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is there a cycling one available.
anyone know?
Fully reflective jackets, there’s loads available?
[pedant]Fully retroreflective jackets, there’s loads available?[/pedant]
What like pro Viz gear ?
trail_rat, cheers mate, that em.
Not cheap stuff but then it's not cheap crap either.
You can get a spray stuff to put on any jacket, it’s completely clear until you shine a light on it.
https://www.albedo100.co.uk/shop/
There’s bound to be others, that’s just one.
Also worth looking at Scotchlite tape. I covered my commuter in the black stuff, and really makes a difference to visibility.
I have a pro Viz gillet and it's a boil in the bag affair so don't wear it.
Anyone actually tried that spray on stuff? Heard mixed things
proviz is excellent for reflectivity but not high vis so not very visible in the light, plus isn't very breathable (so I've heard)
I recently bought a pro viz 360+ jacket for commuting duties. I have to say the cut isn’t the best and the material is a bit heavy but I’ve had quite a few compliments about how visible I am with it on.
My FWE from Evans has done two full winters of commuting duties and still looks good and the finish has held up well. Not the most breathable but fine for my 30 minute commute, wouldn't want to wear it for 3 hours
I just got a dare2be one from sportspursuit for about £40 - looks pretty decent on first impressions. Not sure they'restill on the site but might be worth a look.
2nd vote for black 3M Scotchlite tape - It got me 'told off' for being too bright, so now use less 😉
Why bother, if a driver doesn't want to see you.....
Lights, reflector bits and all that and a camera for afters.
That and land mines
I have a Proviz Reflect360 CRS in green - they do a few other colours including yellow and orange in the CRS models.
They are incredibly reflective in car headlights at night, and with the right colour in the CRS models (CRS = Colour Reflective System) can be decently HiVis during the day. The standard Proviz Reflect360 (without CRS) only comes in a dull grey as do competitors such as the ones from Evans, and while they have the super bright reflective qualities at night they really don't stand out during daylight. The dull grey seems to merge into the background imo.
Agree with what others have said in that the material feels quite heavy and they can get sweaty. While they have pit zips and a vent across the back they don't match the breathable qualities of Gore Tex or similar technical fabrics so things can get a bit uncomfortable when you sweat.
It's a compromise product and it depends on your priorities (and how much you tend to sweat). I use mine when it's quite cold, even though I could do with the night time reflective properties all year round. I rely on plenty of lights and other reflectives when I'm wearing less eye catching but more comfortable outer layers in other times of the year.
Proviz do a couple of cuts, the standard one which is a loose 'commuter' style and a more fitted 'Plus' cut. I've read a few reviews that are critical of both cuts. I would definitely advise trying for fit before buying.
Got a Sugoi Zap (Their fully retroreflective jacket) a few years back when they were sort of new thinking it was a decent one. Wore it twice and found it wasjust too hot to ride in at anything more than a gentle pace. Have since heard they're all like this due to the coating not being very breathable and relying on vents instead. A Gilet would have been better for me.
Ton you need to paint your bike with white gloss and stick some reflective tape to your wellies..as demonstrated here
Had Proviz and found it too hot (even the gilet).
Now use the Castelli Mortirolo Reflex jacket. It’s one of my favourite bits of kit. Needs to be cooler temp wise. It vents well, fits well and you can pick it up relatively cheaply (currently £99 at Sigma)
I was going to get the 360 jacket but went for their rucksack instead. I saw my friend riding rocking the jacket and bag combo the other day and she was lit up like a comet!
I rate the the proviz stuff. It is super bright and the bag is great. Obs cannot comment on the jacket as I don't own one.
What about the reflective helmet from PX. It’s a good lid. £25
Picked up on of https://www.halfords.com/cycling/cycling-clothing/hi-vis/boardman-mens-reflective-removable-sleeve-cycling-jacket for ~£30 in September promo with BC discount, great for visibility on my early morning commute over the winter, but it rather "boil in the bag" if you are in a rush to get from A to B... Even in gillet form.
Reflectives on moving parts of you and the bike.. Reflective 3M spoke reflectors, ankle bands work really well. Also bits of reflective tape on your bike and helmet.
Ton, given your first pie reputation, aren't you the local Ronnie Pickering?
Got a Sugoi Zap...
