I'm considering purchasing a reflective sash or vest for low light conditions. I have pleny of lights, but I thought a reflective something is a good idea. Suggestions?

Vest is Best:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=23837&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Show%20All%20Products

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=safety+vest&Submit=Go

I bought this vest (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RP7L00) when it was only $12 shipped at Amazon. Don't think I'd spend the $25 they are asking for it now, though. Kind of a cheaply made vest, although I am sure it will do its intended job. It is very lightweight and will be easy to stash away during daylight hours.

I do some riding at night. I did a a little study. I followed my wife around while she tested out an illuminite vest, a belt with a reflector, blinkie lights and tri colored reflector wide ankle bands. Of all the nite eqwuipment, I noticed the ankle bands the most, mostly because of the leg movement. It can be seen by an auto from a long distance. The vest was ok, but the ankle bands were much more noticeable IMO! I makesure to wear them while riding at night.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/B3-1.jpg

^^^ Thanks for that. Ankle bands sound like a good addition. The movement makes sense, not to mention the ankle bands will be more straight on while on a road bike you are bending over so the vest may not be as visible.

Any recommendations on ankle bands? I've seen a couple of types.

Any recommendations on ankle bands? I've seen a couple of types.

I prefer the cheapo $2.00 yellow reflective ankle bands that many LBS' have as an impulse purchase item right next to the register. They're durable plastic, very reflective, and only about an inch wide.
Those 3 colour ones are bright, but it's like wearing a soccer player's shin guard! Those things are huge and I find them to be uncomfortable.

I use the ones from Randonneurs USA site. http://www.rusa.org/cgi-bin/storedept_GF.pl?catid=2 . I have seen many riders using these at Brevets. I think you need to be a member to order direct from RUSA.

Vest is Best:

If you're riding in the dark for a relatively short time, at low effort levels (as in commuting), vests are tolerable. But for something like randonneuring, where you can be riding all night and working hard a "Sam Browne" sash/belt combo is much more comfortable and if designed right is just as visible as a vest.

SP

The anle bands really caught my attention after noticing I was able to see walkers at night with their reflective logos on the back of their shoes. Figured if I could see that movement, the bigger reflectors would work even better! Mine are tri colored bands. Yellow,orange and white. Nice and wide so very noticeable.

I've seen the narrow bands sold by the LD orgs, but I like my wide suckers!:thumb:

The post about visibility of ankle bands is right on, and is also supported by scientific studies of reflective gear. Can't remember where to find the studies on the web. For ankle bands, the best I've ever seen is the Rivendell ankle band, http://www.rivbike.com/products/list/odds_and_ends#product=31-370

Worn with the tabs to the side, it is extremely visible. I often wear them during the day.

I mostly agree with the comment about the Sam Browne belt. Vests can be a bother because they get in the way of your pockets. That said ... I see a ton of Sam Browne belts being worn in such a way that they can't be seen properly. Hidden by hydration packs, or twisted so as to be nonreflective, or whatever. Based on some testing reported on either the RUSA or UMCA websites, I bought a Sam Browne belt made out of vinyl rather than cloth, as the cloth ones seem to be less reflective if they've gotten wet. But I often wear a vest whenever the weather is a little cooler, because it is so much more visible. The Sayre vest is very easy to put on and take off, unlike the stupid Nathan vests that have to be put on over your head and that get tangled up with your mirror. See http://www.reflexsafety.com/289/ReflexExtendedVest.html. It's nice and long so it can go over a hydration pack and still be highly visible.

I keep seeing references to prices in these posts. These are safety items, and price is nearly irrelevant. Don't save three bucks by buying something inferior and then spend months recovering in the hospital. Buy the best thing you can find even if it costs twenty or fifty dollars more.

If you're riding in the dark for a relatively short time, at low effort levels (as in commuting), vests are tolerable. But for something like randonneuring, where you can be riding all night and working hard a "Sam Browne" sash/belt combo is much more comfortable and if designed right is just as visible as a vest.

SP

+1, i like my sash, and you can wear it over anything. i wear ankle bands at night as well (a rando requirement)

Those 3 colour ones are bright, but it's like wearing a soccer player's shin guard! Those things are huge and I find them to be uncomfortable.


Hmmm! Never had a problem with them feeling too big on my legs.:D

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/ref.jpg

I keep seeing references to prices in these posts. These are safety items, and price is nearly irrelevant. Don't save three bucks by buying something inferior and then spend months recovering in the hospital. Buy the best thing you can find even if it costs twenty or fifty dollars more.

