Fixed. That low-quality stuff would fail miserably at earning an ANSI rating. Aim a strong light at some Avery Dennison Omni-Brite reflective tape, or another high-quality reflective tape found on an ANSI Class II/III vest, and you'll see the difference, big-time

Sample: my previous reflective vest in daylight, with the camera flash set on LOW. That's Omni-Brite tape there. My new vest also has Omni-Brite.



In point of fact, the vest in the photo is ANSI Class III, despite lack of sleeves. But nowdays you don't see Class III vests without sleeves; as I understand it, Class III requires so much material that sleeves or Class E pants are the only practical way to achieve it.

I think this is a great thread, because it shows that all that glitters is not gold, and that people should do a reality check when buying a reflective vest. My opinion is that the ANSI-type vests are generally preferable to the "sports" vests such as Nathan's. Part of the reason is the neon-lime color, and part of it is the sheer amount of reflective material it takes to get an ANSI II/III rating. Plus, any time I can dust some roadies while looking like a complete Fred, that's just bonus points for the humiliation factor