General Cycling Discussion - Best/better reflective tape?...product review

I do most of my riding at night. I am fairly set on my lighting (Minewt X2 dual, mars 3.0), but need some different reflective material.

I had planned on ordering some rolls of tape since I couldn't find it locally, then I found some NATHAN brand reflective red "tape" kits and decided to try them since they were only $2 (and I am happy with the NATHAN reflective yellow triangle I got for my camelbak).

http://www.branfordbike.com/cgi-bin/perlshop/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=push&thispage=reflect/big/re2bigb.html&ORDER_ID=172764507

Well, I really liked the precut designs and it has held up well...I am not happy with the reflective performance. It only bounces the light straight back. Holding a flashlight by my head and it's very bright, holding the light at my hip it doesn't even seem reflective. Even holding at shoulder height greatly degrades performance. This translates the same with car headlights. From the right angle you might get a flash of it, but it sure isn't very reliable.

The angle of the tape doesn't matter. You can be looking at it nearly flat/from the side and it will light up if the light angle is there. If not, it just looks like slightly bright regular vinyl.

Are all tapes like this, and this is just the nature of the thickness? Does it need to be as thick as a reflector to perform as well or even close angle-wise? Do I need to get the expensive 3M stuff? Is there something that works as well for less? Thank you much.

I orignaly stubbled on to bike forums while looking for information about making my bike more reflective. I have tried several things. Reflective tape, purchased at Gall's (police supply) has worked the best. I put it on a 85 Schwinn World Sport. The nice thing is it comes in colors, so I blacked out the uggly Schwinn graphics with the black tape. BTW the black tape reflects a gold color.
I also tried the reflective clear coat that you can get in a can, not very good at all. I even got ahold of the flass beads they use to mark airport runways with and added it to a clear coat of paint. It still was not as good as the Gall's reflective tape.
May I suggest you check out the commuting section or car free living , you will find more cyclist that have experance riding at night.

My brother gave me his "remnant" roll of 3M tape after he did his bike. The stuff seems to work fairly well. How much is it for a roll?

Note: I put one piece around the down tube so that as I pedal, it gives a "flashing" effect as my legs cove/uncover it. Don't know if it really makes a difference or not, but I thought it seemed like a good idea.

3M is my favorite. It comes in many sizes and colors. Here are two pics of my Cannondale covered in black reflective tape. When hit by light, it reflects white. Pic 1 without flash, pic 2 with flash.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc55/majortaylor68/Cannondalefixed.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc55/majortaylor68/Cannondalereflflash.jpg

SOLAS tape rules. I have it on my coast guard jacket. http://www.landfallnav.com/ssrt1.html

I have the Nathan's tape you mention, in yellowish green, on the back and sides of my helmet. I tried to take it easy and stuck on six pieces in a horizontal line.

I also have the basic 3M reflective tape in red on my Raleigh Record.

http://www.mit.edu/%7Emusolino/record1.JPG

I don't know if it's captured in the picture, but to me the 3M tape seems more "metallic," while the Nathan's tape seems to look more plasticky.

njm, do you notice the 3m being better at either reflecting brightness or angle (both?) over the Nathan stuff?

My tape shows up with a camera flash, but only because the light is coming from near the lens...if I take pic with a flashlight hitting it from another angle, no dice.

I just got back from a ride and asked a guy in a truck if he noticed it, he looked at me like he didn't know what I was talking about and said he only saw my light and triangle. He was right behind me at two stop signs.

Oh, and a couple feet of #m seems to be about $15...hoping I can find some scraps for free somewhere local.

Well, I really liked the precut designs and it has held up well...I am not happy with the reflective performance. It only bounces the light straight back. Holding a flashlight by my head and it's very bright, holding the light at my hip it doesn't even seem reflective. Even holding at shoulder height greatly degrades performance. This translates the same with car headlights. From the right angle you might get a flash of it, but it sure isn't very reliable.

The angle of the tape doesn't matter. You can be looking at it nearly flat/from the side and it will light up if the light angle is there. If not, it just looks like slightly bright regular vinyl.

Aren't all standard reflectors like this, too?

It's just the nature of the tape. You'd want it reflecting back towards the source, which should be a pair of headlights that are nearly line-of-sight with the driver; you don't want it reflecting away from them.

