High Vis Vest?

[susiem]

HI
Just making final rucksack check and wonder if I should take high vis vest as I'll be walking until end of Oct and morning will be dark?

 

[Robo]

Not a bad idea. If your route involves road walking.

Another option that I use is:
Reflective tape on my poles. (if you use them)
Pieces of reflective tape (small patches) hanging off my pack.
The poles really show up bright in car headlights.

Quick shot of one of my poles.

From the top.
Gaffer tape (for repairs of anything)
Reflective tape.
Yellow band for identification. (Pat has different colour)
Reflective Tape
Gaffer tape
Reflective tape
Gaffer tape
Reflective tape

I go through a lot of gaffer tape!
I was using it to repair my shoes last Camino.
Normally I only have the single section of gaffer tape at the top.
The extra two have the normal yellow bands below.

 

[susiem]

Not a bad idea. If your route involves road walking.

Another option that I use is:
Reflective tape on my poles. (if you use them)
Pieces of reflective tape (small patches) hanging off my pack.
The poles really show up bright in car headlights.

I did get reflective tape but it's not sticking on rucksack, but would, I'm sure, stick to my poles, so will take this with me, and will try it 'hanging off my pack' instead of trying to stick it on. Thanks!

 

[Saint Mike II]

If you intend to start walking before sunrise or find yourself walking in low light conditions then some form of “;high vis” garment will, imho, be beneficial.

 

[Robo]

I did get reflective tape but it's not sticking on rucksack, but would, I'm sure, stick to my poles, so will take this with me, and will try it 'hanging off my pack' instead of trying to stick it on. Thanks!

This is how I attach the tape to my pack.

Wrap it around a strap or loop and then stick back on itself. Easiest.

Or........take a piece of tape, fold in half to stick to itself, and hang it off your pack with a bit of string.

I have 5 or 6 of these small 'tags' hanging off may pack.
Lots of places to attach them. They are only an inch or two square.

This is on the 'ice axe' loop.



This is just attached to a compression strap

 

[susiem]

Not a bad idea. If your route involves road walking.

Another option that I use is:
Reflective tape on my poles. (if you use them)
Pieces of reflective tape (small patches) hanging off my pack.
The poles really show up bright in car headlights.

Quick shot of one of my poles.

From the top.
Gaffer tape (for repairs of anything)
Reflective tape.
Yellow band for identification. (Pat has different colour)
Reflective Tape
Gaffer tape
Reflective tape
Gaffer tape
Reflective tape

I go through a lot of gaffer tape!
I was using it to repair my shoes last Camino.
Normally I only have the single section of gaffer tape at the top.
The extra two have the normal yellow bands below.

View attachment 156668

And your rucksack, do you just hang a bit off it?

 

[Robo]

And your rucksack, do you just hang a bit off it?

The photos above, are the bits of reflective tape, hanging off my rucksack.
5 or 6 small pieces. They are 'really' reflective!

 

[susiem]

And your rucksack, do you just hang a bit off it?

I will wrap the tape around straps. That should work. Thanks.

 

[Robo]

I will wrap the tape around straps. That should work. Thanks.

Yep. Easy. Just have a long enough piece of tape, so you can lay the strap across at the middle point, and have enough tape to stick to itself. That leaves a reflective 'flag' hanging off the strap. 5 or 6 of those and you'll light up like a Christmas tree in car headlights!

 

[dougfitz]

In winter or when walking in the dark, I carry a small red light with a flashing setting attached to the back of my pack. It is just a little larger than my thumb.

 

[mspath]

Throughout most of Europe reflective vests are generally sold in large gas stations. Inexpensive and lightweight they are always available in stops which cater to long distance truckers such as the routiers in France....Wear them wherever you may be walking .

For more on reflective vests see this earlier Forum thread https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/reflective-vests.38005/

 

[susiem]

If you intend to start walking before sunrise or find yourself walking in low light conditions then some form of “;high vis” garment will, imho, be beneficial.

Thanks

 

[susiem]

In winter or when walking in the dark, I carry a small red light with a flashing setting attached to the back of my pack. It is just a little larger than my thumb. View attachment 156672

Thanks, that looks just the thing!

 

[susiem]

Throughout most of Europe reflective vests are generally sold in large gas stations. Inexpensive and lightweight they are always available in stops which cater to long distance truckers such as the routiers in France....Wear them wherever you may be walking .

For more on reflective vests see this earlier Forum thread https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/reflective-vests.38005/

Thank you. I will take mine as it's lightweight, and will take the reflective tape too, and perhaps another pilgrim can share some of the tape.

 

[Bothydave]

I did get reflective tape but it's not sticking on rucksack, but would, I'm sure, stick to my poles, so will take this with me, and will try it 'hanging off my pack' instead of trying to stick it on. Thanks!

put the tape in a loop. Open it at either end and sticky side to sticky side you can be sure it will grip and swing to attract attention by virtue of colour and reflectivenes. Mine is still on the back of the bag despite rain hail and shine

 

[williamlittig]

HI
Just making final rucksack check and wonder if I should take high vis vest as I'll be walking until end of Oct and morning will be dark?

HI
Just making final rucksack check and wonder if I should take high vis vest as I'll be walking until end of Oct and morning will be dark?

good idea, consider your pack cover too.

 

[Steven Dwyer]

good idea, consider your pack cover too.

That reminded me to think about my ponch.

 

[pelerine]

I have cut up a high vis vest, part of which I will adapt to go over my pack and part to "shield" my front and thus make me "highly" visible to oncoming traffic.