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In SA OC Siman 301 it's discussed many of the things a person can and can't go out with on Shabbos in a place where there is no eiruv.

Is one allowed to wear a armband or wristband on Shabbos with some sort of the reflective material on it in a place where there is no Eiruv? This way at night cars will better be able to see the Orthodox Jews crossing the streets. As well this is only worn at night and not during the day at all (it's taken off when one arrives in shul obviously and a person probably wouldn't want to wear it at all during the day.) What is this similar to if anything in regards to what it says in SA OC Siman 301? What other comparisons or examples or proofs to this could be give?

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Is this different than a bracelet because it's for safety and not decoration? – Charles Koppelman Dec 27 '12 at 21:55
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@CharlesKoppelman I don't know, that's why I'm asking. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. – Yehoshua Dec 27 '12 at 22:22
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The poskim discuss wearing sunglasses on Shabbos. I was trying to work out if maybe this is similar since it's used to "protect"? – Yehoshua Dec 27 '12 at 22:47

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After a recent fatal accident at night in Manchester UK, Dayan G Krausz of Manchester Beis Din and Rav M M Schneebalg of Machzikei Hadass put out a joint notice encouraging people who walk at night in dark places to use these reflective armbands and specifically stating they may be worn on Shabbos.

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How do you think this question originated? (I live in Eretz Yisrael but I heard about this and was curious what the olam here could come up with.) However still +1 – Yehoshua Dec 28 '12 at 11:41
@Yehoshua Oh! I apologise for revealing what you did not want to reveal. – Avrohom Yitzchok Dec 28 '12 at 11:47
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I assume they were addressing all concerns, including Muktzeh as well as carrying (the concern in the question)? – Seth J Dec 28 '12 at 13:15
Is there an Eruv in Manchester? – Double AA♦ Dec 28 '12 at 14:43
@AvrohomYitzchok I had originally thought to write the question including the story...Then I realized that the moderators and those with high reputations on this site that are often quite critical of the way questions are asked caused me to decide to leave out the story surrounding the question lest people draw conclusions from why I have included these details, etc. – Yehoshua Dec 29 '12 at 16:45
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Obviously this does not address the S"'A or later Posekim, but it would seem from the Gemara that this would qualify as a Tachshit. I don't know how it could be considered anything else.

As it is something you would specifically not take off outside while walking, I don't see how it would be considered something to be banned lest one come to carry it.

Of course, CYLOR, but going to the root of the Halachah, and given the many examples and logic provided in the Gemara, I would think it should be ok to wear.

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What is your proof from the Gemorah that this qualifies as a tachshit? – Yehoshua Dec 27 '12 at 22:46
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Nothing specific, just the ongoing discussion in the Shakla VeTarya that makes me think so. It's a bracelet, but it's not gold; it's something that isn't only worn by women; it's not a weapon; you wouldn't show it off to someone, etc. etc. – Seth J Dec 27 '12 at 22:57
@Yehoshua, again, I'm not a Rav, and I'm not able to cite later authorities on what constitutes a Tachshit. But the Sugya is a long one, and it goes back and forth with all kinds of descriptions in the Gemara. Just a hunch of mine. – Seth J Dec 27 '12 at 22:59
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So this question doesn't have "1 Answer" so far it has "1 Hunch" ;)... I understand what you're saying...Al pi the clalim I'm having a hard time trying to say why it shouldn't be allowed however don't feel clear enough to say it for sure is. – Yehoshua Dec 27 '12 at 23:27
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@Yehoshua, unfortunately, they didn't have reflector bracelets in the times of the Gemara or S"'A, so they didn't discuss it explicitly. – Seth J Dec 27 '12 at 23:40

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