The latest technology in safety gear is here and it is fun, bright, and easy to wear! I have to admit when I first saw the Noxgear Tracer360, I was hesitant. Sure the pictures make the light up display look bright and fun – but it was held together by what looked to be an Army Safety Belt. Army Safety Belts have so running jokes that it has it’s own Facebook page (read a fun satire here). However, the light up display caught my curiosity, so I went into the review with an open mind.
Noxgear promises to use Full color spectrum to keep you highly visable. It’s lightweight and supposed to be more comfy than a safety vest. You can wear it during a number of activities and its minimal fabric does not trap in your sweat. The Tracer360 is electricity free, so no extra heat is added. However, that isn’t usually a problem I have found in running safety gear. It has a LED-Blink Battery notification on startup and power down (the light blinks green twice if it is still good), runs on 3 AAA batteries and last about 40 hours.
Some website facts:
- 360 degrees dynamic illumination
- 3M Reflective/Hiviz Safety Belt
- Quick Clip Belt and Dual adjustment
- Lightweight 6.5 oz
- All-season and rain proof
- Full Color Spectrum on light up
- Battery status notification
- Made in the USA
I run in the dark a lot, especially in the winter. After having been almost hit once, and actually grazed another time while running in the dark, I put safety high on my list of things I do not compromise. I have tried a variety of hand lights, blinking lights, headlamps, and safety vests. The Tracer360 was light-weight as promised, easy to use (no need to look up videos to figure out how to put it on) and was adjustable. Besides being comfortable, I liked that I could not see the flashing colors while I was running (or standing for that matter), something that happens often with my beloved Glimmer Gear. Others could, but not me. I received tons of compliments , oohs and ahhs, and two people even slowed their cars to ask me where I got it. The Tracer360 did not bounce either, and I REALLY liked that. I thought the piping would be all over the place, but they adjusted easily and did not bounce or rub.
The Tracer360 has a nice padding on the back and fits comfortably adjusted around my waist. It comes in a variety of sizes, but they can be made to fit smaller. I ordered a Large (27-40 inches), but my daughter found it one day (I had it laid out for a night run the next morning) and brought it to dad to put it on her. See the pictures – itlooks pretty good even on a child (she is six)!
The plastic piping on the product goes around your shoulders and under your arms and illuminates 360 degrees around your body. The colors, from what I could tell, are red, pink, light blue, dark blue, green, orange, purple, and yellow. The colors could be rotated through slow or fast. My husband said he could see me ½ mile away (that was all we tested). The belt is just a standard Army PT belt and they are pretty durable, so the product appears to be made to last.
One possible issue a friend mentioned when discussing her beloved Tracer360, was that after two months she had to remove the batteries to turn it off. I have not had this issue, nor heard this being an issue for others, but I wanted you to be aware of it. I have been using it for about two months, about 20 times, in both light and dark conditions. Over this time I have maxed out at about 6.5 miles, so cannot speak to the belt staying lit up longer than that. However, another great point is that the Tracer360 has a recessed power button to avoid batteries being utilized when not in use, as I have had an issue where I ran with a pair of night beams where one accidently got turned on, and when I went to use it- it was almost dead.
Pros not already mentioned:
- Adjustable Belt & Fits a variety of sizes (to include bundled up people in the winter too)
- Super Bright LED 360 light up illumination in a variety of colors and the ability to flash all colors
- Does not bounce
- Reusable
- Lightweight & Flexible
- Comfortable
- Weather resistant
- Great Customer Service
- Quick on-Quick off
Cons:
- Limited in colors available on belt (Only One)
- Until the lights are turned on- it is not very aesthetic
- Awkward to store when not in use
- Could have a turn-off issue.
I really enjoyed this product (seriously, I have been having a good run of products lately). I felt safe and ‘cool’ looking at the same time and loved the compliments. I have had two friends buy it with my recommendation and love it (one friend borrowed it for a night run then bought it). That says a lot about a product. I believe Noxgear got it right on this one. Giving people everything they wanted in safety gear: fun, bright, comfortable, and easy to use. Although I have been lit up like a Christmas Tree (in many different lights and blinkies) in the past, this is the first piece of gear I almost felt like one!