Gear Check: Hitting the Pavement with Reflective Wear

The days are certainly getting shorter and nightfall comes much earlier. I hate this time of year because it's a clear signal to the beginning of the end of a Summer full of outdoor activities. But life goes on - and so should you! But safely - even at dusk it's sometimes difficult to see pedestrians on the roadway, so it's wise no matter what time of the year to make yourself more visible.

If you've noticed, much of our walking/running/bicycling apparel (especially bicycling apparel) is marked or outlined with some type of reflective emblem. Even a little reflective Swoosh from Nike counts - every little bit helps. Our shoes themselves are pretty darn reflective, and efficient at that, because when they're moving, it looks "different" on the roadway and makes it easier for drivers to notice. During cold, dark mornings or dark evenings, I'll usually wear a light fluorescent yellow tech jacket with reflective lines - it's plenty bright when headlights hit it, but it's not always that cold and when you're running, it can warm up rather quickly - at least in these parts.

I always keep a pair of reflective velcro ankle bands handy in my gym bag. The ones I use are made by Jogalite - the yellow bands that use Reflexite - a very bright and reflective pattern that is very eye-catching in the dark. But any reflective band will do and I highly recommend having them if you anticipate any of your activity extending into the dusk or early evening hours. I've had a few close calls when I had a run that lasted into the evening and was caught without any reflective or lighted gear. It's just not worth it - besides, they're incredibly light to wear so there's really no excuse not to.

Another couple items I'll sometimes use for a late walk is a flashing or steady-on red LED marker that's powered by a pair of CR2032 batteries. They drain fairly quickly and I'm not so sure the value is there - ultimately a brighter and more eye-catching reflective material is going to out-sparkle the red LED, so if you can tolerate supplying the batteries and have a little extra room to attach to your belt or pack, then this little gizmo may be right up your alley. My new preference, however, has been for the Runner's World LED Armband - a white reflective material that is also battery powered (single CR2032) and has two modes: flashing white LED and steady white LED. I prefer the steady white as it's like a constant-on reflective band moving back and forth on your arm. Realistically, it's only 180 degrees of coverage on the side you're wearing it on, so keep those reflective ankle bands handy!

Most of these items can be purchased at stores such as REI, Sport Chalet, and the like... fairly inexpensive, too, just make sure to make it a habit to keep your outdoor activities safe!  Have your own version of visible safety-wear? Drop me a line or comment and let us know! I'm starting to look at lightweight Nathan reflective vests - I'll let you know how it goes.