Retroreflective tape

[GadgetGeek]

Last I checked ORALITE V82 tape (formally know as Reflexite) is the brightest most reflective tape.

Even the blue is very bright. From an online comparo many years ago.

 

[de-coloribus]

Cool thread. Subscribed in case this info comes in handy one day.

Me too! Much appreciated.

 

[pnwoutdoors]

I am resurrecting this thread because there is already some great information here.

While this post is about biking, I came here looking for reflective materials to put on my helmet.

If anybody has any URLs to share for reflective materials to put on helmets, please share them here.

Reflective Material on Bicycle Helmets

Two thumbs up, for the OraLite V82 and OraLite Solas stuff. Very bright. Can be placed around the various surfaces of a bike helmet and bike, the rear bumper of a car, etc.

Oralite V82 AP1000 Retro Reflective Tape - Brightest

Oralite SOLAS Reflective Marine Tape Coast Guard Approved FD1403

https://www.identi-tape.com/3M_983_Diamond_Grade.htm

 

[LEDphile]

Note that the brighter tapes (assuming the same color) often achieve their brightness by reducing the angle that they work over. Some of the SOLAS tapes for example provide almost no reflection unless the light source axis is very close to the viewing axis

 

[louie]

I bought Oralite (before it changed its name) tape several years ago from Identi-tape, no problems. I cut smaller sections out of the tape for small areas on my bike helmet, rims, bike frame, etc. I would say after 10 years or so, the Oralite can be prone to chipping/fracturing if constantly flexed.

I also stole an idea to put the tape on plastic fobs attached to zipper pulls on bags and coats. They flap around a bit and help visibility, like on the back of a bike. I made fobs by cutting up some fake credit cards received in junk mail.

 

[louie]

Here examples of my fobs and cutouts. The material is slightly stiff and brittle, so does not flex, stretch or conform very well. The adhesive is quite good, though.

I cut up some credit cards and used a hole punch to make a hole for the fobs. The full size tape I bought fits on my fobs (1 inch). The dots were made with a paper hole punch, and odd shapes with small scissors.

 

[Ken_McE]

With reflective tapes, the white is normally the brightest color. A tape that is "SOLAS" rated will have the highest quality and may hold up the longest.

If you only buy one color for your helmet I would suggest a white stripe all the way around. If you want to go up a notch, keep the white and run a second strip of red along the back and amber along the sides.

The tape comes in rolls and you can use the extra on your bike.

 

[JAS]

I also saw these on-line. They are just dots, though.

44 SOLAS 3/4" 1404 Oralite Dots M82

Oralite SOLAS Conformable Prismatic Diamond Dots. Easy peel and stick application. Makes diamond plate compliant with NFPA 1901 standards. Best quality dots on the market. Made by Orafol USA. Sheets of 44 - 3/4" dots. USCG Approved SOLAS is the brightest tape in the world. SOLAS stands for...

reflectivepro.com