On a run, you want to be visible from a distance so that cars can avoid you. It’s vital to have good light to see so you don’t trip or otherwise hurt yourself, but I’d argue that it’s equally important to be highly noticeable. That might be blinking lights or bright reflectives – whatever works best for you. These are two products I’ve been trying out lately that work very well and won’t break the bank.
ProViz REFLECT360 Running Jacket ($140)
The ProViz REFLECT360 Running Jacket is lightweight and works well in the rain (there’s also a men’s version). The silvery-color parts are the reflective areas; in other words, the entire front and the frame of the back. The black fabric is a smooth, cool and light material that reminds me of a pair of lightweight nylon shorts I had in high school. It’s very soft and fluid, too. I was worried that the coat would turn out to be a personal sauna because of the material used for the reflective area but the mesh fabric allows plenty of air to circulate. It is also quieter than many running jackets which come with a rhythmic swish-swish noise with every arm swing.
The ProViz is just as effective than other comparable jackets I’ve seen from other brands, and much more affordable at $140. It’s an amazing deal and a really great jacket. This minute-long video shows the REFLECT360 in action:
ProViz has a full line-up of reflective gear for running, cycling and general activity. Their running reflectives include vests, gilets (which is like a jacket without arms, compared to a vest which is more open in the front), hoodies, and jackets. They also have some pretty sweet running tights, shirts, hats and gloves. The company is Canadian, and from the reviews I read, seem to have prompt and friendly customer service.
RunLites: Gloves with (crazy bright) lights in them $34.99
If you hate headlamps, you’ll want to check out RunLites, a U.S. company based in Pennsylvania.
On my first run with the RunLites, I was on my own for a short 3-miler. They work great for providing light on a dark run. They direct the light towards the ground, so if you are used to a headlamp, it takes a little getting used to. What I really liked was that it was almost second nature to light up the area I was heading or to shine the light down a road to make myself more visible to a vehicle.
My second run was a longer one of five miles and I was able to test the RunLites to see if they’d get too sweaty. Nope! They are quite breathable. Even though my fingers were chilly when the run started, the half-length covered the knuckles and below the thumb, which is where I get hives when I’m cold – I have this weird allergic reaction to cold air so I am always the last one to forgo gloves on a run.
RunLites comes in two styles; a regular fleece glove for cold temps (like Bend or Pendleton) and half-length gloves for more mild temps. This keeps your fingers free to skip songs or pause your running tracker. The gloves also have pockets! In the palm, there is a Velcro pocket that could fit a key or folded up money. I was comfortable putting a key in this pocket and running with it, without fear of losing it. There is also a criss-cross tension “pocket” that is the perfect place to hold a gel. If you cycle as well, these look like they’d provide impressive added visibility. I would still mount a light on my bike, but these are extremely bright and positioned perfectly to catch a driver’s attention as you ride.
The one thing I would caution is that if you need to move your hands up to your face to wipe sweat away or blow your nose), you should turn the light off first or you will probably shine it right in your eyes. And it’s bright! Fortunately, they are turned on and off just by pressing on the back of the hand. They are rechargeable and one charge is designed to be good for 48 hours.
The half-length come in three colors: pink (which I got!), navy blue, and camo. Here’s a video to give you an idea of how well they work.
Don’t be a ninja.