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 :thumb:

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.

http://www.mechbgon.com/visibility/class3vest.jpg

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 ;)

I have used the All Electronics strobes on the back in the past. I've destroyed two of them so far. They can't take a lot of vibration, at least when mounted vertically. I may get another and try mounting it horizontally.

Others will probably have better luck; my roads are quite rough. Due to detours lately I've been riding on especially rough roads, and just this week I lost a Cateye taillight due to a fractured metal bracket, had an SKS fender support break, and yesterday I broke an axle.

How about a pup light for Bailey? The link doesn't show the full benefit of the product - it's basically a headlamp that the dog wears as a secondary collar with the light hanging down wear the tags usually hang. It works great for making them more visible and allows the dog to see better too. My Mom has one for her 85 pound mutt, and he won't go out in the dark without his light.

FYI - be careful DRYING those hi-vis garments. Heat can cause the plastic to deform. You then end up with a wrinkled reflective surface - which is diminished from its original reflectivity.

I hang dry all now to avoid future laundering error.

+1.

The only problem with many of those vests is the sizing. Size "Medium" (the smallest they sell) is for a chest size of 44-46"!! :eek:

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c...t_2021_5356065does anyone have experience with this vest?
http://www.alertshirt.com/noname1.html

it says it's cool mesh and ansi II.

Yep. That's mine. Only good experience since last season. I haven't washed it, yet. I'm worried that the yellow will fade out, or that the reflective tape will somehow be damaged.

I'm with mattm about using a reflective sash. The vest is certainly attention grabbing with the ANSI-II rated amount of reflective material on it, but I'm not a fan of the vest. I find it to be annoying as it flaps around on the multiple fast downhills I have on my commute.

The regular 2" Nathan Super Sash is pretty good, but I'm taking it a step beyond: I'm ordering 2" SOLAS sew on and making a full SOLAS reflective kit: Sash, 2 ankle bands, and 2 arm/wrist bands.

I've had this shirt for about a year and a half. During the Summer I'll wear it over a T shirt if it is warm outside. The mesh is not pastic like some vests so this vest is actually comfortable to wear during the Summer. During the Fall and Winter I will make this vest my top layer during darker rides. The high-Vis yellow realy "pops" during low light (but not dark) conditions. The wide 3M tape is extreamly reflective. My wife has followed me home before in her car and tells me that I glow very brightly.

As far as cleaning goes. I've read that you should not wash them more than 12 times. I wash mine about once every 6 months. Being that the shirt is a top layer it doesn't get dirt that fast. So far after 2 washes the shirt looks about the same as when I got it. I see no reason I can't get an other year or 2 out of it before I will consider replacing it.

As a comparison, I was driving home from my parent's house the other day and I through I could see something ahead a little on a dark street. As I got to within about 40 yards out I finally noticed a small barely reflective strip of yellow tape on their backs. When I passed them I noticed they WERE wearing "safety" vests. The quality of these clearly non-ANSI vests was so poor I still almost didn't see them till I was right on top of them. I bet they still paid at least $5 to $7 for one these useless vests. A poor quality vest = false sense of security. Why not spend $11 and get one that REALY works.

I also have added 3M SOLAS tape to my handlebar bag on the sides (the front came with good 3M tape), and also added it to my rear fender and other strategic spots on the frame. So far the tape is holding up well after 12 months of year round commuting (I experience plently of rain and snow during that year).

Happy riding,
André

As you can see from the photos I posted at the beginning of this thread, price does not necessarily relate to effectiveness. The more expensive vest (admittedly, $7 or so) was the worst, the $4.50 one was the best. In fact, my brother is a firefighter/paramedic, and I've put my $5 vest next to his $100's callout gear and tested with a flashlight, and the brightness is about the same.

There certainly are some worthless $7 vests out there. I've also seen some pretty bad $30 vests.

I drove by the address of the Harbor Freight listed on their website but didn't see the place. Are there any other stores that I might find the ANSI II lime vests?

Fargo, ND if anyone knows of any.