Must be a different Zap from mine - mine’s blue with wiggly reflective lines all over and its the perfect commuting jacket. I think its actually their running, rather than cycling, version, but its not at all hot and needs decent base layering to prevent freezing!
Hi-viz of it isn’t as impressive as the Proviz, but still good for 360deg reflectivity.
Shed loads of deliveroo jackets on eBay for under thirty quid. Bit warm but they've got pit zips and are crazy reflective under lights
I picked up a Proviz 360 gillet thingy from halfords when was trying to spend my remaining 200 pounds of my bike2work voucher. expensive, not a great cut and only bit that breath are the.....neck, waist and the arm holes 😀
Still had to get something and its visible from space with a light on it.
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Boradman version seems much better for the money. </span>
called into halfords and tried a pro vis on . in the sale too, very cheap.
far far to thick and inflexible. felt proper boil in the bag too.
bought a cheap reflective gillet instead.
Ton, given your first pie reputation, aren’t you the local Ronnie Pickering?
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al, are you drunk? what does that nonsense even mean?
Who?
Slice of ‘first pie’ sounds a bit Adam and Eve....
have a lusso gillet which packs up small enough to go in one of those toolkit waterbottles when the sun has come up
https://lusso.bike/product/nitelife-gillet/
Can we get this back on topic please?
Right, now where were we....
cynic-al
Ton, given your first pie reputation, aren’t you the local Ronnie Pickering?
I'm also confused, like ton, what the hell does that comment mean?😳 😃
Sugoi Zap and other products in their range.
Mine is not a zap it is another model (forget which) and is covered in a load of tiny reflective dots.
I am informed by my fellow riders it is quite bright.
For the Sugoi Zap users, what's the breathability like? Reviews suggest not great, is that right?
Plus they seem to be a bit thin on the ground, especially the green/flouro-ish ones 🙁
Ton, poopscoop, look him up on Youtube.
No road users mess with him.
I think the problem with the reflective jackets are that they are dull during the daylight hours and they just don't breath making them boil in the bag.
I cover my bike helmet in reflective tape, you can't see this during the day but it lights up like tron at night. Same for my bike too, its covered in tape so you can see it from any angle.
I ride in a high viz jacket that's breathable and waterproof and I use plenty of lights, some constant, some flashing.
I've never seen that paint on reflective stuff that goes on normal clothes. I think I'll give that a try.
Theres a cyclist I see on my commute that has a harness made of a combination of high viz and reflective tape that clicks with a buckle and goes over the shoulders. I can see them from a long distance away. Best of both worlds but a little retro.
I have the Boardman reflective jacket with zip off sleeves. The front zip lasted one winter before it lost a few teeth and stopped working. Really good visibility and very cheap in a sale. Very sweaty unfortunately. Still looking for the perfect jacket.
For the Sugoi Zap users, what’s the breathability like
Mine says "Zap Training Jacket" on the label inside. It's as breathable as any (non waterproof) jacket I've worn for it's level of warmth. I run pretty hot and don't have any issue with it's breathability.
(Another plus is it was about £30 from Sportpursuit and not £90, like the gilet up there ^^ !)
Mine says Sugoi Zap Bike Jacket and breathability is terrible.
Ps. Cynic-al meant to type "FIST pie. English is clearly not his FIRST language.
Not sure what your use-case is but if you want to add reflectivity to clothes when you need it but look normal the rest of the time then I dont think you can beat -
Folds up small enough to fit in a jacket pocket, fits over pretty much anything so you can wear it over a t-shirt or a thick winter coat. I tend to stick it on when I'm wearing dark clothes at night in winter on a brompton.
I thought the spray-on stuff sounded great but then read this:
The spray lasts for approximately a week after application, depending on the texture of the surface you spray
Basically useless unless you were doing some temporary signs or something.
I have a proviz 360 for commuting now the nights have drawn in - it is hot and sweaty no doubt, but I wouldn't change it for anything less visible on the road, it gives me so much confidence that I have been seen and makes me feel a lot safer
The gilet probably would have been a better bet in truth as a bit cooler, but happy as is.
I wouldn't wear it for a daylight long ride unless it was super cold out, but if its dark on the road then I don't think twice about it.
I’m using an Altura NV. Doesn’t get too hot, pretty breathable, has reflective sections and is a bright green for daylight