The most effective tape I've ever seen is DOT-C2 reflective adhesive tape for tractor trailers rigs. It has the fish scale-cross hatch pattern that reflects light from all angles. Might be available at truck stops. I'll try to post a pic of my commuter bike sometime. Absolutely blinding in headlights. Camera flashes have to be edited out.

njm, do you notice the 3m being better at either reflecting brightness or angle (both?) over the Nathan stuff?

My tape shows up with a camera flash, but only because the light is coming from near the lens...if I take pic with a flashlight hitting it from another angle, no dice.

I just got back from a ride and asked a guy in a truck if he noticed it, he looked at me like he didn't know what I was talking about and said he only saw my light and triangle. He was right behind me at two stop signs.

Oh, and a couple feet of #m seems to be about $15...hoping I can find some scraps for free somewhere local.

I have some Nathan velcro ankle/arm straps that are highly reflective. If that is any indication of the quality of their tape then it would be a good choice.

The most effective tape I've ever seen is DOT-C2 reflective adhesive tape for tractor trailers rigs. It has the fish scale-cross hatch pattern that reflects light from all angles. Might be available at truck stops. I'll try to post a pic of my commuter bike sometime. Absolutely blinding in headlights. Camera flashes have to be edited out.

Known in the trade as conspicuity tape, amazing reflectivity.

http://www.identi-tape.com/3m-conspicuity.htm

The most effective tape I've ever seen is DOT-C2 reflective adhesive tape for tractor trailers rigs. It has the fish scale-cross hatch pattern that reflects light from all angles. Might be available at truck stops. I'll try to post a pic of my commuter bike sometime. Absolutely blinding in headlights. Camera flashes have to be edited out.

Is all DOT-C2 tape the same? Of course it meets a minimum standard, but are some brands better than others?

I bought a roll (the alternating red/wide bands, it's also available in yellow as seen on school busses) from a Love's truck stop and wonder if there is better version out there. I don't mean its bad, just not as good as I expected.

Al

The most effective tape I've ever seen is DOT-C2 reflective adhesive tape for tractor trailers rigs. It has the fish scale-cross hatch pattern that reflects light from all angles. Might be available at truck stops. I'll try to post a pic of my commuter bike sometime. Absolutely blinding in headlights. Camera flashes have to be edited out.

Probably being a stickler about wording here....

More worried if it reflects light to all/many angles rather than from all angles. I think it will though from what i remember about seeing red and white DOT tape.

And no, plastic reflectors are not as directional as this stuff. My pedal reflectors show up when this stuff just looks dull. They do work better at certain angles and head on, but nowhere near as direction-dependent as this tape.

I will take some pics tonight to demonstrate...

Known in the trade as conspicuity tape, amazing reflectivity.

http://www.identi-tape.com/3m-conspicuity.htm

That's the stuff.

Probably being a stickler about wording here....

More worried if it reflects light to all/many angles rather than from all angles. I think it will though from what i remember about seeing red and white DOT tape.

And no, plastic reflectors are not as directional as this stuff. My pedal reflectors show up when this stuff just looks dull. They do work better at certain angles and head on, but nowhere near as direction-dependent as this tape.

I will take some pics tonight to demonstrate...

Yes, reflectors are highly dependent on direct angle of light. Very good when seen from an ideal direction. The nice thing about tape is that it wraps around the frame members and thus provides a moving/variable angle in night traffic.

Here's a pic from a recent club ride up the Ironhorse Trail here in Western Washinton. My bud has a Trek 520 with no tape, and this is full daylight with a flash. My bike is wrapped with the 3M DOT-C2 stuff. All white.

http://i21.tinypic.com/a8778.jpg

I do most of my riding at night. I am fairly set on my lighting (Minewt X2 dual, mars 3.0), but need some different reflective material.

I had planned on ordering some rolls of tape since I couldn't find it locally, then I found some NATHAN brand reflective red "tape" kits and decided to try them since they were only $2 (and I am happy with the NATHAN reflective yellow triangle I got for my camelbak).

http://www.branfordbike.com/cgi-bin/perlshop/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=push&thispage=reflect/big/re2bigb.html&ORDER_ID=172764507

Well, I really liked the precut designs and it has held up well...I am not happy with the reflective performance. It only bounces the light straight back. Holding a flashlight by my head and it's very bright, holding the light at my hip it doesn't even seem reflective. Even holding at shoulder height greatly degrades performance. This translates the same with car headlights. From the right angle you might get a flash of it, but it sure isn't very reliable.