I don't have 8 grand to spend on cycling, so personally, I appreciate costs related to gear. If two things are equally effective, I'll take the lower cost item.

Class Three safety shirts have sleeves. In hot weather you can wear it by itself and still comply with the No Shirt - No shoes - No services rules.

Car lights are low, anything reflective will work best low too. Reflective vests or helmets are out of a cars low beam. Seatstays, forks, pedals and ankles should all get the reflective treatment.

I don't have 8 grand to spend on cycling, so personally, I appreciate costs related to gear. If two things are equally effective, I'll take the lower cost item.

Your icon must have a photo of someone else all suited up in matching clothes on what looks like a fairly expensive bicycle.

I'm not talking about spending 8 grand. But if I have a choice between a Sayre vest that's going to do a really good job for $20, or a POS Nathan vest that saves $5 but doesn't reflect worth a darn, and that I don't wear because you have to put it on over your head and it gets tangled with the mirror, guess where I'm going to spend the extra five buckazoids.

So, sure if two things are equally effective, I'm not going to waste money buying something more expensive. But two things typically are not equally effective. So my point was that safety is not somewhere to think about saving two bucks. Take a peanut butter sandwich instead of buying something along the road, if you want to save two bucks.

Nick

My favorite for biking and running.
http://www.amphipod.com/440-448/448.html

Your icon must have a photo of someone else all suited up in matching clothes on what looks like a fairly expensive bicycle.

I'm not talking about spending 8 grand. But if I have a choice between a Sayre vest that's going to do a really good job for $20, or a POS Nathan vest that saves $5 but doesn't reflect worth a darn, and that I don't wear because you have to put it on over your head and it gets tangled with the mirror, guess where I'm going to spend the extra five buckazoids.

So, sure if two things are equally effective, I'm not going to waste money buying something more expensive. But two things typically are not equally effective. So my point was that safety is not somewhere to think about saving two bucks. Take a peanut butter sandwich instead of buying something along the road, if you want to save two bucks.

Nick

Didn't mean to get you all worked up. The 8 grand bit was hyperbole. I think you misunderstand my posts AND the reason people, in general, post prices of items on this forum -- to show how you can save a little money in the world of high-priced cycling gear. It has nothing to do with inferiority of goods.

Car lights are low, anything reflective will work best low too. Reflective vests or helmets are out of a cars low beam. Seatstays, forks, pedals and ankles should all get the reflective treatment.

Good points. cpblue, I would add that in addition to a reflective vest, what about reflective tape on the bike, or possibly instead of a vest? I recently added reflective tape to the seat/chain stays and rims. I have yet to have the wife follow me in the car to take a photo, but from my driveway tests it is pretty effective reflectivity. I have a red bike and black rims, so put red tape on the seat stays and chain stays, and black tape on the rims (black tape looks white when illuminated), but during the day you can't even tell I have tape on the bike. (That's important if you are vain, like me :p ) Search the forums for reflective tape and take a look at some of the photos. Reflective tape has a lot of advantages: it increases safety in low light conditions, is low cost, you won't leave it at home, etc.

I went to my local safety store and spent a pretty penny on high quality reflective tape. I got some really good red tape and put it all over. It blends in really nicely with the rest of the bike but it makes the bike just pop out while riding at night time.

I have also found that my vest when not in use is a little on the buly side of thing's for my liking. I try and pack as light and small as possible on all my long rides. So I'll give a sash a try as it seems to take up less space.
Also I have a yellow racer relfective triangle stuck on the back of my camel bak.

The other thing you can do is go to your local sign maker shop and "ask nicley" for scarps of reflective material. I was given a huge scrap of white. Which when put on the cranks makes them really stand out at night. Especially from behind but also from ahead.

Get a RoadID anklet for one ankle and a reflective band for the other. The RoadID has a reflective stripe around it, and will give emergency responders contact info in case you get hit. Kills two birds with one stone...

Thanks for all the great responses. I think I'll purchase the road ID and the reflective tape.

cactus creek vest from MEC.
3 pockets in back, cut long for a cyclist.
comes in black with reflective piping, and some other color.

love it, even in warmer weather... it comes off during the day, goes on at night when it typically gets cooler.

i had a amphipod sash and didn't like it much, always riding up and never staying put, and interfering with my jersey pockets.

I use the ankle bands and Sam Browne sash from RUSA. They work, they're comfortable, they're cheap, and they don't weigh anything. They live in my handlebar bag in case my ride goes longer than planned.

A pair of Jogalite ankle bands work for me. Had reflective tape of the stays and fork but narrow width made it harder to see from distance. 360 degrees of reflectiveness constantly moving catches the eye.