The Proviz Apex Men’s 100% Reflective Cycling Jacket is a super-visible waterproof top that makes other road users far more aware of your presence in low light conditions – and even more so when picked out by a vehicle’s headlights. It is primarily a commuter jacket and is better suited to the cooler half of the year, or for shorter journeys, as it could be a bit more breathable. But it’s reasonably priced and comes in a huge range of men’s and women’s sizes.
> Buy now: Proviz Apex Men’s 100% Reflective Cycling Jacket for £99.99 from Proviz
I was very impressed with how visible this jacket was, especially with indirect light. The cut favours a more upright riding position, which also offers more reflective material for you to be seen by.
It is waterproof and breathable and, although there was some ingress of water when ridden in a truly torrential downpour, in more normal conditions the waterproofing worked well. When not worn it needs to be stowed in a backpack or bike luggage as it is too bulky to fit in a rear jersey pocket – measuring about 20cm long and 10cm in diameter.
Reflectivity
I asked a friend to wear it one evening while I rode with them, so I could check its reflectivity from various distances – and it was truly excellent. It doesn’t even need a light shining directly at it for it to work, either.
When you’re riding on drops the lower back and the arms of the jacket stand out and are extremely visible. And when riding on a Brompton in a more upright position, much more of your back is visible and reflective to road users following you, and even effective when picked out by a car’s side lights.
Proviz says the jacket has a 15,000gm/24hr breathability rating, which is high, and there are under-arm and shoulder vents too. This arrived during summer and on an evening ride when it measured 18°C I was a little warm after five miles of riding.
I actually thought the breathability would feel a little better than this, and even on morning commutes around 12°C I felt it was on the warmer side, though the full-length zip obviously helps in regulating your temperature.
This summer has been mainly hot and dry though I was able to test it in a very heavy downpour – one I’d normally catch the train to avoid – and got in a few miles on the Brompton. After the sort of two-mile commute that the folder might be used for, the jacket had received a thorough soaking – and kept out most of the weather.
I say ‘most’, as there were a couple of damp areas. The cuffs of my long-sleeve T-shirt and the backs of my shoulders were wet, and a little water had made its way through the chest and lower front pocket.
But I should emphasise this was a deliberately extreme scenario that I had decided to ride in.
I think that during the sort of rain we’re most likely to encounter there’d be no issues, and Matt had a broadly similar experience testing the 2023 version of this jacket.
The cut
Riding a road bike with a drop bar I found that the arms were a fraction shorter than ideal, though still okay. The body, while cut more generously, didn’t rub or touch the tops of my legs while I was riding.
The sleeve length proved better when I was riding in a more upright position. Even carrying a phone in the chest pocket and keys in the lower front pocket, there were no issues.
I found the rear pocket handy too.
I usually wear a medium and the Proviz medium proved a good fit, with a looser cut that left room for layers underneath. And it’s good to see a large range of sizes too, covering S to 4XL in men’s and 8 to 20 in women’s sizes.
Though the fabric felt slightly stiff and noise when wearing it off the bike – presumably the result of its reflective glass beads – I didn’t find it noticeably noisy when riding.
You can cinch the cuffs up tight, though I’d have liked to be able to loosen them beyond their ‘loosest’ setting.
I liked the fit of the fleece-lined collar when the jacket was done up, cosy but not too tight and with room for a snood underneath.
Overall, the jacket feels well made and robust, with nothing to suggest any problems with durability. The shoulders are reinforced with a mesh-overlay to add extra protection, which will be particularly useful to prevent rubbing from a backpack’s straps.
Value
The Altura Nightvision Electron is a much more expensive option at £190. Its fabric is softer and quieter and it looks more ‘normal’ in everyday use, but wearing it at night, I’d never known drivers to be so considerate around me, particularly on country lanes.
The same company’s Storm Waterproof Jacket costs just £80 and its strategically placed reflective dots are effective, though like the Proviz breathability is an issue.
The £85 ETC Arid Verso Rain Jacket is reversible between hi-vis yellow and reflective, and while Stu found it a decent performer, its availability is limited.
The Rapha Commuter Lightweight Jacket is light and breathable and while £80 when we tested it, it’s still worth considering at its present £100, though it won’t be quite as waterproof as others.
Check out our best hi-vis cycling jackets and best cycling jackets buyer’s guides for more options.
Conclusion
The Proviz Apex Men’s 100% Reflective Cycling Jacket is superbly visible and well suited to winter outings and rides in low-light conditions. It’s not as breathable as I’d like and too bulky for a jersey pocket – an issue for me but it may not be for you – but it’s on a par size- and weight-wise with most of the competition. Proviz has created a super-reflective top that appears to be rugged, and if being seen is your top priority, it’s worth checking out.
> Buy now: Proviz Apex Men’s 100% Reflective Cycling Jacket for £99.99 from Proviz
Verdict
Superbly visible option for winter and decently waterproof, though I’d have liked it to be more breathable
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Proviz Apex Men’s 100% Reflective Cycling Jacket
Size tested: Medium
Tell us what the jacket 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?
This is a commuter jacket aimed at riders who want to be seen – and then some.
Proviz says: “The innovative material used for the men’s REFLECT360+ Apex Cycling Jacket is made of millions of tiny, highly reflective glass beads. It is highly breathable (15,000gm/24hr) and exceptionally waterproof (15,000mm). The inner seams of the jacket are also taped to prevent water from getting in at the sewing lines.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the jacket?
