Many People Feel Unsafe While Running. A New Wearable Aims to Change That

The RunSafePro smart vest combines rear radar detection, GPS emergency alerts, automatic incident detection and adaptive visibility. The wearable maker is targeting women and other groups who report feeling unsafe while running outside

A new startup is aiming to redefine what feeling safe looks like for people who run — especially women, people of color and those running in unsafe areas — bringing safety technology into a wearable suitable for training.

RunSafePro, a Netherlands-based startup, has launched its smart safety vest on Kickstarter, which includes rear radar detection, a GPS panic button, automatic hit-and-run detection and adaptive 360-degree visibility in one wearable system.

All of those features run in the background as runners are free to get in their workouts without any need for hands-on management.

Here’s how it works: built-in radar can pick up a vehicle or cyclist coming from behind, as the vest alerts the wearer through lights and vibration. If the wearer stops moving and does not respond to the vest’s check-in, an alarm is triggered that automatically sends GPS coordinates to pre-selected emergency contacts without any manual action needed.

An app subscription starting at $0.99 per month covers cloud infrastructure, GPS emergency messaging and support for up to 50 configurable emergency contacts.

The founders are responding to the always-present safety concerns among runners, as more people dive into the sport amid the running boom. A 2025 Gallup poll found that 31% of Americans say fear of crime has at some point stopped them from jogging or running alone in their area.

That fear is particularly rampant among women, proving to be a barrier to many female runners.  An Adidas survey of 9,000 runners across nine countries (including the U.S.) found that nearly all women (92%) feel concerned for their safety when they go for a run, compared to just 28% of men. And a January 2026 analysis by Women’s Running found that 42% of female runners say safety concerns now shape their running schedule more than personal preference does. Nearly two-thirds (61%) have stopped running at certain times of day because of it.

“What struck us is that people were already changing their behavior before they even started

a workout. Different routes, avoiding certain areas, deciding not to go out alone,” said RunSafePro co-founder Peter Pompen. “That feels like a contradiction for an activity that is supposed to be about freedom. That is what we wanted to fix.”

The vest is breathable, washable and adjustable for running, walking and cycling, designed to look and feel like performance gear rather than safety equipment. The company tested prototypes across real-world conditions over the past year. 

RunSafePro officially launches on Kickstarter on June 16, with early backer pricing starting at $119, and a planned retail price of $175. More than 4,500 runners have already signed up on the pre-launch waitlist, the company reports. 

“We did not want this to feel fear-driven. That was important to us from the start. It is really about people feeling comfortable again when they move alone. That is the whole point,” Pompen added.

While the company is based in the Netherlands, it plans to target the U.S., Canada and the U.K. as well for its primary launch markets.