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!
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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.
After seeing Cadell Evans (and many others) ride through dolomites in snow, I’ve been convinced that exercise doesnt changed in cold weather- you just need to be dressed for it!! Although I shouldn’t complain, after 2 years in rainy London – I’m back in Australia!! todays lunch run involved 32 degrees of humid heat though.
I love running in the snow! If it’s only rainy however, I stick to road/track running. The hardest part is to go running in the dark…
I usually switch from running to cross country skiing in the winter. The last couple of winters have not been good for skiing here, but so far so good this year. I’m still running though because I’m still training for The North Face Endurance Challenge 50 mile Championships in early December. I’m just dressing warmer, and doing an occasional treadmill workout.
Bundle up and endure the bitter cold!
I usually would keep cycling, but this year am mixing in more running because it’s much easier to do that in the raining / cold than to ride!
Bundle up and brave the cold. Run more than cycle outdoors, and hit trainer road as often as possible!
Fitness at the gym with some extra zumba.
Switching to cross-country skiing, a bit of snowboarding. Assuming that we’ll have snow of course….
I live in a warm, humid sometimes rain… so no winter for me :)
Cycle commute unless dangerous conditions (ice/debris). MTB in my backyard park (St. Eddys). Concept 2 rowing and BEEEeeerrrrzzZZzZZzZzz. Treadmills are the devil…
I change tires and sole to have fun on the park while biking (Gravel) and running. Also I swim indoor (25 m).
How do i adapt? Simple – i put on my trailshoes instead of my road racers and enjoy every run in snow which is more than 10 inches deep.
Greetz from Bavaria…
Winter here in Singapore means monsoon season, which, while welcome for dousing haze inducing peat fires in Indonesia and bringing northerly winds to blow the smoke away from us, also means slightly cooler (like 32 Celsius instead of 34), and much wetter outdoor training. SO, I adapt my training by accepting that not all rides and runs will be dry and hot, and that whatever the weather, I need to train so I can get through Christmas without looking like the Michelin man!
Thanks for the great giveaways Ray – there’s a fair bit of training motivation when one has new gadgets!
Put on heavier clothes and a mud guard :D
I put on my winter gears but winter is actually not that cold where I live
I have to work out and bike indoors for the winter sadly.
I use bike trainer during winter, swim once a week and normal running sessions with winter clothing. If weather turns really bad I throw in elliptical training to fill in for missed running session.
What winter? We are in Australia!
Dear Ray,
Running has changed my life. Where i live (Cyprus) it is not that cold. The max lowest temp would be 0 degrees in the capital where i live. If it is too cold, i usually stay home and do core strengthening.
Thank you and good day
Up for a great reviews!
I like the winter run. My Asics Gel-Arctic 4 G-TX is ready.
Cold is not the problem for me, it’s even better :) Problem is the smaller number of daylight hours that force You to run with headlamp.
Hello skis!
I Kind of look forward to winter, its a real kick up the arse stepping out into a frosty morn. With regard to adapting training, wrap up warm & stay visible.
Back in southern India, winter is just the basic version of summer. So it’s pretty much Run in Shine throughout the year.
I get into afternoon training! haha….the mornings are too cold!
Start spending a lot more time in the boxing gym.
I Live in Cape Town, South Africa and winters here are rather mild if very wet. I just layer up for the rain and keep on cycling (road mostly). Not a fan of having to clean my MTB after a muddy ride.
Just more clothes and enjoy!
Perth, Western Australia – winter is prime training time – get the mileage in before it gets too hot.
I just keep running…more clothes, headlamp, reflective gear. Living in the rainy Pacific Northwest, best winter piece of gear is hands down the boot dryer I purchased last year. Dry shoes at the start of every run!
I am forcing speedwork. Therefore very short intervalls on the running side and high wattage on an indoor bike for short timeframes. Mostly no training session for more than an hour.
Beginning of march i will then do the big units again.
Lots of turbo time and running outside to keep me sane.
I put on warmer clothes and I still go out riding a bike! Nothing changes but the outfit :) Sometimes I run instead (mostly when it is raining).
Love running outside in winter, better than in hot summer, just pay attention to keep warm.
I am from Malaysia where its sunny most times and rainy the others. Running, biking and swimming all year round is no problem in my locale.
