A driver told me he hadn't seen me. I've been wearing that ever since on my evening walk.

I tested 5 things to help me be more visible in the dark. Only one of them really made me stand out in the headlights. WITHOUT looking like I was wearing a safety vest, without a battery, and without any extra accessories.

By Sabine K., 56 | Bergisches Land

Woman with a dog wearing a gray " Valkental " jacket that reflects the light

For over ten years, I've been taking the same walk every evening with my dog, Lotte.

Part of it runs along the country road. There is no sidewalk there.

Last fall, shortly after the clocks changed, a van came around the curve. I had to swerve into the ditch.

The driver stopped and rolled down the window. “Oh my God, I didn’t even see you!”

I was wearing my usual black jacket. I even had a headlamp on.

That scared me more than I wanted to admit. But I didn't want to give up my evening walk with Lotte because of it.

I just wanted drivers to see me sooner—without looking like a school crossing guard and without having to carry a bunch of gear with me every time.

So I tried out five solutions.

That's what I found out.

Valkental 3in1 Smart Jacket

MY FAVORITE: The jacket I still wear every night

A man wearing a gray Valkental jacket at night; the entire jacket reflects the headlights

It was the last solution I tried.

I should have bought it right away.

In daylight, it looks like a perfectly ordinary gray jacket.

But as soon as the headlights hit it, the entire exterior reflects the light back toward the driver.

Not just a few narrow strips.

Your entire upper body will be visible, from your shoulders to your wrists.

According to the DGUV, a driver can't see you if you're wearing dark clothing until they're about 25 meters away. But if you're wearing reflective clothing, they can see you from as far as about 140 meters away.

More than 5 times as far!

Sources: DGUV, ADAC rule of thumb for stopping distance

For anyone walking along the street in the dark, every meter counts.

I noticed something about the jacket on my very first night wearing it.

In the past, cars used to slow down more and swerve further out of the way.

Instead of hoping the driver would see me, I could see how he reacted.

But the best part is:

It's just my jacket.

No battery to charge.
No light to turn on.
Nothing I need to put on top of it.

I put her on her leash, grab Lotte's leash, and set off.

And unlike anything else I've tried, it replaces my regular jacket.

It keeps me dry when it rains. The outer jacket has taped seams and a water column rating of 10,000 mm.

It keeps me warm in the winter. On cold evenings, I just zip the fleece liner in.

And it doesn't look like work clothes. During the day, I just wear a stylish gray jacket.

Three jackets in one. And it does something none of my old jackets could: the entire outer jacket reflects light as soon as headlights hit it.

Go to the " Valkental " jacket →

High-visibility vest

A yellow safety vest lies crumpled in a kitchen drawer

Easy to see. But too cumbersome.

I definitely stood out, no question about it.

But every time, I had to remember to put them on.

In the winter, it barely fit over my thick jacket. And after a rain shower, it hung wet in the hallway.

On the evening I had forgotten her, I was once again just a woman in a dark jacket.

I wanted something I wouldn't have to put on every time before a round.

Clip-on flashing light

At night, from the car: a tiny red light on the side of the road, circled in red; the person is barely visible

A bright spot is by no means a visible person.

It was inexpensive, small, and quick to clip on.

Unfortunately, that is precisely where its weakness lies.

Drivers see the flashing lights, but not necessarily the person behind them.

Also, it fell off twice.

Now it's hanging from Lotte's leash.

Reflective Strips

Better than nothing. But not enough for me.

The ribbons reflected the spotlight, but only in two narrow strips.

The rest of my jacket stayed dark.

Plus, they kept slipping down my arm.

That might work for a short ride through a well-lit residential area.

I wanted more space for my evening walk along the country road, which has no sidewalk.

My Headlamp

At night, outside a car: a woman with a headlamp and a dog with a light-up collar on a country road; what stands out most is the bright spot from the lamp

Great to look at. But not to be seen.

That was my biggest mistake in reasoning.

I thought that with a headlamp on, drivers would see me.

But a headlamp mainly lights up the path ahead of me.

To the driver, I'm just a bright spot again. My body remains in the dark.

I still take them with me.

I just don't count on people seeing me wearing it anymore.

Why I Don't Buy High-Visibility Accessories Anymore

The problem with almost everything I tried was quite simple.

I had to remember to load it, clip it on, or slip it on.

And even when I did think about it, usually only a small part of me was visible.

The Valkental jacket does two things differently.

First: The headlights are reflected off the entire outer jacket. This allows the driver to make out the outline of a person.

Second: It's the jacket I wear outside anyway.

So I don't have to change anything about my habits to be seen more clearly.

After so many evening runs in the dark, this is almost as important to me as the run itself.

Nighttime comparison from the driver's perspective: A person in a dark jacket is barely visible next to a person wearing the " Valkental " jacket

A jacket I really love to wear

It cost more than anything else I've tried.

I don't need any accessories for that anymore.

I'm getting a waterproof rain jacket, a warm fleece, and a winter jacket all in one.

And with this jacket, drivers spot me sooner, even on my evening walk.

To me, she's worth it.

Valkental 3in1 Smart Jacket

Fully Reflective Outer Jacket
Waterproof with a 10,000 mm water column
Removable fleece for cold days
No battery, no accessories
It looks like a regular jacket during the day
Free Shipping
30-Day Return Policy

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Our 30-day return policy applies. See the return policy for details.

Here's what customers are saying after their first winter

Real Customer Reviews

★★★★★

“The main reason I bought it was its high visibility in the dark, and that’s exactly what this jacket does so well. You really stand out, especially during the darker months of the year. I wore it almost every day in the winter.”

Christine rides her bike every day

★★★★★

"I've worn this jacket in every possible combination almost every day—on my way to work, while biking, and when walking the dog. It's windproof and waterproof, and warm enough for winter. The reflectivity is amazing."

Andreas S., commuter

★★★★★

"The jacket looks stylish and is very well made; it fits true to size and is incredibly comfortable. It lives up to its promises: it's windproof and waterproof. I highly recommend it."

Cornelia G.

After all, it's not the brightest flashing light that makes you most visible.

But the jacket you actually wear …

Go to the " Valkental " jacket →