I snagged the icon vest one night while out for a ride but was extremely disappointed in visibility in low light. I mean, you could see this thing no problems in the daytime, but at night the reflectivity just wasn`t up to my standards. Besides, the fit was a little weird for me as well and the vest wouldn`t sit right when I was in riding position.
In a search for an alternative, I came across TinWolf's website and was impressed with the visibility of the vest.
Product: I was so excited to get my vest I ripped open the package and slipped this bad boy on. I wont lie, after seeing it on I was a little dissapointed at the fit. This thing was really baggy and I couldnt get it to cinch down to my build without the logos getting skewed. I took the vest off and moped around a bit (keep in mind Im a small guy @ 5'7" 127lbs). Then I got a realization - "Wait a minute...this thing is really setup to be worn OVER my gear". I hurredly ran down jumped in my leather jacket and threw the vest over top. This was a MUCH better fit and I was instantly beyond satisfied with my purchase.
Comparison
ICON - made out of nylon I believe. It reminds me of the material a gym or duffel back would be made out of. The vest is also longer and in my mind seems to be designed to be worn alone. It has a mesh type liner or backing, but doesnt allow for any increased airflow. I guess its to keep the vest together in the event of a crash. This vest has a lot of pockets on it (that serve no purpose to me) and the reflective stripes are somewhat lacking.
TinWolf - The only 'solid' portion of the vest is in the yoke (shoulder area). The rest of the vest is a mesh (read netting'ish) style allowing for more movement and airflow. The vest is also shorter than the Icon. This makes wearing it while on the bike much more comfortable. In seated position, the vest isnt riding up on me at all. I chose the HiViz yellow - which is much brighter than the Icon vest. This color seems to glow in low light conditions. The reflectivity of the print is totally awesome! depending on the angle, the patches just radiate - so much so that they look like silvery white rather than a dull gray. I also really like the fact that the edges of the vest are reflective outlining the wearer. Even the bungie cords are reflective.
I can go on and on about how much better I like the looks of the TinWolf jacket.
Overall I do not hesitate in recommending a TinWolf vest to anyone. I absolutely love the product and would buy from them again!
In a search for an alternative, I came across TinWolf's website and was impressed with the visibility of the vest.
Product: I was so excited to get my vest I ripped open the package and slipped this bad boy on. I wont lie, after seeing it on I was a little dissapointed at the fit. This thing was really baggy and I couldnt get it to cinch down to my build without the logos getting skewed. I took the vest off and moped around a bit (keep in mind Im a small guy @ 5'7" 127lbs). Then I got a realization - "Wait a minute...this thing is really setup to be worn OVER my gear". I hurredly ran down jumped in my leather jacket and threw the vest over top. This was a MUCH better fit and I was instantly beyond satisfied with my purchase.
Comparison
ICON - made out of nylon I believe. It reminds me of the material a gym or duffel back would be made out of. The vest is also longer and in my mind seems to be designed to be worn alone. It has a mesh type liner or backing, but doesnt allow for any increased airflow. I guess its to keep the vest together in the event of a crash. This vest has a lot of pockets on it (that serve no purpose to me) and the reflective stripes are somewhat lacking.
TinWolf - The only 'solid' portion of the vest is in the yoke (shoulder area). The rest of the vest is a mesh (read netting'ish) style allowing for more movement and airflow. The vest is also shorter than the Icon. This makes wearing it while on the bike much more comfortable. In seated position, the vest isnt riding up on me at all. I chose the HiViz yellow - which is much brighter than the Icon vest. This color seems to glow in low light conditions. The reflectivity of the print is totally awesome! depending on the angle, the patches just radiate - so much so that they look like silvery white rather than a dull gray. I also really like the fact that the edges of the vest are reflective outlining the wearer. Even the bungie cords are reflective.
I can go on and on about how much better I like the looks of the TinWolf jacket.
Overall I do not hesitate in recommending a TinWolf vest to anyone. I absolutely love the product and would buy from them again!
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Customer`s comparison between the Tinwolf vest and the Icon milspec vest which was published on the Volusia riders site in the USA
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