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On average, a pedestrian gets hit by a car every 75 minutes. I don’t know how often they do it on purpose, but I can confidently say reflective running gear could reduce the risk. I know that’s some 60 percent of the time, it works every time logic, but it doesn’t make it untrue.
To avoid pedestrian and motor vehicle collisions or unintentionally evading search and rescue teams when you’re lost in the woods, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that you carry a flashlight or wear reflective clothing. In this article, we’ll highlight the best reflective running gear to cover yourself from head to toe, just in case.
- Best Headlamp: Petzl Swift RL
- Best Vest: Amphipod Xinglet Reflective Vest
- Honorable Mention: Salty Lance Glow Belt
- Best Jacket: Proviz Reflect360 Running Jacket
- Best Clip-On Light: Nathan Running StrobeLight
- Best Flashlight: Nathan Terra Fire 400 RX Hand Torch
Best Headlamp
Petzl Swift RL
Pros
- Reactive lighting or standard lighting
- White and red light included
- Long battery life
Cons
- Micro USB
- May loosen during run
Product Specs
- Light output: 900 lumens
- Weight: 100 grams
- Beam pattern: Mixed
- Energy: 2350 mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (included)
- Charging time: 6 hours
- Watertightness: IPX4 (weather-resistant)
- Certification(s): CE
Why It Made The Cut
- If we had to pick one, we’d pick the Petzl Swift RL. It has name recognition and at the end of the day, it performs.
Best Vest
Amphipod Xinglet Reflective Vest
Pros
- Material is chafe-free, soft, and breathable
- 360 degree reflective coverage with front and rear reflective panels
- Fully adjustable for both height and waist
Cons
- Looks stupid
Product Specs
- Waist: Waist adjusts from 27 to 47 inches
- Shoulders: Shoulders adjust from 16 to 21 inches
- Mechanism: Front access “Swift Clip” quick-release for fast on/off
Why It Made The Cut
- The Amphipod Xinglet consists of a few reflective straps and a quick-release buckle, so it’s easy to use and effective — as long as you remember to wear it over your clothing.
Honorable Mention
Salty Lance Glow Belt
Pros
- You can put it around your waist or cross body
- So cheap, you could double up if you want
Cons
- You’ll get in trouble if you forget it
Product Specs
- Waist: Adjustable 18- to 49-inch length
- Material: Polyester
- Mechanism: Quick-release buckle
Why It Made The Cut
- If you’re all about doing the bare minimum, the Salty Lance Glow Belt is for you. It’s a military-style glow belt that, uh — it’s a glow belt.
Best Jacket
Proviz Reflect360 Running Jacket
Pros
- Mesh lining
- Zip guard and lock zip
- Elastic waist
Cons
- Ruins pictures with flash photography
Product Specs
- Material: 100 percent polyester and reflective
- Weight: 170 grams (size variable)
- Pockets: Two side pockets
Why It Made The Cut
- The Proviz Reflect360 Running Jacket is radioactive — at least, it looks radioactive. If a driver hit you while you’re wearing it, they meant to do it.
Best Clip-On Light
Nathan Running StrobeLight
Pros
- Battery lasts 60 hours on standard mode and 110 on strobe mode
- Clips on just about anything including waistbands, vests, helmets, shoes, etc
Cons
- Two-pack sometimes sold out
Product Specs
- Power: Battery-powered
- Watertightness: IPX3 and IPX4 water-resistant
- Dimensions: 5.12 x 0.79 x 5.52 inches
- Light source: LED bulbs with eight lumens
Why It Made The Cut
- It’s hard to find somebody who doesn’t like the Nathan Running StrobeLight. The little LED lights are simple, compact, and not as obnoxious as reflective clothing.
Best Flashlight
Nathan Terra Fire 400 RX Hand Torch
Pros
- Uses a grip-free design with adjustable hand strap
- Battery life: 12 hours (low), 6 hours (medium), 5 hours (high)
- Recharges via USB port
- Offers standard and strobe functionality
Cons
- No alarm
- Light angle not adjustable
Product Specs
- Dimensions: 13.74 x 3.7 x 1.81 inches
- Weight: 6.1 ounces
- Power: 400 lumens
- Light source: LED
- Battery: Rechargeable battery
- Watertightness: IPX4 weather-resistant
Things to consider before buying reflective running gear
There isn’t much to know about reflective running gear other than it makes you more visible in low visibility situations. When you consider buying reflective gear, make sure it reflects light or emits light. It may seem silly, but it’s better to wear it than to be one of the 7,000-plus people hit by cars each year or the 1,600 poor souls who have gone missing on public lands.
With that said, both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Parks Service recommend a few other things as well if you plan on doing a little night adventuring. Besides wearing the proper clothing and bringing the right gear, they recommend using common sense. Their tips include knowing your route, obeying signage, looking both ways before crossing roads, not staring at your phone while you’re walking, and avoiding strenuous activity while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
FAQs about reflective running gear
Q: Should you wear reflective clothing when running during the day?
A: No, you don’t have to. In fact, the Army recently said you can stop. However, it’s good practice to wear reflective clothing when there’s low visibility outside, like during a rain or snow storm or heavy fog.
Q: How many lumens do I need for running at night?
A: It depends on your preferences. While a higher lumen count will give you more light, it’ll also drain the battery. Therefore, you’ll want a light with a few hundred lumens that has adjustable light levels, so you can have greater visibility when you need it and save battery power the rest of the time.
Q: Should I run with a headlamp?
A: Yes, it’s often recommended that you wear a headlamp if you go trail running at night. But if you’re running in a well-lit place, then it’s unnecessary, but totally up to you.
Final thoughts
If you only buy one thing from this list because you need some reflective clothing, buy the Amphipod Xinglet Reflective Vest. It’s a highly reflective vest that you can use year-round. If you want to buy something else for visibility, then buy some Nathan Running StrobeLights. They’re easy to use and, again, you can use them year-round and for multiple activities.
Methodology
For this article, we looked at government data to learn more about what you should wear and do to avoid injury during low-visibility hours. We also relied on our research team to identify product categories. Using those categories, we combed through e-commerce sites and independent publications to find the best recommendations. After compiling a list of five to 10 items for each category, we narrowed the selection by reviewing the products ourselves or reading user reviews.