High-vis works well in daylight, but when it gets dark, reflective material is where it's at. A lot of manufacturers add reflective detailing to their clothing, but Proviz approaches this differently with its Reflect360 Plus Cycling Jacket by making the whole thing reflective. That makes you, as a cyclist, much more visible to anybody who shines a light on you. It's not just a front light, a rear light and some detailing, it's also the whole of your upper body. As this is a much larger surface area, it stands to reason that you are more visible, and from further away.
- Pros: Super-reflective, waterproof
- Cons: Not the slimmest cut, or most breathable
Proviz achieves this superior reflectiveness by incorporating millions of tiny glass beads in the fabric. This gives a three-dimensional texture to the fabric, which means that light is reflected even it's not directed straight at it. During the day, the fabric is what Proviz calls a 'modest grey'.
The material in this Plus version of the jacket is more waterproof; Proviz's specification states 10,000mm, twice as much as the non-Plus version. It also has a waterproof zip and taped seams. On paper, that makes for a decent waterproof, and it delivers on this promise. It's been my favourite jacket for riding in the dark/in foul weather.
The jacket has a cotton mesh lining, which Proviz says helps with climate control by keeping the waterproof fabric away from inner layers. I think it just feels comfortable and warm, but it does add bulk and weight. It's not a jacket that will stuff in a jersey pocket.
That comfort is helped by the fleece-lined collar and well-designed cuffs. There are also various ventilation options: a ventilation flap on the back, pit zips, and chest pockets that double up as vents. There's a chest pocket too, and a single zipped pocket in the usual position on the back. The tail is dropped to keep road spray at bay.
Fit-wise, I'd say the jacket is snug, rather than tight. It's not a racing fit, but it's not particularly flappy either. (Proviz has just released a new slimmer fitting version, the Reflect360 Elite, priced at £230.) I tested a medium, which is normally just right for me (5ft 10in and 77kg). The sleeves are the right length, that is to say, not short when down on the drops, but things are definitely roomy enough for a baselayer and a long-sleeve jersey underneath.
For me, that fits with what I want from this jacket. Unless it's cold, say under 10 degrees, I probably wouldn't wear a full waterproof; I'd rather go for something like a Gabba. When it's colder than that, and it's not raining, I'd go for a windstopper something-or-other. If it is raining, I'd be expecting to get really cold if I don't get it right, and I layer up, so a bit of room to do so is perfect. I'd team it up with winter boots and some sort of waterproof bib tights.
> Buyer's Guide: 12 of the best reflective garments and accessories
In this use case, I think this jacket works well, and I love the visibility. At an RRP of £109.99 (less if you shop around), I think this is well worth the money. Altura's Nightvision Evo is a tenner less, but it's not as reflective.
Verdict
Ultra-visible in the dark, this jacket also keeps you comfortable in foul weather
Make and model: Proviz Men's Reflect 360 Plus Cycling Jacket
Tell us what the jacket is for
Proviz says: "The Proviz REFLECT360 Plus Cycling Jacket is the more 'technical' version of the highly successful original REFLECT360 Cycling Jacket launched in 2014. This version has been designed using a highly technical film to ensure higher rates of breathability (10,000gm/24hr) and waterproofing (10,000 mm) while not losing any of the incredible reflective capability of our unique, upgraded reflective material (CE EN 20471 certified) that made the original version a worldwide success and sold in over 40 countries.
"The REFLECT360 Plus Cycling Jacket incorporates a much more tailored fit and uses a unique lighter weight material to help ensure cyclists, who like to push things a little bit harder, stay cool. The 'through-flow' extra ventilation is still achieved using the same effective shoulder/back vents that allow air to escape without letting in any rain water. Simply open up the front zip vents to achieve maximum ventilation. During winter, these can be kept closed and double up as watertight pockets. The jacket also incorporates an inside chest pocket and large lower back pocket to store any extra layers or a map. A newly incorporated raglan sleeve design also helps to give a superior range of motion and room around the shoulders and upper back."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the jacket?
