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
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
Garmin Reviews
Garmin Instinct 2X Solar In-Depth Review: Bigger and Flashlight-Equipped!
Garmin’s new Instinct 2X aims to complete the threesome size lineup of the Instinct 2 series, offering now a small, medium, and large edition. However, most notably, it becomes the next series of watches to include the flashlight, which Garmin … Read More Here
Garmin Edge 840 Cycling GPS In-Depth Review
Garmin has just announced the new Edge 840, as well as Edge 540 units. And like last year, with the more expensive Edge 1040, both the 540 and 840 get Solar variants. However, the changes go far beyond just sunny-side-up … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 265/265S: The Complete Beginners Guide
Just a quick heads up for those that aren’t subscribed on YouTube, that I’ve just hit publish on my incredibly detailed hour-long user guide for the new Garmin Forerunner 265. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll leave no stone…err…menu option unturned … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 965: The Complete Beginners Guide
Just a quick heads up for those that aren’t subscribed on YouTube, that I’ve just hit publish on my incredibly detailed hour-long user guide for the new Garmin Forerunner 965. As always, this comprehensive guide thoroughly explores every feature of … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 265/265S In-Depth Review: AMOLED in Two Sizes!
The Forerunner 265 series watches have become Garmin’s lowest-priced AMOLED display endurance sports-focused watch, coming in at roughly half the price of the Garmin Epix series launched a year ago – but here with full multiband GNSS support on … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 965 In-Depth Review: Now with AMOLED Display!
Garmin has just announced two new watches – the Forerunner 965 (this review), and the Forerunner 265/265S (full review here!), both multisport watches and both equipped with swanky AMOLED displays. This nearly completes Garmin’s equipping of different watch lineups … Read More Here
Garmin Vivomove Trend In-Depth Review: First Garmin Wireless Charging Watch!
Garmin has just announced their first watch with wireless charging, the new Vivomove Trend. This analog-hand capable watch is the latest in the Vivomove series of watches that aim to avoid the smartwatch look, yet have all the smartwatch features … Read More Here
Garmin ECG Feature Is Now Live: Here’s how it works!
As of today, Garmin has released ECG functionality for the Venu 2 Plus watch, for users in the United States. This is Garmin’s first watch to have ECG, following both clinical trials, and subsequent FDA approval, which they were granted … Read More Here
Garmin Bounce LTE Kids Activity Tracker In-Depth Review
Garmin is continuing both their kids activity tracking product line, as well as their LTE adventures, in a new device that combines both of those: The Garmin Bounce. The Bounce is essentially a Vivofit Jr. kids activity tracker that’s been … Read More Here
Garmin Instinct Crossover Series In-Depth Review: It’s Got Hands!
The Garmin Instinct 2 apparently shacked up with a prettier colleague from the Vivomove series division, resulting in this new hand-laden Garmin Instinct edition, aptly called the Instinct Crossover. As with most Instinct things, whether or not it’s pretty is … 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
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
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
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
Garmin Enduro 2 GPS Watch In-Depth Review: Tested to the Limit!
When Garmin first announced the original Garmin Enduro about 1.5 years ago, it was met with mostly confusion. How could an ultra-running focused watch not have maps? Sure, it had amazing battery life, and even a nifty nylon strap. But … Read More Here
Garmin Edge Explore 2 In-Depth Review
This week at Eurobike 2022, Garmin announced the new Edge Explore 2, which is a product line that’s historically been targeted at bike touring and navigation/routing. That continues with the Edge Explore 2, though I think the reality is that … Read More Here
Garmin HRM-PRO Plus Heart Rate Strap In-Depth Review
Garmin has just released a slightly revamped version of their HRM-PRO chest strap, now the HRM-PRO Plus. Like most Garmin ‘Plus’-enabled things, this is a modest upgrade from their existing high-end chest strap, the HRM-PRO that came out two … Read More Here
Garmin Edge 1040 (with Solar) In-Depth Review
With Garmin’s introduction of the Edge 1040 Series they’ve become the first GPS bike computer to not only add solar panels to it, but also add multiband GNSS, dramatically increasing the accuracy of the GPS tracks – especially in tougher … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 955 Complete Beginners Guide & Features Overview
Just a super quick weekend note for those that don’t subscribe on YouTube, that I’ve posted my massive 50-minute-long user guide for the Forerunner 955 series. This guide covers virtually every feature of the Forerunner 955 from start to … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 255 In-Depth Review: Now A Full Multisport Watch
The Forerunner 255 is now a multisport triathlon watch. Sure, it’s also a running watch, but it can now swim/bike/run with the best of them, including featuring Garmin’s high-end multi-band/dual-frequency GPS chipset. This is the lowest priced watch we’ve … Read More Here
Garmin Forerunner 955 (with Solar) In-Depth Review
It’s been 3 years and 2 days since Garmin announced the Forerunner 945, and today, it’s finally properly refreshed with the Forerunner 955. Except, it’s actually two watches – the Forerunner 955 & the Forerunner 955 Solar. Today’s announcement marks … Read More Here
First Look at Garmin’s ECG Functionality, and Clinical Trials Details
Garmin has tipped their hand, demonstrating that one of their most recent watches actually has ECG hardware built inside, along with the foundations to utilize it. Read More Here
Garmin Instinct 2 vs Fenix 7: A Very Detailed Comparison
For this post, I’m going to dive into all the differences between the Fenix 7 and its mini-me, the Instinct 2. Comparisons have long been drawn between the two, and whether or not the Instinct was essentially a Fenix-lite. And … Read More Here
Garmin Instinct 2/2S/Solar In-Depth Review
Garmin has just revamped their Instinct series with the new Instinct 2 and smaller Instinct 2S, both offered in not just Solar, but approximately 87 other variants for things like surfing and military use. And while these units visually look … Read More Here
Garmin Venu 2 Plus vs Garmin Epix: A Very Detailed Comparison
This might sound like an oddly quirky comparison, but if the comments section the last week is any indication – there are far more folks than I would have thought who want to know the difference. Thus, when you ask, … Read More Here