One garment that does both, or the nine dollar version.
Verdict
The vest over your own jacket is the cheap answer and it works. A nine dollar vest goes over whatever you are wearing, including rain gear, and makes you visible in headlights. A hi-vis waterproof jacket does both jobs in one garment, is more comfortable than two layers, and costs around thirty dollars. Buy the jacket if you do a lot of wet night blocks and the layering annoys you. Otherwise the vest is not a compromise.
Under $50
Check TICONN Hi-Vis Reflective Rain Jacket PriceUnder $25
Check Reflective Safety Vest, 2 pack Price| TICONN Hi-Vis Reflective Rain Jacket | Reflective Safety Vest, 2 pack | |
|---|---|---|
| Waterproof | Yes | No |
| Reflective striping | Yes | Yes |
| Works over any jacket | No, it is the jacket | Yes |
| Layers to manage | One | Two |
| Cost | Around twenty nine dollars | Around nine dollars for two |
| Useful in summer | Too warm | Yes |
You do wet night blocks regularly and you are tired of a vest riding up over a wet jacket. One garment that is waterproof and high visibility is more comfortable, does not flap, and is what construction and roadside workers wear for the same reasons. It is too warm for a summer evening, so it is a winter purchase.
Check TICONN Hi-Vis Reflective Rain Jacket on Amazon
You want to be visible tonight for under ten dollars. A vest goes over anything, packs into a door pocket, and a two pack means one lives in the car and one in the bag. Being seen is the point, and a vest achieves it as well as a jacket does when headlights are on you.
Check Reflective Safety Vest, 2 pack on Amazon
Class ratings describe how much fluorescent material and reflective tape a garment carries, with higher classes intended for higher speed environments. For residential delivery, any reflective garment is a large improvement. If a site or a receiver requires a specific class, they will say so.
Fluorescent colours help in dusk, rain and fog, which is when a lot of delivery driving happens. In bright daylight it makes less difference and costs nothing to keep on.
Parking on the same side as the address so you are not crossing, not walking between parked cars, using a light, and not looking at the phone while walking a road. Those are free and they matter more than any garment.
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these units side by side. Confirm current prices and specifications before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.