Unless you frequent nightclubs, reflective clothing has only one function in your life: stayin’ alive.
That wasn’t a clever John Travolta reference.
Call it high viz, hi vis or even day glow, it’s all the same bright yellow or orange clothing striped in reflective ribbons.
Even if you suffer from Saturday night fever, you will more likely save your hi-viz sweatshirts and reflective raingear for inclement weather, and only when someone is paying you to wear it.
But enough confusion. Let’s agree to call it by its proper name: high visibility workwear, in the case of this blog, the rain gear sort. Note that didn’t read, “rave gear.”
There’s a very good reason the best rain gear for working isn’t the best rain gear for disco dancing. It’s obnoxious, and that’s by design. That way cars can better see you when that blanket of cloudy darkness snuffs out the sun.
To be ideal, safety rain gear needs to not only keep you safe, it needs to keep you dry, and wear comfortably.
That’s a tough order to fill, but it’s a challenge we’re up to taking on. These are the high visibility workwear clothes you want to own for days when you’ve got the blues.
First, let me see your high visibility options
High Vis Vests with Pockets
Possibly the simplest and most versatile high visibility article you can own is a vest. As such, it’s also the item that offers the most features and styles. That said, it won’t do much as a stand alone against the rain.
Your employer will have something to say about your vest’s features. Also, the laws where you make your money might also influence your choices. That stated, three options rise up to the top, ranked by best bang for your buck, most featured, and most durable.
The Key ANSI II class 2 vest is not the cheapest of the economy vests, but it does offer a good value for the price. Unlike many vests which look closer to yellow than day glow yellow, this vest is slightly green in color.
That not only makes it stand out from the rest, you know it will show up against any background. Getting in and out is easy with velcro enclosures. This is a no-nonsense solution for anyone on a budget.
If it is more features you seek, the Portwest Berlin executive vest has more to offer than many winter coats. The fabric is a simple polyester warp knit so it will hold its shape.
That’s neither here nor there, but the number of pockets on this vest is ridiculous. There’s one for your phone, one for your pen, two more on your hip, and two up on your chest.
It has an ID holder so you can keep your hands free, and a tab to run a mic closer to your mouth if you’re always on the phone. This vest zips closed so you know it will stay that way until you want it open.
Hopefully, if your work has you working near flames or electricity, you have more than a vest on. That said, when duty calls for some roughnecks, there’s no time to consider every article of clothing as you suit up.
For these hard-working Americans, the Portwest flame resistant vest is the way to go. They built it similar to the executive vest, but with fewer bells and whistles.
There are no extra pockets and mic tabs, but it will take the heat with two-inch flame-resistant tape. The enclosure is hook and loop, one of the oldest methods known to humans because it always works.
All three make fine vests for safety.
Reflective Hoodie
Is there any piece of clothing more versatile than the hoodie? Thanks to Silicon Valley, the hoodie has even stepped into executive meetings.
It’s highly unlikely that today’s high visibility hoodies will ever see the fluorescent-soaked mahogany tables of your local board meeting, though. They steal way too much thunder.
Speaking of storms, they definitely keep off much of the rain while keeping you visible, but none will keep you as dry as a rain jacket. The most impressive reflective hoodie we know of is the Bulwark hi-visibility pullover.
It’s not only a blend of cotton and synthetic, making it ideal for slowing down the rain, at least long enough to seek shelter, but it also protects against fire.
That’s right. This hoodie is arc rated at ATPV 20 calories/cm². It’s as cozy as it is protective. It even comes with a large hand warming pocket for chillier days or when you don’t have gloves handy.
What’s more? You can throw this hoodie in with the rest of your laundry at home.
Let me peek at that Bulwark hoodie
Reflector Work Shirts
This is a category that’s almost too broad. Beyond the categories of short versus long-sleeves, shirt button up and they pull over. Some have collars, others are crew neck, and other yet are v-necked.
Let’s start with the pullovers, moving from short to long-sleeves, then get into buttons moving from short to long again.
To get into the most comfortable no-nonsense t-shirt style in the high visibility category, go with the Portwest cotton version.
