Best hi-vis cycling jackets 2025 — be safe in low-light conditions

If making sure you’re seen by other road users is your primary safety concern – and it probably is – Proviz’s Nightrider jacket couldn’t do much more to help. This is a very impressive high-vis/reflective jacket for wet and dark – or even bright and dry – conditions.

It’s made from two types of fabric: super-loud yellow (orange is also available as a colour option, as is pink in the women’s version) and Proviz’s Reflect360 fabric at the shoulders and tail. Whatever the light conditions, chances are that you’ll be seen in this.

The effect of Proviz’s yellow material is clear to see in daylight, while the Reflect360 material is incredibly impressive at night, shining out brightly when it’s hit by even the faintest light.

The waterproofing is flawless and breathability is surprisingly good, keeping you comfortable even on harder rides. The sleeves are long enough to be comfortable and the drop tail keeps you covered out back.

All things considered, this is a very, very good cycling jacket.

Altura offers lots of clothing designed specifically to ensure you’re seen on the road. The Altura Nightvision Storm Waterproof jacket is a great option for commuting, offering huge amounts of visibility and weatherproofing. It breathes well enough for most commutes, although you might want a higher level of breathability for more intense activity.

Reviewer George Hill used this jacket in very heavy rain and found that absolutely none got through. A great start! As well as using a waterproof fabric, this is helped by drawstrings around the neck and waist, and Velcro straps at the wrists. Zipped vents under the arms and a large vent running across the back, under the shoulder blades, help manage humidity.

The Nightvision Storm shines like a beacon when light hits it. High visibility dots across the shoulders, sleeves, down either side of the body and around the neck mean that you’ll certainly be spotted in this.

The Altura Nightvision Storm Waterproof jacket is available in a women’s version too. 

The Galibier GrandTour jacket puts in an excellent performance and its quality rivals that of top brands – all at a very attractive price. This winter jacket is comfortable and perfect for grim British weather.

Reviewer Josh Price reported that this jacket keeps the heat in incredibly well. He was blown away by the performance, finding that he could wear it with no base layer underneath when the temperature was around 15°C and right down to below zero with a baselayer and gilet.

The Galibier GrandTour jacket is close to the body to avoid flapping and the tail is slightly dropped to provide protection from road spray and keep your backside warm.

Although Josh had the GrandTour jacket in the Heather colour option, it’s also available in the far brighter Intense Orange shown here. Whichever you go for, you get a large reflective panel on the central rear pocket, and 3M reflective trim on the pockets and across the shoulders – valuable for increasing the visibility of a garment that’s designed to be worn at the darkest time of the year.

The Gorewear Phantom Jacket is a two-in-one cycling jacket with removable long sleeves that make it suitable for riding in the changeable conditions of spring and autumn. With layering, it works just as well in winter. The Phantom is water-resistant and windproof, and there’s a zipped security pocket alongside its three regular pockets. It's available in various colours, including this version with a black body and neon yellow arms, upper back and upper chest.

You get a short-sleeved jersey and two removable sleeves, each of which attaches at the shoulder  – over shorter sleeves – using a pair of zips. The short sleeves are made of a thin material, with the longer detachable sleeves made of the same wind- and water-repellent Gore-Tex Windstopper fabric as the jacket's body.

Reviewer Suvi Loponen said she could feel the double layer of upper sleeves when she pulled the jacket on, but not while riding. The Phantom’s convertible nature adds a little bulk, but that is far outweighed by the jacket's comfort and practicality. It is an excellent commuting jacket for autumn and spring, when you might be riding to work in low temperatures and returning home in warmer conditions.

This is a great jacket for commuters and those who appreciate the option of taking off sleeves mid-ride. Although expensive, that versatility adds value.

The Gorewear Spinshift Thermo Jacket Men’s is an excellent choice for very cold rides, ideally when the sun is shining or there’s little chance of rain. It feels luxurious, the fit is snug, and this Neon Yellow option is highly visible.

The Spinshift Thermo Jacket is ideal when the temperature drops into the single figures centigrade – with a base layer underneath and perhaps a gilet on top when it gets close to freezing.

The fabric is a single-layer thermo-stretch with a soft shell-like feel and a super-fluffy soft fleece inside. The collar is high and warm, and the cuffs are stretchy.

There’s no waterproof membrane here. Instead, the tightly woven fabric provides protection from the wind while being breathable, and a PFC-free DWR (durable water repellent) coating takes care of light rain.

What elevates the Spinshift Thermo Jacket from a very good winter jacket to a great one is that this Neon Yellow version really stands out on dull days and reflective tabs on the shoulders, elbows and forearms add further visibility.

The Altura Icon Pocket Rocket Waterproof Packable jacket is great for everything from urban commutes to wintry training. It's reasonably breathable but not amazingly so; enough to keep you comfortable on all but the raciest of rides. This Lime version is highly noticeable out on the road with loads of reflective print adding visibility at night.

The cut is slim but you could fit everyday clothes underneath. The collar is nice and high, and the tail drops enough to keep you covered when you’re reaching forward to the handlebar.

The level of waterproofing is impressive, the seams are neatly taped and the ripstop fabric feels robust. Although it doesn’t pack down as small as some, reviewer Steve Williams found he could jam this jacket into a jersey pocket when not in use.

This is a well-made, well-shaped and stylish jacket that keeps wind and rain out effectively.