The angle of the tape doesn't matter. You can be looking at it nearly flat/from the side and it will light up if the light angle is there. If not, it just looks like slightly bright regular vinyl.

Are all tapes like this, and this is just the nature of the thickness? Does it need to be as thick as a reflector to perform as well or even close angle-wise? Do I need to get the expensive 3M stuff? Is there something that works as well for less? Thank you much.


I was given one of Branfordbike's cycling vests as a gift. It works really well. With its neon yellow strips on bright orange mesh, people have taken notice of me. I use it for both bicycling and hiking purposes. While bicycling, motorists have taken more caution. When walking on MUP's or sidewalks, other cyclists riding in stealth mode that have no regard for pedestrians also slow down.

I only wish that the vest had more neon yellow reflective stripes than it currently has. Does anyone know how I'd be able to apply more wide, neon yellow stripes to the vest without having to buy a new one? If you do, please get back to me.

...I am not happy with the reflective performance. It only bounces the light straight back. Holding a flashlight by my head and it's very bright, holding the light at my hip it doesn't even seem reflective. Even holding at shoulder height greatly degrades performance. This translates the same with car headlights. From the right angle you might get a flash of it, but it sure isn't very reliable.

Some more than others, but all reflective anything does this. My own experiments have shown Sheldon to be absolutely correct (of course) in this article:
http://sheldonbrown.com/reflectors.html
Especially note the section on "Observation angle".

3M is my favorite. It comes in many sizes and colors. Here are two pics of my Cannondale covered in black reflective tape. When hit by light, it reflects white. Pic 1 without flash, pic 2 with flash.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc55/majortaylor68/Cannondalefixed.jpg

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc55/majortaylor68/Cannondalereflflash.jpg

I've got some big pieces of that on the back of the suitcases on my motorcycle (it must be SOLAS too) and it works great.

Yes, that i a nice term for what I am looking for, tape with the best/widest observation angle. I could wrap my entire bike with this stuff i have, it won't help because it only bounces back light to the source.

I think some are confused as to what I am saying, but I some good info too. Thanks.

I like the sound of the SOLAS enough to try it, but I would prefer red as it will be on the rearward areas. I think I will gamble with the 3m DOT type tape and hope for the best, maybe a bit of the SOLAS too.

If they don't work though, I won't use any of it. I don't mind looking like a dork, but I won't purposefully
do it for no good reason :). This stuff is coming off right after I get some pics.

Surely it is possible to have a reflective material that has a nice wide/consistent observation angle. It just needs many different angles of reflective bits inside. Even if it reduces the maximum reflectiveness from certain angles it would be better overall. Maybe the thickness of tape is the limiting factor.

Yes, that i a nice term for what I am looking for, tape with the best/widest observation angle. I could wrap my entire bike with this stuff i have, it won't help because it only bounces back light to the source.


PM me an address if you'd like and I'll drop a sample in the mail. Not 3M, but it's definitely top level stuff.
Good tape should reflect to and from any angle. It's made of laser cut, plastic prisms inside the tape. There's also a kind with suspended reflective particles which is pretty cool, but not as effective as what you want.

Thanks for the offer, I think I will just try to find a truck(s) around here to play with using a flashlight and a buddy. I have seen different designs available online so I should be able to identify brand and type.

Thanks again to everyone. Will post my results/pics along the way to hopefully help others and keep everyone as safe as possible.

Go for the Reflexite Daybright (V92) reflective tape. Here's a link where someone compares Reflexite, 3M, and SOLAS tape.

http://www.mahonkin.com/~milktree/hawk/reflector-pics/

PICS

I just got back from taking some pics. I have to say that, after all my bellyaching, this stuff actually works fairly well...much better than I expected and had been told (though not quite as well as the following pics seem to show). I think my taillight and triangle are so bright that they are just what you notice whether the tape is visible or not.

The important thing is that I'm visible. I am still getting some 3M type tape...just to see. Not sure which version yet


Notice the tape bits on my brake levers in an attempt to give width perception. I also have these little pieces on the buckles of my camelbak. There is a circular piece where the seat stays and seat post meet that isn't very identifiable at times. Not sure how much good the handlebar tape does when I'm actually on it, but it seemed like a decent idea at the time. Opinions, suggestions and questions always welcome.

http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/tdister3/

sorry for quality, long shutter and unsteady hands=bad photo

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/tdister3/Picture004.jpg

The type of reflective tape that you use makes a big difference. Type 8 or Type 9 tapes reflect much brighter and at sharper angles. This is why they are rated for highway use on trucks and for use offshore. There is a photo of the 4 main types of tapes at www.colebrothers.com/biketape that you can use as a comparison. For bike use I would definately recommend only the prismatic type 8 or 9 grades. Since they are prismatic and not based on glass beads they reflect up to 10 times brighter and at much sharper angles.

