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review
Reflectives
Respro Star hang tagsRespro Star Tags

Respro Star hang tags

7
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Dec 7, 2009

0
£8.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Simple, tidy reflectives for bags and panniers
Weight: 
12g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk
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Don’t want to clutter expensive luggage with stickers, huge swathes of day glow ruinous to your street credibility? Then Respro’s clever, reversible bag tags might be the solution for greater nighttime and low light visibility alike.

The beauty is in their simplicity two UV stabilized nylon strips measuring a substantial 21cm long clip on to the nylon closure straps of pannier, rucksack and messenger bags. Available in either Chevron or Stars patterns one side is impregnated with Scotchlite, the other day-glow yellow. Despite stiff composition, the press-stud closures are very malleable while still being secure-there’s enough play to catch the eye of others but not so they flutter uselessly in the fashion of some trailer/tag-along flags and at a pinch you could even get them on to some helmets. However, attempts to mount them on racks as emergency illumination proved less successful.

Clever graphics and high standards of manufacture are what you’re paying for and some fairly vigorous manipulation has failed to make an impression upon the materials suggesting they’ll be stalwarts of the gloomier months for several years before time comes for their replacement. Used in an urban context, grime, vehicle fumes and other pollution can dull the day-glow but gentle, citrus-based degreasers quickly rejuvenate without being overly hash in the way some detergents are. Not bike specific broadens the appeal to other outdoor activities and they might just be cool enough for pre and teenagers to wear them too.

Summing up, more durable and arguably neater than stickers but only as permanent as required, as additional safety aids they represent good value for money. The flashing LED impregnated type hold the trump card when it comes to outright visibility but given there’s no running costs they’re a dependable lifeline should your lights let you down.

Verdict

Simple, tidy reflectives for bags and panniers.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Respro Star hang tags

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?

Sold in pairs, the hang tagsa are nylon reflective strips attaching to bags and pannier straps and designed to keep riders conspicuous at night or poor light.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

21cm long (each) Nylon construction impregnated with scotchlite on one side and day glow on the other.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

12g pair

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

These are a very tidy way of making oneself more visible and the reversable strips fit pretty much any bag, rucksack or pannier. The scotchlite material certainly reflects back at car headlamps, althiugh the Chevron pattern might just have the edge over the stars as supplied. Day glow yellow works very well in overcast conditions too.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Simple, effective design.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Respro Star hang tags
Respro
Reflectives
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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