Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $449, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, 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.
Baked two cakes for mother in law’s 70th birthday. Now someone has to eat leftovers.
Cycle (while we still can…winter’s coming!)
We are speed walking a 5K both days!
Quick hike in the autumn woods and then raking leaves!
Taking our baby swimming for the third time. He loves it, triathlete in the making?
run & ride – indoor and/or outdoor.
I did an interval bike seasion, to add some fun to the autumn endurance rides.
Fartlek on Saturday plus 9km on Sunday
This weekend just a easy 10 milers.
3h MTB saturday morning Low and slow. Gorgeous Meal to recover correctly. Evening swim with speed sparks.
4h Long Road Group Ride with stop for coffee and breakfast. Food & Nap Recovery….. Easy Run.
Easy MTB workout and testing my new Stryd device :-)
2hr bike ride today and 90min run tomorrow! a new garmin would be awesome!
MTB ride in the Welsh hills trying to get the girlfriend hooked on it ?
I will be pushing my Tunturi E60 with Zwift around London and then have a beer.
Run, bike, eat, repeat!
My weekend plans for exercise are to visit the pyramids on Giza, because here on vacation :)
Cycle! Especially since the weather is perfect!
And then chase my toddler around (which is the real workout)
Plan for the weekend is a hard Zwift race plus some hiking for a cooldown.
In Vail for a long weekend, mountain biking, hiking and road biking.
Running virtual marathon on Sunday.
Great website. I love your reviews. Keep up the hard work!
Sat. Everton- Liverpool….YNWA
This weekend I will follow LiveStream of the first ever Big Dog’s World Backyard Championship and go running with the kid
TRAINERROAD Augusta workout today. Paired with chasing the Tron bike in Zwift.
Lots of rain in the forecast = Zwift and Netflix.
Pizza, Netflix and Alpe d` Zwift ?
Going to enjoy the nice Fall temperatures in Michigan and do a couple of easy 4-5 mile runs
Zwift this morning, and going to try a Sufferfest trial tomorrow. Too cold this weekend to go outside!
I’m off training due to illness for the last 4 months. But I’d love to be swim, bike, running all weekend! Maybe soon! DCR YouTube watching has been keeping me sane through this time. Cheers Ray, you do a great job!
It’s cold and rainy this weekend, and it’s my recovery week. Maybe I run a little this weekend and try to focus on more sleep.
supposed to trail run today, but IT band is acting up, and have a scheduled marathon next week, so just swam. Tomorrow is gravel ride.
Weekend workout plan: chasing after a 16 month old and hopefully some yoga :)
Recovery x 2 :P
This weekend i’ll be oiling my gears through lockdown…
Rainy afternoon training.
A chill foliage ride with a friend.
I rode 10k with my kid, then we spent two hours in the pool, tomorrow another 10k with the kiddo. Quality time!
Planned ride to Holly Hill scrubbed due weather, jumping on trainer with trainerroad while catching up on Giro
Mountain biking. On a mountain. On a bike.
Linchpin Athletics workouts all this weekend (to catch up on what I missed during the week). Today 20 minute AMRAP of Clean & Jerk, Pull Ups, Push Ups and Air Squats. Tomorrow a medium distance run for time (total distance in 20 minutes)
10 mile run Saturday and 13 miles on Sunday ??
1:10 on Saturday easy run, 2:30 on Sunday easy ride. And a short ride to the bakery to get bread :)
My weekend workout plans include the Zwift Academy Road Race #1. And then raking leaves before snow hits!
Zwift since its cold and rainy Outsider!
Swim today, short brick tomorrow ahead of indoor IM next week :-)
Try to begin the season, start with small warming up rides.
Walks and a light run after solo-Ironman last weekend as part of Ironman VR27.
15 mile ride today and 25 mile ride tomorrow in the DC sunshine.
Sat: 35min run, Sun: 60min run
Gravel ride on Saturday morning, watch the European cup rugby final in the afternoon. Short spin around watopia on Sunday and chill with the kids!
