Best hi-viz motorcycle gear

There’s no doubt that if you want to be seen on your motorcycle, then wearing and using hi-viz clothing and kit is the way to go. It does what it says on the tin; high visibility.

It means you stand out as much as possible from the surroundings and other traffic so that road users see you and are aware of your presence, giving you room and hopefully, not pulling out in front of you.

While some riders despise hi-viz clothing and kit, others embrace it for the additional safety it can offer, particularly in poor weather or darkness – really useful in winter, for example.

There are two main types of hi-viz clothing; coloured (either fluorescent yellow or orange) and reflective, that tends to show up better in other vehicle’s headlights.

Of course, the most visible will be a combination of the two and the majority of hi-viz clothing designed for motorcycles – as opposed to other environments such as warehouses or building sites, for example – will comprise both.

Here is a selection of hi-viz clothing and kit to keep you seen and safe.

Another waterproof, this time in pure reflective as opposed to the familiar fluorescent hi-viz. This jacket from Weise (there are also trousers available to make up a full suit, at £39.99) is not only waterproof, with properly taped seams and a mesh lining for air flow but is also completely formed from reflective material, for full 360° vision to other road users. It’s effective at making sure you are seen as well as staying dry.

What Michael said: "With age, comes wisdom... apparently. And over the years my desire to wear dark colours and be as incognito as possible has been replaced with being keen to be seen. I have however resisted the desire to don fluoro yellow clothing, which is why the Weise Vision over-jacket has been a welcome addition.

"Made from highly reflective material it lights up spectacularly the moment any light is shone directly on it. It also acts as a good additional layer, which helps wind chill and while it’s not 100% waterproof it does a good job of keeping the majority of the elements at bay when worn over your usual bike jacket."

Pros:

Waterproof

Fully reflective

Trousers available

Cons:

Only reflective, not flouro

They have adjustable shoulder and waist straps and comprise both hi-viz material with reflective stripes on the shoulder and waist straps. They come as a two pack and each has its own storage pouch.

Pros:

Portable

Adjustable

Go over any jacket

Cons:

Narrow strips of visibility

It’s a familiar zip-up front, with twin reflective stripes all round and tabs to pull it in at the waist. Its air-permeable fabric makes it less inclined to billow and it’s the classic hi-viz vest.

Pros:

Wear over any jacket

Anti-billow material

Hi-vis and reflective

Cons:

None

The large fluorescent panels will help keep you visible when the rain starts to fall.

Pros:

Keep you dry

Large hi-viz panels

One-piece design

Cons:

Could do with more flouro

Find more rain suits here

I can confirm it is all-day comfortable and will stand out on the road to make sure people know you’re there.

Pros:

Five SHARP stars

All-over hi-viz

Comfortable and well spec’d

Cons:

Bit much for some

It has a mesh lining and comes with CE armour in the shoulders and elbows, with a back protector pocket. It has external pockets and adjusters and there is also a pair of matching trousers available, for £129.99.

Pros:

Full riding jacket design

Waterproof and breathable

Plenty of flouro panels

Cons:

May be a bit much for some

There are also section of padding on the palm, the fingers and thumbs and the wrist while two hook-and-loop closures ensure a good fit.

Pros:

Sporty construction

Good, CE protection

Flouro hi-viz panels

Cons:

Not waterproof

Pros:

Completely watertight

Hi-viz panels for visibility

Easy to carry off the bike

Cons:

None

Find more rollbags here

The hi-viz finish means others will know you’re there, hopefully preventing the airbag to be needed in the first place but if it is, you are protected.

Pros:

Universal-fit airbag vest

Fit over any jacket

Simple, mechanical triggering

Cons:

May not suit all outfits

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