Reflective clothing for running

[LSThiker]

Around my neighborhood, I have a nice greenspace that our HOA uses for running/walking/child recreation.  Unfortunately, due to a drought over the last 5 or so years, a lot of the concrete has shifted and has become uneven.  In certain areas, there is a good 2-3 inch difference between concrete sections.  For running during the day, it is okay.  However, running at night is extremely risky, which I have learned the hard way.  So I am required to run on the roads (as sidewalks are no better).  With the drivers in my area and surrounding neighborhoods (affluent teens and parents), I have been nearly hit 3 times in the last few months and a few have played "chicken" with me even with a full reflective vest and light.  It seems they are getting worse as time goes by, but that is different topic. 

Although I have a number of garments that are reflective as well as a nice reflective vest and belt, I would like to make all of my running clothes reflective.  Although yes prior planning helps, but you know sometimes when you say "oh I am only going to run for a few miles" and it ends up being a lot longer than that.  I do not always bring my vest/belt for a variety of reasons.  For this reason, I try to purchase truly reflective clothing (not just a small 1 in symbol that no driver in the world would be able to see until it is too late).

Nike (Nike Flash) has a nice line-up of running clothes that are truly reflective (the entire garment and not just a small 1 in nike swoosh), but are expensive.  Academy has a lower cost option (BioViz but are limited in options).  In addition, I already have numerous high-visibility (mostly bright green) running shirts, shorts, and pants that I do not want to re-purchase my entire wardrobe.

My question is, are the 3M Scotchlite Reflective garment tapes/fabrics (http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/ScotchliteNA/Scotchlite/) worth anything?  Or will they just repeatedly fall off after laundering unless I sew them?  Are there any better options available? 

[vorteks]

... but you know sometimes when you say "oh I am only going to run for a few miles" and it ends up being a lot longer than that.

Um, no, that has never happened to me. 

[Brad]

http://www.lakeland.com/our-products/hi-visibility-reflective-clothing/leggings-and-coveralls/tsp010-twill-jumpsuit.html



http://www.lakeland.com/our-products/hi-visibility-reflective-clothing/tee-shirts/ansi-class-2-performance-tee.html


Reflective enough for you?

[JC004]

It sounds like you may require a panzerschreck if reflectiveness isn't helpful. 

[Al Sayre]

I was in Walmart the other day and they had shirts like those in the second picture for about $10.  Northern Equipment and Galls also have a pretty good selection of cheap reflective clothing that meets ANSI standards... 

[AirAux]

Wrap reflective tape around your holster and the grip of your gun.  That will often help one with the "chicken" problem..  Just Saying..

[Luis R. Ramos]

I guess I am going to get FLAK!

You have been nearly hit by cars? Then get off the roads! Roads are for cars, not people!

[THRAWN]

I guess I am going to get FLAK!

You have been nearly hit by cars? Then get off the roads! Roads are for cars, not people!

Try again. In most states it is legal for pedestrians and runners to use public roadways when a sidewalk is not present or accessible. The surface agencies within the US DoT have all committed to participation in the Safer People, Safer Streets initiative. It's a good series of programs.

http://www.transportation.gov/policy-initiatives/ped-bike-safety/safer-people-safer-streets-pedestrian-and-bicycle-safety

[jeders]

I guess I am going to get FLAK!

You have been nearly hit by cars? Then get off the roads! Roads are for cars, not people!

Try again. In most states it is legal for pedestrians and runners to use public roadways when a sidewalk is not present or accessible. The surface agencies within the US DoT have all committed to participation in the Safer People, Safer Streets initiative. It's a good series of programs.

http://www.transportation.gov/policy-initiatives/ped-bike-safety/safer-people-safer-streets-pedestrian-and-bicycle-safety

That's all well and good, got the best way to mitigate the risk of being hit by cars is to run somewhere other than a road.

[THRAWN]

I guess I am going to get FLAK!

You have been nearly hit by cars? Then get off the roads! Roads are for cars, not people!

Try again. In most states it is legal for pedestrians and runners to use public roadways when a sidewalk is not present or accessible. The surface agencies within the US DoT have all committed to participation in the Safer People, Safer Streets initiative. It's a good series of programs.

http://www.transportation.gov/policy-initiatives/ped-bike-safety/safer-people-safer-streets-pedestrian-and-bicycle-safety

That's all well and good, got the best way to mitigate the risk of being hit by cars is to run somewhere other than a road.

That's all well and good, but there are places that don't have any other option.

[Ned]

That's all well and good, got the best way to mitigate the risk of being hit by cars is to run somewhere other than a road.

That's certainly one way to mitigate the risk. But it is impractical to run serious distance on sidewalks.

