DC Rainmaker
I write about sports tech and endurance sports. I also put together some pretty detailed product reviews along the way...stop by the site to check it out. Once DC, then Paris, Amsterdam, and now Mallorca.
Http://www.dcrainmaker.com
- Komoot's just announced and rolled out a huge update that finally allows for offline mapping and navigation on their Apple Watch app. No connectivity or phone is required once the route is synced. And critically: No subscription! Dive in for the details: www.dcrainmaker.com/2026/01/komo...
- This is a tiny battery pack with a built-in charging port just for Garmin watches. I’ve been testing it for a while now, trying to figure out if it’s worth it, and who it’s for. Dive in for the full review: www.dcrainmaker.com/2026/01/garm...
- Notable to see Zwift promoting various celeb rides today. This is historically the day each year when (naturally) Zwift hits its annual peak concurrent users. Been a while since a new peak. Will see if celeb rides make a difference this year. Some backstory: www.dcrainmaker.com/2024/01/zwif...
- Strava just launched its new 'Instant Workout' feature, which is designed to serve up both new personalized workouts for you each week, as well as a custom route to go with it. The question is, does it actually work? I dig into it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=74FA...
- Time to enable indoor cycling geekery mode! There's a new $3 app (one-time!) that lets you link your smart trainer/power meter to Philips Hue smarthome lights super easily. I dive into how it works, with any app including Zwift. Enjoy! www.dcrainmaker.com/2026/01/phil...
- Suunto's just dropped a very solid list of firmware updates for almost all of their recent watches. I dive into all the new features, as well as much-appreciated "performance improvements": www.dcrainmaker.com/2026/01/suun...
- Garmin adds nutrition/food logging into Garmin Connect+, including scanning of foods and barcodes, plus macros and plenty more. I dive into how it actually works, and whether it's worth it. Dig in: www.dcrainmaker.com/2026/01/garm...
- Tech Tidbits: Apple Fitness+ expanded content, a multi-year Apple Watch study, and the new Amazfit Active Max Hands-On. I take a quick look at these announcements with the key bits you need to know, Dive in! www.dcrainmaker.com/2026/01/tidb...
- Unexpected: The Garmin Edge 850 that just came out this past fall is $108 off today. I suspect this is an Uncle Amazon pricing thing, which means it'll likely only last a few hours. But hey, this unit hasn't been on sale otherwise... amzn.to/3YVRSUY (Amazon Affiliate link).
- Just as a quick heads-up/reminder, many of the sports best tech deals still exist for another day or two. The Garmin Fenix 8 at $749 ($250 off), for example. And in fact, the Apple Watch Series 11 dropped to $299 over the weekend. Full list: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/11/blac...
- It's that time of year again! The annual 'Getting the Christmas Tree home by Bike' post, where we (attempt) to get not just the tree home, but all three kids in there as well. Enjoy! www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/12/chri...
- Big Garmin Public Beta Update Adds 25 New Features to 2025 Watches. From new sports scores widgets, to a new battery burn widget, to added sleep features, and tons more. Dive in: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F-_...
- DJI has just dropped a massive update for the Action 6. Sure, it adds 8K support (out of nowhere), but *FAR* more interesting is that it adds upload of footage to Google Drive, OneDrive, or any NAS unit you have (no subscription required!). How it works: www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7pa...
- DJI NEO 2 vs HoverAir X1 Pro Max: Skiing Mode Test & Comparison! Here's everything you need to know about how these two units compare while doing automatic skier following/tracking, including so...many...crashes. Jump in: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WASK...
- DJI NEO 2 vs HoverAir X1 Pro Max: Skiing Mode Test & Comparison! Here's everything you need to know about how these two units compare while doing automatic skier following/tracking, including so...many...crashes. Jump in: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WASK...
- Very solid deal just popped up on Garmin Edge 840 for $249 (almost 50% off!). This is probably the best cycling tech deal this holiday season! Might be a mistake, but either way, live now: alnk.to/6bY1WoZ
- Many of you have asked for thoughts on some products that I've been testing, but haven't finished reviews on. Thus, here's a huge list of products, and an even bigger list of thoughts (good, bad, and ugly). Dive in: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/12/back...
- Many of you have asked for thoughts on some products that I've been testing, but haven't finished reviews on. Thus, here's a huge list of products, and an even bigger list of thoughts (good, bad, and ugly). Dive in: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/12/back...
- Garmin adds support for multiple inReach devices on the same account (notable for Fenix 8 Pro users in particular). Plus, some updates around LiveTrack, custom LiveTrack URL's, and more: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/12/inre...
- Just a heads up that a number of the best deals will end tonight. Notably, things like the Wahoo KICKR deals, the Garmin Forerunner 570/970/Venu 4 deals, and more. Full current list below (and a few new/better deals): www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/11/blac...
- DJI NEO 2 Active Track Ultimate Follow-Me Test: The Gauntlet! From tight tree environments to high-speed tracking, and plenty more - pushing the limits of what the DJI NEO 2 can actually follow: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC6X...
- Here's your constantly updated Black Friday deals list with some 150 sports tech deals, including a boatload of new ones today. Watches, bike tech, action cams, drones, and plenty more: www.dcrainmaker.com/deals
- One of the best deals of Black Friday, the Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 is down to $399/399EUR, in either Zwift Cog/Click or 11sp cassette version. Full details/thoughts: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/11/hot-...
