Wearables

Urban style meets cycling function in the Eclaireur LED jacket

Urban style meets cycling function in the Eclaireur LED jacket
Esthete claims the LEDs can be seen from 100 m away
Esthete claims the LEDs can be seen from 100 m away
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The jacket has plenty of inside and outside pocket space
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The jacket has plenty of inside and outside pocket space
Wrist gaiters add warmth and comfort
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Wrist gaiters add warmth and comfort
The waist gaiter is removable
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The waist gaiter is removable
You can hardly tell the back is lined with red LEDs when they're not turned on
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You can hardly tell the back is lined with red LEDs when they're not turned on
The front has has two white LEDs
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The front has has two white LEDs
The Eclaireur cycling jacket has five red LEDs in back
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The Eclaireur cycling jacket has five red LEDs in back
The red LEDs provide an integrated jacket taillight
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The red LEDs provide an integrated jacket taillight
Esthete claims the LEDs can be seen from 100 m away
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Esthete claims the LEDs can be seen from 100 m away
View gallery - 8 images

LED jackets built for cycling and running are nothing new. We've covered the Sporty Supaheroe jacket and other examples of this type of wearable technology. Where the new Eclaireur jacket steps it up is in integrating LEDs into a jacket you'll wear in public when you're not on your bike. On purpose.

In a fashion sense, the only street many LED and reflective cycling clothes belong on is the one in front of the elementary school, protecting the crossing guard. If that's not your gig, you'll probably want to stuff such a jacket into your backpack the minute you dismount your bike. Such jackets are just not built to blend in casually.

Designed by French company Esthete, the Eclaireur is a different animal. It's a stylish casual jacket that just happens to have LEDs in the back and chest. The jacket and its many buttons and rivets may or may not appeal to your personal sense of style, but it's hard to deny that it's better looking than the average bright, plasticky windbreaker.

The Eclaireur isn't just a pretty face; it's designed to perform. A waterproof-breathable SympaTex polyester with a nylon lining and waterproof seams protect against the elements. The zip vents under the arms and ventilation holes on the back let the breeze in when things are hot and active. A removable waist gaiter and a set of wrist gaiters seal out that same breeze when it's chilly.

The Eclaireur cycling jacket has five red LEDs in back
The Eclaireur cycling jacket has five red LEDs in back

The light system pairs two white Ultrabright LEDs up front with five red Ultrabright LEDs in back. Esthete claims that it makes the rider visible from 328 feet (100 m) away. An integrated controller switches between front-only, back-only and all-on modes. The lithium-polymer battery runs up to 20 hours and requires 3.5 hours to recharge. The LEDs get a little help from a removable reflective yellow armband.

The Eclairuer jacket costs €600 (about US$800) as described. It is also available without the LEDs for €480.

Source: Esthete

View gallery - 8 images
6 comments
6 comments
P51d007
I'd rather see these with IR lights. Would make it nice to walk around town, without the ever present traffic/security cameras, monitoring your every move!
MG127
"It is also available without the LEDs for €480." 460€ for the name and 20€ for the production cost ... adding a bunch of leds for additional 120€ oO such surreal prices
Paul Adams
Nice idea, real life saver, can't get my teenager to put on hi viz ext something like this mite help. Price definitely an issue.
Rt1583
It seems that the lights on the front need to be relocated. More often than not, when riding, your shoulders are not in the squared back position like those of the model, standing upright, with his hands in his pockets.
bergamot69
Agree with RT1583.
Trouble with LEDs is that they are very bright from certain angles, but not from others. So what you are left with, in effect, is a 'Low-Viz Grey' jacket, with an eye-watering price tag.
Another issue, as with LED head torches, is that the light source bobs about a lot, which can be very distracting when driving, eg when you've just overtaken a cyclist wearing one, and you keep seeing random flashes of bluey-white light in your rear-view mirror.
Aurora
I like this one, looks stylish.