Diamond

I see many of my fellow commuters recommend a reflective vest. I haven’t had any luck finding a decent one. Are there recommendations for a good vest?

The issues I’ve had with them is either they are way too small only go halfway down my back. Amazon users had this comment for the Nathan cyclist vest (one reviewer commented it looked like a bra on him)

NathanVest..jpg
Or else they are very big (large enough typical overweight road worker directing traffic).

vest2..jpg

It would be nice if Pearl Izumi or other high end cycling vendor made a vest which was aerodynamic, fit well, and was highly reflective. I’d gladly pay $70 or more for such a vest.

Thanks for your input,

-Scott

Chalupa102

I own a Grip LED vest that i got from amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Grip-On-30282-...2154883&sr=8-2. I don't remember how much i paid for it at the time, but it wasn't expensive at all. I think it was definitely well worth it. I wear it every time i ride and it nice at night with the LEDs.

HardyWeinberg

I've been wondering about this lately myself. This one comes in S/M and L/XL (in addition 2XL/3XL and 4XL/5XL):



https://www.amazon.com/GloWear-8250Z-...155763&sr=1-13
https://www.amazon.com/Glowear-8250Z-...2155763&sr=1-1

biking-specific hi-viz vests I've seen tout their wind/water resistance, but I have a coat for that. All I want from a vest is hi-viz and reflective, if they can manage that with all-mesh then so much the better for my own needs.

zeppinger

There are some nice reflective vest/triangle options at https://www.rivbike.com/products/show...riangle/31-460

xtrajack

I also have the Grip lighted reflective vest. It is adjustable for sizing. It works for me.

Doohickie

Have you been to Home Depot and places like that?

pitchpole

I always see a bunch of work release guys wearing those things as they are biking to the day labor place. Just ride to your local prison camp and ask around.

Noobtastic

I didn't feel like ordering online so I paid $10.51 for a 3M fluorescent vest at Lowes. You can probably find some kind of vest in any hardware store. The 3M is a one size fits all with straps and plastic buckles on the side. There is no reflective material at the sides but it closes with velcro and is made out of perforated polyester .

ItsJustMe

I have this one from harbor freight:
https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94701
$5. Very reflective. I've had mine for a couple of years and they're still as good as new.
Here's a test I posted about this vest a while back:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-Freight-vests

no motor?

I've used an older version of this for a year or so and it was about $40 at Performance. https://illuminiteworkwear.thomasnet.com/product/men-s-cycling-jerseys-and-jackets-2/sunrise-vest-2?&plpver=10&bc=1199|1410|1416|1434

CliftonGK1

If you want something fitted and super reflective, check out an AmphiPod reflective harness. I wear one for my 24+ hour events as well as my commute. Super bright and very adjustable.
If you have to fit it over bulky clothing like a rain/winter jacket, then get a reflective sash with a waist belt. They'll hang a bit looser because they aren't elastic like the AmphiPod, but they're also super bright; especially if you get one of the plastic-ish reflective ones (like what most cheap ankle bands are made from) as opposed to the Scotchlite webbing belt-ish ones.

hopperja

I bought an AmphiPod vest, paid about $40 for it. I paid top-dollar for what I thought was the best reflective vest available. Within a year, the reflectivity of the vest was virtually gone. I sent it back and AmphiPod sent me a new one (for free). Within a year, same problem - reflectivity on the new one was virtually gone. Neither were ever washed.

Now, I don't ever use the AmphiPod because it doesn't work. I bought the $6 Harbor Freight vest a year ago and a year later it's as good as new.

Bottom line: save your money and buy a quality vest from Harbor Freight.

dedhed

I use a standard construction one from work. Medium for summer and XL for when I'm wearing other clothes. Light, cheap , effective

https://www.workinggear.com/gc/custom...55029&cat=1123

ItsJustMe

Is that reflective? It doesn't say it's reflective.

no motor?

