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…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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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.Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? No problem, the product comparison data is constantly updated with new products and new features added to old products!
Wanna create comparison chart graphs just like I do for GPS, heart rate, power meters and more? No problem, here's the platform I use - you can too!
Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
Get all your awesome DC Rainmaker gear here!
FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
- Why haven’t you yet released a review for XYZ product you mentioned months ago?
- Will you test our product before release?
- Are you willing to review or test beta products?
- Which trainer should I buy?
- Which GPS watch should I buy?
- I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing?
- I’m headed to Washington DC – what do you recommend for training?
- I’m from out of the country and will be visiting the US, what’s the best triathlon shop in city XYZ?
- What kind of camera do you use?
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
A new bike computer. I’m on my fourth Garmin 510 in two years (wet inside from rain, gps failure, display failure; along with a host of other issues)
Power meter so I can track my training!
Fenix 3. Need a new training partner for my upcoming marathon training.
I’ll get a Fenix watch, a power meter, ab Edge… What else? :)
I would get a Garmin Fenix 3: I run and bike regularly. Planning to swim in the coming year and also will be backpacking/hiking frequently as my son’s trains for Philmont.
Garmin Fenex 3 for my first (hopefully) 50K this coming October
I would totally get a power meter for my cross bike, because it sucks not having power for half of the year!
I want to ‘sidegrade’ to the Garmin 630 from my 920xt because reasons
Because it’s time to get off the couch and start training. Fenix3
I would have loved to have gotten a bsx insight. It just looks like it can help shape the future and change the way we do things.
I´d choose the Fenix 3 because it looks so good! :-)
My bike needs a power meter so I can suffer more
Scosche rhythm+ HRM & Garmin 230, because I hate chest straps, and wear my watch outside my jacket in our very long winters so the Scosche seems perfect!
I’d most definitely see how much power meter I could afford with the prize.
Garmin 520 – mainly for the convenience of automatic uploads
i asked the great christmas spirit for fenix 3. but This year Christmas spirit was low on budget do i got eat and Run written by scott jurek. dobs fenix 3 still would br nice to start Ultramarathon carreer
Edge 810. Because I’d like navigation on the longer rides.
Please DCR Santa, give me some love and help me afford that 4iiii Precision Powermeter I really wanted… Instead of the weekend in a spa resort I was bought instead :s
Most definitely a power meter. Virtual power has helped me a ton so far this off season, I would love to be able to gather and see that same information out on the road.
I really want to train with a direct force power meter. Maybe the 4iiii’s Percision.
Well I swim like a rock, ride like a drunk chimp and saying that I can run is an exaggeration!! $500 towards training gadgets/tools would allow me clearly see just how bad I am………
I’d get a Garmin 235 or 630. My 220 doesn’t have bluetooth and I’ve finally decided I want that feature. And the 235 is intriguing because I’d like to try the optical HR.
Love to get a Garmin Varia radar unit!
I would get a trainer because I don’t have one and would save me from biking outside in the cold.
The gadget I didnt Get was the Forerunner 620 HRM-Run Bundle, I sort of need a New GPS watch after my FR210 crapped the bed. Car 1, FR210 0.
Garmin 225, because It fits my Need at right price
I’d like to get a Blueseventy Fullsuit to dive in triathlon spring-season in the Austrian Cold.
I would use it towards the power tap P1 pedals. If they aren’t in stock then I would get the edge 520!
One of those “great” Wahoo KICKR desks. I am tired of riding the trainer no-handed while I juggle my cell phone, tablet, tele remote, laptop, towel, all while tryin to stay in the correct power zones, read text messages from my coach, checking Facebook, and tweeting my adventures to all. So, sign me up! ;)
Upgrade from TomTom to Garmin via Garmin FR 235.
I’d get the Wahoo kickr table as an incentive to use my kickr more
Power meter, most likely.
$500 would help with Powertap P1 Pedals!
Fenix 3 upgrade for sure!
I’d pick up the garmin 920xt, why? I have run and cycled a lot in the past with some real achievements I think. I want to put it together with swimming and enter my first triathlon. The 920zt would inspire me to train for it and help me reach my goal.
I would get $500 worth of socks. For real.
Time to step up the trainer game with a downpayment on a new Wahoo KICKR!
Fenix 3 so I can upgrade from my Fenix 2.
Well I guess it’d have to be a power meter, as your site has helped me get most of the other gadgets I want! Probably the Powertap P1s so I can move them around my bikes.
Gonna get me a fancy powermeter!
Definitely the Wahoo KICKR!
The Garmin Forerunner 235. Because I’m a cheap data nerd who wants all the cool data you can get from a 620, plus a built-heart rate monitor, without paying for a 630. And it has a heart rate monitor. And it connects to Russian satellites.
The Garmin 520 – interested to see whether the Strava segments features would drive me to work harder on the bike
I was desperately hoping Santa would bring me a new SmartTrainer. I’m currently just back on the bike, and starting rehab after spending six months recuperating from being hit by the Red Prius of Doom while out on a casual afternoon ride back in June.
I live in the great Pacific Northwest, where it’s dark, and cold, and mostly wet, and riding outside this time of year is not fun.
That is where the SmartTrainer would come in handy. Zwift and Trainer Road (or even Perf Pro Studio) with a smart trainer would help make the best use of my rehab time.
