Apidura Packable Visibility Vest

The Apidura Packable Visibility Vest is light, fits easily in a jersey pocket and definitely fills a market need. While it is small in size, it provides a surprising amount of additional visibility from the front and back.

Intent on cycling through the dark days and nights of winter? Read our feature 6 tips for cycling at night, and if you're not sure about the Apidura, check out our guide to the best reflective cycling vests for more options.

> Buy now: Apidura Packable Visibility Vest for £45 from Apidura

The Apidura vest is a compact and light (100g) piece of clothing designed to be worn over a jersey or jacket. With its fluorescent yellow main fabric and multiple reflective sections, it provides additional visibility all around the rider.

It also complies with EN 17353, which may be meaningless to many, because it is typically a requirement for workwear and there is no necessity for cycling gear to conform. However, you are required to wear a conforming garment to participate in some longer distance events, such as the renowned Paris-Brest-Paris, and I'm sure others who've taken part are aware of how few options there are for a suitable item tailored for cycling.

What exactly does EN 17353 mean? Apidura states the following: "EN 17353:2020 Type B3 is the European standard that some audax and ultra-distance events mandate a night-time visibility garment meets to participate (such as Paris-Brest-Paris). This standard incorporates the older EN 1150 and EN 20471 standards sometimes referred to by event organisers. By meeting EN 17353:2020 Type B3 the Packable Visibility Vest is certified for use at night."

Fit & performance

The Packable Visibility Vest comes in two sizes: S/M for chest sizes 90-105cm (35-41in) and L/XL for chest sizes 106-122cm (42-48in). The S/M measures 45.5cm (17.9in) in length at the back (the L/XL is 48cm), with a claimed packed size of 12cm (4.7in) long and 8cm (3.1in) wide. It contains an integrated pocket for storage, and is compact enough to slip into a jersey pocket or bikepacking bag, taking up very little room; it can be compressed further, too, to roughly the size of a tennis ball.

The vest is secured with two sternum straps that can be adjusted for fit not just by tightening but also by being placed higher or lower in any of the eight slots at the front edges of the vest.

It's generous enough to be worn over thicker clothes, such as a down jacket or some hydration vests. With a chest size of 90cm, I am at the bottom of the chart for S/M, but it was clear that the sizing is rather generous: it didn't feel tight across my chest even when worn over multiple winter weather layers. Even though it wasn't a very snug fit on me, there was very little flap when riding; the only time I noticed it was in strong crosswinds.

While there was little flap, the chest straps could be annoying at times. Each strap has an elastic loop designed to keep the excess in place, but the straps are very long, so if you're anywhere near the slimmest measurement for the size then there is a lot of excess. I was able to feed the straps through the elastic loop a third time, but adjusting the tension then became much more difficult.

When putting it on, the minimal shape means it can twist around itself quite easily, and it isn't as easy to put on when riding as a typical jacket or gilet. Stopping to put it on doesn't take long, though, and while it might not sound like the easiest method, I left the buckles fastened and pulled it on over my helmet – the chest area opening was large enough, and doing it this way the fabric couldn't twist inside out.

In warmer weather, the lightweight fabric is breathable and will wick away sweat to prevent overheating.

Some jackets and jerseys are only available in dark colours, such as the Gorewear Race Shakedry, a favourite of mine. The dark fabric has often been an issue for me, even when riding with lights, so wearing the Apidura vest over it is ideal – it enhances the visibility of essentially any jacket or jersey, and the highly breathable fabric means it won't cause problems, even during warmer months.

I use the Apidura Racing Hydration Vest on some rides, and the Packable Visibility Vest can be worn with that too. Both have the same shape and buckle construction, with ample range in the straps to accommodate the extra girth added by the hydration pack.

Value

The Apidura Packable Visibility Vest costs £45, making it more expensive than many other options, but no other vest currently available is comparable. There are few alternatives built especially for sport that meet EN 17353 regulations, and as I said earlier, for some longer distance competitions, such as Paris-Brest-Paris, it is a requirement to carry and use one at night.

There are many basic workwear hi-vis vests that are cheap to buy, but these are geared for general work use, and while there are some cycling-specific vests, the majority are aimed more at leisure riding or commuting.

The Altura Nightvision vest, for example, is £20 but doesn't meet EN 17353, and Wowow, a Belgian firm that specialises in high-visibility clothing, has a variety of alternatives starting at €16.99 for the Roadie. Both these vests have zip closures and a much larger overall shape than the Apidura, which is far more minimal – more akin to some hi-vis running vests such as the Proviz Hi Viz.

Conclusion

I've found myself reaching for this Apidura vest on almost every ride, the lightweight and small package taking up little space but providing much-appreciated extra visibility during autumn and winter days, giving me a feeling of extra safety and allowing me to wear any jackets and jerseys regardless of how dark they are.

The straps can be slightly annoying but I did find ways to improve this a little, and it doesn't take much away from the overall design. If you frequently ride at night, or at times when extra visibility is important, and not just commuting or leisurely riding, the Apidura Packable Visibility Vest is excellent: it takes up very little space, and is barely noticeable when riding.

Verdict

Excellent vest that adds visibility to any clothing, and with a very small pack size