From Proviz:
FEATURES:
Our most technically advanced cycling jacket to date.
360-degree reflective fabric for enhanced safety, ensuring you’re visible from all angles during your cycles.
CE EN 20471 certified, guaranteeing the jacket meets rigorous testing and stringent quality standards for high visibility.
Fabric combined with PU waterproofing and Tricot 4-way stretch offers enhanced durability and comfort, cutting the need for a bulky inner mesh lining.
Enhanced Tricot lining material compared to its predecessor, offering a softer touch, improved stretch, and a more tailored fit for increased comfort and breathability.
15k/15k waterproofing and breathability rating provides superior protection from rain while allowing moisture to escape, an upgrade from the earlier 10k/10k rating.
Redesigned underarm vents we’ve removed the zips for simpler, more effective airflow, improving arm movement and overall comfort.
Upgraded waterproof zips provide increased durability and strength, offering better performance compared to earlier models.
Reinforced shoulders with a mesh-overlay add extra protection and durability, particularly against backpack strap rub, extending the jacket’s lifespan.
Three pockets: one front, one rear, and one side pocket for convenient storage, allowing easy access to essentials while on the go.
Back pleat design adds flexibility to the jacket’s fit, particularly useful for keeping comfort and movement while cycling.
Fleece-lined collar offers warmth and comfort during colder weather, ensuring a cosy fit on chilly rides.
Seam-sealed construction enhances strength, durability, and waterproofing, preventing water from seeping through the jacket.
Ultra-light at only 537g, providing a lightweight feel without compromising on protection or durability.
Elasticated and adjustable waistband allows for a more flexible fit, ensuring comfort and a snug fit tailored to your shape.
Stronger and more durable Velcro cuffs ensure a secure fit around your wrists, providing added comfort and keeping out cold air.
It feels well made, with most of the seams taped for extra waterproofness.
The material feels durable. No issues during the testing period.
Its breathability was okay, but not great.
The medium – my go-to size – was a good fit.
I tested a medium, which is what I would normally choose.
At 543g it’s on a par with similar commuter jackets. It rolls up to a package about 20cm long with a diameter of 10cm, which makes it too bulky for a rear pocket, but it’ll be fine for a pannier, backpack and some saddle bags and bar bags.
I liked the fit of the collar when fully zipped up, along with its fleece collar lining. Slightly looser cuffs would make it easier to get the jacket on and off.
There are two competitors main competitors when it comes to waterproof high-visibility jackets: the Altura Nightvision Storm jacket and the ETC Arid Verso Rain.
The Altura is £80 with the ETC a fiver more expensive at £85, though availability of the ETC is now limited.
And while the Proviz definitely outscores those two in the visibility stakes, I’m not sure that’s quite enough to justify the price difference.
Tell us how the jacket performed overall when used for its designed purpose
It worked well as a waterproof layer in normal levels of rain, though it did struggle to keep me totally dry in a torrential downpour. And while it’s not as as breathable as I’d have liked, especially given its 15,000gm/24hr breathability rating, this will be fine for commuting and more casual riding – its intended purposes – if not harder, sweat-inducing training efforts.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket
The be-seen-from-outer-space visibility it offers you on the road at night.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket
The fabric is a bit stiff and noisy when wearing as an off-the-bike jacket.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market including ones recently tested on road.cc?
At £124.99 the price is a bit higher than a few other commuter jackets that we’ve reviewed The Altura Nightvision Storm jacket and the ETC Arid Verso Rain jacket are priced at £80 and £85 respectively and have similar features.
Did you enjoy using the jacket? Yes – for shorter journeys.
Would you consider buying the jacket? No – I rate breathabilty and pack size more highly.
Would you recommend the jacket to a friend? Yes – if they’re looking for maximum night-time visibility.
Use this box to explain your overall score
A good jacket overall that is well suited to the environment it is designed for. It has every appearance of being a robust and long-lived garment, and I was impressed with how visible it was in low and very low light levels.
About the tester
Age: 56 Height: 180cm Weight: 66kg
I usually ride: Condor Fratello 55cm My best bike is: Gios Evolution 55cm
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every week I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, General road riding is most common
3 thoughts on “Proviz Apex Men’s 100% Reflective Cycling Jacket”
ProViz have been making these
ProViz have been making these for years and the reviews are always the same.
A little baggy, prone to running warm and leak a little in heavy downpours.
Yet the price keeps going up.
Is it too much to ask to see a little progress? I love the reflectivity of these jackets but its 2025 and I want a jacket as visible as this but as waterproof and breathable as my Shakedry.
Somebody push the boundaries please!
I also had one of these 10+
I also had one of these 10+ years ago, and the experience was identical: Excellent reflectivity, but not breathable and a very relaxed/baggy fit. They could easily make an alternate version with less of the reflective material, mixed with some panels that were more breathable in certain areas, plus offer a more sporty cut. It seems like lazy product design to have still not addressed theses issues.
I’d agree with the comments
I’d agree with the comments below. I’ve owned a previous version and the cut is (in my opinion) too baggy and the sleeves too short. I’d say its even too baggy for a purposely more relaxed fit. I too have never understood why they don’t try to make something with a more fitted cut using some of the same materials in stragetic places. When I had to replace mine following a meeting with some black ice, I went for one of Endura’s jackets instead.