We do however have a Haze season where its very detrimental to even go outdoors and schools are closed. Think of it of a snow day for Malaysians. During that “season”, Swimming, Biking and running can be done indoors, albeit with much less scenery but is a decent trade off for any respirotary problems that you might get braving the haze.
I now jump on my new Tacx trainer and enter the virtual world of Zwift and Bkool and ride my videos from the summer (thanks for the good review on trainers) or if its dry pop on the lights and do loops of a 10km circuit. keep up the good work.
Change my Training: Cross Country Skiing and Ski Alpin in Winter. Sometimes I run outside or go mountainbiking. Swim will be the Same. Winter is the Time for alternative Sports.
As our winter has a lot of snow I try to replace cycling with swimming. Running wise I tend to run less times a week and the distances are a bit shorter. (From 3-4 times a week to 2-3 times and from 10k per training to 7-8km on the average). Everything else is just layering more clothes.
Away with the bike, the snow is coming. Change of sports and the Cross Country skies are used instead of the rollerskies and are used as much as possible during the snowy season here in Norway. Would be nice with a Fenix 3 to get the Cross Country mode in the watch :)
For me, the worst thing about this time of year is the early sunset. Anyway, I compensate it by listening to a lot of happy music like link to youtube.com :)
I don’t live in Hawaii rather in Australia. It’s fine to cycle here all year round. It gets a bit chilly in winter but to warm up you just go faster.
ICE climbing, great for core stability!
As for luck we are just entering Summer in the other half of the world
In winter I have finally time to enjoy winter sports offering endurance training =)
Crosscountry skiing with my daughter in chariot, cyclocross and running.
I happen to be one of those lucky guys living in Israel. Slight raining in winter. That’s it. I just wear long sleeves tee-shirts and finally can start running in parks. Then some fitness in the gym and swimming in the pool.
winter I replace cycling with swimming. Running I tend to run indoors and less times a week with distances a bit shorter
The fenix3 is starting to appeal more and more to me. Does it support sports other than running, cycling etc? Thinking of indoors sports such as squash, tennis etc.
Besides running I usually ride my mountain bike once a week during the summer. That I skip during winter, meaning I only stick with running.
with a log sleeve and out
I setup my indoor trainer in my storage locker and change my sessions to more frequent, shorter rides.
Ski ski ski ski :)
It usually down to the trainer and Sufferfest for the darker months. But only ’cause I’d NEVER bunk off work at lunchtime to get some road miles in. ?
winter? running, as usual. one year ago, a lot of hard and cold winter training, and a new marathon PB in february (Tokyo) pops out :D
Kia Ora.
Being based in Auckland, the only real difference between summer and winter is the availability of outdoor swimming pools – it’s coming in to summer here BTW, so they’re open!
Love the site!
I don’t change sports I do in winter, it’s just the portion of indoor training would increase because the wind and rain in winter.
Inddor spinning instead of cycling and lots of LSD running.
I mainly run, and that is no problem in the winter, even when living in Denmark. I just need to use a headlamp and some shoes with adequate grip. The i’m ready for darkness, mud, and snow.
Best thing about the UK: it never really gets too cold to run/ride all year round. Get the right clothing on, and get out there. If it’s really foul, there tends to be more turbo & pool time. How dull…
Hi, most of the runs I use the headlamp, as the days are much shorter. I put on bit more layers, a cap and a pair of gloves. I slow down a bit and I run longer workouts. I love running in the crispy snow. Past two winters were not very cold and with almost no snow in Prague. Lets see, what comes. BR. M.
I’ve been looking forward to the winter for several months already. My cross-country skis are prepped and my headlamp is charged. (I live in Norway)
Living in the chilly and windy Netherlands: pool training, winter running and of course the Turbo Trainer. Thank God for Zwift!
I stay in Singapore, which is sunny whole year round! (apart from the recent haze…in which I became a hamster on the dreadmill)
just workouts in the middle day
Bike tends to get locked away (unless I remember to charge my bike lights for the now very dark early morning commute) and the long sleeved training tops make their appearance from the bottom of my drawer
Pretty much like summer but slower. And lonelier.