10k, then hopefully the Dodgers tying it up,
!
Running after my toddler… and maybe a proper run while he naps. :)
My weekend workout plans are watching/reading dcrainmaker.com from my couch and eating Spam sandwiches.
Yes recovery is it right now. Freshly upgraded from D to C in Zwift I have tried too hard lately. Still kept my weekly goal this week, only slower. Thanks for your work ?
Rest day today, 60 mile ride tomorrow
Road cycling today if the weather is good, if not on the trainer… on the trainer tomorrow.
Hoping for a couple of rides.
let’s just go and kick it
Antelope +2 on TrainerRoad!
Peloton rides both days.
Going for a brisk 6-miler…I’m 0.1 mile away from 1,000 miles for 2020, which is a lot for me!
I will drink wine after my HM race ?
Hi there, this weekend is all about recovery. Est, drink, sleep and a very gentle run on Sunday.
Ride the local mountain and on Sunday 15 km run and ride again.
Recovery on Saturday. Early morning ride on Sunday.
Cycle today, cycle tomorrow
Looking forward to a getting a long endurance ride in, got a few route options to consider!
Rest today, go for a trot tomorrow!
Run today as part of a virtual JOGLE. Weights tomorrow
Cycling on Saturday and running on Sunday.
If the pool was open I would go there as well. Too bad it isn’t.
I cross my fingers to have a rather unusual workout this weekend. I really want to sell my BH Fitness exercise bike that I bough couple of years ago before buying the real bike this year. That would be a workout for my back, given that I live on the 4th floor without elevator. Old houses in Poland are worth that old houses in The Netherlands, as we don’t have those characteristic hooks. We don’t have elevators either. One more thing, I’ll do my best to configure the Garmin vivoactive 4 smartwatch that I got myself instead of my old Apple Watch Series 0 (oh yeah, the original one) that I bough in NYC exactly 5 years ago. Time flies, no updates for my Apple Watch anymore. Although it’s display is much better, it’s health-related feature are much worse. That would be a workout for my brain. Mr Ray, does it count as a giveaway comment? :)
Training for a virtual marathon
Ride 15kg steel horse on Elite Drivo on Sunday hopefully ??
Power into today’s brutal headwinds for about 35 miles, then pray the winds don’t change direction on the way back.
Just some usual activities, like bike commuting to work and some running on Sunday. Weekend running is a must even in pandemic season.
Sat: 3 hours road bike
Sun: 1:30 hours running
Watching the tour of Flanders while doing a hard trainer workout
Two or three Zwift sessions. Endurance with occasional 1-3 minute VO2max efforts.
I’ll be lucky if I’ll be able to catch some swift (academy) workout and maybe run around the house (as we’re in lockdown due to COVID-19 2nd wave).
My kids will probably not allow this to happen, but I can still wish for it :)
10km run Saturday morning followed by a 6 pack in the afternoon!
Spending some time on trainer road Saturday. Sunday morning, waking up early for a short drive to incline village (Lake Tahoe) to shuttle some downhill single track, then check out the incline bike park. Shout out to T’s rotisserie where I’ll be lunching on the best roasted chicken burrito around! Fun weekend plans!
zwift academy
Doing an 18-mile progressive/building long run, fingers crossed that RNG picks me!
Getting ready for a trip to go mountain biking in Prescott AZ.
Definitely Netflix! Haha
Hoping to use the running stroller with my son before it gets too cold again!
Hamilton peloton ride!
Cycle today, recovery tomorrow! New to Cashmere WA area and discovering new fun routes.
Gravel ride on farm roads.
Sat- easy 4-5 mile runin the afternoon. Sunday a nice bike ride spinning a 68″ gear for 25+ miles, then yardwork
Doing the run leg of the AZ70.3 this weekend in Tempe!
A couple rides, but breakfast first!
