Lighted and reflective gear recs

[Susie]

For the nth time of this training cycle, I had another near miss this morning.  It's always the same thing:  I'm running against traffic on a narrow (~24") left shoulder of a road with no sidewalk, and a car approaches on my left on a side street with a stop sign or a red light.  The driver is turning right, so they slow down just enough to look left, and to appear as though they're slowing to a stop.  But if left is clear, instead of decelerating to a stop, they accelerate through the right turn.  They never actually look right before they turn.  If they did, they'd see me in the shoulder that they cross and sometimes drive in for a short ways.  

Obviously if they aren't looking at all there is not much I can do.  But I'm doubling, tripling down on the gear to be as visible as possible, as early as possible.  Today I was wearing a neon yellow reflective flip belt over my clothes, and a neon pink & orange hat.  It was 7:20-7:30 when it happened, so the sun was up and a head lamp wasn't indicated.

So, ISO recs:  I have some reflective vests (Amphipod and others) but they don't adjust small enough to fit my frame without bouncing.  I'm also thinking something that lights up might be better for these gray days when cars may not have lights on, and I just need to grab the attention of inattentive drivers.  What do you wear, and like, that does not annoy you mile after mile?

Unfortunately my town's sidewalks are super segmented and non-continuous, so although I run on them when they're there, you can't piece together a run of even a few miles staying only where there are sidewalks.  So this is definitely a long term issue.

[brooke77]

Ugh, that not dark/not light time is the worst! Here is what I use that doesn’t bother me:

Light up vest: www.noxgear.com/tracer2 . They also came out with a kids version which may work for you if you are smaller framed. I am 5’8, 120-125 and it gets tight enough for me. I do NOT recommend the lamp attachment. It’s heavy. People have commented that this is super visible.

Clip on lights: www.amazon.com/Running-Reflective-Safety-Light-Rechargeable-Adventure/dp/B09VGT7BNV/ref=mp_s_a_1_6_sspa?crid=3HG2TKSQLGVTR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0zj_4s6txG0ytNkP1h6lifPtIxzSxUKyECQDNrR2tIf4O2SM2jcdtFFvcLNVedOU9n2NtyEo_2KxCN57_AFQ489iym9nLjIj-QCThbtOFoWa0x6m931mcZ9FMyhfNkvqT-vauVs-hKQZqJ3tFCNBfqb-NuIQNPFpfOg4vq0g-0zoGtjiaQ7SHCCupByOm9-nXJ2DQUOwwPZAGLADu3S9pw.DOjviglSg0TRd08FG2Os0mOgNCpiD8GYXiQ8K99hN8U&dib_tag=se&keywords=running+lights&qid=1727362788&sprefix=running+lights%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-6-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1 These are rechargeable and BRIGHT. Can clip to a tank and are light. I love them.

Reflective bands: www.nathansports.com/products/hypernight-reflective-straps?variant=40247664869464¤cy=USD&utm_source=IMM&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_term=21023578058&utm_content=&utm_campaign=21023578058&utm_a=21023578058&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADgiKDLwQa64WhIZ9EjDnmZTJcoik&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjNS3BhChARIsAOxBM6pkvlj7E1877np_FWmshzTpxANtO90gSyUFfveBb4aArbDegDPC-3kaAl5YEALw_wcB I put these on my arms. They don’t slip or bother me. If you’re carrying water, can also loop around your water bottle or ankle if you prefer.

[Susie]

brooke77, I was looking at those... would you rec sizing up or down on the Tracer2?  

The S is 25-36" chest, women's t shirt size XS-M
The M/L is 27-40" chest, women's t shirt size L

Naturally I'm like 34" and a women's t size M or L, and I'm short.

XS-M was the right size for me in the Nathan hydration vest I just got, and I think bigger is not desirable because of the bounce factor.  OTOH bigger will accommodate going over a vest in winter better.  Any input appreciated!

[brooke77]

I would go smaller! The straps are elastic and adjustable, so I feel like they have a lot of give. I wear it on tanks and over vests in the winter and I haven’t had issues with it being too tight. Much more forgiving than a hydration vest.

[sadlebred]

I'd consider putting something reflective on your ankles. People can see the motion.

www.amazon.com/Nathan-Light-Spur-Grey-Size/dp/B0099LRQ2G/ref=asc_df_B0099LRQ2G/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693032873427&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12766157117999541736&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010789&hvtargid=pla-349449436950&psc=1&mcid=f3a3103aaad3324fbdcfbff024920665

www.nathansports.com/products/hypernight-reflective-straps?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&variant=40247664869464¤cy=USD&utm_a=21023578058&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADgiKDLwQa64WhIZ9EjDnmZTJcoik&clickId=15736928&cjevent=aae466817c3a11ef832aea790a82b82d

[campermom]

I went to a safety and self defense presentation one time in my running club and they had an LEO explain some of the research behind driver alertness.

Getting blinking lights on a vest is the safest option, because it disrupts the OODA loop (observe, orient, decide, action) for drivers. I actually see a noticeable difference with drivers slowing down when I were the Noxgear vest. I am 5-4, 160 and my Medium/large is great.

[wawa]

I also have noticed a lot more actual driver attention in my noxgear. Including people visibly doing double takes when there's a group of us all rocking differetn colors and flash patterns because from a distance it look like a UFO landing. there are also amazon knockoffs, but you can snag a good sale on noxgear, and I've been really happy with mine.

I wear a bigger one because I wanted it to fit over all the things, but the sizing is pretty flexible. As long as I don't put it on upside down or anything stupid mine doesn't bother me one bit, and I often walk into starbucks with it still on because I forget I'm wearing it. (unlike many hats,all headlamps, waistbelts, etc which all annoy the shit out of me a few miles in)

I do actually like the chestlight too, but it is heavy, especially compared to the vest, which does change how it hangs, and it annoyingly runs out of battery with zero warning and just shuts off. (unlike the vest which flashes red for at least an hour when it's running low, which I very much appreciate)

Shoe lights can also be good for the same "what the heck is that" OODA loop interruption. They make full on flashlight style, but I used to have a pair of really lightweight blinking lights that went off whenever my feet moved. The trick for me is finding something that's eye catching enough for drivers, but not so disco blinky that i get on my own nerves. We have a ban on full disco mode in my running group because especially in misty halflight dawn it's blinding, but otherwise the noxgear is great.

[laterz]

I tried out my noxgear for the first time a week ago. I also have the chest light. It took a little adjustment and getting used to, but I could tell immediately that it helped as I crossed intersections.

[osulori]

Ditto the Noxgear vest (I have the OG Tracer) and their chest light-it clips into the front fasten on the vest which I really like. No more having to hunt down my head lamp!

[Susie]

Thanks all - I ordered the Tracer2 in a small, hopefully it fits!  I figured if I err on the smaller size my XC running DD might be able to use it too, as she grows into running more.