- Here's your massive sports tech Black Friday deals list, with more than 100 deals already, and plenty more being added constantly. Garmin, Apple, GoPro, DJI, Samsung, Wahoo, Polar, Suunto, Whoop, Oura, Insta360, and more: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/11/blac...
- DJI NEO 2 High-Wind Test over the ocean! Plus, a bit of an ActiveTrack test into the winds while cycling downhill. Oh, and plenty more flying and tracking goodness. Dive in! www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP8n...
- Garmin Fenix 7 Pro (w/flashlight, ECG, etc...) has dropped even lower, down to $439USD, which is nuts (geni.us/tMqhut). And the AMOLED display variant, the Epix Pro is $455: geni.us/rAidf Functionally speaking, impossible to beat at this price. (Amazon Links)
- Here's your complete list of the best action cam & drones deals! This includes GoPro, DJI, and Insta360. I cover which deals to get, which ones to skip, and everything you need to know (especially for US folks looking at DJI products): www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/11/best...
- Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 In-Depth Review is out! After two months of riding, across multiple riders, multiple units, and multiple apps, I dive into what works, and what doesn't, on Wahoo's newest smart trainer: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/11/waho...
- It's up! After two months of usage, my super-detailed Apple Watch Ultra 3 In-Depth Review is out. From a deep look at the satellite pieces, to Workout Buddy, the new Sleep Score and more: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/11/appl...
- It's out! The complete list of Garmin deals for the 2025 holidays. The Fenix 8 at $250 off, the Forerunner's on sale, inReach Mini 2 is down to $249, and tons more deals. Here's my full analysis of what to buy, what to know, and what to skip: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/11/garm...
- Garmin News Tidbits: Peloton Integration, Earnings Miss, Sleep Mode Controversy, MicroLED interview, and plenty more: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/11/garm...
- For the first time ever, an AI support chatbot didn't suck. In fact, it was astonishingly good. Here's a super-quick story of my failed Oura ring, and some impressive support tech: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/11/bogg...
- Zwift just got a big expansion of new pavement in New York City, including a new Power Segments feature, F-Zero-style escalators, and more! I gave it a few rides, here are my thoughts: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/10/zwif...
- Strava just "voluntarily dismissed" its huge lawsuit against Garmin for patent infringement. The question is, why, and what happens next? www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/10/stra...
- It's up! The Oakley-Meta Vanguard In-Depth Review, which are smart glasses (with a 3K camera) that integrate with Garmin, Strava, and more. And critically, after a decade+ of trying crappy smart glasses, these are really effing good. Everything you need to know! www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/10/oakl...
- Pixel Watch 4 In-Depth Review! After boatloads of runs, rides, swims, and more, here's everything you need to know about Google's latest watch. The awesome, the good, and a wee bit of unexpected ugly. Dive in: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/10/pixe...
- Pixel Watch 4 In-Depth Review! After boatloads of runs, rides, swims, and more, here's everything you need to know about Google's latest watch. The awesome, the good, and a wee bit of unexpected ugly. Dive in: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/10/pixe...
- COROS APEX 4 is out! Here's your full in-depth review, covering everything from the battery life to the depth gauge, and more! Written review also up shortly on site: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8L4...
- Here's your complete 360 Action Cam Comparison. It's the GoPro Max 2 vs Insta360 X5 vs DJI OSMO 360, compared in over 40 different features/categories with tons of real-world usage. And cannonballs, obviously. Dive in! www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdJO...
- All of these are still live, and a few new ones - including the Epix Pro for just $499, the lowest price we've ever seen (and this one supports ECG too). Super solid deal: amzn.to/46XQdlI (Amazon Affiliate link)
- Here are all the best sports tech deals on Amazon for Amazon Prime Day. Worth a quick look. Including the new Garmin Venu X1, KICKR CORE & KICKR V6, Suunto Run, and many more: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/10/amaz...
- Here are all the best sports tech deals on Amazon for Amazon Prime Day. Worth a quick look. Including the new Garmin Venu X1, KICKR CORE & KICKR V6, Suunto Run, and many more: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/10/amaz...
- Exclusive: Strava just sued Garmin, demanding the company stop selling all their fitness devices (watches and bike computers), due to infringing on a patent. I dive into what's being said, a whole lot of history, what it means, and much more: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/10/stra...
- Suunto Vertical 2 is here! It marks the end of new MIP-based display at Suunto. But also the first Suunto with a flashlight! Critically, Suunto claims no battery loss compared to Vertical 1...so, I put that to the test with a 15hr trek: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/09/suun...
- The GoPro Max 2 is out! It's been 6 years since the last version, and now this one drops in with a ton of new features and 8K. But how does it actually stack up? Dive in (literally this time): www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br6a...
- DJI's latest Mini-series drone may be good technically, but it's also breaking the law. I dive into this solid mess of a situation, and what it means to consumers, retailers, distributors, regulators, and DJI itself: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymp8...
- The AirPod Pro 3 is already on sale. Not a huge discount, but hey, leftover money for ice cream. These are the ones that did incredibly well in my heart rate accuracy testing: amzn.to/4mqxk0c (Amazon affiliate link)
- Garmin Lifestyle Logging & Health Status: These two just-launched features seem to be the final software puzzle pieces needed for a future direct showdown with Whoop. The question is, how do they compare to Whoop's features? I dig in: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/09/life...
- The Garmin Venu 4 series is out! And this one is definitely interesting. It's (by far) the biggest upgrade in features ever to the Venu series, but also, the biggest jump in price to the Venu series. Dig in for all the details: www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/09/garm...
