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.
Hi Ray,
Regarding the E-ink project. I love e-ink on my Kindle i love BW display on my Suuntos and Bolt, but e-ink is dead end for bike computer. The referenced display guarantees 1000000 refresh cycles, thats 278 hours of ride with 1 second refresh rate, if you go 30kmph, thats 8300 km and than you may replace the display. Thats the weak spot of this lovely technology. Unfortunatelly.
Cheers!
Hey Ray, any chance the fit files podcast with Gplama will start up again?
Frank’s got a great question! Ever gonna get the podcast back up and running?!
I think we’ll sort out something here eventually. It’s more of a logistical issue than anything.
Good to hear, I was worried that you and GPLama weren’t BFFs anymore
Hi Ray
Can you post the .fit file from a run with Coros Pace 2 + Stryd?
Ray –
What are you thoughts on SPD power meter pedals coming to market in 2021? Think many will ship and will they be relatively accurate?
Have a great holiday and stay safe!
Regarding #6 – it’s close to something I’ve been hunting for ages. I run without my phone 99% of time, and when I ride then I’ll have my phone, but zipped in a pocket. And yet there are loads of times I’d love to grab a quick snap for instagram or strava, but CBA to pull from pocket.
So a really light, fairly low resolution camera, waterproof, that I could clip on (think old Ipod nano) would be a definite purchase. Literally 20 years ago there was a UKP20 thing that was size and thickness of 2 stacked credit cards.
In other ‘back to the past’ technology then an FM radio for running. I’ve an old Sony MP3 with FM in it and some bose earbuds – when the bose finally break then I’m stuffed. All the wireless/bluetooth earbuds don’t have the cable to act as aerial.
Maybe a used, older GoPro? Or maybe a GoPro Session? Might be a little bigger than you are thinking but they are pretty cheap, relatively waterproof without a case, can take some abuse, and with the wide angle you don’t have to be too accurate with your aiming.
GoPro and a clip is too big/heavy bouncy. I do have one, and have used it for paddleboarding.
I’m after a sports version of link to getnarrative.com – simply press to take a snap, then ideally the photos upload via bluetooth app later, but even if I needed to plug into USB to download I’d be fine. Daft thing is this is really old tech – but somehow nothing has replaced it, or at least it’s been replaced by heavier, larger and with lower battery life devices.
Interestingly enough, an Apple patent surfaced yesterday for putting a camera below the screen of the watch itself. link to appleinsider.com
Of course, Apple files boatloads of patents a year for things that never come true. But would likely solve the problem better than something on the outside.
Bugger. They read my post and were darn quick to lodge it. ;-)
Right, I’m off down the patent office now to protect my next idea. I’m going to add a telephone to a camera. Whilst it may sound daft that you want to talk to someone not there whilst you are taking pictures, trust me, it’s going to change the world….
Maybe the Canon IVY REC can fit your needs? It looks like it can only be clipped hanging on to something in portrait orientation, but I think some kind of clip could be made and attached to get it straight. link to dpreview.com
The Bike Paper project could be a really good way of doing Garmin’s Extended Display, without the expense of using an over-spec’ed GPS unit as just a passive display.