I'd just order one from the link above - but its over $20 after shipping :(

I picked up one of these from Harbor Freight and I love it. Of course now my daughter is even more convinced that I'm a dork but that's fine. I tested it with just a small flashlight from about 30' away and it's amazing how reflective it is. I think now the only thing I'm missing from my winter commute list are some home made toe covers for my shoes.

Okay - I'm interested in what you are thinking of doing - I searched the web, but didn't find anything yet...

my homemade toe covers = a plastic shopping bag cut up, my big toes go into the bottom "corners" of the bag. Put on sicks, put on bag (can fit inside shoe, or for really nasty days, all the way up to tuck into tights), put on shoes, pedal.

I ordered this ANSI Class II vest last night:

http://www.safetygearonline.com/imag..._1174,1176.jpg

http://www.safetygearonline.com/imag...74,1176_lg.jpg

http://www.safetygearonline.com/prod...FRlRagodaiF_Ow

I wanted a vest with the contrasting stripes surrounding the reflective material, because I think it's more visible at dusk, in fog, etc. (I ordered mine in "Lime" with the contrasting stripes in Orange). I also like the tearaway features, the sizing (they actually stock smaller sizes to fit non-Bubba's), and the inside pockets.

At $19.99, it's not a cheap vest...but, compared to what I've already spent on lights and reflectors, that's a drop in the bucket. And anything to enhance my safety for winter and night cycling is money well spent.

I should get it sometime next week, and will report back what I find.

And here's some additional tech details on these vests:

• Ultra-Cool™ 100% polyester mesh fabric
• 2" silver reflective material with 4 1/2" contrasting color
• 5-point Velcro™ breakaway
• Pockets:
• 1 inside two-tier, 4-division pencil pocket
• 1 inside right cell phone pocket
• 1 inside lower right patch pocket
• Class II ANSI/ISEA 107-2004

The satin-finish reflective tape reportedly loses significant amounts of reflectivity when wet. If you want the best of both worlds, you might consider stitching on some of the glossy-finish reflective vinyl tape around the bottom. More reflective tape can't hurt :)

Interesting...I'd not heard that.

But wouldn't the the ANSI II standard require reflectivity even when wet? After all, the standard is designed for workers standing next to 55 mph roads, and they're sometimes out there when it's raining.

I haven't looked up the ANSI test standards to see if they include a wet test. I guess an easy way to find out, is to get part of the vest wet and then do a quick reality check with a flashlight.

Here's something to consider that I think is a factor.

A glossy surface does not let water stay on it as well as a mat finish. It's not on a scale where you can look at it and see, it's too small. Anything with water on it (like the road) will not reflect the same, it's impossible. It's easier for me to explain this by using examples. A polished finish gun, or knife, or whatever will resist rust a lot better than a sandblasted mat finish. On an almost microscopic level the water stays on the mat finish better. It's rougher.

I'm thinking the mat finish reflective material can't repel the water as well. Like water rolling off a car that has just been waxed, but drops stay on an old car that is not waxed.
The surface tension is different.

Of course if you add the time it took me to type this and the time it took you to read this, you could have gotten a vest wet and tested it! But I need to do something while I finish my coffee. :D

Thanks very much! I've been thinking about that for a while. This is the first time I have heard of someone actually using one. I think I will try one.:thumb:

I don't have a drawing but what I have in mind is simply a cover that would sit on top of my shoe with a little sewn fabric cup that slips over the front of my shoe to hold it in place sort of like how a rain hood slipes over your head. The back of the cover will have a velcro strap to pull it tight and strap around my ankle or lthe heal of my shoe. The intent is just to block the wind. The tension will keep the toe cup tight and it shouldn't slip off. I'll try to get started on this and I'll post pics when I'm finished.

It's easier, cheaper, lighter, and a little more effective, to put a thin sandwich bag over your toes inside the shoe. Over the sock under the shoe. It can cover more of the front of your foot, it's warmer. I open the fold over flap and it goes on top up to my ankle on the top/front of my foot. More comfortable.
They are more packable too.

Picked up a vest from the harbor freight store today. Not bad for $4.99..

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/pho...4799/94701.gif


Also got a jacket for the colder weather:

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c..._2029_63703199

link: http://www.constructiongear.com/refl...s-3-neese.html