King Gee women's hi-vis reflective softshell jacket

The K45006 is a women's hi-vis softshell jacket from King Gee, built on a two layer construction with a TPU coating and a 310gsm weight. The face is a stretch woven blend of 94% polyester and 6% elastane, which is where the give comes from when you reach, climb or twist on site. Behind that sits a bonded fleece backing in 100% polyester for a bit of warmth without the bulk of a heavy parka.

The cut is a women's specific fit rather than a unisex shape sized down, so it follows through the shoulders and body the way a workwear jacket should. Visibility comes from segmented 50mm ReflecTEC tape, and the shell is described as water resistant, which suits showery days and damp early starts more than a full day standing in heavy rain.

For a softshell that moves with you and keeps the chill off without feeling like a winter coat, this one is worth a look. You can read the full listing and check the current colour and size options on the product page.

Working out if a softshell suits the job

A softshell sits between a fleece and a hard wet weather jacket. The 310gsm two layer build with a TPU coating and bonded fleece backing gives you warmth and a water resistant outer, with the elastane in the face fabric letting the jacket stretch as you move. If your day is cool and showery and you are active, that combination works well. If you expect to stand in steady, heavy rain for long stretches, treat the jacket as water resistant rather than waterproof and consider pairing it with a wet weather layer.

Getting the fit right

The K45006 is cut to a women's specific fit, so size it to sit close enough that the stretch face fabric can do its job, but with room for a base layer underneath on colder mornings. Check that the sleeves reach past the wrist when your arms are forward, since that is the position you spend most of your day in. Use the size range shown on the product page to match your usual workwear size, and confirm the available colours there too.

Looking after it and keeping it visible

The segmented 50mm ReflecTEC tape and the hi-vis face are what make you seen, so keep them clean. Grime and ground-in dust dull reflective tape over time, which cuts how well it bounces light back at night. Wash the jacket in line with the care instructions on the garment label and avoid harsh treatments that can shorten the life of the coating and the tape. If the tape starts to crack, peel or fade, or the hi-vis colour goes dull, it is time to replace the jacket so your visibility stays reliable.

All four are hi-vis jackets, so they are genuine like-for-like alternatives by product type, though they take different approaches to warmth and weather. The matrix below puts the K45006 softshell next to a flame retardant softshell, a same-brand 4-in-1 weatherproof jacket, and an insulated freezer jacket so you can see what changes between them.

Pick the King Gee softshell when you want stretch and a women's fit for active, cool weather work and you can live with water resistant rather than fully waterproof. The Bool softshell covers a similar style but adds flame retardant and anti static protection, so it is the choice if your worksite calls for FR rated gear. The King Gee 4-in-1 is the more flexible option for changeable weather since it is waterproof and breaks down into separate layers.

If your real problem is sustained cold rather than rain, the Workcraft freezer jacket is the one built for it, with proper fibrefill insulation and a listed hi-vis standard. The softshell is lighter and more mobile, so it comes down to whether you need movement and a bit of warmth, or serious cold weather insulation.

On the listing, this jacket is a solid mid-weight softshell for women working in cool conditions. The numbers that matter are clear: a 310gsm two layer build with a TPU coating, a stretch face of 94% polyester and 6% elastane, a bonded fleece backing, and segmented 50mm ReflecTEC tape for visibility. The water resistant rating and the UPF50+ marking are both stated, and the women's specific fit is a genuine point in its favour if you have struggled with downsised unisex jackets.

What the listing confirms is the construction, the fabric blends, the tape size and the UV rating. What it does not state is a hi-vis day or night compliance standard such as AS/NZS 4602.1, an exact size range, or the available colours. If meeting a specific hi-vis standard is a requirement on your site, confirm that on the product page or datasheet before you commit, since the listing only states UPF50+.

For active, cooler weather work where you want warmth, stretch and reliable visibility without the weight of an insulated coat, it is an easy jacket to recommend. Just go in clear that it is water resistant, not waterproof, and check the size and colour details directly on the listing.