Is pink, orange or yellow hi viz better?

[Darbs]

Don't get hung up on it. The point is any hi-viz is better than none.

Its a moot argument whether orange or yellow is 'better'. While the rail industry may use orange, airports use yellow (or both) as do motorway workers. I have spent the last 25 years specifying safety equipment in high risk environments, including for an airline, and we have simply said it must comply with UK law, which only recognises fluorescent yellow or fluorescent orange.

I have dealt with many fatal accidents where someone not wearing hi-viz has been crushed to death because they were not seen at all, but I have never had an accident where they were killed because they were wearing the 'wrong colour' hi-viz.

 

[*Sahara]

Combo of orange and yellow

 

[Darbs]

Combo of orange and yellow

Now you're talking! Interestingly a few years ago I had this very same argument at work (which colour was better), and we ended up sourcing hi-viz jackets with an orange body and yellow shoulders. One thing was for sure, you wouldn't win any hide-and-seek competitions while wearing them!

 

[twiggy2]

Yellow is considered superior here, but the colour alone isn't what makes hi-viz clothing, its the class rating on the reflective strips which come in different grades. The highest grade of visibility which is suitable for motorway traffic in most weather conditions is class 3, which comes in both yellow and orange, but never pink. I bought my jacket and reflective strips from a construction site with grade 3 hi-viz clothing - I've never found any horse gear that comes in the highest grade, even though it's what we really need!

Surely if you are riding in daylight (I hope people are) and cars do not have their lights on there is no light to reflect of off the reflective bits? So the strips are leas important than the colour.

 

[fattylumpkin]

Surely if you are riding in daylight (I hope people are) and cars do not have their lights on there is no light to reflect of off the reflective bits? So the strips are leas important than the colour.

Cars in this country have their headlights on all the time by law, and motorcyclists and certain other vehicles at home in the UK are encouraged to have their headlights on in daylight for the sake of visibility Not to mention - sunlight has a similar effect, just hardly noticeable. It's when light conditions start to lower, especially when it's time for cars to start thinking about putting on their headlights in the UK, but not quite sunset, that this problem really becomes noticeable.

And no, some of us have to ride in less than ideal light conditions for a number of reasons, mainly work.

 

[pansymouse]

In heath and safety circles the rule of thumb is yellow for low light, pink for bright light and orange for all light conditions. I work in the waste industry and all our kerbside and facility operatives wear orange.

 

[Casey76]

Surely if you are riding in daylight (I hope people are) and cars do not have their lights on there is no light to reflect of off the reflective bits? So the strips are leas important than the colour.

I'm not sure about the UK, but in Switzerland it is law that you have daylight running lights on permanently. In France we are encouraged to have daylight running lights (though I'm sure most modern cars have them as standard now).

As an aside, one of my friends has a Horseware reflective coat ( http://www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk/horseware-reflective-corrib-jacket.html ) and it works really well in sunlight too!

 

[applecart14]

Pink stands out more than any other colour in my opinion. However I have all yellow hi viz and wear two flashing lights on the offside hind leg and one on the offside near leg and have a hi viz exercise sheet. I wear a yellow fleecy type of hi viz coat in the winter with my air jacket over the top that also has a flashing yellow hi viz band on it and a hi viz hat band.

I get the flashing bands from Aldi four for £4.99 - here is the exact same product on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Time-...325503?hash=item1eb4804abf:g:g48AAOSwyKxXh1Uu

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Yellow is good on dull days, pink is good on sunny days, orange seems to be good on both, British rail use orange

There are some manufactures who have combined colours for this reason. I used to find if it was sunny yellow blended in with the trees when we used to ride in the woods, or tree lined lanes

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Surely if you are riding in daylight (I hope people are) and cars do not have their lights on there is no light to reflect of off the reflective bits? So the strips are leas important than the colour.

The sun reflects off it

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

In certain light such as you get in spring/summer when the trees and foliage are very green, as well as the fact that in certain areas there's Rapeseed growing which is bright yellow and therefore makes yellow hi-viz hard to see! then probably IMO lime-green/yellow isn't the best possible colour to use at that particular season.