10 times brighter than regular reflective tape.
6 colors to blend or match your bike.
http://www.identi-tape.com/hi-intensity.htm

I've found that DOT truck tape available at Lowe's and auto parts stores to be as bright as any of the 3m stuff. It is thinner than the 3m diamond grade that I tried so it's easier and more willing to conform to tight curves, though it probably won't last as long.

The bike in the pics has changed quite a bit and gone through many transformations. I am mostly using the white portion of the DOT tape. Works extremely well on moving parts like cranks ans wheels. If it gets condensation built up (coming to warm humid area from cool), though, it is nearly useless...the condensation doesn't happen to or affect as drastically the thicker vinyl tapes like Nathans or my yellow reflective triangle.

Here is one of the stages, tough it sits quite a bit different at the moment (no rack, removed tape on stays, added tape to cranks and a couple other small changes).
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/tdister3/DSCN5779.jpg

SOLAS tape rules. I have it on my coast guard jacket. http://www.landfallnav.com/ssrt1.html

SOLAS tape is definately the brightest tape that there is. It is also known as type 9 tape and reflects in excess of 900 candlepower. The DOT C2 is also known as type 8 and reflects in excess of 700 candlepower. The DOT C2 type 8 tape reflects at sharper angles meaning that you can be seen further to either side of the car headlights. SOLAS or type 9 is brighter but does not reflect at quite the angle type 8 films do. SOLAS is used mainly for offshore applications where search and rescue teams will be looking for you with a spotlight. The solas is so bright a quick sweep of the light will show your location. Overall most bikers prefer the SOLAS because it is so bright and cars can see them a long, long way off. The engineer grade tapes are flexible and you can wrap a frame in them but the reflectivity of engineer grade is 75 candlepower for the white versus 900 for solas so you can see the drawback. However, wrapping large areas makes up for the difference by just shear surface area reflectivity. Hope this helps.

Bryson Cole
www.colebrothers.com/biketape

Is there such a thing as reflective paint? Could I paint my entire bike with reflective paint?

Is there such a thing as reflective paint? Could I paint my entire bike with reflective paint?

We just did an experiment with reflective glass beads embedded in clearcoat. Takes about 5 minutes to do an entire bike. I have a picture of the results at www.colebrothers.com/biketape . I am thinking that by having the entire bike light up it will help a motorist identify what they are seeing as a bike much quicker. Versus them only seeing a single reflector in the distance.

3M high intensity is also pretty good. similar design to SOLAS with the honeycomb pattern. grey at day time and reflects bright white.

We just did an experiment with reflective glass beads embedded in clearcoat. Takes about 5 minutes to do an entire bike. I have a picture of the results at www.colebrothers.com/biketape . I am thinking that by having the entire bike light up it will help a motorist identify what they are seeing as a bike much quicker. Versus them only seeing a single reflector in the distance.

So how do you apply it -- spray on the clearcoat, then, while it's wet, sprinkle beads onto it?

It seems like the stuff that I've seen sprinkled onto fresh paint at pedestrian crossings.

So how do you apply it -- spray on the clearcoat, then, while it's wet, sprinkle beads onto it?

It seems like the stuff that I've seen sprinkled onto fresh paint at pedestrian crossings.

That is exactly what it is. If is about the consistency of sugar. It is what they sprinkle on paint to makes stripes reflective on the highway. I put it on my rims and then use reflective tape on the frame of the bike. You can do the entire bike if you want but it was quicker for me to use the tape on the frame.

Steve
www.colebrothers.com/biketape

Steve,
Any chance of a bikeforums discount on the SOLAS/type 9 tape? Looks like a good safety item to add to the bike.

The type of reflective tape that you use makes a big difference. Type 8 or Type 9 tapes reflect much brighter and at sharper angles. This is why they are rated for highway use on trucks and for use offshore. There is a photo of the 4 main types of tapes at www.colebrothers.com/biketape that you can use as a comparison. For bike use I would definately recommend only the prismatic type 8 or 9 grades. Since they are prismatic and not based on glass beads they reflect up to 10 times brighter and at much sharper angles.

