Reflective cycling jackets for adults and kids

Who is a reflective jacket for?

It is first of all for those who ride in town as night falls: commuting between home and work in winter, coming home from an evening out, children cycling to school. Reflective materials send light back towards its source, and so towards the eyes of the driver whose headlights are on you, which outlines your silhouette and your movements. Fluorescent colours, on the other hand, stand out in daylight and at dusk. This page brings together fluorescent models with reflective strips and dark, understated jackets whose reflective details light up in headlights.

Full jacket or sleeveless: which cut should you choose?

A jacket with sleeves is worn on its own, like a city jacket, and also makes your arms visible when you hold out your hand to turn. The sleeveless version slips over a coat and goes into a bag when you arrive. Choose a size that leaves room for a warm layer underneath without flapping in the wind. Women's cuts follow the body's shape, and kids' models go for bright colours that make them want to wear them.

What the rules say about reflective clothing

In the UK, the Highway Code advises light-coloured or fluorescent clothing in daylight and poor light, and reflective clothing or accessories such as a belt, arm or ankle bands in the dark. This is advice rather than an obligation: only the rules of the Code written with MUST are legal requirements. Lights, on the other hand, are compulsory there: at night, a white front light and a red rear light, along with a red rear reflector. Rules vary from one country to another, so check those that apply where you ride. A reflective jacket brings extra visibility day to day; it never stands in for lights.

Lighting, reflectors and other equipment

A reflective jacket needs a well-lit bike: see city bike lighting and reflective accessories, from reflectors to strips and clips for the wheels. Mirrors and bells round off everyday safety, and the whole safety and visibility range also covers indicators and locks. Remaining sizes and colours move to the city clothing outlet, recent arrivals to new arrivals.

Which reflective cycling jacket brand should you choose?

Wowow, a Belgian brand based in Aalst that specialises in visibility, offers the Comic Veggie for children, with reflective strips and loops to attach a light, and the Goyo, as well as the fluorescent and reflective Raceviz Poggio for adults.

Endurance, a Danish sportswear brand, offers the Justine and Julliet reflective jackets, with or without sleeves, and the Jive.

Elite Lab, a Danish brand from the same group, dedicated to cycling, offers the Elite X1 as a jacket and as a sleeveless version for women.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see a reflective jacket during the day?

Reflective strips need a light source, headlights or street lighting, to shine. In daylight, it is the fluorescent colour that makes you stand out.

Do you still need lights with a reflective jacket?

Yes. In the UK, the Highway Code requires a white front light and a red rear light at night, along with a red rear reflector, and in Ireland lights are required during lighting-up time. A reflective jacket only reinforces your presence in drivers' field of vision.

Reflective jacket or armband: which should you choose?

An armband is light and makes a gesture visible, such as an arm held out before turning, but its surface stays small. A jacket covers the whole upper body and can be seen from the front as well as from behind.

What if my backpack hides the jacket?

A backpack hides precisely the part most visible to the vehicles behind you. Choose a bag with reflective details, add a reflective cover to it, or carry your things in a pannier bag on a rack.

Is a reflective cycling jacket for kids useful in town?

Yes, especially for the school run in winter, when it is still dark in the morning. Small children easily escape drivers' notice: a bright, reflective jacket picks them out from a distance.