Whereas pink or orange is more likely to stand out perhaps?

Coupled with this is the fact that orange is the colour most often used by road-workers, construction workers, Railway and other employees, and one therefore wonders whether tests and trials have indicated that orange is the best colour to wear for hi viz?

Tho' the police and other emergency services are still (round here anyway) wearing lime green/yellow hi-viz............

Hmmm, jury still out I reckon.

I've got hi-viz in every colour going! And frequently combine the colours (yeeeuuuccckkk!).

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

I am the Hi Viz queen!!! I ride in the dark most mornings so need a lot of hi viz.

I have a yellow hi viz Amigo exercise sheet for horse.

And for me...

A pink hi viz puffa waistcoat for summertime. Pink or orange is best in bright summer sunshine and pink best for autumn.

In the depths of winter, A Mole Valley hi viz yellow coat for cold days (it is the best and most waterproof coat I've ever had)
A glow in the dark night rider coat for riding in the dark - when the light shines on me, its like I'm on fire or a giant lightbulb!!

It was a lovely sunny day on Sat so I rode in my pink waistcoat and hi viz exercise sheet. You can't fail to see me.
None of the other hunting people round me seem to wear hi viz and probably think I look ridiculous but the way I see it, you CAN see me... from a long way away. That's good enough for me!!

 

[milliepops]

another hi viz clasher here

I am often out in slightly murky conditions this time of year so we go for the multi-dazzle effect. Pink, orange, yellow, loads of reflective strips to catch the headlights from miles away, you name it. I blinged up a walker rug for ride and lead with extra reflective tape so it's almost as reflective as the megabucks horseware ones.

Ended up with a loose horse on the road this morning (long story !) so though the lanes were quiet, I was glad we were dressed to the nines as usual.

In oilseed rape season yellow is useless so I always try to buy a good mix

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

I actually asked Premier Equine if they could make a hi viz reflective walker rug for horses that are being led. They replied saying something along the lines of it takes months to get the spec right for a rug and that was it.

I really think these companies are missing a huge trick here with the walker rugs. Its all very well for the rider to wear hi viz but if they are leading a horse, that should be just as visible.

 

[milliepops]

I actually asked Premier Equine if they could make a hi viz reflective walker rug for horses that are being led. They replied saying something along the lines of it takes months to get the spec right for a rug and that was it.

I really think these companies are missing a huge trick here with the walker rugs. Its all very well for the rider to wear hi viz but if they are leading a horse, that should be just as visible.

caroline, I spent about a tenner on 10m of reflective tape on ebay, and an hour with the sewing maching whizzing it onto my rug. I've gone all round the neckline, around the back of the rug, and several strips up the length of it, so she's visible from all directions.

I certainly notice it when we tuck into gateways if I've got the led horse next to traffic (happens occasionally depending on where it's sensible to stop on single track road) - she's ultra visible

but yes it's disappointing that this isn't already easy to get hold of, but I guess the market is a bit limited compared to normal exercise sheets.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

caroline, I spent about a tenner on 10m of reflective tape on ebay, and an hour with the sewing maching whizzing it onto my rug. I've gone all round the neckline, around the back of the rug, and several strips up the length of it, so she's visible from all directions.

I certainly notice it when we tuck into gateways if I've got the led horse next to traffic (happens occasionally depending on where it's sensible to stop on single track road) - she's ultra visible

but yes it's disappointing that this isn't already easy to get hold of, but I guess the market is a bit limited compared to normal exercise sheets.

Great plan!! Thanks for letting me know. I love reflective strip stuff - I can find my horse in the field in the dark as he's got strips on his rug. Will go and search Ebay now!

 

[Kezzabell2]

I mix it up!! horse has a yellow sheet and I wear pink! that way they can't say I blended in with the trees

 

[xgemmax]

I think a mix is best. I have a yellow exercise sheet and a pink running coat that I wear to ride in. Mean to get some orange leg wraps too when I see some

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

The Parcelforce man has just turned up in orange hi viz. That is very bright indeed!!