Based in Denmark, winter can get rather cold and somewhat snowwy. I keep running outside, as long as the weather allows it. I just hibernate the days/weeks/months when it snows or the roads are icy. No reason to risk accidents.
Winter is always the season for a bit of indoor soccer, whenever the mood is right and a busy schedule allows it. :)
There is no particular change in my training habits during winter. On weekdays I usually go to the gym (same sports), but on my weekends I’m always trying to go out into nature with my family or friends.
Winter weather in Louisiana is actually perfect running weather for me so I look forward to NOT sweating profusely like I would any other time of the year.
Just a bit more clothing and off into the cold and dark evening… ah yes, reflective vest for visibility…
Hibernate like a big bear!! Then work double hard when it gets warm to lose the winter coat….
Winter for me means no cycling (except commuting) and a cut down in running in exchange for cross-country skiing. :) I will try to do some orienteering though – running in the woods in (hopefully) deep snow is good training.
I’m located in Iceland. I keep running, using hex screw studded shoes when needed. Swim a bit more than usual. Don’t do much bike exercise anyway, but stick to bike commuting through the winter (on studded tires – don’t want to break more ribs). Whenever there’s a decent buildup of snow, I grab my cross country skis and head for the nearest park.
I move back up my home trainer from the cave for heavy rainy days but keep on commuting my bike every day!
Thanks Ray!!!
Bring the bike indoors onto a turbo trainer. Must get a winter bike!
Change clothes ( for winter ones ) , bike on turbo trainer :)
Living in South Africa makes it a little easier to endure winter, and we play rugby which gets you warmed up pretty quickly!
In sweden we have the luxury of alternating seasons for real so we have the possibility to change sport when there are new possibilities.
Open water swimming is fun when the water i warmer than 8 degrees Celsius. When its colder we can enjoy poolswimming.
Riding the bike is fun in the summer but with sow and ice on the road spinning and Tacx trainer offers new challenges.
Kaykaing works fine in the summer, but with frozen water in the winter the gym is a good alternative.
Skiing and skate, is best in the winter especially if your an amputee like me then Rollerblades is like suicide.
I’d gladly send you some fotos from each sport if i’ll win the Fenix.
I run less and surf more
:)
I would get through an El Nino winter in San Diego by inviting everyone out for a beautiful 20 miler around Mission Bay!
Winter in Melbourne Australia isn’t that harsh. Saying that I’m still a wuss and only run outdoors when it’s nice and sunny outside; else it’s just the treadmill.
Heyhey, biking in the gim on shitty days but keep running outside
This winter i will run with my new watch from DC Rainmaker
I move indoors on the horrible days using training videos
I swim and run more, and bike a bit less. I own a lot of wool!
Fortunatly or unforrtunatly in my country there is no winter. Actually I continue my trainings as usual :P
Trainer & dreadmill.
Warmer clothes for running, more bike trainer sessions and the usual indoor pool. Madrid is not that bad in winter for training. thanks for all your reports and comments.
Paco
Lucky duck living in the Florida Panhandle! Thicker shirt, maybe a rain jacket and go.
Due to my workload I hardly find the time for training. I’m afraid this will not change in the winter. ;-)
But normally I just change cloths and change the roads I run because my “Summer routes” will be pitch black and I don’t like running with a light on my head.
Living in Ireland means it just gets colder – the rain NEVER goes away here! So wrap up for runs/bikes and walking to the pool!
Madrid is not so cold… but some days in January I prefer to go to gym instead to run outside…
Heatwave hitting Brisbane this week, definitly looking forward to the cool of winter
One word: Manpris
it’s mine
Running stays the same (lengthwise), cycling takes place in front o t TV (but no longer than 60′ and doing mostly intervals) and I’m intensifying my swim-training.
Always keep warm cloths :D – I´m training in a periodic way.
During the later autumn and winter month, I´m mainly training a split of long joggs 1,5 h – 3 h with low heart rate frequenzies (3 times a week) and maximal strength training (2 times a week workout sessions).
Some times I´m mixing it with swimming or yoga workouts.
Living in Hong Kong means winter is race season. Cool mornings and warm/hot afternoons. The only adaptation is how much longer do I want to train for!
No plan changes, i live in Greece with pretty nice weather to do what ever work out you wish !!!
Less biking, more running.