Whether you're running, cycling, working outdoors, or volunteering for Search and Rescue, you need a safety vest. You don't need to wait for nighttime, low-light conditions, either. You can benefit from a high-visibility reflective safety vest just crossing a busy city street in broad daylight. A mesh safety vest is breathable and won't restrict your movement, and they usually have a breakaway design to minimize the risk if they get snagged on anything.![]()
A reflective safety vest is most commonly used as safety workwear in outdoor vocations like construction and road work. Ever notice that cops directing traffic wear a safety vest? That's because a high-visibility safety vest is worn to ensure that you're seen by drivers so that they don't accidentally hit you with their cars. The reflective material ensures that you'll be picked up by headlights, streetlights, flashlights, and be easily noticeable in low-light or nighttime conditions. The reflective material is usually in the form of attached reflective stripes or removable reflective strips. For this reason, they've also been adopted by runners and cyclists who are at higher risk of being accidentally struck by passing cars.
Although a lot of people do refer to reflective safety vests as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), there is some debate about this. Essentially, some argue that a safety vest doesn't protect the wearer from outside elements like a helmet or respirator, but should instead be considered a warning device. Still, others argue that since there are OSHA requirements and ANSI standards for wearing safety vests, like the ANSI Class 2s, they do qualify as PPE. Generally speaking, if something is worn to protect you from injury or illness in any way, you can call it PPE.
They're commonly referred to as a "high-visibility safety vest," or simply a "safety vest." You may also see or hear the shortened version of "high-visibility" as "hi-viz" or "hi-vis safety vest." Any variation like "safety reflective vest" or "yellow safety vest" all pretty much mean the same thing.
Shop at CampSaver.com for Reflective Safety Vests from the best brands like Caterpillar, Ultraspire, STKR, and Pyramex. Learn more about outdoor recreation in our ever-growing Guides section. Have questions? Reach out and contact us anytime!
Other categories you may be interested in: Safety Gear: Essentials and Supplies, Safety Helmets, Water Safety & Protection, Running Packs, Vests, & Hydration.