Hi-Viz what colour?

[IrishMilo]

Right after reading this I walked the dogs and there were three riders about 200m ahead of me. Two were wearing yellow and the other was wearing orange, and the orange stood out by far the most.

 

[throwawayaccount]

I think yellow/orange is the best ultimately especially when its getting darker!

however I've hacked out during the day with pink hi viz (sheet, all 4 leg wraps, neck strap and my jacket) and have been told it shows up well- therefore I think in terms of visibility, it depends on how bright the colour is and how reflective the strips are

 

[AntiPuck]

I read an article in Horse & Rider last month (I think) about a study that found that red was the most visible colour, and the one that drivers responded to the quickest. Interesting, as few places seem to sell red, and I hardly see anyone in it.

I'm going for a mix of red and orange, with some flashing lights.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I read an article in Horse & Rider last month (I think) about a study that found that red was the most visible colour, and the one that drivers responded to the quickest. Interesting, as few places seem to sell red, and I hardly see anyone in it.

I'm going for a mix of red and orange, with some flashing lights.

Red is what we have medics in at race meetings, doctors very easy to spot.
All my yard non riding coats are red, I'm easily spotted up the fields by passing friends lol.

 

[Tillymay]

Why are people saying steer clear of pink? I thought pink was proved to be very visible? ?‍

 

[wills_91]

Any thoughts on the equisafety stuff which is a mish mash of colours?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Two riders this morning going past my house as I drove out. One in a yellow hi viz tabard was visible enough but the girl in the brightly lit Sam Browne, 4 red LED’s on the back and 4 white ones on the front were so bright she looked a bit like a landing strip. She also had rear and front lights on her helmet. I almost stopped to congratulate her for being so sensible and safety conscious.

 

[Goldenstar]

I go for pink ,yellow is useless in bright sunshine , orange which I like not so good in autumn .

 

[Goldenstar]

Why are people saying steer clear of pink? I thought pink was proved to be very visible? ?‍

Pink is an excellent all rounder .
I have seen some scary pictures of how bad yellow can be in bright sunlight it worse than nothing in the wrong situation .I have never bought any since .

 

[TotalMadgeness]

Red is what we have medics in at race meetings, doctors very easy to spot.


All my yard non riding coats are red, I'm easily spotted up the fields by passing friends lol.

You can buy hi viz / reflective red exercise sheets off ebay. They are the Harrison Howard ones. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274935883800?var=575212267204

I bought them for Christmas hacking and then added some tinsel and lights...

 

[TotalMadgeness]

 

[PapaverFollis]

I think 'clean' and 'relatively new' is pretty important. I think orange stands up to dirt and time better than yellow. I like pink. I have pink on the horse, orange on me and am usually out with MrPF in a yellow and orange, person-horse combo. We've had a few of the commercial drivers comment on how visible we are - to the point that they can even pick a different route if they see we're on a particular road, they will sometimes go the other way round the block for us. ❤

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Why are people saying steer clear of pink? I thought pink was proved to be very visible? ?‍

I use pink for my mare always have.

 

[Pippity]

I go for orange. Yellow is better in low light but, if I'm hacking in low light, I tend to be so decked out in lights and reflective gear that the colour of the hi-viz isn't that relevant.

I wear workwear t-shirts, long-sleeved t-shirts and hoodies. They cost pennies compared to equestrian gear and, because they get washed regularly, they stay really bright.

(I usually only use the reflective quarter sheet when it's dark enough for lights, but it was so cold that day that I wanted the extra warmth. Otherwise, she'd be in a solid orange mesh sheet. And the leg bands were clean when we set off!)

 

[Pippity]

I think 'clean' and 'relatively new' is pretty important.

The amount of people I see hacking out in a dingy yellow waistcoat that's barely more visible than the horse... But if asked, they'd say they wear hi-viz.

 

[rowan666]

I personally prefer yellow and orange as it stands out more. Recently I was looking at a black vest with hi viz strips that I stupidly thought would look better... I decided very much against it when I saw my friends loaner or rather DIDN'T see her from across the field on a dull day riding in her purple hi viz vest until the horse turned side on and I saw the yellow hi viz on the horse!

 

[HannahB]

I go out the top with the reflective tape as that is what the car driver sees when the headlights are reflected - all other colours would be hidden in the glare. That being said, I often hack in the evening when hi vis colours aren't that visible.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I go for orange mostly. Pink is effective, I just dislike the colour.
red is effective too around here. Having a black pony means anything is better than nothing though.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

My feeling is that Orange is the colour mainly used by Utilities nowadays, so that would be my choice.

 

[Goldenstar]

Orange is not the best choice in autumn

 

[Goldenstar]

I try to buy things with the least reflective stuff as possible .
IME it wears and drops apart the quickest and I never ever go out in anything that be thought of as a dark time of day .

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Orange is not the best choice in autumn

I beg to differ, it very much depends on the riding country. It's easily seen over heathland and woodland where I am.

 

[timefort]

I get laughed at on the yard for my bright orange Aldi cycling jacket. The comments are always along the lines of "wow, we're not going to miss you, we could see you fields away". I'm not sure why that's funny, I thought that was very much the point!!

If gloomy I also attach cycling lights to the back of the saddle and neck band, cyclists and motorists both have commented that because they're at an unusual height and motion they slow down because they can't work out what is ahead.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I beg to differ, it very much depends on the riding country. It's easily seen over heathland and woodland where I am.

works here as well. Red and turquoise also stand out in this type of country but orange is the colour that persists longest in poor light.

 

[Cycling Panda]

Hello everyone, first post. I don't ride a horse (other than one corporate "have a go at Polo" day at Windsor), but I do ride a bicycle recreationally. I am super-respectful around horses - as the club captain once pointed out when I first started, "why would you want to sneak up and surprise something that can kick a hole in a wall?", so it's motivated as much by my welfare as yours.

I would say "anything other than yellow". Pink is best, a combination better still.

I say that because if there are trees by the road and the light is dappled my attention these days has to be at least partly on the road surface - my bicycle does not have eyes and cannot avoid potholes by itself. In dappled light a yellow-clad rider on a brown horse (is brown the word?) is pretty much camouflaged on a bright day. If I'm not far behind you when I shout "bike!" I recognise it can end in a number of ways ...

 

[Northern Hare]

I read that it's good to also wear a hi-viz hat covering, because apparently your eye scans from top to bottom, so a hi-viz hat cover is a really good investment.

When I'm out on my bike l've got a hi-viz cycling helmet along with hi-viz waistcoat or jacket, so hopefully that helps! ?

 

[SantaVera]

a mix of all available colours

 

[Cycling Panda]

Sorry, should have added - flashing LEDs are as important as hi-viz in my opinion. The lumens per £ ratio has improved massively in recent years, as has battery life.

 

[phizz4]

Sorry, should have added - flashing LEDs are as important as hi-viz in my opinion. The lumens per £ ratio has improved massively in recent years, as has battery life.

I ride on the roads with a pair of flashing LED lights front and rear on my helmet. Today, for the second time, a driver slowed, stopped, and said he had seen my flashing light. I was also wearing a fluorescent and reflective jacket, in yellow. My wife rides in a pink fluoro/reflective jacket and has been told that it was easier to see than my yellow set-up.

 

[Loveponies]

On a misty day I had my yellow hat band, orange tabard and pink neck strap hanging on the gate and as I looked over from about 50 yards the pink stood out by far the most. I think it does vary depending on weather and back drop hence I use all three!