Reflective cycling jackets for better visibility

Visibility jackets come in signal colours and with large reflective elements, usually on the shoulders, sleeves and back.

Surface and position

The jacket is the largest item of clothing on the body and therefore the most effective place for visibility. What matters is where the reflective strips are. Elements on the shoulders and upper arms stay visible in a bent-over position, while a surface on the lower back is hidden by your own body as soon as you lean forward.

Signal colours and reflection complement each other. Neon yellow and orange work during the day and at dusk, reflective strips only at night in headlights. If you ride in the dark all year round, look for both instead of only one.

Pay attention to cleaning. Reflective coatings lose their effect if they are treated with fabric softener or washed at a high temperature. A strip that has visibly become dull reflects much worse than it looks.

Check whether your backpack covers the reflective surfaces. If you ride with a backpack, you also need visibility on the backpack itself.