I second your sentiments. I bought some SOLAS -- "Safety of Life at Sea" -- tape from that guy and it's very reflective. It's also slightly flexible so it can stretch around curved surfaces well. Strong adhesive, too.


Reflexite SOLAS Coast Guard Approved Marine Tape is the toughest and brightest tape on the market...

http://www.colebrothers.com/solas/

You guys might find this page interesting: http://www.mahonkin.com/~milktree/hawk/reflector-pics/

Looks like the Reflexite V82 may beat SOLAS. I think I'll grab some off eBay and do some comparisons to what I have, which is Peterson Manufacturing DOT Class 2 (prismatic) and 3M Diamond Grade in the school-bus-yellow color.

You guys might find this page interesting: http://www.mahonkin.com/~milktree/hawk/reflector-pics/

Looks like the Reflexite V82 may beat SOLAS. I think I'll grab some off eBay and do some comparisons to what I have, which is Peterson Manufacturing DOT Class 2 (prismatic) and 3M Diamond Grade in the school-bus-yellow color.

I saw that page before I bought the SOLAS, but from looking around online, and the fact the SOLAS is flexible and might apply to curved surfaces better, I went with it. From my own casual testing at night, the SOLAS reflects brighter than what the above link portrays. It really does look like this: http://www.colebrothers.com/biketape.

Plus, I figured anything good enough to pass Coast Guard approval -- salt water immersion, etc. -- is probably good enough for my bike.

Still, I'd be interested in your test results.

Reflexite doesn't have the datasheets for the FD1403/SOLAS tape up on their website that I can see. The V82 tape datasheet is here (http://www.reflexiteamericas.com/literature/bulletins/Reflexite_V82_Vehicle_Conspicuity_PB.pdf). I'm not an expert on reflectivity by any stretch of the imagination, so I'm not qualified to read it, but the V82 stuff has a higher number than the V92 (Daybright) tape (datasheet for V92 tape (http://www.reflexiteamericas.com/literature/bulletins/Reflexite_V92_Daybright_Vehicle_Conspicuity_PB.pdf).)

I'd also be interested in your conclusions if you get ahold of some of the V82 tape. It's not clear if the stuff that Cole Brothers is selling as type 8 tape is the V82 or the V92.

I have some silver-&-red Reflexite V82 on the way from an eBay seller now. I don't have any SOLAS to directly compare it to, unfortunately, but I'll post some impressions and photos when I get it.

Incidentally, I think using flash photography to accurately portray reflective tape is like shooting fish in a barrel. Motorists don't hit me with a xenon strobe, they hit me with the fringes of their low-beam headlights. So for my photos, I will either drag out my Dodge Caravan and shoot from the driver's viewpoint, or at least set the stuff at a distance and illuminate it with the fringe of a flashlight's beam. That's more realistic than blasting it with a flash and saying "SEE?!" ;)

Incidentally, I think using flash photography to accurately portray reflective tape is like shooting fish in a barrel. Motorists don't hit me with a xenon strobe, they hit me with the fringes of their low-beam headlights. So for my photos, I will either drag out my Dodge Caravan and shoot from the driver's viewpoint, or at least set the stuff at a distance and illuminate it with the fringe of a flashlight's beam. That's more realistic than blasting it with a flash and saying "SEE?!" ;)

Good point. Decent automotive headlights don't shine much light above waist level at the highest (the nice ones have crisp cutoff and hardly glare at all). Adding reflective tape to helmets and vests isn't as helpful as we'd like to think (they don't hurt, but they're not as good as reflective stuff on wheels, ankles, and pedals, either).

Not all US Coast Guard "Approved" items are SOLAS approved. SOLAS is a much more ridged rating. One of the things that comes into play is how the item works when wet obviously. Most reflective tapes will not stick very well to cloth. SOLAS does. I have had this stuff on my PFD's and they have been subjected to more abuse than you can imagine and it still is there working like the day I put it on.

3M Diamond Grade is better than 3M SOLAS, 3M Engineer Grade, 3M High Intensity Prismatic, or Reflexite. See my post near end of THIS THREAD (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=480351) for data, links to all the manufacturer specification sheets as PDF files, and another source for the 3M Diamond Grade.