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The best kit to help you stay visible in the darkest of conditions

During winter, it can be hard to get the miles in and still feel safe on the roads. If you want to be certain drivers and cyclists see you on those badly lit morning and evening runs, your best bet is to layer on some reflective hi-vis kit. We’ve rounded up a range of convenient options that’ll light you up, keep you safe and let you train all year round.

This jacket is top of the class for road safety, thanks to its hi-vis outer coating, which is the brightest and most attention-grabbing we’ve come across. It’s also flexible and snug where you want it to be. On the downside, the jacket isn’t the most breathable (it clung to bare skin, so wear a long-sleeve top underneath).

This is a speedy, run-friendly thin layer that weighs just 123g and doesn’t restrict your movement. It’s a great length – not too tight or baggy around the hips – and it stood up to the worst the winter could throw at it. The wind-resistance was particularly impressive, and it faced up well to showers, too, though a downpour got the better of it. We wish there was a tuck-away hood for the price. It felt breathable and well ventilated, apart from one surprisingly muggy session, when we had to take it off. It comes into its own at dusk or on overcast days, as its generous fluorescent detailing shines brightly to keep you visible. Zipped and internal pockets are a bonus.

Another innovative product from the Brooks Carbonite range, these leggings feature 3M Scotchlite Carbon Black Stretch reflective detailing, designed to ensure you’re seen from up to 200m away in low light. There are reflective panels in key motion zones, so it’s clear Brooks has researched the best ways to keep runners visible in low-light conditions. There's a zipped pocket for your phone, keys and cards, and the leggings are made from an updated breathable fabric to wick sweat as well as keeping you warm as you run.

Hi-vis is big business in cycling, so it’s occasionally worth ‘crossing codes’ and picking up some attention-grabbing garb from a cycle-focused brand. These fluoro socks from Pongo are a case in point. High-quality construction and supreme comfort make them an outstanding choice for the cyclist or runner who’s keen to be seen.

No doubt about it, Sweaty Betty finery comes at a price. But if you are going to part with £85 for a pair of be-seen running tights, do it for ones that fit, look and perform as well as these. The reflective detailing is designed to make you visible to approaching bikes and cars, without the need to go full-on fluoro. In addition, there’s an adjustable drawcord to help you get the perfect fit around your waist, and a handy side pocket big enough for your smartphone.

If you’re not looking to spend a fortune on winter kit but want to be seen, this well-priced Reflect360 running cap from Proviz is made from 100 per cent reflective materials. With meshed fabric to increase breathability, an adjustable size range to fit all runners and a highly technical reflective material, this cap will ensure you are safe and seen, whatever the weather. It'll also keep the elements off your face when you move, so is a handy item to have in your wardrobe over the winter months.

If your budget won’t stretch to the higher-end Brooks Carbonite, this Kiprun jacket features plenty of reflective detailing on the arms, back and zips, meaning you’ll be picked up by passing car headlights. It’s also designed to be worn in sub-zero temperatures, features built in ‘gloves’ that go over your hands plus a handy hole in each sleeve so you can see your watch without hiking the cuff up and over it.

A super-high-vis running vest that’s built to hold your phone, cards, keys and even a couple of energy gels. It not only results in free hands but also boosts your visibility by adding reflective strips to your front and back. The phone pouch is front centre, and easily accessible with a hidden pocket inside for bank cards and keys, plus there are a pair of additional pockets on the side for gels or bars.

A highly-reflective hat that glows under the glare of headlights in low-light conditions, this is ideal for winter runs at dusk or dawn. And the reflective strips glow in a variety of colours, adding style points to your outfit. It’s also designed to keep your head cool as the fabric dries rapidly so you won’t end up with a cold head.

On runs of an hour or less, you’re often better served by a belt than a bag. And if that belt also lights up like a beacon, well, that’s all the better. FlipBelt running belts have garnered excellent reviews for their runner-friendly design and high-quality materials. As the name suggests, the FlipBelt Reflective is designed to make you seen at night, and is big enough to hold your phone, keys and bank cards. There are various sizes, too, so you’ll be able to find the fit that’s right for you.

If you’re a runner who relies on Kinesiology Therapeutic (or KT) Tape, to help keep injuries in check, then choosing the Pro reflective version seems an obvious step. With reflective elements interlaced into the tape, it illuminates when hit with light, making it another useful safety measures on those dark nights.

While some night-running solutions simply reflect light sources to keep you safe and seen, the Noxgear Tracer 360 goes one step further, giving you your own lightweight light show. Flexible fibre optics in the vest pump out 40 lumens around the body so you can make yourself visible from over a mile in any direction. You can select from different colours and light modes, there’s a 40-hour battery life and the whole thing is easily adjustable to fit over most jackets or T-shirts.

You could buy a running backpack that’s already reflective, but not all quality commuter running packs come with hi-vis built in. That’s where the ProViz Backpack Cover coughs politely and moves centre stage. This waterproof cover straps onto any pack up to 35L for an instant night-visibility upgrade. There’s a handy neon yellow reverse that can be used for added visibility during daylight hours, too.

Sometimes, the simple solutions are the best and it doesn’t get much more straightforward than this. The SlapLit is just like your average slap bracelet that coils around your arm when you slap it on, except this one has a bright LED that can be set to glow or flash. You get 100 hours of runtime from the replaceable battery and it’s also reflective when the LED isn’t in use. It weighs 34g and, at just short of 35cm in length, will fit most upper arms or forearms comfortably. It comes in red, neon yellow and neon pink.

Bold. Highly visible. Warm. Three things every runner wants from their deep-winter running gloves, and the Fortify gloves provide all three in abundance. Featuring Saucony’s new Vizi reflective material on the trims to flash when caught in light, these will also keep your fingers extra-warm due to the additional wind- and waterproof mitt cover.

While most of the gear on this list helps others spot you in real life in the dark, Garmin’s Live Tracker lets friends and family track you virtually to make sure you’re running home safe on those dark winter nights. You’ll need a Garmin watch and have it connected to the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone. From there, you can fire up Live Tracker and add contacts via email. Those you add will be sent a link where they can see your progress live on a map. For those who don’t own Garmin, Strava Beacon offers a similar service.

Saucony has added some super-charged reflective details to a range of its trainers to make you stand out even more on the streets at night. The Vizipro collection adds subtle reflective details to models as well as bright neon colours to help in low light. The Endorphin Pro 2, with the built-in carbon-fibre plate, is built for speed, so with the Vizipro edition you can do your speed sessions on the night streets with added confidence that you’ll be even more visible.