Thanks for doing what you do Ray!
jim
Fenix 3 because I’m graduating law school AND scheduled for my first half and full marathons in 2016, so would love one!!
I’d definitely grab a set of PowerTap Pedals; gotta have something simple & bomb-proof just like their hubs.
An additional power meter would be great for the n+1 bike! Or perhaps a Garmin for the Mrs…
Garmin 520 so the cool fast kids won’t have to wait to make sure I can find my way home.
Cycliq lights, front and back just to help protect me from stupid and/or malevolent drivers
My wishlist would include be PowerTap P1 pedals.
It seems that I am not the only one that would go for a Fenix 3. At the time of posting there were ~616 other people that have shown interest in getting this as well.
Santa got me the Fenix 3. Not sure exactly what is next on the wish list!! So many options.
I would get both the Edge 520 and the forerunner 230.
I would get a cadence and speed sensor from Garmin to use with handheld and wristworn Garmin devices
I’d probably get a new bike computer, one with GPS built-in. I’ve been using a Polar CS400 for about 7 years now, and it’s great, but I can do the same 20 mile route and gets results anywhere from 18 miles to 30. And probably a pair of bibs. Can’t have too many bibs.
Garmin Forerunner 230 or Fenix
I would like the most competitive garmin watch for trail running during more than 20 hours
Fenix 3, because why not?!?!
I would definitely go for a nice little running watch!
Please make my dream come true ;)
I would probably go for a 4iiii powermeter for the cross bike!!!
I’d love a new Fenix3 – great companion for summer hikes!
I’d probably get a Fenix 3, because in my opinion it’s the best price/quality/useful features ratio you can get on a sports gadget right now, specially with ConnectIQ and the recent beta program.
I would get a garmin fenix 3! The best gadget imo.
Garmin Forerunner 235 – cause I need a GPS watch!
Wahoo Elmnt would be good. Also interested in Scosche RHYTHM+ Dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart Optical HR strap
A Garmin FR630, because is all I need to run :-)
new garmin 1000, my edge 810 is playing up a bit and its starting to annoy me.
or a 920xt so i can use my stryd running power meter better than with the 910
I could really use a new trainer. I have been using a old mag trainer for years. It is getting noisier and my family doesn’t love the 5 am wake ups.
Fenix3 for sure. Why? Because it’s awesome and I’ve been a good boy!
I’d use it toward a Wahoo KICKR so I can train on my road bike during the harsh winter months.
I’d like a Garmin FR 920XT. Been a runner for a while and want to transition to triathlon training
I’d get a power meter for my brand new (to me) tri bike.
Garmin FR225. I want it for my Dad – he’s got heart issues, so an optical HR I hope would help without the complexity of a HR chest strap. A big thanks for the reviews, especially the part about checking the accuracy of the HR.
A new bike computer and a new running watch for sure. Both will go a long way in 2016 for sure!
The Fenix3 please!
Looks so great!
The Fenix3 because I’ve been a very, very good boy this year.
Garmin edge 630 to improve my running skills
I’d definitely go in for a power meter. Why you might ask? Because Santa was WAY too cheap to drop one in my stocking this year.
I’d love the forerunner 630 or the vivoactive. Not sure which one I’d go with, but I’m sure I could make a decision if I was forced to!
I would pick up the Garmin Forerunner 630 Touchscreen GPS Running Watch. Though your review from earlier this month highlights the fact that there are now a lot of higher end features from the FR620 brought down to the FR230/235 models, the FR630 still sounds like a solid device. Winning the credit through this giveaway would take price out of the equation of deciding which model watch to pick.
Thanks for your detailed reviews and giveaways!
Fenix 3. It been asking the wifey for months!!!
A Fenix 3, because I bought a Fenix 2 about two months before they announced the 3, and now it’s on its last legs.
I’m dreaming of a white FR630, just like the one…
Oh wait, that’s over.
vivoactive or Stages PM
Power meter
A new Quarq to replace my old, first gen Cinqo!
My first power meter. I want to document what I already know. I need more power.
I’d love the Precision power meter – because it would suddenly make me a great bike rider!!
Finix 3 for sure. In need of a new watch
I’d get a power meter for my fiancee as a wedding gift, fairly sure that nobody else is going to give her that one for the wedding.
I would get a power meter (4iii, Watteam) to help with my depression after I crashed and my girlfriend left me and took my dog and my car broke down.
The 520, Ray! Best wishes.
Powertap P1 pedals. They would look perfect on my new bike!
FitBit Charge with HR
I’d pick up a new Garmin Forerunner and a new HR strap!
Definitely looking for a power meter atm. Most likely stages as it would work with most of the chain sets that I have across the bikes. Other option would be a pedal format; I am liking the power tap version without the pods.
I’d get the Forerunner 920XT. And begin training for an Ironman.
I would buy a new set of ankles and/or replacement carbon fiber Achilles’ tendons because I am now 63, have been playing sports since I was ten (marathon pr 3:15 at age 32) and am wearing out. Want to keep riding (2600 mi this year but didn’t make 3k because of aforesaid ankle problems) and running but. . .
Decisions, decisions…. probably would pop for pair of Powertap pedals, although the Garmin 1000 (to upgrade from my 800) or even the Withings Acitivite would be cool
And thanks Ray for continuing the cool giveaways!
GPS running stuff, likely from Garmin