ANSI Class 2 Vests
ANSI Class 2 Safety Vests - The Standard for Roadway Visibility
ANSI/ISEA 107 Class 2 is the most commonly required hi-vis vest class — the baseline for workers exposed to vehicle traffic at 25 to 50 mph or working in environments with elevated background distraction. Class 2 vests require a minimum of 775 square inches of fluorescent background material and 201 square inches of retroreflective tape, providing strong daytime and nighttime visibility for the roles where this class applies: road construction, surveying, parking and toll operations, warehouse work near forklifts, and airport ground crews.
Our Class 2 vest collection covers every common construction and configuration:
- Mesh vests — lightweight, breathable, ideal for warm-weather or high-activity work
- Solid polyester vests — more durable and weather-resistant, preferred for cooler conditions or tasks involving abrasion
- Breakaway designs — 5-point tear-away construction for work near moving machinery or equipment
- Pocketed and surveyor styles — added storage for tools, phones, and documents
Every certified vest carries the sewn-in ANSI/ISEA 107 label confirming standard, type (typically Type R for roadway work), and class. Use the filters on this page to sort by material, closure type, pockets, and brand. If your work involves traffic above 50 mph or nighttime conditions, see our ANSI Class 3 Safety Vests collection instead.
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Alpha Workwear Class 2 Hi Vis Glow in the Dark Surveyor Vest A202
Alpha Workwear
$27.83This Glowing Surveyor Vest is Class 2 and Available in Yellow and Orange, in Sizes M-4X. The wearer of this vest can be seen in the dark without the need of batteries. The illumination is charged by daylight or artificial light in just minutes and lasts...$27.83
ANSI Class 2 Safety Vests — Frequently Asked Questions
Class 2 applies to workers exposed to vehicle traffic at roughly 25 to 50 mph, or to environments with elevated background distraction that makes visibility harder. Common Class 2 roles include road construction crews in lower-speed zones, surveyors, parking and toll attendants, warehouse workers near forklifts, and airport ground crew. The Federal Highway Administration's MUTCD guidance sets Class 2 as the minimum requirement for workers in the right-of-way of a federal-aid highway, with Class 3 required at higher speeds or in reduced visibility conditions.
Mesh vests are lighter and more breathable, well-suited to warm weather, high-activity tasks, and layering over other clothing without adding bulk or trapping heat. Solid polyester vests are more durable and weather-resistant, holding up better against wind, light rain, and abrasion — a better fit for cooler conditions or tasks involving contact with rough surfaces. Both fabric types can meet the same Class 2 certification; fabric choice is a comfort and durability decision, not a compliance one.
A breakaway design is recommended (and in some workplace safety programs required) for workers operating near conveyors, rotating machinery, or other equipment that could snag loose clothing. The 5-point tear-away construction releases instantly under tension, preventing the wearer from being pulled into the equipment. If your work doesn't involve proximity to moving machinery — for example, surveying in an open area or general warehouse tasks away from equipment — a standard zip-front or hook-and-loop closure vest is generally sufficient. When in doubt about whether snag hazards exist in your work environment, the breakaway option adds an important safety margin at minimal added cost.
Yes — by design, a safety vest is meant to be worn as the outermost garment so the fluorescent background material and reflective tape remain fully visible. ANSI/ISEA 107 certification assumes the garment is worn uncovered; a vest covered by a jacket, coat, or other outerwear no longer provides the certified visibility, regardless of the vest's own certification status. In cold weather, choose either an insulated certified outer layer (such as a certified hi-vis jacket) or a certified vest sized to fit comfortably over your winter clothing while still being the visible outer layer.
This comes down to what you regularly carry during a shift. Surveyors and field inspectors often benefit from multiple pockets for documents, tablets, and tools — see our dedicated Surveyor Vests collection for pocket-heavy configurations. Workers who primarily need visibility without carrying gear may prefer a simpler, pocket-light vest that's lighter and less prone to snagging. More pockets generally means more fabric and weight, so match the configuration to your actual task needs rather than defaulting to the most feature-loaded option.