Nothing but walking this weekend. Still getting over shoulder surgery.
I will cut a timber :-). And some caving.
Installing a new fence.
Going out for a run and bike ride with bruised ribs.
Weekend workout: mostly school work :(
A nice long outdoor ride with some friends.
Run with the dogs along the bay
A treadmill run/walk.
Ride,Eat,Sleep Repeat!
Continuing the indoor workouts with a Zwift bike and treadmill run.
Row Saturday morning, gravel bike Saturday afternoon, recover Sunday.
Ride through the mud or sand with my cyclocrosser.
Already had a great half marathon run and planning to do a hike tomorrow as the weather is going to be okay. So happy we’re still allowed to do sport in these crazy times.
Today will be recovery. I’ll be riding tomorrow. A buddy is coming to town and we’ll hit the hills for a lot of climbing. Looks to be a hot one
Either a 30 minute recovery spin or a cruise through fall leaves here in Washington DC!
Weekend long run!
I’m on a Peloton kick since covid hit, so I’ll be doing some peloton rides and yoga classes!
Ride my bike
My plans are just is just a short run and mainly recover with a day of yard work
Well to be honest, I have had too many Netflix weekends. While this will be a Netflix weekend, I will be thinking about my running plans for next week.
Enjoying soms time off running and cycling on the Veluwe
Walk today, Bike ride in the morning followed by a bit of DIY which I’ve been putting off for too long.
Taking the ankle biters to the park. Maybe get a run.
Had a great 18km hike today in Connemara, ireland with 1600m D+/-
Maybe a recovery day or indoor rowing today. Some sort of ride tomorrow. Transitioning to winter training
Do some lawn work and prepare the pool for winter… it’s coming !
5 mi run today, 2 hr gravel bike tomorrow!
Yard work – I wonder if there is a Garmin watch app for that so I can count the TSS…
Alpe du Zwift and Netflix, hopefully I’ll get the wheels this time!
A hangboarding session and a ring workout. Maybe a Sunday hike as well. But mostly a Netflix/recovery weekend.
Yard work, Cycling, and getting ready for cold weather.
Had a hard week so the plan is recovery. But first I need to change to winter tyres on my car.
Saturday cycling
Sunday cycling
Cycling on Saturday, running on Sunday
Cycling today, ben & jerry’s tomorrow
Getting well from the sickness
Garage sale. Then hopefully a long, soul cleansing bike ride 25-35 miles.
50 mile bike ride and 6 mile run
I’m going to ride my MTB and explore a new trail system this weekend. Hopefully session technical singletrack a few times to get skills practice in!
I plan on doing a nice long jog with some speed work cause I skipped out yesterday haha. And mtb
Bike ride with the 2 year old. Maybe stretch to almost a whole kilometre if he’s feeling it!
Ride about 1/2 as far as I dare, then turn around and go back home.
I’m gonna work on my napping
Short ride on my new Stages bike Saturday followed by road ride on Sunday, unfortunately in the rain.
Half marathon national championship (Switzerland). First (and potentially last?) race of the year.
Beach day with the dog and a ride up Mount Tam on Sunday!
netflix and piggy back rides! maybe a bit of mobility :)
Indoor cycling on the smart trainer Saturday and Sunday. Some outside walking
Backcountry sucks as a company. I’m pretty disappointed to see you associate with them.
Recovering after running local mountain running challenge on Thursday. My body is still so sore!
5x1k repeats on Saturday then an 11 mile long run Sunday
Some zwifting on sunday evening.
Zwifting and some Netflix, 20/80
Will also do some weightlifting
A nice fall run in through crunchy leaves tonight and a short recovery run in the morning. Fall running is the best!
Plan is to nap, go for a basic run, and an amazing dinner.
Attempting to get back to running after a longer-than-expected busy period of working.
Recovering from bursitis! icing the knee while sitting on the couch
Just transferred the track for tomorrow’s hike to the old Fenix 3HR….great piece of kit, but beginning to show its age.
