[Closed] High Visibility* Jacket

In the "dark dark", nothing lights up in headlights like Proviz (other brands are available) BUT they are as sweaty as a sweaty thing, so I only havevthe gilet. Sizing is generous as well.

I also have the Proviz overshoes and gloves. Combined with two lights front and rear, I've had no problems with close passes or people not seeing me

Thank you.

Is that one of the silver ones?

Do they not breath at all!

I just got a Sugoi Zap from SportPursuit (sorry, need an account to browse)
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/2219980
Really nice quality. I've had a similar Sugoi before and know they nice and breathable.
Not bad price - £50

I've always found Altura's Night vision stuff to be good on not too expensive, although range seems less technically oriented these days.

I have an older version of that long sleeve jersey they have for £30 and its 5yo and very good, light fleece lined, plus their version of a transformer jacket.

Might be worth finding out what todays equivalents are.

I have a sugoi zap too.
Week actually have one for riding, one for running and some waterproof riding trousers too. They are all ridiculously bright and breath well

Rapha’s lightweight commuter jacket comes in hi-viz pink if you want to stand out. Plenty of reflective detailing.

"I'm Sugoi Zap-acus"

(I'd say size up one)

I've used my Boardman "proviz" jacket a lot in gillet form this winter on commutes, it's great for visibility, don't think they do them any more though.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLCAPRKRTC/carnac-parky-reflective-toe-cover are great for visibility from front and side, they were ~£4 the other day! 😆

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLCACHG/carnac-reflective-waterproof-crab-hand-winter-gloves are good for extra visibility too.

There are a few options on Startfitness. The Sportful one looks jolly bright
https://startfitness.co.uk/products/sportful-reflex-mens-cycling-jacket-white?variant=39842566013136

some of the reflective silver(?) ones look great and a little less garish

for me the shortcoming of the 'less garish' retroreflective stuff is its very visible in the conditions when its easiest to be seen anyway - in the dark. They're most visible If its dark but they're only going to be visible once you're within the beam of someone headlights because the reflect back towards the lightsource -  but presuming  you've got your lights on  you're visible before then anyway.

Pretty much all cycling gear has enough retrorefrective bits on to be visible in those circumstance - some is enough, lots of it - a whole jacket worth- is novel, But isn't really better

They're also only really usefully viable in those specific circumstances - ie in the dark from behind once a car is close enough to illuminate you. As riders we feel more vulnerable to cars behind because we can hear the approach but can't see - naturally that makes us anxious. But actually a lot of accidents arise from going over the bonnet of  cars pulling out in front of you without seeing you, rather than being mown down from behind as we fear. A retro reflective jacket isn't especially visible in those circumstances because the driver's lights aren't pointing at you

When those kinds of jacket are less useful in in poor light rather than low light. On a grey drizzly day they're grey against a grey road and a grey sky, and nobody has their headlights on and the reflective stuff is doing nothing of worth. They're also not very visible in the low dazzling sun we get at this time of year. What you need is to be a colour that can easily be picked out in those circumstances.

You don't need a council hi-viz yellow, you just need contrast with your surroundings - so 'a colour' - a nice bold colour -there are lots of extra bright option for cycling - novel dyes and fabrics - which are a bit better than 'a colour' but 'a colour' is very good. Not grey/silver car colours like most of the cars on the road you'll be amongst,, not grey sky colour,  not drab olive hedgerow colour- something thats not one of those colours but a colour you like.

Scott MTB windbreaker from Start Fitness, in salmon orange. £30. It's orange but isn't high-viz, so might suit your garish tolerance.

I have a reflective helmet from PX for this, works in all weathers, from all angles.

I have a couple of reflective gilets - made from a lightweight polyester mesh and reflective bits in the key areas. Stretchy, fits over anything and packs up tiny, stuffs in pocket great for overnight rides I’m summer. More visible are a pair of reflective bands around your ankles. A lot of the reflective jackets are fine for low pace commuting but are very sweaty for more intense cycling.