Sierra Trading Post, on any given day a place to find high-end gear and clothing at low-end prices, is having a one-day sale with an additional 40% off of 4,000 items. Sierra Trading Post’s stock – from my viewing of it – is usually very high-end outdoors

gear and clothing, sometimes in last years colors, occasionally slight seconds, or perfectly fine discontinued items. In addition to outdoors gear (from the United States and elsewhere), they carry overstocks on very high-end European clothing. Precisely how a company based in Cheyenne, Wyoming ends up selling very-high-grade European dress clothing and outdoors gear is one of those market mysteries whose answer is not apparent on the face of things.

That said (that I don’t understand their business model), they carry a lot of products which should be in a go-bag or worn during an emergency – or to prevent one. Since – having been through it – I’ve learned that dogs can be even more vulnerable than children to being hit by cars, Sierra Trading Post’s deals on the OllyDog reflective vest for $17.95 (medium, large and extra-large available; but if you’re dog’s small – these can end up doubling as raincoats) may save you and your dog from heartbreak:

Olly Dog reflective vest medium - at Sierra Trading Post

There’s more, of course – check out Sierra Trading Post’s front page – and I believe that will bring you to the additional 40% one-day sale on 4,000 items, including the dog vest above.

Liquid Reflector is a reflective paint – available in five colors and a clear version, and, according to the manufacturer, yields a fine surface and high reflectivity. (Note: the reflected light is white, regardless of the visible color on the surface). We’d like to test some of this – see how it holds up – and whether its reflectivity would be affected by polyurethane or other transparent protective sealants.

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The elegance of reflective materials, of course, is that they’re not dependent on electricity, and, wherever placed, they work when/as needed.

Via Toolmonger

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I’ve been using the AllMedHi-Viz Rescue Vest for a few weeks. Happy to recommend it – worth every penny – although for CERT and other purposes I’d like to see a lower bulk price. For the record, we weren’t given a review sample – and regard this as money well spent. And I intend to assemble a bulk purchase soon. Here are some images.

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It’s great – I’ve worn it every time I’ve been to the park with Lucy and Zoe before dawn, and my guess is that it exceeds ANSI Class III visibility requirements. (AllMed doesn’t make the claim – and for the moment, I’m saying again – it’s a guess). We’ll try to measure visibility soon.

And it has the feel of something well-made and well-designed – very sturdy but not at all uncomfortable.

And it’s got enough pockets that, by itself, it could function as a go-bag or jump bag with the “A” gear – the absolute essentials. We’re going to figure out how much we can stuff in the pockets.

Responders should, of course, add ID – name, units, etc. – but I’d urge anyone doing it to use Reflexite letters – what makes this vest unique is the combination

of conspicuity and load carrying ability – i.e., pockets – don’t make it any less reflective if at all possible.

Product page here .

Mountain Hardwear now has on offer the Stimulus jacket

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Which is waterproof, breathable, and has some stretch – but what’s novel is that it’s reflective. 

And is available, therefore, only in a color that Mountain Hardwear calls “Stainless Steel.”

I’ve had a couple of Mountain Hardwear’s pieces – one jacket and a hat. They’re both among the best clothing I’ve ever had. jacket had single defect:  it allowed me to lose it. The hat was, I believe, stolen by one of my children – high praise, indeed.

We’re going to see if we can take a look at one of these – Mountain Hardwear’s website doesn’t provide specs on the reflectivity – but if it meets ANSI Class II or III it might be an  ideal option for clothing emergency responders.