Author Archives: Ray Maker

Suunto 9 Peak Pro First Look: A Turning Point?

Suunto has announced their new Suunto 9 Peak Pro multisport watch, which takes the existing Suunto 9 Peak, and makes it a bit more ‘Pro’ through a variety of hardware and software updates. One could argue it’s actually the biggest … Read More Here

Saris Cycling Group Acquired by C+A Global

Saris has announced they’ve been acquired by C+A Global, a company you’ve probably never heard of. As you may remember from earlier this past summer, Saris found itself in  court, and selected to sell itself as part of a fast-track … Read More Here

Google Pixel Watch In-Depth Review: A Promising Start

After many years of rumors, hints, acquisitions, and probably a few false starts – the Pixel watch is finally here. The end resultant is largely what you’d expect in a first-generation watch from a major company:  Something that appeals as … Read More Here

Amazon Early Access Sports Tech Deals Round-Up

As you may have heard, Amazon is running a so-called “Early Access Sale” with Black Friday-like sale prices on October 11th and 12th. I’ve rounded up the best sports technology-related sales, or just sales on things that I like/use a … Read More Here

Garmin MARQ Athlete (2nd Gen) In-Depth Review

It’s landed, the watch the 1% have been waiting for: The $1,900 Garmin MARQ Athlete, 2nd Gen edition. This watch builds upon the previous Garmin MARQ and CHRONOS lineups of fancier Fenix variants, but now switches over to the Garmin … Read More Here

Google’s Pixel Watch Hands-On: Here’s What You Need to Know

Today Google finally launched its long-awaited Pixel Watch. No wearable device has been rumored to “happen soon” as many years as the Pixel Watch. But this past spring Google confirmed it’d be coming this fall, and here we are. The … Read More Here

Fitbit Inspire 3 In-Depth Review

While the higher-end Fitbit Sense and Versa line get all the attention, the reality is the new Fitbit Inspire 3 is likely outperforming its $99 price point. The Inspire 3 is a substantial upgrade over years past, especially in the … Read More Here

Huge Garmin Fenix 7/Epix Beta Update Includes Wrist Based Running Power

Late last night Garmin released a substantial public beta program firmware update (which is technically an Alpha release within that program) to Fenix 7 & Epix units (and their subvariants including the Enduro 2), which adds 15 new features. These … Read More Here

Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM V2 (2022) Bike Computer In-Depth Review

Today Wahoo has announced their latest bike computer, the new Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM. Unofficially it’s the ROAM V2 or ROAM 2022 or ROAM 2nd Edition or whatever you want to call it – but no matter the name, it’s Wahoo’s … Read More Here

Zwift Hub Smart Trainer In-Depth Review: The Best Bang For Your Buck?

Today Zwift starts selling their first smart trainer, the Zwift Hub. Announced about a month ago, this ‘new’ smart trainer is essentially a repackaged JetBlack VOLT V2 trainer, but at a substantially lower price point than virtually every other direct … Read More Here

Garmin inReach Messenger Satellite Communicator: Hands-On Details

Garmin’s just announced a new model in their inReach satellite communicator lineup – the inReach Messenger ($299). And with it, also a new app called Messenger, which will soon work with a number of recent inReach devices. This new app … Read More Here

Dive Tidbits From Underwater Chamber Testing the Apple Watch Ultra

I hadn’t really planned on writing a separate post for the video shown above, where I put the Apple Watch Ultra in my underwater depth testing chamber. Mostly because my list of non-Apple things is growing right now, and there’s … Read More Here

I Tested All Three Apple Watch Ultra Band Types

 Since first trying on the new Apple Watch Ultra, I’ve been inundated with questions about which band to choose. While it may seem like there are many models of the Apple Watch Ultra, in reality, there’s only one hardware … Read More Here

Apple Watch Ultra In-Depth Review: It’s a Start!

The Apple Watch Ultra is Apple’s real first foray into a watch suited for endurance sports, and other sporty adventures. Sure, Apple’s WatchOS 9 update for many of their other watches, including the recent Apple Watch Series 8, has brought … Read More Here

GoPro Hero 11 Black vs iPhone 14 Pro: Action Mode Tested!

Over the past week I’ve been comparing the iPhone 14 Pro to the GoPro Hero 11 Black. At first glance that might sound like a quirky proposition, but in reality, it’s very real world. Even more so with adding a … Read More Here

Apple Watch Series 8 In-Depth Review

While all eyes last week were on the Apple Watch Ultra, the reality is that the Series 8 will sell the most units (by far), has almost every software feature of the Ultra, and includes the same slate of massive … Read More Here

GoPro Hero 11 Black In-Depth Review

Today GoPro announces not one, but two new action cameras. First, is the GoPro Hero 11 Black, which continues the same form factor as the existing Hero 10. As always, there’s a slate of new features including a wider digital … Read More Here

Wahoo KICKR Smart Trainer V6 (2022) In-Depth Review

 New indoor trainer/bike season is heating up again this week, with Wahoo announcing not just one, but two new devices today – the Wahoo KICKR V6 as well as the new Wahoo KICKR Bike V2. Both of these trainers … Read More Here

Apple Watch Ultra Hands-On: Everything you need to know!

Today, Apple has announced the biggest shift to their Apple Watch product lineup since launch, by announcing the new Apple Watch Ultra, which is targeted at the endurance athlete. This new watch has increased battery life, an added button, larger … Read More Here

Saris Announces New Upgraded H4 Smart Trainer

Today is apparently new-trainer day, with Saris joining in on announcing a new smart trainer, their H4. This new unit follows in the footsteps of the previous Hammer namesake trainers, most recently the Saris H3 from 2019. This new H4 … Read More Here

Zwift Hub $499 Smart Trainer Hands-On: A Competition Killer?

Update – October 3rd, 2022: The Zwift Hub has now started shipping, and with it, I’ve released my full Zwift Hub In-Depth Review. In that review, you’ll find my accuracy testing on the final firmware/hardware, as well as all the … Read More Here

Garmin Venu Sq 2 Complete Beginners Guide & Features Overview

Just a super quick note that I’ve posted a huge 36-minute-long user guide for the Venu Sq 2 & Sq 2 Music series. This guide covers virtually every feature of the Venu Sq 2 from start to finish, taking you … Read More Here

DJI Avata High Wind Tests

As is often the case with new drones, when the wind kicks it up a notch in the Netherlands, I head out to the pier to put it to the test. In this case, the newly released DJI Avata. This … Read More Here

Garmin Venu Sq 2 In-Depth Review

Garmin today has announced their latest Venu series watch, the Garmin Venu Sq 2, which is an update to the existing Garmin Venu Sq watch that came out two years ago. This new model essentially brings the hardware specs inline … Read More Here

Rouvy Adds New Strava Live Segment Racing Feature

Today, Rouvy has announced (and rolled out) the first of their new features for the upcoming winter riding season. This new functionality lets you compete in Strava Live Segments within routes on the platform, including showing virtual avatars for your … Read More Here