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I’m getting more and more paranoid about being hit on my urban commute of only a few miles. I think I need some reflective stuff as well as the lights and a jacket seems the best way to be seen from all angles even with a rucksack on, I’m just concerned I might melt. If it has to be waterproof (which I don’t need) it needs plenty of vents and cuffs that open.
The Proviz Reflect 360 stuff looks effective although I’m fine with a jacket being dayglo yellow, it’s a commute not a fashion parade!
Proviz stuff is great for visibility but doesn't breathe at all. My winter commute jacket is a bright yellow Gore Bike wear GTX jacket.
the Gore Bike stuff feels bright enough to me and breathes well.
Always liked the look of the Showers pass Atlas, but my regular gear and a rucksack covered in 3m reflective tape does the job for now.
Altura Thunderstorm.
Oh, and good reflective ankle bands as well. Possibly the most obvious sign that you're a cyclist, as the pedalling movement is pretty much unmistakable. Also visible from all angles.
Boardman convertible reflective jacket is great for visibility, but awful breathability, bearable if sub 3C.
If it's dry, I wear my red Altura Peleton Transformer, if rain is expected then my bright yellow PX Hydrosphere.
“my regular gear and a rucksack covered in 3m reflective tape does the job for now”
I’ve thought about doing that! Does it stick on or do you have to see it?
Some years back I was given one of these which is a great commuting jacket in pretty much every respect, apart from its ninja-style invisibility!
So I could cover that with shiny stuff. I don’t wear it for anything else.
The proper 3m stuff sticks well to clean fabric, but I threw a few stitches through the corners. Still there after 18 months and the glue looks to have held brilliantly.
Also cut a few bits of tape to add highlight lines to my helmet, which I have been told is particularly effective.
Edit: Just looked and 3m do a heat transfer film, so you can pimp your coat!
I'm on my 4th winter commuting 30 minutes each way daily with the Evans fwe version of the proviz jacket. After so much use it's holding up amazingly well for the price. My dream jacket would be half reflective, half luminous for those low light mornings and evenings when you don't need the full reflection. But I dream on...
My dream jacket would be half reflective, half luminous for those low light mornings and evenings when you don’t need the full reflection.
Plenty of those about.
Personally I go for luminous for grey mornings and rely on uber bright lights at night.
Luminous = Glow in the dark.
You might be meaning fluorescent.
Last year I bought 3M black retro reflective tape and put a load on my frame and forks. Other colours are available.
I have a bright yellow gilet with reflective bits bits all over it from Decathlon. As it’s a gilet I can wear it 3 seasons without cooking. I highly recommend it.
I've got one of these coming in November, hoping it gets the breathable to reflective balance right.
What about that Volvo paint that you can cover the bike or your clothes in?
“What about that Volvo paint that you can cover the bike or your clothes in?”
Sadly it’s a bit shit:
https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/road-bikes/volvo-lifepaint-review/
Thinking I might just iron this stuff onto my Troy Lee Transit jacket (as pictured above):
https://www.fancy-tapes.co.uk/3mr-heat-transfer-iron-on-reflective-tape
Polaris RBS (really bright stuff) works for my 30min commute. Windproof jacket when it's dry, waterproof version for the rain. Waterproof jacket has big front pocket/vents.
It's proper bright, the reflective bits are great and the day glow has caused motorists to stop me and let me know they seen me from miles down the road.
Lomo waterproof commuting rucksack helps too.
i wear a lusso gillet for early morning and evening rides
https://www.lusso.bike/collections/mens-nitelife/products/copy-of-skylon-gillet-black-blue
like all their kit very well made but not a jacket
How about something like an Altura Night Vision jacket paired with a Proviz backpack cover (other covers are available for much less money)?
Half flouro, half reflective. They do exist.
Half flouro, half reflective. They do exist.
Yep, see quite a few around Cambridge.