Mine is, it's like a tweed pattern with one part of the tweed being reflective. Wearing it causes cars to give me more space when I ride, and people mention seeing me in it when I talk with them later.

zoodude

I personally use the nashbar one. not too much, but has nice elastic that holds it in place very well.
It has a nice color to it and it is extremely reflective.

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Produc...2_167907_-1___

JeremyZ

I got one off of ebay a couple years ago. The reflective material was sealed in a clear plastic, so it lasts, and it has a zipper for durability and a good fit instead of the velcro straps.

Aerostich.com used to carry a really nice one, but I can't find it now. It is the one that guards use in the US military. Has a couple pockets and is a bit more substantial construction than the ones shown here. I can't remember who makes it, for the life of me.

Edit: Here it is --> link

The video link is actually pretty good, since none of the pix show the back, which is what we're probably most interested in.

chandltp

I got this one about a year ago, and it works good. Not very aerodynamic, but I wanted cheap and visible.

DallasSoxFan

+1. They wash well, just don't machine dry them.

andrelam

If you need a vest to be seen, then be sure it is ANSI Class II rated. If it isn't rated then you have no idea how good it will be. The Harborfreight shirt is ANSI rated (at least I, but not certain if it gets to II). I have vest from https://www.alertshirt.com/noname1.html . The price is very reasonable (around $10), and they use top qualilty 3M tape. I've had my wife ride behind me in the dark and she tells me I light up like a christmas tree. I bought a vest (for cooler days) that has Illuminite fabric. When my wife road behind me, she could barely see me. I have also come up on some folks walking their dogs or joggin that were wearing orange vests with yellow tape. I nearly hit the person before I could see them. I've seen some of these useless shirts sell for around $20 at bikes stores and sporting goods stores. Clearly there is a huge difference in performance between various shirts, but the excellent ones don't have to cost a lot. I'll replace my alertshirt hest next winter. After 3 full years of use (I use it daily in the winter), the reflective material starts to loose a little of its shine. During the summer it only gets occasional use. The shirt is certified for something like 12 washes. I have a front loader which is gentle on laundry, but wash the vest no more than twice a year. For a rain coat I bought the following: https://www.alertshirt.com/newarrivals.html. I only get rained on a few times per month at the most so I can't justly the expense of a nice fancy rain coat with pit zips, etc. This one doesn't breath too good, but in the rain I have ANSI Class III rated visability. That makes me VERY visable, I don't mind sweating a little it if means I don't get run-over.

Like I said, you don't have to spend a lot on a top quality vest, just be sure it is ANSI Class II rated. Then you will know for certain that you will be seen.

Happy riding,
André

Giro

If you want maximum reflectivity, I believe the 3M Scotchlite glossy microprism reflective tape is more reflective than the iron-on material (including 3M's iron on material). You can often tell the difference looking at a vendor's picture of the vest but it is also called "gloss" in reflective vest descriptions.

I agree it is best to select an ANSI class 2 (no reflective material on sleeves) or class 3 (reflective material on sleeves) from a general industrial/construction vendor rather than one marketed to cyclists. The exception would be if you cycle a lot in a real aerodynamic tuck, in which case a good bicycling one will be longer in the rear, showing reflective material even when you are tucked down in the drops.

Mesh and a V-front are helpful for ventilation in hot weather.

The neon yellow/lime green color is more in favor than blaze orange. Apparently the yellow/lime green is more visible in low light conditions where the blaze orange fades into a fairly dark gray. This is plausibe since the retina in your eye senses light with color sensing cones and non color sensing but more light sensitive rods, so in low light your vision is essentially a black-white gray scale.

Occulux or OccuNomix is one good industrial/construction vest manufacturer (although the 2009 catalog cover is a little over-the-top):
OccuNomix 2009 cat.jpg
I prefer the front zipper style. Their "Two Toned Zipped LUX-SSLM2Z" comes in multiple sizes for a good fit, is
mesh, V-necked, zippered and uses the 3M gloss microprisim tape: