Good, Better, Best: Summer Safety – Choosing the Right Lightweight Hi-Vis

With UK Summers getting hotter and longer, ensuring your workforce is equipped with lightweight, breathable PPE isn’t just a comfort issue — it’s a safety essential.

Heat stress can lead to fatigue, dizziness, reduced concentration, and serious health risks. According to the HSE, high temperatures can impair both physical and mental performance, while the Met Office has recorded a 35% increase in heat-related weather alerts over the last decade. In this environment, hi-vis workwear needs to do more than keep workers seen — it must help keep them cool, dry, and protected.

To help you make the right choice, we’ve broken down three excellent hi-vis summer t-shirts in a Good, Better, Best format. Whether you need to outfit an entire team or upgrade essential personnel, these options balance cost, comfort, and compliance in ways that support productivity and well-being.

GOOD: Portwest EC12 Hi-Vis T-Shirt
The Portwest EC12 is a great all-rounder for warm-weather use. It’s ideal for teams who need basic high-visibility compliance with added comfort compared to traditional polyester garments.

This T-shirt is part of Portwest’s EC collection. It is made from 100% recycled polyester, which helps reduce landfill waste and supports sustainable purchasing decisions. Its lightweight knit design offers a noticeable improvement in breathability compared to heavier options.

Why it’s a good choice:

• Certified to EN ISO 20471 Class 2
• Made from recycled polyester – soft, lightweight, and eco-conscious
• Moisture-wicking properties to help reduce sweat build-up
• Ideal for low to medium-exertion roles and short to moderate shifts

If you’re transitioning away from old-style cotton or heavyweight polyester, the EC12 is a smart step forward. It ticks the compliance box while keeping costs down and comfort up — a good first move toward a more heat-aware PPE strategy.

BETTER: Leo Workwear Coolviz Plus T-Shirt
Engineered for performance in warmer environments, the Coolviz Plus t-shirt from Leo Workwear is a noticeable upgrade in function and design. Crafted from hydrophobic polyester, it actively pulls moisture away from the skin. 

What sets it apart is its integrated mesh airflow panels, which provide targeted ventilation in the areas that need it most — under the arms and across the sides of the torso.

Standout features:

• EN ISO 20471 Class 2 compliant
• Airflow mesh side panels for better ventilation
• Segmented reflective tape allows for greater freedom of movement
• Quick-drying and ideal for multi-hour use in warm outdoor settings

This is a smart investment for workers on highways, building sites, and delivery routes who need freedom of movement and cooling performance. It significantly reduces discomfort from overheating and perspiration.

BEST: Helly Hansen Addvis LIFA® Active T-Shirt
If you’re looking for elite-level performance from your summer hi-vis, the Helly Hansen Addvis is in a class of its own.

Made with LIFA® Active fabric, it uses a two-layer moisture management system that transports sweat away from the skin and dries quickly, keeping workers cooler for longer. Unlike most standard T-shirts, it also features UPF 40+ protection—an essential upgrade when exposure to UV radiation is constant.

Strategic mesh panels are incorporated to maximise airflow without compromising the shirt’s structure or visibility.

Top-tier advantages:

• Certified EN ISO 20471 Class 2
• LIFA® Active fabric: fast-drying, soft-touch, high-performance
• UPF 40+ rated – protects skin from harmful sun exposure
• Targeted mesh zones enhance airflow and help prevent heat stress
• Durable construction for long-term use and industrial laundering

The Addvis is designed for high-exertion, high-temperature roles — think road surfacing, infrastructure projects, or logistics teams working in full sun all day. It’s built to improve comfort, protect health, and boost productivity even in challenging summer conditions.

Compare at a Glance
Here’s how the three garments stack up across key performance factors:

Feature	Portwest EC12	Leo Coolviz Plus	Helly Hansen Addvis
Certified Class	EN ISO 20471 Class 2	EN ISO 20471 Class 2	EN ISO 20471 Class 2
Fabric	Recycled polyester	Hydrophobic polyester	LIFA® Active polyester
Breathability	Moderate	High	Exceptional
Moisture Wicking	Yes	Advanced	Dual-layer system
Mesh Panels	No	Yes (ventilation zones)	Yes (strategic placement)
UV Protection	No	UPF 40+	UPF 40+
Comfort Rating	Good	Better	Best
Ideal For	General/light tasks	Outdoor summer work	High-exertion long shifts

The Bottom Line: Fit-for-Purpose Summer Safety
As heatwaves and warm weather become more common, outfitting your workforce in heat-conscious PPE is more than a nice-to-have — it’s part of your responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

• Good: Great for budget-conscious teams needing eco-conscious compliance.
• Better: Adds ventilation, mobility, and sweat management for active days in the sun.
• Best: Optimised for extreme heat, UV exposure, and all-day wear.

By selecting the right summer hi-vis, you’re not only meeting your legal obligations but actively improving worker well-being, morale, and efficiency.

At Stronghold Global, we supply all three of these options and can help guide your selection based on site risks, working hours, and workforce size.

Let’s keep your team cool and compliant
Contact Stronghold Global today to start planning your site’s PPE upgrade for when the next heatwave hits. We can help you develop a comprehensive summer safety plan that addresses all aspects of heat stress prevention, from PPE selection to hydration strategies and emergency response procedures. Please don’t wait until it’s too late. Invest in the safety and well-being of your workforce today and ensure a productive and healthy season.

01793 484237
[email protected]
www.strongholdglobal.com

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