Which is the better visibility color for vests?

[kf5nd]

See this website, then vote in the poll.

http://www.alertshirt.com/clas2safves.html

[o-dog]

hi-vis lime yellow is definitely the best in my opinion

[genec]

The lime yellow is supposed to be the best, but I have a vest that is both... I added blaze orange to a hi vis yellow vest... in the thinking that any one single color can be lost in certain backgrounds, so contrast was the most important thing. My helmet is black and white for the same reasons.

[Wogsterca]

Of the vests at the link, one has both, and I think that would be most visible.

[Gojohnnygo.]

The lime yellow is supposed to be the best, but I have a vest that is both... I added blaze orange to a hi vis yellow vest... in the thinking that any one single color can be lost in certain backgrounds, so contrast was the most important thing. My helmet is black and white for the same reasons.


+1 You need to outline the human form by using a different color. This is why hunters try to hide or conceal their outline.Some hunter use blaze orange(Deer can't see orange) in a camo pattern just to hide their outline but still be visible to others. Hunters want to blend in cyclist want to stand out.

[Severian]

Ahh but if you get a blaze orange hunting jacket then you can wear it in the winter while cycling. Dual use! And if you have an Xtracycle (http://www.xtracycle.com) then you can pack in and pack out on the trails while still being environmentally concious.

EDIT: and according to a bow hunting instructor I had years ago Deer can't see either lime yellow OR blaze orange... for some bizzare reason they just show up as dun colors to deer.

[banerjek]

For most purposes the hi viz yellow is better. However, if you are riding into bright sunlight, I think blaze orange is better because it's further away from the color of the sun in the drivers' eyes.

I own both.

[Severian]

For most purposes the hi viz yellow is better. However, if you are riding into bright sunlight, I think blaze orange is better because it's further away from the color of the sun in the drivers' eyes.

I own both.

This is precisely the reason why we need smartcloth that can color-change at the click of a button a la "Snowcrash" by Neal Stephenson.

One jacket to rule them all and in the darkness make them visible.

[Bekologist]

I've got both, and have taken to wearing a blaze orange 10 mile-cloth surveyors' vest for middle of the day trips, and think the high vis yellow shows up better at nighttime or dawn/dusk.

I think the blaze orange works better in full light but bad visibility, and the neon yellows in dim light conditions. My experience and my observations of roadworkers, etc....

[Gojohnnygo.]

Ahh but if you get a blaze orange hunting jacket then you can wear it in the winter while cycling. Dual use! And if you have an Xtracycle (http://www.xtracycle.com) then you can pack in and pack out on the trails while still being environmentally concious.

EDIT: and according to a bow hunting instructor I had years ago Deer can't see either lime yellow OR blaze orange... for some bizzare reason they just show up as dun colors to deer.

The reason for that deer have no predators of that color, So they have no need to see that color. I wear blaze orange vest in the winter If we have snow on the ground it stands out better against the white back ground

[deputyjones]

I've got both, and have taken to wearing a blaze orange 10 mile-cloth surveyors' vest for middle of the day trips, and think the high vis yellow shows up better at nighttime or dawn/dusk.

I think the blaze orange works better in full light but bad visibility, and the neon yellows in dim light conditions. My experience and my observations of roadworkers, etc....

Agreed. Yellow will remain visible longer as light fades.

[Frankenbiker]

I wear my blaze orange one during the day because I think the orange color stands out better against the green foliage. during evening/night/poor visibility conditions I prefer the lime green with reflective tape because the green shows up better in headlights than the blaze orange one.

[vrkelley]

I don't see much color and didn't know the alert-shirt had lime-green in it...can only see yellow in that shirt. It would seem that Red should be an option.

[ranger5oh]

Its been a proven fact for years that the lime-yellow color is more visible than the old orange.

[SingingSabre]

The lime yellow is supposed to be the best, but I have a vest that is both... I added blaze orange to a hi vis yellow vest... in the thinking that any one single color can be lost in certain backgrounds, so contrast was the most important thing. My helmet is black and white for the same reasons.

There are ninja cyclists.

You, my friend, are a neon tiger cyclist!

[UmneyDurak]

Riding in Police uniform.

[Enigma198]

When I see orange, I think traffic cones, and barricades, not human. The high-viz really seems to catch my eye. I was impressed enough from seeing it at various construction zones that I bought a high-viz shell for winter, two high-viz jerseys for summer and traded in my orange traffic vest for a high-viz one.

[CommuterRun]

I don't know why it's called lime. Don't believe I've ever seen any part of a lime that was that color.

Anyway, that's what I wear. But I typically only wear it at night for the orange reflective strips on my vest. During the day I normally just wear a white t-shirt. White showing up the best against the widest variety of backgrounds, under varying light levels. It very rarely snows here. Even more rare to get enough to stick.

[sgtsmile]

Ahh but if you get a blaze orange hunting jacket then you can wear it in the winter while cycling. Dual use! And if you have an Xtracycle (http://www.xtracycle.com) then you can pack in and pack out on the trails while still being environmentally concious.

EDIT: and according to a bow hunting instructor I had years ago Deer can't see either lime yellow OR blaze orange... for some bizzare reason they just show up as dun colors to deer.

They, like you (you in natural low light at dusk, they all the time), are 100 % colour blind.

[AlmostTrick]

I have the Alertshirt vest and the sweat jacket in ANSI lime and I constantly get comments on how bright they are. Several people have even told me it hurts their eyes!

[JamesV]

This chart is a real [ahem] "eye opener" -- it shows yellow-green is more than twice as visible than orange:

Human Eye's Response to Light (http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/PenetrantTest/Introduction/lightresponse.htm)

I found the text interesting. I did not know that under truly dark conditions, once the eye is completely dark adapted, the eye's response changes and blue-green becomes the most visible color (although it will look gray).

[Frankenbiker]

Of course, proper bicycle safety attire on Remulak requires wearing both an ANSI lime vest and an orange traffic cone. :D

[kf5nd]

Wow, not much of a content in that poll !!!

[NA_CA]

Check out www.pedigreen.com. We carry the hi-viz yellow/green colored items of apparel and lots of accessories. I can tell you our best sellers are the two tones items. T-shirts and vests that have the yellow/green body and orange (black even) used as a contrast. It has the WOW factor. :)

[Gojohnnygo.]

I voted for Hi-viz yellow. I do also think that blaze orange is the best against a snowy back ground especially in very sunny conditions.

[genec]

This is about the most "contrasty" and bright object I could think of... you want to be seen in different light, shadows and really attract attention... this is what you should look like:

http://www.thebeanbagchairoutlet.com/swatches/tie_dye_multiswirl.jpg

About the closest a cyclist typically comes to this image is by wearing a multicolored jersey: http://www.oaklandyellowjackets.org/images/oyj_jersey_comp.jpg

Anything that is a single color can be lost in the "wrong" light.

[CommuterRun]

However, the best camouflage uses highly contrasting colors. It's not enough to just be the color of a bush, or whatever the expected background is likely to be, but the outline of the body also needs to be broken up. Contrasting colors do this quite well, and a jersey like the above could get "lost" in an urban evironment, looking like multiple smaller objects.

Better to go with the biggest solid color that fits your body.

The "The Human Eye's Response to Light" chart and write up look good, but it doesn't seem to take into account white. Something appears to be a color because that is the only wavelength we can see that is reflected by the surface of the object. All the other wavelengths (colors) are absorbed. Something appears to be white because the surface of the object reflects all visible wavelengths. So with white, all the advantages of lime and orange are in there.

Unless, of course, you're pedalling down the beach or through the snow. Then white might not be such a good option.;)

[ken cummings]

Oh Lordy. Some 15 years ago a test showed "None of the Above". The lime yellow or orange work if you are looking at them. A University test showed that pink - hot pink got both male and female attention better then either of the official hi-viz colors. No one but no one has ever commented on my orange or Lime-yellow jerseys or vests. My hot pink shorts get all sorts of reactions but not THAT kind of reaction, even the times I rode with the Rainbow cycling group in LA.

[sbhikes]

I get a lot of comments about my high-vis yellow so I believe it is very effective. I don't have an orange one, however, so I have nothing to compare based on personal exprience. I have seen others with it and it is very visible. Another highly visible color is neon pink.

[vrkelley]

This is about the most "contrasty" and bright object I could think of... you want to be seen in different light, shadows and really attract attention... this is what you should look like:

http://www.thebeanbagchairoutlet.com/swatches/tie_dye_multiswirl.jpg

About the closest a cyclist typically comes to this image is by wearing a multicolored jersey: http://www.oaklandyellowjackets.org/images/oyj_jersey_comp.jpg

Anything that is a single color can be lost in the "wrong" light.

Genec, I think you might be onto something there. Of course if there are too many colors and the pattern is too busy, it'll be more like war fatiques - camaflage. So have you had better vis with that jersey then?

[Gojohnnygo.]

This jacket gives a great outline to the human body. Its cheap but highly visible.

[Gojohnnygo.]

This jacket gives a great outline to the human body. Its cheap but highly visible.

WTF:crash: Invaild file Here is a link http://www.nashbar.com/profile_moreimages.cfm?category=137&subcategory=1215&sku=8134&brand=

[genec]

Genec, I think you might be onto something there. Of course if there are too many colors and the pattern is too busy, it'll be more like war fatiques - camaflage. So have you had better vis with that jersey then?

Except for the fact that war fatigues are all somewhat of the same 3 basic colors (either "jungle" or "sand") and those shades are the ones that are mixed... rather than the range of bright contrasty colors I mentioned.

As for what I use... It depends on where I am riding and what the purpose of the ride is.

For commuting... I tend to wear long sleeve bright orange T shirts with a light red shirt over that, and a yellow high vis vest... thus I have 3 colors showing... orange, red, and high vis yellow. My helmet is black and white.

For club rides, where a bit of "trying to fit into the team" issue comes in, I have some microfiber jerseys that I wear... one being very similar to that "Grateful Dead" tie-dye, the others just having a wide variety of color on them... thus nothing I wear is "single color."

It is the "single color" issue that I think is the problem... in certain light, especially in shade or twilght, certain colors go flat... and the best way to avoid that problem is to wear a variety of color.

Many cycling jerseys tend to meet that constraint by simply having a variety of colors on them. And surprisingly, one of the comments one hears from motorists are "why do you guys wear those gaudy colored "pajamas?" Well, the answer is obvious... you saw me, right?

So using a high vis vest is a good idea... but wear something under it that is contrasty... a different color, so you stand out more, under changing conditions.

Another reason for my suggestion of contrast... is the driving public is getting used to the orange and/or hi vis yellow vests... and you want to stand out as something different, ie not a stationary road worker leaning on a shovel. You want to attract attention and be seen... so dress accordingly.

Of course if you are going all ninja... well that's a different story.

BTW I am not an "expert" on this, this just comes from what I have observed... this is all just my humble opinion. My wife is an artist however, so color discussions do come up often in my house.

[powerhouse]

I wear a hi-viz yellow jersey and jacket or I wear a blaze orange vest with strips of hi-viz yellow on it along with a dark jersey. Therefore, I don't know which is better. pm me if you have suggestions between these.

[unkchunk]

Solid high viz lime, unless there is a lot of snow where the advatage goes to the orange. I avoid multicolored (tie-die or logo wear) as I think they work like the dazzle camoflage on WWI battleships. Sure they are visable, but they make judging distance and speed more difficult.

[unkchunk]

oohps, also direction.

[damnable]

Hmm, I think many people and parhaps the original poster may be missing the point.
The orange coloured ones are specifically designed for high-visibility during the day.
The yellow coloured ones are specifically designed for high-visibility during nighttime.

I sell them where I work. The orange ones are actually labelled for daytime use and the yellow, for nighttime use.

And I do agree with them.

But if you only had enough money to buy one, I'd get the yellow. Because it's not too bad for vsibility during the day, and increasing visibility is more important at night.

[europa]

Its been a proven fact for years that the lime-yellow color is more visible than the old orange.

You need to be very careful about comments like that because it depends on the conditions. Here in Australia, our native vegation has a mix of yellows and greens that can render original yellow vests useless and the lime-yellow ones ineffective. I've worked in the bush in high summer and seen people wearing these disappear. The orange is far safer here.

Richard

[Eatadonut]

yellow definitely here in oklahoma. orange blends in with the dirt.

[Sci-Fi]

It depends on the time of day (or night). In some lighting conditions, esp dawn and dusk, even the reflective tape strips on your safety vest or bike may not be seen well enough or soon enough.

That being said, I like the Surveyors Vest since it has lots of pockets to hold stuff within easy reach. Lots of jogger/running suits/jackets have plenty of reflective piping sewn in and could be considered an alternative for night riders that refuse to wear "Piss Yellow" or "Puke Orange"...but that's their choice.

I've seen one older gentleman wear one of these on his night rides (and he has a remote controlled red revolving strobe light bolted to his rack...dunno where he got that, but it was pretty neat and extremely bright):
http://safetycentral.com/joaclireveve.html

[europa]

A lot of it is threat level too. A study here showed that the most easily recognised road uses were riding white BMW motorbikes. Interestingly, our police ride ... white BMW motorbikes :D . It seemed true too - I had my most hassle free motorcycling during the three years I rode a white and blue BMW K100RS, which incidentally, is not the model or colour scheme used by the cops.

Richard

[unkchunk]

A lot of it is threat level too. A study here showed that the most easily recognised road uses were riding white BMW motorbikes. Interestingly, our police ride ... white BMW motorbikes :D . It seemed true too - I had my most hassle free motorcycling during the three years I rode a white and blue BMW K100RS, which incidentally, is not the model or colour scheme used by the cops.

Richard

Yep. I guess there is a Pavlovian conditional responce element to consider. Probably best if everyone dessed like the local cops.

[Wogsterca]

A lot of it is threat level too. A study here showed that the most easily recognised road uses were riding white BMW motorbikes. Interestingly, our police ride ... white BMW motorbikes :D . It seemed true too - I had my most hassle free motorcycling during the three years I rode a white and blue BMW K100RS, which incidentally, is not the model or colour scheme used by the cops.

Richard

I know a guy who has a CB in his car, a white Crown Victoria, around here, about 90% of police cars are white Crown Victorias, yeah he can slow down traffic.....

[Ed Holland]

I remember this a while ago in some debate and experiments regarding colour choice for fire engines. The result was trial of the "lime" green colour. IMHO this is less easy to see than a plain old red fire engine, whatever the lab experiments suggest. Lighting conditions and surfaces have such enormous ranges of illumination level, colour and contrast that it is very difficult to choose one colour for high visibility of an object.

The advantage of orange or green high visibility clothing, for daytime use is fluorescence. The "dayglo" effect is a result of a dye absorbing a wide range of wavelengths (including near UV, violet blue etc.) and re emitting the energy as light in the green/orange where the human eye has high sensitivity. This gives you a gain over the surroundings, which are not generally fluorescent, just absorbent and or diffuse reflective.

At night, this advantage is lost, and retro-reflective materials seem to offer the best passive method for enhancement of visibility. They have the highest reflectance in a narrow angled cone directly back towards the source of illumination - hence they appear bright to other road users with headlights.

Good bicycle lights are of course, essential for visibility!

I have a green/yellow jacket for night/cold rides, but do not wear any especially visible clothing during daylight rides. Being English, I do however have extremely white legs, which are highly noticable and unusual here in California :p

Ed