Proviz lists:
100% reflective material (CE EN 20471 certified)
Tailored fit
Breathability: 10,000+gm/24hr
Waterproofing: 10,000mm
Seam-sealed (for sewing line waterproofing)
Fleece-lined collar
Raglan sleeves
Inside chest and back pockets
Low profiled rear spray guard
Inside mesh for added comfort
Built in air vents: front/sides/back
Adjustable waistband and cuffs
Waterproof storm zips with garage
Approximate weight (size variable): 400g
Machine washable
Zip pullers
Rate the jacket for quality of construction:
8/10
Rate the jacket for performance:
7/10
Rate the jacket for durability:
8/10
Rate the jacket for waterproofing
8/10
It kept me dry in some epic downpours.
Rate the jacket for breathability
6/10
It's not as breathable as other jackets I've tried, but I think that's down to the fabric being heavier.
Rate the jacket for fit:
8/10
I tested a medium and I'd say it comes up a little bigger than other jackets I've tried described as having a racing fit. I don't think it's necessarily the wrong size for me (I normally take a medium in everything), it's just a generous cut. As a commuting jacket, I don't mind that, but I wouldn't use it for pacier rides unless the weather was really foul.
I actually thought it felt very comfortable, so I'm giving it an 8/10, even though it's not a racing fit as the marketing blurb would have you believe.
Rate the jacket for sizing:
8/10
Rate the jacket for weight:
6/10
The jacket's material feels pretty heavy, and doesn't pack down too well. You would definitely not want to stuff it in a jersey pocket.
Rate the jacket for comfort:
9/10
It felt snug and I really enjoyed wearing it.
Rate the jacket for value:
6/10
At £109.99, its RRP is a tenner more than Altura's Nightvision Evo jacket but it's much more reflective.
How easy is the jacket to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
I don't normally wash waterproof jackets; however our Shaun reviewed the gilet version of this and had this to say: "Easy to care for; machine wash with minimal detergent."
Tell us how the jacket performed overall when used for its designed purpose
It's VERY visible, and it kept me warm, dry and comfortable. That's about as much as I could ask for from a jacket like this. The fabric is a bit heavy and therefore not super-breathable.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket
The fit and the visibility.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket
I don't think there's anything I didn't like.
Did you enjoy using the jacket? Yes
Would you consider buying the jacket? Yes
Would you recommend the jacket to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
Proviz's Reflect 360 Plus jacket's main feature, without a doubt, is its ultra-visibility in the dark, and it does this exceptionally well. Apart from that it's also decently waterproof, and it has a snug cut. I don't think it works for all my riding, but when the weather is challenging, it's coming out with me.
Age: 38 Height: 1.78m Weight: 78kg
I usually ride: All of them! My best bike is: Cannondale CAAD10
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, mountain biking
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8 comments
Breathabilty is pretty much zero. It's like a plastic bag. I guess they couldn't it otherwise, with the special super reflective material, but the sweat is uncomfortable as soon as you make some physical effort. It's also very loose fitting around the mid body and tend to catch wind a lot.
I use mine as rainjacket for sub zero temperatures for these reasons and only for commuting. The reflectivity of this thing is something special however. It's unfortunate not to be able to use it more. But for the money it's probably more practical to get a regular gore tex jacket with reflective detailing instead.
Ive got one.
In terms of night-time visability, it is outstanding and needs to be seen to be believed. You look like a ghost!
Fit: bit odd. snug around shoulders and generous around your torso. Commuter fit.
Breathability: OK for steady miles but not really for harder efforts.
I don't think it looks like a refuse sack in real life, but I guess that's a matter of opinion.
Promoting ugly ass cycling jackets is doing a lot of damage to how people think of cyclists and riding a bike in general.
£230 for the slimmer cut? Maybe not.
You’re being generous. Let’s be honest. It looks like a silver refuse sack.
The sugoi zap jacket is still available in lots of colours and reflective at night and doesn't look like a sack. Perhaps this is for microwaving potatoes in.
I doubt this would be anywhere near as breathable though.