mountainwalker

Can anyone recommend good ankle straps for securing pants while riding? Is it worth getting ones that are reflective?

JBHoren

• "Blousing Rubbers" -- last you a lifetime
• Only if you ride in the dark

DiabloScott

I like the stretchy kind - they stay tighter and don't slide down like the unstretchy kind.

mstraus

I would say reflective is definitely worth it if you ride a dawn, dusk, or in the dark. I have a pair from REI (can't remember the brand) and I have seen others with them. They are VERY visible when light hits them. I don't use them to hold my pants, as I commute with bike shorts or tights, so can't speak to effectiveness on that.

Hub Spanner

I find traditional bicycle clips better than straps. Easy on, easy off. One-handed.

Mine have a reflective coating. Got them at Palo Alto Bicycles about 10 years ago.

-Hub
t: HubSpanner

joeyduck

Construction supply stores have the best I have seen.

Like these:

High Visibility Wrist Bands / Ankle Bands / Arm Bands Safety Products - EsafetyStore: Reflective Clothing, Flame Resistant Clothing, Hi Vis Vests and Jackets, Cooling Vests, Winter Work Wear

BobbyG

I bought elastic hair bands from the dollar store. But then I have plenty of lighting. That being said, I still believe you really can't have too much visibility.

martianone

I like the J&G brand of pant strap, they have a reflective spot.

exile

I've got the Cycleware reflective leg bands and I like them better than the Velcro straps.

Saving Hawaii

These are really easy and cheap to make if you have any familiarity with sewing. The Velcro parts, needles, and thread can be found in the sewing section at your local Wal-Mart and the nylon strap is available in the camping section. Takes a few minutes to sew on the Velcro parts but it's nice to have cuff straps that are tailor-made for your legs. You can get a really snug and comfortable fit that is 'indexed' so that you quickly find it (transition between the hook and loop Velcro parts at the right spot and leave a gap for the plastic piece to fall into). And they'll last longer than you do if you put enough thread into securing the Velcro.

MichaelW

+1

OhioSam

..

gringo

I'm a fan of wide reflective ankle straps if you ever ride after daylight hours or in low visibility conditions. I feel they improve rider visibility because:

• Your ankles are always moving and reflective gear that is in motion is much more conspicuous than reflective material that is not visibly moving relative to the line of sight.
  
• Your ankles are low (near street level) and always below the headlight lens cutoff level that is prevalent in most late model motor vehicles on the road
  
• The nature of straps is such that the reflective material wraps around your leg. This means that it will reflect light from any angle around a 360-deg horizontal plane. From behind the reflection appears to be moving up and down while from the side it appears to be moving in circles, but in either case..."it appears!"

I prefer reflective straps that use the "reflexite" material such as these from Jogalite:
Reflective Band - Made With Genuine Reflexite in America - By Jogalite (Pair of Two):Amazon:Sports & Outdoors

My opinion (and I have not conducted any robust controlled lab tests) is that the reflexive material reflects better than some of the others especially when wet.
If you only ride during the day, any strap (reflective or otherwise) will serve you well as long as it is relatively comfortable.

westrid_dad

+1

Easy fit, comfortable even if placing over bare skin (warm weather riding), highly visible

spare_wheel

i got tired of using these things a decade ago because they either need to be cinched painfully tight or they fall down. now i typically wear bike-specific clothing or just roll up my pants.

TransitBiker

My bike has a fully guarded chain in the front, plus i wear shorts most of the time unless its impractically cold. But, when i do wear pants, i would probably go for a "hook and eyelet fabric" strap if i ever indeed bought one. I really need ventilation for legs, so an elastic seems unappealing. Clip might be better option. Not sure yet, i have a few months to figure it out.

- Andy

sauerwald

+1

When I was a kid, we used car innertubes cut into rings. One innertube made lots of straps, but alas, cars don't use innertubes any more.

tarwheel 

This is what I use, Jogalite reflective straps. They work great and really show up when headlights hit them.

Jogalite Wide Leg Band 1.5 Inches at REI.com

fietsbob

There is webbing made with the reflective stuff bonded into it ,, some pants straps made of it ,

but DIY and you can pick how long they are .. (I found them a bit short)

RidingMatthew

i have a reflective ankle road id. I dont use it to hold my pants but it would probably work.

sauerwald

I like these, but find that they are longer than I would like.

Manster

I use and like the large Vedante super reflective pop bands. Easy on and off, hold up well.

mountainwalker

Wow that's a load of different bands - thanks for all the suggestions

mountainwalker

Thanks - which model do you use?

mountainwalker

How do these reflect when wet compared with Jogalite straps which are made of plastic?