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review
£29.99
VERDICT:
Tidy bit of kit that does an excellent job of keeping you visible
Weight:
200g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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The Proviz Reflect 360 is a simple, fully silver reflective, bag cover suitable for most small to medium sized rucksacks. Elasticated edging allows it to fit snugly over most bags, although its shape is a little square it is generally quite snugly fitting.
The material itself does not stretch a great deal, so any excess material in the corners can be visible when looking over the shoulder. It comes with a small 'light loop on the front, which can accommodate a small rear light.
Security of fit is enhanced with a pair of elasticated straps with popper fittings. These run horizontally across the back of the bag.
I was using it with a Deuter CrossAir rucksack and the straps fitted easily in the ventilation zone to the back of the bag. I didn't find that had any difficulty getting the cover over the Deuter regardless of how full it was.
The most impressive thing about the cover is the reflectivity of the material – a grey-white that under headlights is a bright white reflective. I got plenty of comments on how striking it is from other cyclists.
It certainly gave me a feeling that I'd be more noticeable on unlit roads in winter, despite the array of lights and reflectives already on the bike and me. The shape of the cover over the rucksack also adds a bit of side-visibility which is welcome.
Another useful feature of the cover is its waterproofing, ensuring that my stuff stayed dry in the rucksack, while I was more visible.
Verdict
Tidy bit of kit that does an excellent job of keeping you visible
road.cc test report
Make and model: Proviz Reflect 360 Rucksack Cover
Size tested: n/a
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Proviz don't give a target cycling group, but I'd suggest the all year commuter market is probably a good place to start. Urban riders are likely to get the most benefit from the startling reflectivity. I am a rural commuter and it certainly helped me.
Proviz make a great deal of the technical aspects of the fabric and its performance under external light sources, stating:
The Proviz360 rucksack cover, like the whole of the 360 range, is manufactured from CE EN471 material. The Proviz360 rucksack cover is dual-layered to give you unparalleled water-resistance and the reflective detail helps your position to be more easily identified on the road.
The Proviz360 rucksack cover is attached securely using elasticated cords and press stud fasteners. The edges of the rucksack are elasticated to create a secure fit around your rucksack of all sizes up to 35L. A light loop can also be used for those wishing to attach an extra LED light.
About the fabric: The fabric used for the REFLECT360 range is highly technical. During daylight it is a modest grey colour. At night, when the fabric picks up an external light source, eg vehicle headlights, it gives 'astonishing reflectivity' (quote: Cycling Active Magazine Sep:2014). The material is CE EN 20471 certified.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
The material might be a dull silver-grey under daylight, but when a headlight or similar shines on it the brightness is impressive. Waterproof abilities didn't let me down.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
No signs of the bag losing its reflectivity and the clips, straps and elastic are all holding together well.
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Snug fit over my rucksack, kept everything dry and the elasticated fitting and straps held it in place well in all conditions. Only if my bag was very full did it not quite fit over the top. It still stayed in place, though.
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
9/10
I'm sure it adds a few grams of weight, but I think if you are carrying a rucksack then those few grams are probably OK.
Rate the product for value:
8/10
It retails a fair bit higher in price than other rucksack covers, but I think the quality and extent of the reflectivity does make a difference.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well – excellent reflectivity, fits pretty well for a third-party product and is waterproof.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The reflective material. Understated in the day (not a riot of high-viz) and superbly bright under headlights.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
It's a simple product that does what it needs to very well. There's nothing to dislike, really.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, probably.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
Bag covers might seem a bit prosaic, but when they are done as neatly as this they can be very effective.
About the tester
Age: 37 Height: 182cm Weight: 69kg
I usually ride: Specialized Allez Sport 2008 My best bike is: Moda Tempo 2010
I've been riding for: 5-10 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, Triathlon
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8 comments
The reflective material looks great on the ones I've seen around the place, but I went through two Proviz rucksack covers before giving up on them. The poppers / studs on the elasticated straps just don't stand up to daily use and fall apart when you pop/un-pop them more than a few times, which you need to do to get the cover on/off and to get into the top of your rucksack.
Promise were to be fair good about it, sending me a replacement then giving me a credit.
I ended up going for an Ortlieb Velocity fully waterproof dry bag rucksack, which is bright yellow and has highly reflective detailing - way better, and seems bombproof.
I have one and the wife says it stands out a mile as I cycle down the street, just from the street lights alone. The couple of times Ive used it ive not experienced a close pass once. I can only imagine drivers are bamboozled with what they are seeing in front of them, it must look like some kind of UFO.
Certainly agree with you with regards to the Popper Studs. They separate way too easily compared to my old £10 ebay special cover. I actually contacted the company about it and were prepared to exchange it, but I bought mine from a 3rd party on ebay. I actually had to squash the studs in a vice to make them less popable(?).
Its a great reflective/waterproof cover, shame about the pop studs.
It's a good idea and clearly works well but I agree a coloured cover would be better. A set of good lights also works pretty well ah
www.tinpony.co.uk/shop/
I saw a guy in a cafe in the proviz jacket. Lit by the sun coming in it was amazing.
He rode out into the rain a bit later and blended with the Tarmac.
If you only ride in the dark - excellent piece of kit. In the daytime you need the Fluo colours with reflectives for night.
I saw a guy in a cafe in the proviz jacket. Lit by the sun coming in it was amazing.
He rode out into the rain a bit later and blended with the Tarmac.
If you only ride in the dark - excellent piece of kit. In the daytime you need the Fluo colours with reflectives for night.
I saw a guy in a cafe in the proviz jacket. Lit by the sun coming in it was amazing.
He rode out into the rain a bit later and blended with the Tarmac.
If you only ride in the dark - excellent piece of kit. In the daytime you need the Fluo colours with reflectives for night.
I saw a guy in a cafe in the proviz jacket. Lit by the sun coming in it was amazing.
He rode out into the rain a bit later and blended with the Tarmac.
If you only ride in the dark - excellent piece of kit. In the daytime you need the Fluo colours with reflectives for night.
I see more and more of these (and the equivalent jackets) around commuting. There is no doubt that, in the dark when headlights hit them, they are dazzlingly visible.
In bright sunshine, maybe you won't be wearing it anyway and hopefully we're all visible.
BUT ... in grey and drizzly conditions, when there are still road users who don't use their lights, these things are grey and un-noticeable to the point of invisibility just when you need those same road users to see you.
No scientific analysis ... just what it seems to my eyes. But then I did see the dress as Blue and Black ...