What works - Hi Viz

Things get complicated, many things stay complicated even after some realization that there is a trend that might be out of our influence.

What action to take?

Usually, action begins with some clear observation...

Effectively keeping track of gear while in the woods might not be a matter if we were to only mindfully attend to all the details, but instead we are outwardly oriented and usually preoccupied when in the woods. Some visual aids to use are around simple and passive things and options that just work.

Conditionally our trichromatic eyesight is optimized toward more color over just any color. We cannot be help being stimulated and attracted to high contrast and high signal color.

Three hi viz color examples here from the Web:

There is not an ideal color for recognizing any one thing, but culturally we have codified many specific colors into sometimes critical roles, hunter orange is one good example. Further examples are all rather obvious, but some applications are more important.

This is a good working example where a hi viz option makes some difference:

Normal Victorinox SAK red is fine for everyday use, but I suggest that in the field it can get easily lost on a forest floor. Especially at night, reds do not show up well without some kind of strong lighting, darker reds still blend or washout. Also, note the dummy cord.

This particular SAK model is one that does come in the more spectacular yellow and is a handy model and should have its own discussion someday.

All critical field system components are good for some kind of hi viz treatment or additions. Anything expedient to add for contrast and some hi viz recognition is a good idea. Some good ideas include glow tape, fluorescent paints, cords/lanyards in hi viz 550 cord… being creative is always applicable.

Another key system component for a field system is a rifle magazine.

For this application I had tried once the glow tape mentioned above, but the “stick” factor was lacking so I decided that the HVAC aluminized tape was a better option. The actual square pieces are taped into a small recesses in the side of the magazine and stay flush and compact to the magazine shape and do not interfere with the rifle magwell. 

Another view with a more "lost" demo setup:

The best advantage is the highly reflective HVAC tape works very well at night and shows up in a flashlight beam if you actually dropped the thing and are looking about.

Once you break a mindset condition of remaining always tactically blended or hidden, the advantages of easy to see and find gear Hi Viz mods just prompts all sorts of gear refashioning and customization. In my view (he he) the additional hi viz tweaks and treatments make things overall easier. 

FC

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