It won’t keep you dry in the rain, but it will keep you comfortable under your rain gear, adding a layer of soft fabric to absorb moisture and buffer any synthetics.
When the rains clear, you can drop down to this layer and still meet safety standards. They make a pocketed and long sleeve version of this shirt too, but this one is the most versatile.
If you want to go long-sleeved, take a look at Carhartt’s Force high visibility pocketed shirt. It’s 100 percent polyester so it will dry fast when needed, and deliver’s Carhartt’s venerable brand promise of quality.
This class 2 safety shirt will not stretch or shrink even after endless washing. As a bonus, it has a breast pocket for stashing a pen or other lightweight objects.
Red Kap’s class 2 or class 3 buttoned short-sleeved shirts both come in fabric blends ideal for comfort and wicking.
They’re both electric yellow, offering 360-degree visibility with either single or double striped reflective lines as your particular job requires. Because it’s a brand like Red Kap, you know it will last longer than the hills, and it will fit well too.
For long sleeves, look at Bulwark’s line of options. They offer several styles, depending on your work and title. Because they’re Bulwark, these shirts are also flame resistant.
The hi-visibility color block uniform shirt will work for most jobs, offering 360-degree visibility in a shirt that’s arc rated to ATPV standard of 8.6 calories/cm².
It comes in one color option, a two-tone yellow and gray. Bulwark’s enhanced visibility uniform shirt is arc rated the same, made of the same cotton and nylon blend, but comes in a slightly more professional and military look.
If that’s not enough, the 8.7 calories/cm² rated dress uniform shirt with CSA reflective trim offers a premium look.
Made of cotton and nylon too, this shirt is more tailored than the rest but still goes in the wash with your regular laundry.
Show me all the best high visibility shirts
Rain Bibs
One cannot leave the house without pants, and if it’s raining out they’d better be bibs.
Unless you’re working in the freezing rain, in which case you ‘ll want to consider a quilt-lined pair of bibs, a rain bib from Bulwark will cover you in most scenarios.
Their flame resistant hi-visibility rain bib overalls not only keep you dry from the rain, they keep you safe from the temps as high as 19 calories/cm². That’s huge protection for your body.
These bibs come with a nice feature where the inside of the pant legs cinches closed to keep out rain splashes from below. With a good pair of boots, you’ll fear nothing in these pants… er, bibs.
Bulwark is my brand. Let me see those bibs.
Safety Raingear Jacket
The pièce de résistance of the “Hi-Vis Rain Gear” showdown is the shell that protects you from the rain above.
All the brands mentioned so far make a version of this jacket, but Portwest makes the most variety of waterproof high-visibility jackets. The great thing about a brand like Portwest is you don’t have to spend your retirement money to purchase a quality piece of workwear.
Year after year, you’ll stay dry and safe in the Portwest 3-in-1 bomber jacket. It’s basically three competent jackets in one, depending on how you stack it. There are two parts, which you can wear separately or together, an inner sweatshirt, and an outer jacket.
Both have high-visibility reflective stripes. Both are polyester, so they’ll dry fast and repel tons of water. Both are comfortable as heck.
The inner jacket won’t so much keep you dry as it will wick away any moisture from your body as you work. That will help keep you from getting cold, even if you feel some sweat forming.
The outer jacket comes with several key stash spots, a radio pocket on the left breast, and two lower front pockets. It also has an inner pocket for things like cell phones, and a sleeve pocket for whatever you need most handy.
Put all of these together with some blended socks and a pair of rain boots, and you could be a superhero for any occasion.
Just don’t get any funny ideas about dance floors. You’re more likely to draw the attention of security.
Take me to your high visibility deals right now
About the Author
Nick Warrick
Nick Warrick is the Sales Manager at All Seasons Uniforms. With over 15 years of experience in the work uniform business, he has worked with hundreds of clients across 20 different industries. Holding bachelor’s degrees in both Business Administration and Information Technology, Nick revamped the company’s online presence, offering its customers a new uniform shopping experience.