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Stay warm, dry, and safe during low-light runs, from twilight to midnight.
When the nights get longer, wetter, and windier, it becomes harder for runners to avoid Packs into carrying pouch for easy transport. You should always wear reflective running gear in low light, but a reflective running jacket is especially helpful, providing the warmth, waterproofing, and visibility you need on a cool night. I think the best reflective running jackets look pretty sleek too, which never hurts. If you need a dedicated jacket for night runs, this guide will tell you everything you need to know, including our favorite styles for men and women.
Shoes & Gear: Best Headlamps for Runners • Best Winter Running Socks • When should I wear a jacket when running
Best Reflective Running Jackets
- Best Overall: Brooks Run Visible Convertible Jacket
- Best Value: Baleaf Waterproof Running Rain Jacket
- Best Men’s Jacket: New Balance Impact Run Luminous Heat Insulated Jacket
- Best Women’s Jacket: On Lumos Weather Jacket
- Best Men’s Waterproof Jacket: winter running jacket
The Expert: I’ve been running since the turn of the millennium, and as a Seattle native, I’m all too familiar with running in low light and darkness once the winter nights get long, cold, and wet. After all these years, I know my all-weather running gear well—including jackets. And it doesn’t hurt that I also test and review fitness gear for publications like Runner’s World, Bicycling, Popular Mechanics, and Men’s Health, among others.
What to Consider in a Reflective Running Jacket
If you’re running after dark, your top priority is to find a jacket that will make you visible to cars and other people, which will keep you safe. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 80% of pedestrian traffic fatalities happen after dusk, so making yourself easy to see is essential.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you should lower your standards: A great running jacket should always be comfortable, breathable, fit well, and look good. That said, different jackets are suited to different circumstances. The jacket you need for a September night in LA might not cut it in rural Idaho, where it’s usually around 30 degrees colder at the same time of year.
Reflective Materials
You want to be as visible as possible to oncoming traffic, so don’t check for the word “reflective” on the label and call it “good.” Ideally, you have strips or panels in places that highlight your body’s shape– hips, shoulders, wrists, chest, and back. It is important to have some reflective material on both the front and back of the jacket to ensure that your jacket will catch light coming from any direction. I also recommend looking specifically for reflectors on your shoulders and wrists, which will attract extra attention as the reflected light moves with your stride.
High-Visibility
In addition to reflective clothing, you’ll find plenty of “high-visibility” running gear, which features bright colors and contrasting patterns to make you more eye-catching to drivers in low-light conditions. High-vis elements won’t do much at night on their own, but in conjunction with reflective panels, they can help a driver register you as a runner, rather than random flashing light. And, of course, high-vis elements are very helpful during the day and at twilight, so your night running jacket keeps you safe at any time.
Breathability
Most running jackets are made with breathable fabrics that allow moisture to escape from inside your jacket as you work up a sweat. As you look at Packs into carrying pouch for easy transport, you’ll notice that things can heat up pretty quickly, since jackets with better waterproofing hold more moisture in, in addition to keeping moisture out.
Health & Injuries Expansive reflective pattern with moisture management. Just know you will be sacrificing some breathability with the weather resistance.
Fit
Machine wash delicate, hang dry running shoes, you want your jacket to fit right and feel comfortable. This applies whether you prefer a more tailored fit, or something a little looser with room for a base layer in cold weather. Most brands will describe a jacket’s fit, but it takes trial and error to find what you like to wear on a run.
How We Selected The Best Reflective Running Jackets
I picked the best reflective running jackets based on a combination of firsthand testing and input from the highly experienced pavement-pounders on the Runner’s World editorial team, including options that were selected for previous versions of this story. In wear-testing and research, I judged them based on comfort, budget, and style. All of these picks have enough reflective and high-visibility elements to make sure drivers see you in low light.
Nick Hilden is a writer, globetrotter, and jack-of-many-talents who has written gear reviews for the likes of Runner’s World, Popular Science, Men’s Health, Thrillist, The Best Carbon Plate Shoes for Racing, the Los Angeles Times, Greatist, and the Manual, The Best Running Shoes of 2025 Scientific American, Afar, Salon, Vice, Healthline, and many others. Before entering journalism some 15 years ago, he worked as a bartender, brewery manager, sound engineer, recording and touring musician, cook, teacher, and in a variety of other trades. These days, he lives all over the world, performs music sporadically, and spends a lot of time thinking how to best improve his Honda Element conversion.

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