recover from my training. Otherwise, I’ll do more long runs because it’s not 90+ degrees outside.
playing zwift mostly!
Love the cold and mostly clean air running along the Thames. Can’t get enough of those beautiful citylights around central. Don’t like the early darkness as much but listening to your podcast helps a bit ;).
I ride the trainer indoors, and add in some xc skiing.
I give up the cycling, but continue to run outside until there’s snow on the ground. Then I switch to my pay-by-the-visit gym to use their treadmills.
I’m a marathin specialist, and here in snowy Michigan, speed work options get limited pretty severely, being as all of the local tracks are buried for about 2 months. Winter means endless mile repeats around my neighborhood block, exchanging wary, early morning waves with the plow guys and dog walkers.
I am thankful to live in a snowless winter state, but my outside riding time drops just because I lack the willpower to suffer through the cold wind. Zwift will be a nice substitute for some riding time this year, but I also heavily increase my gym work.
After a year spent in Afghanistan, I’m happy just to be able to train again. But my winter plans are to use my new KICKR trainer and keep training and racing in the Southern USA.
I swim and bike indoors on a trainer.
Living in Utah makes the winter running tricky. I tend to cut back a little bit, since there are no real road races to train for in the winter other than small local 5k’s. I usually will run 3 days a week and use the other days to cross train so that come spring I am ready to hit the road and log some serious training.
If it is above 40 degrees I continue to run outside, but the colder it gets the more swimming and indoor cycling I’ll do to stay in shape. Below 40 degrees I’ll run on the treadmill (very little) and really amp up my cross training.
Your reviews are spot on! The personal stuff is great as well as it is great to see all the places you visit. Thank you so much for all the work you do as it does not go unnoticed. Starting up the Kickr as well with FulGaz!!!
I don’t change my training for winter, just adapt my activities. More weight in the backpack, but that’s the price you pay to head into the wilderness when no one else is there.
P.S. great reviews!
I live in sunny California. My only change in my training is that I hope I can run in the rain sometimes.
Keep on running! I run in shorts until its -5c!
I live in an area of TX that goes from 110 in the summer to the low 30’s in the winter.
I am very good at layering for running year round and swimming is mostly indoors at the gym so that’s not an issue.
Biking is where i have trouble with the wind chill on the cold days. I’m trying out some new apparel this year and plan to attend some spin classes.
Set up the trainer, run on the treadmill & snowboard
I find friends to motivate me to get out there! Same sports but with lots more gear on!
Run all year in Vermont, but I add in some indoor racquetball and tennis.
Kickr and a treadmill for me
Catch the light when you can!
I live in Springfield Mo so it can get cooooold……………but enjoy 4 seasons……. I do change up my sports in winter. No outside biking. Still run albeit with extra a layer or two and work on my swimming indoors more!!
Kelly
Run earlier, but almost no changes :)
Run faster, stay warm!
I just add a few layers of clothing and power through. Weekends in the mountains are now for skiing but weekdays the routine stays the same.
I try to go outside for my runs when I can, but if not some inside cross training: treadmill, rowing machine, circuits etc. When snow is on the ground snow shoeing and skiing
Changing swimming outdoor pool into an indoor one, bike to spinning and running to cross-country [XC] ski, that’s so easy change.
I love outdoor winter running in Vermont!
Rain is pretty much nonstop here in Vancouver. Running in the rain is much better than riding in it.
I still ride on the road when it is dry and ice free. Otherwise I skate ski and ride on rollers.
Being from Canada, I cycle on a trainer, dress in layers for running and hit the pool twice a week!!!
I just add an extra layer and enjoy the cool SoCal weather.
Great info. Keep it coming. Thank you
A membership to Zwift and my Wahoo KICKR are my two best friends.
As a runner, i just keep running. Only using more layers of clothing
Don’t change. I run outside no matter the weather and workout in my garage sweatshop with lots of layers.
This will be the perfect Christmas gift to me. ;)
Thanks for your work, congrats on the new chapter in life.
Microspikes and snowshoes do the trick for enjoying our mountains for some cardio in the winter. A bike trainer and fan help this fair-weather biker make it through the winter.
Lots of warm clothes, more indoor workouts.
During the week I force myself to stay inside. On the weekends I bundle up to the nose and get outside
I do cross country skiing
More treadmill, more often. Warmer, if not as scenic.
Training through the winter for a 70.3