One of my biggest preoccupations during the winter months is being visible to fellow road users on my daily cycle commute to and from the office.

Only last week I had a near miss with a van when it passed me with only inches to spare on a narrow street lined both sides with parked cars. Given said incident happened in broad daylight, it doesn't bear thinking about the grainy hours of dawn and dusk, never mind pitch blackness. Here's my pick of some of the best cycling gear to stand-out on dark nights and gloomy mornings.

Endura Luminite II Jacket (£89.99)

When it comes to being seen on the roads, Livingston-based firm Endura has hit the nail on the head with its Luminite II Jacket. I usually don't do pink. There is not a stitch of clothing in my wardrobe of this hue (not even a rogue pair of socks). This brilliant jacket, however, has firmly changed my mind on that count.

It is a retina-searing high-vis pink emblazoned with eye-catching silver reflective chevrons. The other genius stand-out feature is the Luminite LED Light Unit on the back pocket. It is bright red, has three flash modes and 50+ hours of battery life which provides an extra medium to make you visible in addition to your usual bike lights.

The jacket, made from waterproof and breathable fabric, also comes in high-vis yellow, green and black, available for women in five sizes from XS to XL. There are plenty of decent-sized pockets too for storing essential bits and bobs.

Endura make a pair of cosy matching Luminite gloves (£32.99) in the same hot pink shade using a clever wind-block fabric and fast-dry fleece lining. Key design features include a reflective print with knuckle flashes.

The Luminite II Jacket (£89.99) has a men's equivalent which is available in three shades (not pink, sorry chaps) and seven sizes from XS to XXXL. The kids version (£39.99) comes in two colours, pink and green, and is aimed at youngsters aged seven to 12.

For more information, visit endurasport.com

Brainy Bike Lights (£36)

Every cyclist has heard the immortal words "Sorry mate, I didn't see you ..." at one time or another. It is a jarring moment usually accompanied, at best, by the adrenalin-induced thudding of heart in chest and, at worst, a crumpled body and bike.

This gadget was devised with the aim of creating better awareness of cyclists among fellow road users. The idea behind Brainy Bike Lights is rooted firmly in scientific study and based on four key distinctions dubbed "brainwaves".

Similar psychology has been successfully applied to other products: children, for example, are more likely to brush their teeth properly when the toothbrush features a smiley face, while consumers have been shown to buy a specific cereal when a character on the box makes eye contact.

The first brainwave works on the basis that the use of a bike symbol provides quicker and more accurate identification of cyclists, helping them stand out among urban light clutter at night as well as during the day, and the second is to help speed up reaction times in drivers. The objective is to allow faster identification of cyclists so drivers can respond to their presence on the road.

The third key element is to trigger relevant associations in drivers' minds including vulnerability and recognition of the cyclist as a person. The fourth comes through pinpoint sharp visibility and the use of acute angles in what is known as Edge Lit technology.

Illumination is provided five powerful LEDs which have various lighting modes, including intense flashing to differentiate cyclists from static road furniture such as cat's eyes. Want to see how they work? There is an online test at brainybikelights.com worth checking out.

For more information, visit sciencemuseumshop.co.uk

HUMP Waterproof Rucsac Cover (from £19.99)

There's little logic in investing in a brightly coloured cycling jacket, if you are only going to promptly cancel out the benefits by covering up your back with a dark rucksack.

The appeal of the HUMP Waterproof Rucsac Cover is that it provides a two-pronged attack, not only helping you stay visible out on the roads, but also keeping the contents of your bag dry and its exterior clean from muddy splashes.

Constructed from waterproof fabric with taped seams, the day-glo fabric is further accentuated by reflective chevron prints and stripes. It features elasticated binding and snap buckle fasteners to ensure that the HUMP fits snugly over your bag.

Designed to fit most backpacks between 15-35 litres, it can also be used to cover bike pannier bags. There is also a handy mesh pocket which is an ideal perch for an LED light to further enhance the wearer's visibility to fellow road users.

The good old HUMP has been around for a few years now, but with every winter comes an increased choice of colours and sizes available. You can choose from the Speed, Big, Deluxe, Original and Double varieties, the latter featuring an external zipper pocket to keep your essentials close to hand. The HUMP range has recently been expanded to include jackets for men and women.

I use my own HUMP cover year-round and believe it has helped prolong the life of my rucksack. The past few seasons I've been rocking yellow, but thinking of branching out into atomic blue.

For more information, visit myhump.co.uk