Brooks Nightlife clothing

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That's such a great deal on the Vapor Dry top.

What is it you love about it, so much?

How heavy is it? Do you use it as a standalone exercise shirt, or as sort of a jersey, or as a jacket over everything?

Looks like it could work for cycling...If it's bright and form-fitting!

Oh, that's the top I described above- I have two of them in medium:

The regular long sleeve jersey is heavier material, big back pocket and well made- good for Spring and Autumn. Not form fitting and keeps me warm in the cold breezes. When it's like 40 degrees out I wear that with a merino base layer under it and it's perfect.

They are great all round type jersey, but a bit too hot if it's over 80 degreesF.

[KathiCville]

Here's a good deal on the Nightlife jacket:

http://www.shoebuy.com/brooks-wj451-...-jacket/182116

And another place from which I've ordered Nightlife stuff on sale:

http://www.gazellesports.com/searchr...px?s=nightlife

You asked about the Vapor Dry 2 top (the one at a very good price on STP):
I like it because it has some real style/shape to it, in addition to the visibility factor. And it's easy to wear a thin layer of wool (or something else) under it. Pocket on the back, too. That being said, it would not be "form-fitting" in your regular size, probably. If you really want it to have a body-skimming fit, I think you'd probably want to go down a size.

The jacket doesn't really 'breathe', I'd say. I was wearing it yesterday on a morning ride and as soon as the temps hit, oh, 70, I took it off, rolled it up partway and tied it around my waist. The Podium top, on the other hand, is pretty light---a waffle-type material, so that doesn't get hot quickly. The Vapor Dry 2 is heavyweight (in my opinion) and something I would only wear when temps are, say, 50 or below. I think of it as a late fall or winter top.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Another tip- don't bother with the Nightlife $20 strap-on vest with the open sides and velcro straps- way to annoying....shifts around and is flimsy.
The regular zip up vest is fabulous in every way.

By the way, for summer-
http://www.holabirdsports.com/cgi-bi...product=051193
this tank top is sturdy, like a well made bathing suit, and has a built in bra. Click "see more images" to see the back- it has sufficient yellow on the back for biking visibility. It runs a bit small so order a size larger than usual.

The yellow on all the Nightlife items is SO bright that you don't need that much of it to blind people from far away! That's one reason I like the tights and knickers with the yellow on the backs of the calves.

[Red Rock]

How does the jacket compare to the PI Hi-vis jacket?

I have been looking for more of a winter fleece or windresistant Hi-vis jacket for the winter. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Red Rock

[OakLeaf]

Alternatively, if you don't mind the dorky crossing-guard look, the Xinglet.

Shoulder and waist straps are slightly stretchy and fully adjustable, so you can wear it over summer or winter clothes, it doesn't flap in the wind, and it doesn't greatly interfere with your jersey and/or jacket breathing. Plus, since it's an over-garment, it only needs occasional washing.

ETA: I hung my Voler hi-viz jerseys out on the line the other day in bright sunshine, and I literally could not look at them, they were so bright

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It took me a while to realize that there's a big difference between 'reflective' and 'hi-vis'. Reflective materials work at night by bouncing off of headlights, but the stuff is generally pretty dull looking during the daytime. Hi-vis (screaming yellow or green) material is not necessarily reflective in headlights but is HIGHLY visible during the day in any light.
I never ride in the dark, so I don't buy stuff because it has reflective strips on it. I buy stuff that's made of screaming yellow fluorescent colored material- like the Nightlife gear. It's shockingly bright during the daytime, when I ride. Nightlife items do have small reflective logos or strips here and there, but they basically work on the bright screaming yellow factor.

[mariposa]

"It took me a while to realize that there's a big difference between 'reflective' and 'hi-vis'."

Yeah. Exactly! I want/need something that provides BOTH.

A lot of my rides (and runs) start in the dark and end in full daylight. Or the other way around.

I love the "screaming yellow" blinding stuff for daytime. The issue I have with Pearl Izumi stuff I've tried in screaming yellow, is (besides the very poor fit on my body type) I'm not sure how reflective it is at night.

Nice to know about Brooks, and it looks like Voler is an option too? Do the bright yellow Voler provide a lot of reflective taping for at night?

Amphipod, that looks a little constricting to me...but I like Amphipod's other products. So...

Thanks for all the ideas so far...Love the look of those Brooks tights and capris, too. Oh no, wallet is in trouble...

[dachshund]

It took me a while to realize that there's a big difference between 'reflective' and 'hi-vis'. Reflective materials work at night by bouncing off of headlights, but the stuff is generally pretty dull looking during the daytime. Hi-vis (screaming yellow or green) material is not necessarily reflective in headlights but is HIGHLY visible during the day in any light.
I never ride in the dark, so I don't buy stuff because it has reflective strips on it. I buy stuff that's made of screaming yellow fluorescent colored material- like the Nightlife gear. It's shockingly bright during the daytime, when I ride. Nightlife items do have small reflective logos or strips here and there, but they basically work on the bright screaming yellow factor.

Good one. That's what I want, shockingly bright. I was driving in my neighborhood the other day and could not see a cyclist coming towards me. He had a dark blue jersey on. This is the color I like to wear. Yikes! It was late afternoon, hours before sunset. He blended in with the background. I wasn't close to hitting him or anything, but geeze... taught me a lesson.

So my next purchases will be loud and obnoxious, bright yellow... red... lime green.... or all three.

[mariposa]

"The jacket doesn't really 'breathe', I'd say."

I am beginning to wonder if any athletic jacket really breathes. Jackets get bad going uphill on the bike and, much worse, when running. I've had that problem with all jackets, the PI Whisper Jacket, two Mountain Hardwear jackets (the ultralight Ghost and the rainworthy Epic), and an Outdoor Research jacket that was also marketed as "highly breathable." Not! Now I have a posse of jackets I hardly use (the Mountain Hardwear ones are high quality keepers for hiking/backpacking though).

For cycling I've jettisoned all jackets and I've been cycling with a vest, even in the dead of winter (well dead of winter here in northern California means rarely colder than 40 degrees). A couple of layers of longsleeve merino wool keeps my arms plenty warm even if there is rain. I have to admit my Optik vest breathes really, really well and if it weren't for the very irritating and uncomfortable fit, I'd just stick with it.

So, looks like I'll try that Nightlife vest. I thought I saw it in a store here on sale, I'll drop by there this weekend...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I am beginning to wonder if any athletic jacket really breathes. Jackets get bad going uphill on the bike and, much worse, when running. I've had that problem with all jackets....
For cycling I've jettisoned all jackets and I've been cycling with a vest, even in the dead of winter (well dead of winter here in northern California means rarely colder than 40 degrees). A couple of layers of longsleeve merino wool keeps my arms plenty warm even if there is rain. I have to admit my Optik vest breathes really, really well and if it weren't for the very irritating and uncomfortable fit, I'd just stick with it.

I agree 100%. Want a jacket that breathes? Get a vest. OR, just use a merino layer or too as a 'jacket'. If you need rainproof, it's not likely to breathe very well. Merino however, not only breathes but keeps you warm and comfy even if it gets wet and/or cold.