How to Choose the Right Safety Vest for Your Crew

How to Choose the Right Safety Vest for Your Crew

How to Choose the Right Safety Vest for Your Crew

When it comes to keeping your team safe on the job, visibility is not optional it’s essential. The right safety vest isn’t just another box to tick for compliance; it’s a piece of protective gear that can prevent accidents and save lives. Whether you’re outfitting a small warehouse team or managing a large-scale construction site, knowing what to look for in a high-visibility vest makes all the difference.

1. Understand the ANSI Classes: Picking the Right Level of Protection

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) classifies safety vests into three main categories. Which one you choose depends entirely on the work environment and the hazards your crew faces.

  • Class 1 – Suitable for low-risk jobs like parking attendants, warehouse staff, or sidewalk maintenance crews.
  • Class 2 – Designed for workers exposed to traffic or lower light levels, such as utility teams and construction workers.
  • Class 3 – Offers the highest level of visibility, often with sleeves, for those working on highways or in night conditions.

 Pro tip: At GlowSafetyVest, every vest we make is ANSI and OSHA compliant, so you never have to wonder if it meets the mark.

2. Comfort and Breathability Matter More Than You Think

A safety vest can be the brightest, most reflective piece of clothing in the world but if it’s uncomfortable, workers won’t want to wear it. And if they’re constantly adjusting it or overheating, productivity and safety take a hit.

Look for:

  • Breathable mesh for hot or humid conditions
  • Lightweight yet durable fabrics
  • Adjustable fits with zippers or Velcro closures
  • Functional extras like pockets, pen holders, or tool loops

3. Reflective Striping: Day-and-Night Protection

True visibility means protection in every condition from bright daylight to foggy mornings to pitch-dark nights.

A good vest should have:

  • 360° reflective striping for all-around visibility
  • High-contrast neon fabric (yellow or orange)
  • Retroreflective tape that bounces light back toward its source in low-light conditions

4. Customization: Make Safety Part of Your Brand

Adding your company’s logo or team roles to a vest does more than create a uniform look it reinforces professionalism and can even improve team morale.

We specialize in Custom Safety Vests:

  • We also offer vibrant DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing using our live design tool — no setup fees, just $0.30 per square inch.
  • Role labels such as Supervisor, Security, or First Aid
  • Brand color matching for a polished finish

5. Bulk Orders: What to Check Before You Buy

Outfitting a full team is an investment, and you want it to be the right one. Before placing a large order, make sure your supplier offers:

  • Verified OSHA and ANSI compliance
  • A wide range of sizes so every team member is properly fitted
  • Reliable, trackable shipping times
  • Responsive, U.S.-based customer support

GlowSafetyVest is proudly based in Texas, serving crews across the U.S. with custom and bulk safety gear solutions.

Choosing the right safety vest is about more than compliance, it’s about protecting the people who make your business run. When you combine the right ANSI class, comfort features, reliable reflectivity, and a touch of branding, you get a vest your crew will actually want to wear.

 Ready to gear up your team?

Design your own custom safety vest online today to get started with custom or bulk orders that meet your exact needs!




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