3 hours in Lancashire
Ride on Zwift for the first time since March.
Hike at Larrabee State Park!
Go to the bouldering gym and stretch.
Run, rest and repeat..
Plan to do indoor biking on Zwift
Running after the kids
Clean the house and relax with family and maybe a 100 km MTB ride
Have to replace the TT bar for next year – so this would help with that :D
Zwift London Saturday and Sunday!
Recovery, Recovery, Recovery!
Rode the bike on the Wahoo Kickr and did a race and recovery ride. Tomorrow im doing a rowing workout called Everest. 250,500,750,1000,1500 and then 2000m with 30 sec rest between each.
Running with children this Sunday. 3k will be enough.
Taper time for a marathon. Easy 12 miles Saturday in Long Beach followed by a 4 mile run in Sacramento Sunday morning.
Maybe a cross race
Go check out a ring for my spouse, make some pizza al taglio & test drive a hybrid.
Starting my winter training early with an ftp test on the trainer this Saturday.
Well, I need to buy a GoPro Hero 9 and was visiting your site to read your feedback on it, and boom ? I’m jumping on this backcountry.com giveaway, where I recently purchased some bib shorts for tomorrow’s Sunday Gravel Ride.
Some quality time on the trainer while the ice thaws outside. And maybe a run with the lil guy too – gadgets seem to distract him from how far he has to run :D
Fat biking in the snow, because it’s mid October and we’ve got 3 inches of snow on the ground in Minnesota.
Trainerroad’s North Guard on Saturday and 2h of tempo work on Sunday
I am going to ride zwift
Saturday – 10 mile run in local park. Sunday – probably 1-1.5 hour zwift ride.
Run with friends Sunday
Saturday I do a run of 25km and sunday I’ll take out my mtb for a spin in Schoorl after a nice cold beer with my feet up ;-)
Supporting sons football team, riding then golf – happy days
Still hobbling back to regular run training from a long recovery process…
Continuing my imperfect quest thru #rundestober
Just a quick ride in the mountains.
Plans are to lift this weekend, run and rest.
I took the bakfiets for a spin, hauling my 2 kids to best bakery around
A road ride and mtb ride in mountains
Just a quick ride/run in the mountains. Pools are closed, unfortunately…
Taking the ok’ fixie out for a spin with the boys
Hopefully a group ride on Zwift.
Hiking and swimming in Madeira ? Such a lovely place!
Got the long journey home from my wedding in Scotland.
Running and strength training! Thanks and congrats on the new partnerships.
Woot! Weekend of slow twitch running at 6.5 mph for 10 miles then a nice 2 hour slow ride – ALL while watching Netflix, or Hulu, Disney+, HBOMax, Youtube,…
Weight work out, pull day followed by easy trail run, then mtn. bike ride tomorrow followed by weight work out push day. Also, try and get in lots of calories and sleep.
Letting my knee recover a bit after pushing myself too much the other day…
An hour run around Boston on Saturday followed by some functional training in the apartment gym! Thanks – congrats on the partnership with Competitive Cyclist.
Hiking, sightseeing and relaxing ?
Outdoor Ride in the brisk Autumn air.
Anyone else when putting their facemask on imagine themselves as Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) in The Mask?
Not much training this weekend.. well.. training the stomach as me and little ones have been baking ?
My weekend workout plan starts with an update session – my headphones, e-reader and watch want to be updated (likely happening during a netflix session).
Since currently a lot of work is need to be done, I have just a shorter run planned outside and a longer indoor trainer session on sunday morning.
It is really cold outside here in Austria, currently below 5 degrees celsius and raining the whole day. But I won’t skip the outdoor run!
Watching the Giro on my Elite mag rollers (from Competitive Cyclist!)
Just finished up our local bike associations socially distant 66 mile gravel ride. Woof!
This weekend it’s recovery with two short runs!
I’ll be taking my new bike out for a ride! ?