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.
run rest repeat and sometimes you can bike.
I did a great 20K run in a beautiful area in the Netherlands, named De Veluwe.
I will probably be doing no exercise this weekend. Too much stuff on the todo list related to trying to relocate.
Rest day – post IM recovery :)
Finally getting on the bike again after a 2 week holiday
On the docket for the weekend was a long cycle and a core strength session
Long road ride on Saturday and Gravel ride on Sunday.
Pedaling to nowhere on the trainer and strength training.
I had a hockey game a soccer game, and nice 5K with the kiddos
Plan on biking some this weekend. Swimming next week!
Glide through the beautiful Welsh countryside on my bike…
Last cyclocross race of the season on Saturday! Then maybe a short mtb ride in the fall colors on Sunday to begin the “off-season”.
Tapering for a Trail Half marathon next weekend. Probably spend some time on the bike trainer
This weekend’s training was relegated to lots of wandering around and accumulating plenty of steps at the American Royal BBQ (the “World Series of BBQ”), which took place here in Kansas City on the infield of the Kansas Speedway.
Bike/run brick in the rain – then b-ball w/ the boys the following day!
Cycling in the Forrest, what else!
Gentle Parkrun, Saturday am, and the challenging Flying Fox 10 miler on the Sunday.
A 16km run.
Swim saturday morning, maybe working as staff at 70.3 Rio on sunday, as I’m not racing. =)
Mountain biking in the Alps, in prime conditions trails before the snow arrives.
Using a selection of pumpkins for shuttle runs!
Tri club race and beers!
so this weekend I had a 6 miler and a 10 miler on the agenda.
Ran a “costume” 5k this weekend.
Just a few miles in prep for next weekend’s Indianapolis Monumental Marathon!
Threshold run Saturday and then some LSD on Sunday (in new shoes). Next weekend calls for a 10k race. See if I can beat last year…
Bike
Town forest run after 18 hours of meetings this weekend.
Just had a nice trail run in the Alps!
This weekend is a 10k training run. And, oh yeah, Go Bucks! :)
whatever my trainer has in store for me
Cycle outside if its nice, cycle inside if its not. Swimming inside no matter what the weather.
nothing for me unless you count moving furniture…..haha
Coming back from an injury, slowly but surely.
iron out the kinks on the project bike I’ve been working on
Running around Chicago getting prepped for the World Series.
Pre-wedding spin for by buddy’s wedding on Saturday.
Slowly starting up the routines for new training season.
This weekend we begin the Zwift indoor training season. But I’ll head out for a long ride on Sunday if the weather is nice.
Going hiking/trail running in the smokey mountains!
Running a half and 10k in Orlando!
Cross racing, lots of cross racing!!
Saturday will be ripping each others legs apart on the club group ride, with a coffee stop on the way back. Sunday will be into the hills for a training ride with the race team getting some winter miles in ahead of next season. Got to get some footage of that!
Chasing the last of the fall leaves and harvest dust. First by walking the dogs, then a couple of long gravel road rides.
Going for a GoPro-less ride. :)
A birthday mountain bike ride in Squamish
Dream about buying a new trainer so I can get actual power metrics to trainer road.
If the brain ricotta give me the all clear after my blood clot brain thing after my crash I’ll be going for the first outdoor ride of the autumn season. Failing that I’ll be Zwifting without going in threshold for either power or heart rate
Hoping The weather cooperates so I can go on a long Fall run.
Went for a hike to enjoy the fall colors. Also watched a bunch of other people excercise (Go Blue!)
On this weekends training diary is a 40 mile Autumn blast cycling around local forest tracks and then a more sedate 20 miles of family cycling with the wife and children to follow, all rounded off by a wholesome family lunch to reward us afterwards!
Orienteering is the name of the weekend!
Getting nutrition and meals lined up for a hectic month of November!
virtual training with wahoo and trainer road
running with my beloved huskies
As it gets colder outside, you just have to bicycle harder to keep warm.
It WAS Halloween prep!
Taking my daughter for a jog in the stroller. Wears my butt out and she gets a nap. Not quite a fair trade, but I’ll take it.
NYC Marathon. My first ever marathon. Shooting for 3:20.
Embrace the leaves on the ground – practice those handling skills … and the dark
Exploring new roads with mates to try a couple of Simon Warren’s 100 climbs: Zig Zag hill and Gold hill near Shaftesbury. It’s a fairly tough 192km route with 2,500m climbing but hopefully the autumn colours, sense of adventure, and the camaraderie will get us through!
Long run and a couple of hours on the trainer.
Hiking in to watch the Green Narrows Race (whitewater).
Rest… just resting
Ride 115 miles from Tucson to Chandler, AZ on Saturday and ride back to Tucson on Sunday. 230 miles round trip.
A 3 hour ride on relatively flat terrain.
8km kayak 20km MTB 5km trail fun triathlon
CX races in Washington
Snow covered Single track running : gotta get ready for Hawaii Xterra 1/2 marathon. Thanks for all you do, Ray!
start of marathon training, my first one after just a year of running hr zones and a quick(ish) 10k.
Running 5k + swimming 2k !
Just some easy running. recovering from a long race!
Train for the Monumental Half by running and running and running. Then carve a few pumpkins
Swim, run, cycling full gas!!!
On the docket? Spectating the NYC Marathon!!
I will run 16 k
Just finished 3.5h cycle session in the mountains…planning to do the same tomorrow…
Half marathon!
Hello and thank you….a17km volcano run in Auckland NZ
trail cycling
Long hiking trip around “Golfe du Morbihan” from saturday to thusday with an incredible weather for that period. Pleasure, pleasure, pleasure \ (*-*) /
Swimming and lots of relaxing.
Strength and conditioning phase started.
Trainerroad sweet spot base plan on my kickr, mixed up with a couple gym sessions in-between to get through the winter
Run, cake, wine, repeat!
Give it away Ray! Trying to outrun my father in law at the seaside tomorrow.
Short recovery run, to see how the knee is holding up
PT for the Army … :-(
Taking my first trip to Colorado. Hopefully, I’ll be renting a road bike and climbing those mountains. If not, it’ll just be some long hikes with a beautiful woman.
Out with the Saturday Cycling Club doing some hills apparently :/
Just home from a trip so an easy run then spending time with the family.
60k on the roadbike round leafy lanes of cheshire on Sat! winterise the bike Sun!
Some chilly weather cycling of course!
Recovering from last weeks HM PB
Spartan Beast in Dallas!
High temperature training in the heat of Cairo.
Long run and possible a lap swim.
Starting my off season training. A few hour bike rides and 45 min runs during the week and a longer run and ride on the weekend. Swimming is out until they start heating the pool.
swim bike run :)
Hex bar deadlifts, pullups, elevated pushups and a short interval cycling session. I’m getting after it!
Long run