Another way to mitigate the risk is to severely punish drivers who endanger --  or God forbid injure -- pedestrians or bicyclists.

(In my day job, I have actually imprisoned several folks for doing exactly that, and suspended / revoked hundreds of licenses.)

I run a fair bit and I live in a rural area.  The nearest sidewalk is miles away.  When I run on roadways during periods of limited visibility, I wear reflective clothing (usually a USAF PT shirt) along with my GI-issued reflective belt.

(I also run on the left, facing traffic.  I carry my phone.  I've been able to help out a few disabled motorists.   )


Ned Lee
Platinum Award, President's Challenge Program

[dwb]

In addition to reflective clothing, you may want to consider a headlamp. If you run on the correct side of the road for runners, the headlamp will be facing oncoming traffic, which will help make you more visible.

[A.Member]

http://www.lakeland.com/our-products/hi-visibility-reflective-clothing/leggings-and-coveralls/tsp010-twill-jumpsuit.html



http://www.lakeland.com/our-products/hi-visibility-reflective-clothing/tee-shirts/ansi-class-2-performance-tee.html


Reflective enough for you?

I see the non-runners have piped in. 

OP, check out:
http://www.provizsports.com/en_us/

Proviz is not cheap but there's probably not a better product for your needs.  Good stuff.

[PHall]

The Air Force PT shorts and shirt are reflectorized. And the reflective material seems to hold up just fine too.

[Eaker Guy]

In addition to reflective clothing, you may want to consider a headlamp. If you run on the correct side of the road for runners, the headlamp will be facing oncoming traffic, which will help make you more visible.

+1

[LSThiker]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for your responses.  A.Member, thanks for the site.  Surprisingly, I have not heard of them yet.  They are a bit pricey, but look like decent equipment.

Unfortunately, due to work constraints, I have some what neglected my own thread.  I want to clear up a few points of speculations:

1)  When I run on a road at night, I wear a reflective vest and light.  To make an analogy, I look like a Christmas tree running down the road.  One issue arises when I anticipate to run only a few miles (~16 minutes) but end up running for over an 1 hour.  Hence the reason why I just want to make all of my clothes reflective in the event I poorly plain do not bring my reflective vest.  The cars are always head on with me.  In addition, nearly all turns are left hand turns so I am in no way crossing lanes of traffic.  Although there are a few right hand turns but those are in minor road areas and have never presented a problem with the drivers.

2)  When I run on roads (regardless of time), I always run on the left-hand side of the road as close as possible to the curb.  At max, I am 2 ft away from the curb unless I am passing a parked car.  In no way, shape, or form do I run in the middle of the road.  Did not we learn not to do that in 2nd grade?  Although I do admit there are a few "hipsters" and "rebels" that think they can skateboard in the middle of the road and the cars should just deal with them.  Rest assured, I am not one of them.

3)  Games of chicken.  These vary.  For example, I had one "game of chicken" that started with the driver originally being on the right hand side of the road.  I was, as previously stated, on the left hand side.  At some point, the driver ended up behind me on the left hand side of the road barely "missing" me.  Another example, a car that originally was driving in the middle of the road (the roads are not marked) until the person purposely aligned the car ahead on with me.  I narrowly avoid the car. 

A great example was just the other day in which a driver magically lost his passenger side mirror.  Fortunately, cars over the years have had easier to break mirrors installed than those in the past.  Essentially the driver narrowly missed me by purposely aligning his car in my path of travel.  As he drove by within a mere few inches, his mirror "happened to make contact" with my right hand.  The teen driver was not a happy camper needless to say. 

4)  The vast majority of drivers definitely see me in plenty of time.  You can always tell those AD military (as I live in an area with a high military population) as they dim their main lights, slow down to 10 mph to pass, and get as far possible to the other side of the road.  Another issue are those drivers that are really out driving their headlights.  By the way, apparently, it is possible to get to speeds of 70 mph in my residential zone, probably higher if my straight road did not start and end with T-intersections.  These are truly the people I am most worried about when I am running, which is why I want my clothes as reflective as possible.

5)  As I mentioned earlier, the roads are the only safest place to run at night.  The sidewalks and the greenspace are just too risky with the uneven sidewalks.  I have two scars on my right knee and a 1.5x1.5 in road burn currently healing (which will probably develop in a scar) on my left knee that demonstrate my point.  While yes, in an ideal world I would move off the streets to mitigate the risk, it just is not possible.  There are no outdoor tracks accessible to the public near where I live.  Also, there are no other large open parks near my residence that make for great running paths. 

Thank you for everyone's input.  I think I will try the heat transfer material and see the results.