Reflective Backpack
 

It's getting dark here in the northern wastelands of flyover country, so I put on my reflective vest this morning, then I donned my dark red backpack. I thought to myself, why would I wear a reflective vest, then cover it up with a backpack? So I noodled around the intertubes and came across a review of this backpack. The reviewer asked: why would you wear a reflective vest, then cover it with your backpack? Duh.

So I ordered one of these today from a web site in the UK that specializes in hi-viz safety stuff:

http://www.icu-ucme.com/shop1.php

It arrives next week.

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"The Visi-Bag.

"Want to take stuff to work or play and have no room ?
"Don't want to fit panniers or top-boxes ?
"Don't want a hi-vis vest ? Solve all these problems in one go. Especially designed with Motorcyclists in mind, theses tough bags have shoulders straps which store neatly into their own zipped pocket, so the bag can be carried with the top loop."

"The High-Vis rear panel with reflective banding folds back on itself when you are off the bike.

"The inside of the bag has many pockets for wallets, keys,documents etc etc. Keep your stuff dry and clean, and be seen on the road.

"Conclusion
"I almost always carry a shoulder bag (aka "messenger bag") with a laptop, pad, camera, pens, cell phone and other goodies wherever I go, so I have many opinions on what works and what doesn't. The Visi-Bag is a very usable bag that holds a surprising amount of kit in a surprisingly small amount of space."

"It only weighs about 1 lb., 8 oz. (about 700 grams) when empty, and its vertically-oriented shape fits nicely on one's back. It doesn't get in the way when riding, and it works better than most when off the bike also."

In the UK the most common reflective back pack covers are the stuff sold by Respro. They have the advantage of being able to use any suitably sized backpack rather than buying a new bag.

http://www.respro.com/
http://www.respro.com/products/urban...ty/hiviz_hump/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/respr...-hump-zoom.jpg

I saw that on probikekit. Great idea.

Thanks for the link. I've been looking for a reflective bag. When I ride in the mornings, it's always dark and I use any reflective item I can wear. They take Paypal too! Paypal is my friend.
Ernest

My bailey works super pro has a big reflective strip that works pretty good.. not as hardcore as those, but I like it.

http://www.bhop73.com/pictures/sun.jpg

Is that Respro cover waterproof? That would be a nice touch.

That may be good on a (non-sport) motorcycle, but unless you cycle in a very upright position there will not be much effective reflective surface area pointing to the rear.
The largest effective area of most cyclists (regardless of BMI) is their butt, not their upper back.

Al

They have various models, some waterproof and some not.

+1 Good call!

Also, reflective tape on various parts of the helmet (edit - or hat/cap for non-helmet wearers) help a great deal as well.

I am looking at one of these and asking a co-worker to sew on some reflective tape....
http://www.ebags.com/mountainsmith/r...?modelid=89037

I like Mountiansmith stuff and sometimes these go on sale.....

I'm in process of sewing a knockoff of a Chrome messenger bag.. except in waterproof fluorescent yellow-green w/ huge amounts of reflective piping. I will post pics as soon as it is finished :-)

I am cheap and spending 45 dollars on a cover is too much when I can get another hi vis vest and put it around the backpack for less than 10 dollars... and I have another bag to use inside the pack to keep things dry...

Why the backpack...
 

[QUOTE=markhr;7613483]In the UK the most common reflective back pack covers are the stuff sold by Respro. They have the advantage of being able to use any suitably sized backpack rather than buying a new bag.

http://www.respro.com/
http://www.respro.com/products/urban...ty/hiviz_hump/




I did see the various backpack covers, but eliminated them because my commute is a mix of bike and train, and I don't want to be fumbling with a cover. And, I do want to preserve my old backpack for other purposes, so I do in fact want another backpack. And, this one's relatively cheap - US$30 or so. And my bike is a Trek 7300 hybrid, with a fairly upright riding position, so this works for me.

The idea of reflective tape on the butt of my overpants does have some merit, though! :thumb:

Nice looking stuff.

I took a safety vest and removed the reflective tape and had it sewn onto the flap of my Chrome bag and along the strap that crosses the chest. The strip is about an inch and a half wide(?) and it goes along the whole flap edge. Too bad the sewer took the other strip and sewed it to the front/against my back side rather than along the bottom of the bag like I wanted...oh well. Still works good and a few blinkys below the tush area help me out. My girlfriend says I look like a dork with all my lights so I take to be a good thing

I never figured out a good way to make my butt reflective, so I put reflective tape on the bottom of my backpack. I also put some on the top of the front straps, by my shoulders.

I think reflective trim should be required on backpacks, considering how many school kids use them.

Before I switched to panniers, I found that an extra-large vest fit over me and my backpack. :eek:

Wax and Polish. One of those orbital buffers they use on cars. Shine it right up. :D

My stepson does this. He looks like a hunchback and frightens small children.

I use a backpack. I bought for about $5 a yellow reflective triangle and sewed it on the the pack. I put it half way down under the bottom, so when I am in the hoods, (as I mostly am) it will show kinda straight.

There's a company that makes dayglo yellow and bright orange courier bags.

I just ordered a Banjo Brothers backpack, it has reflective racing stripes that are pretty cool.

I just always put my Reflective Vest over my backpack as well. Never had any problems with it. Although I go with panniers now.