Reflective Tape

[Glenn MacGrady]

Mike McCrea gave me strips of red and green reflective tape "for my canoes or canoe gear" two years ago. Recently, when thinking about something reflective to put on the back blade of my tractor, which I park at the bottom of my driveway in winter, I remembered that unused tape in the glove box of my Magic Bus. So I stuck both strips on the tractor blade.

Wow! It's really bright when headlights shine on it.

Now I want to put some red tape on my well and mailbox posts. Coincidentally, the day before I visited Mike my mailbox had been completely sheered off the ground by a vehicle, and I had to dig and concrete in a new one. (The connection to canoe tripping about this story is that I often receive literature about winter camping in my mailbox.)

So, I was wondering specifically, Mike, what brand of tape that is, and whether anyone else has any favorite brands or types of reflective tape.

Also, how have you used reflective tape or other reflective stick-ons in your canoe related activities?

 

[Waterdog]

The only place I've ever used reflective tape on anything is on a BearVault. That way if it gets moved I can hopefully find it easier. it is white in color. Probably wouldn't hurt to do the same to the blue barrels. I don't know the manufacturer but has held fast for more than 10 years.

Barry

 

[Guest]

Mike McCrea gave me strips of red and green reflective tape "for my canoes or canoe gear" two years ago. Recently, when thinking about something reflective to put on the back blade of my tractor, which I park at the bottom of my driveway in winter, I remembered that unused tape in the glove box of my Magic Bus. So I stuck both strips on the tractor blade.

Wow! It's really bright when headlights shine on it.


So, I was wondering specifically, Mike, what brand of tape that is, and whether anyone else has any favorite brands or types of reflective tape.

Also, how have you used reflective tape or other reflective stick-ons in your canoe related activities?

Glenn, that is High Intensity Reflective tape. BMO sells it; on-line try Identi-tape.

https://www.identi-tape.com/hi-intensity1.htm

I have that stuff on everything from boats to barrels. The wag bag toilet in case I urgently need to find it at night. The end of each crossbar on Joel’s canoe trailer (both sides), so I don’t stumble into with them. Little pieces on my glasses cases so I can find them at night. The black Pelican box. Etc.

I like having certain gear wink back bright when I take a last flashlight look before bed.

Canoe (or on family trips, canoes, each with a different reflective tape pattern)



Barrels



How much do I like and use that stuff? I repeatedly bought 15 foot rolls, before I found a deal on a 6 color pack.

That High Intensity tape is the best I have found. It seems comparable in brightness to SOLAS tape (probably what is on the triangle), but it comes in 8 colors, so sticking a 4 inch piece of green tape on the stem of a green boat, or red on red, is not as daytime fugly. That is a green Penobscot, and the tape is near invisible in daytime.

The brighter colors, silver or yellow, are even more reflective.

I have tried various other reflective tapes and everything else (no pun) pales in comparison. The barrels in the photo above have some thin REI reflective tape on them. Which you can’t even see.

BTW, round off the edges of that 1 inch tape for corner peel durability. A US quarter fits near perfect to trace that semicircle.

BTW II, propane torch flame the tape spot on barrel first, it’s poly. Or other plastics.

BTW III, don’t trim your fingernails. The backing on that High Intensity tape is a PITA to get started loose.

Note, alcohol wipe the area to remove any contaminates. See also flame treat plastics.

Note II, wash your hands first dammit. The pizza grease on your fingers doesn’t aid in tape adhesion.

Note III, you will go through a single 15 foot roll of that stuff like lightening. I’d buy two.

 

[Guest]

If you know anybody that works at a nys school bus garage, they often have left over pieces of highly reflective decal tape that goes on the busses. That stuff really shines. I'm out of all I scarfed when working at one.
Turtle

 

[southcove]

Solas tape reportedly has the brightest reflective give back...USCG makes it so! Found at any boat store, marine supply or online supply like West Marine, etc.

Sometimes your local hardware store will have several grades/colors/sizes and places like auto parts stores, usually have it too, as well as Wally World and old timey general store places and small chains in the hardware depts. Truck, towing supply would have the large, wide rolls for trailers, buses, etc.

We used to decorate life jackets near the neck areas, waterproof boxes and important lines that you needed to trip over at night when you thought you actually had some night vision...we also had some on non grip/use areas of paddles and one tall stake for finding camp at night when set back in the woods from the water.

 

[boatstall]

Glenn, that is High Intensity Reflective tape. BMO sells it; on-line try Identi-tape.

https://www.identi-tape.com/hi-intensity1.htm

I have that stuff on everything from boats to barrels. The wag bag toilet in case I urgently need to find it at night. The end of each crossbar on Joel’s canoe trailer (both sides), so I don’t stumble into with them. Little pieces on my glasses cases so I can find them at night. The black Pelican box. Etc.

I like having certain gear wink back bright when I take a last flashlight look before bed.

Canoe (or on family trips, canoes, each with a different reflective tape pattern)


How much do I like and use that stuff? I repeatedly bought 15 foot rolls, before I found a deal on a 6 color pack.

That High Intensity tape is the best I have found. It seems comparable in brightness to SOLAS tape (probably what is on the triangle), but it comes in 8 colors, so sticking a 4 inch piece of green tape on the stem of a green boat, or red on red, is not as daytime fugly. That is a green Penobscot, and the tape is near invisible in daytime.

The brighter colors, silver or yellow, are even more reflective.

I have tried various other reflective tapes and everything else (no pun) pales in comparison. The barrels in the photo above have some thin REI reflective tape on them. Which you can’t even see.

BTW, round off the edges of that 1 inch tape for corner peel durability. A US quarter fits near perfect to trace that semicircle.

BTW II, propane torch flame the tape spot on barrel first, it’s poly. Or other plastics.

BTW III, don’t trim your fingernails. The backing on that High Intensity tape is a PITA to get started loose.

Note, alcohol wipe the area to remove any contaminates. See also flame treat plastics.

Note II, wash your hands first dammit. The pizza grease on your fingers doesn’t aid in tape adhesion.

Note III, you will go through a single 15 foot roll of that stuff like lightening. I’d buy two.

Mike, thanks for the link for this tape.
"I like having certain gear wink back bright when I take a last flashlight look before bed." is a great idea.
That green on your canoe seems perfect, without looking a highway sign.
And that BTW of rounding off corners to a semicircle, deserves an additional thank you!

 

[Sweetfancymoses]

... whether anyone else has any favorite brands or types of reflective tape.

I bought a pack of 1' strips that were the red/white striped kind at Harbor Freight some years ago. I was leery about the quality but they stick well and are holding up on my hitchhaul.

 

[Guest]

I camped with a couple that temporally hung reflectors attached to clothes pins on branches marking the path to the outhouse. Clever!
Turtle

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Glenn, that is High Intensity Reflective tape. BMO sells it; on-line try Identi-tape.

https://www.identi-tape.com/hi-intensity1.htm

Thanks, Mike.

The tape seems to be trade named Reflexite V92 Conspicuity. The shipping charges from the Identi-tape website are astronomical. Amazon has it for normal shipping fees:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LW4G692/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A23VKRUGUD63LA

 

[Guest]

TThe shipping charges from the Identi-tape website are astronomical. Amazon has it for normal shipping fees:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LW4G692/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A23VKRUGUD63LA

I think the insane shipping charge was why I ordered the 6-pack from Comfy Kayak.

It is great stuff. This time maybe you will use it on paddling gear.