High Viz jackets, vests, harnesses etc...

[cicatrez]

Want to find out if anyone here has any recommendations what which reflective clothing is nice to get for wearing when riding out. I want to get a high viz belt (see picture below). As it doesn't take up as much space as a vest. it's also something I can keep in my bag for when I come outside and find that its night time or very low light. Also, because of its smaller size if it were raining I could just stuff it in a side compartment in my bag and it wouldn't have much water on it to soak everywhere else compared to a vest.

https://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd33/cicatrezz/be7dd38d.jpg
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'02 Honda City Fly

[Itchy]

Get orange or pink , yellow is so incredible common I believe that it is ignored or filtered out of the mind of people in the road..

ie cops, parking attendants, builders , road maintenance , cyclists and other bikers all have yellow vests..

AFAIK only posties have orange ones ,

and I've never seen a pink one.
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[cicatrez]

I'd like to buy an orange one, I prefer it over the yellow as I agree, it's too common. I found an orange X in square harness that was going for £5 with free postage on ebay, but it's no longer on there anymore.
I don't really want to get a vest though.. even more common!
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'02 Honda City Fly

[neil.]

I have an orange vest but it gets waterlogged when it's wet so I don't like it for that reason. The upside is that it's the best thing to make you visible in dawn/dusk type light. I also use a white/silvery coloured H style belt which I think looks pretty good but I find the shoulder straps slip a bit when I'm doing 60 down the dual carriageways. It goes better with my black bike, black/grey textiles and white helmet, which brings me on to my next suggestion nicely - a white helmet! It's the first thing people will see when you emerge from coming up a hill/hump back bridge etc.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[b-f-c]

[cicatrez]

I would have liked to have had a white helmet when I was buying mine. But they never had any in stock that was within my budget. When I look for my next helmet in about a years time I'll start looking to see which ones I can get etc..

But as said, yeah, I would like an orange one, or even another reflective colour (anything else looks more striking and unusual then common yellow).

I anyone does have any orange (or other colour) high vis harnesses please do post and tell me where you got them!
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'02 Honda City Fly

[LeeR]

I think you're right to go for the belt rather than the waistcoat, the belt provides more of a contrast against dark clothing than the waistcoat.

Also the waistcoats have become so common place that the human eye no longer registers them, "everyone wears one" so there's no reason to look for them.

You can pick up the belt type in Halfords cycle dept, I have one for when I ride my bicycle, because as you point out it packs up small, it also came with wrist bands so your hand signals are "visible" after dark.

I ride the bike wearing an Urban-Glow vest, they're not cheap but are robust, and like a belt offer a contrast.

Though as anyone will tell you these things are no substitute for forward planning, observation, and good road position, though they might help in the smallest percentage of situations.
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[cicatrez]

[LeeR]

Yeah I know, hand-made in GB though with all materials and labour sourced locally.

I bought mine at the BikeSafe show in Cheltenham 2 years ago for the "special" show price of £40 which made it more palatable. They do visit shows so maybe that's the time to buy one if you want one.

It is a very good item though, the mesh webbing it's made of is very robust and it doesn't get saturated in the rain. The reflective strips are still effective after two years, and it's got loads of pockets, clips, and velcro for carrying/securing small items which has proved useful on more than one occasion. As they say you could use it for running, cycling, or biking etc... so I suppose you could add versatile to the list.

But, I'll admit it is a lot to pay for a Hi-viz vest.

Here's me in mine side on:
https://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc162/lrogers_album/Llanuwchllyn/navigation.jpg
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[stinkwheel]

In the dark the colour of the vest makes not a jot of difference. For darkness, it is the reflective material that makes the difference, the high viz colour is only effective during daylight.

The belt in that picture appears to be somewhat reflective but in my experience, the reflective material of choice is genuine 3M Scotchlite. Check this is what is being used on whatever you buy.

I've got a zip-up vest with an humeurous slogan on the back in reflective pink backed scotchlite lettering. You can have anything you want printed on them.
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[cicatrez]

Cool, looks good. The london bike show at ExCeL will be at the end of this month. I'm gona be going to that, so hopefully I will see something there that's on special offer. I don't like the normal High Vis vests.. they make you look like a n00b rider lol. Also some of the very cheap ones don't seem reflective at all, they just use grey tape on it, with no reflective properties at all!
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'02 Honda City Fly

[stinkwheel]

[LeeR]

I've got the Urban-Glow TourStar vest and yes it uses Scotchlite 3M reflective material.

Sadly it doesn't look like they're going to ExCel (Exhibitors Q-Z) if you're really interested in one maybe you could e-mail them, address it to Steve as he is the main man, he did me the deal on the price.
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[daemonoid]

I got one of these the other day. A bit overkill i know but I was amazed at the difference it made. The number of people who pulled over to help me filter was impressive. Even better with it over my leathers i finally felt warm!
https://www.vizwear.co.uk/detail.php?p=46&c=0.1&subc=2

Definitely recommend for the commute during the short days, once the weather gets better though I'll rely on the bright red bike instead.
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[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

for viz-belts for the prices of them

I like most sensible people wear a hi-viz belt during nightimes, but if you look on this forum you'll hear lots of people saying they don't make any difference
Used a vest on m/way routes and as a car driver they're easier to see in the rear view/mirrors than without, eyes get drawn to bright objects.

Pat

PS did drop a bollock when i got some of those LEDS that fit on the tyre valves..DOH !
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[iooi]

Vest £2.50 of the local market with the reflective strips on.

At that price it was worth a pop to see if it helps.

Only time anything like this will help is when you are laid in the road off the bike.
To get round the SMIDY you need more refective stuff to the front, but as it only works when light is aimed at it, its not much use for someone out of a side road etc.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[neatbik]

I havent got a vest, but im thinking of getting the one Lee has reccomended. Ive seen his and it looks very good quality.
On a side note my Shark helmet has scotchlite 3m stickers on it. When car headlights hit it at night it really shines.

[cicatrez]

Interesting.
I'm not too fussed about the day time really. Just want the belt as is compact. Still can't find anywhere that does it in orange!
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'02 Honda City Fly

[t101]

you can buy self adhesive strips of scotchlite... only cost a few quid and are good for helmets, etc

[cicatrez]

I did think about that. heck, I was on the train today and was thinking about if i had another bike jacket, and doing a chequred or wavy pattern using that tape. all over the jacket
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'02 Honda City Fly

[cicatrez]

Although abit costly, there is this as an option.. it fits on bike helmets too..

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Respro_Hi-Viz_Helmet_Band/5360013399/
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'02 Honda City Fly

[keggyhander]

[The Original Muzza]

[LeeR]

Just been browsing and there are a few jackets that come with day-glo/flourescent materials as part of their construction:

Hein Gericke Shelltex DayLight @ £180

or

Teknic Freeway @ £245

and if you have money to burn

Rukka Armax @ £900


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[Poseidon]

I'm not so sure how good Hi-Vis vests are, we're all issued them at work and have to wear them at all times in the depot. Despite the fact I always have mine on, I'm frequently driven at by the buses! (although that could say more about what my colleagues think of me than the effectiveness of the vest)
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