Assos Winter Gloves P1

The Assos Winter Gloves P1 are extremely warm and suitable for pretty much anything the UK winter will throw at you. The windproofing is excellent and they repel all but the heaviest rain. They manage to do this without being overly bulky and they are very comfortable. Whilst they are expensive, if you do a lot of proper winter riding then they would be a great purchase.

The Assos Winter Gloves P1 are designed for deep winter days. Assos doesn’t give a temperature range, but I’d say they are best suited to temperatures below 5°C.

I wore them a lot during December and January, and they performed excellently. My hands remained warm throughout my winter riding, even on long days out. When it was extremely cold (my Garmin displayed -3°C accompanied by a bitter northerly wind), I added a pair of glove liners for added protection.

The gloves offer excellent windproofing. They protected well against that cold northerly and kept my hands warm during some sub-zero descents.

They are also the least bulky deep winter gloves I have worn relative to the level of protection they offer. This meant that dexterity wasn’t compromised, as it can be with some gloves.

They can fit into a jersey pocket if temperatures rise, but they really make most sense on rides where gloves are needed throughout. It is unlikely you’ll start a ride in conditions that justify this level of warmth and then see the weather improve enough to go without.

During an extremely dry winter period, I didn’t get caught in any rain, so I put them to the test in the shower, and they didn’t get wet through after a few minutes. Realistically, water would run from your jacket into the gloves before the fabric itself failed.

If you knew you’d be facing some awful conditions, then perhaps some neoprene or Gore-Tex gloves may be better. However, they’d stand up to any conditions I’d be willing to ride in.

I was also pleasantly surprised by how breathable they were. During intervals on a mild winter day, my hands were toasty but didn’t end up overly sweaty, which is something I often struggle with in winter gloves.

The breathability was really beneficial during café stops. Because the inside of the gloves stayed largely dry, putting them back on didn’t result in that cold, clammy feeling you get with some.

The gloves have moderate padding, which is fairly uncommon but very welcome, as I occasionally suffer from numb hands riding the rutted lanes. It wasn’t so thick that it affected the feel on the bars.

They are touchscreen compatible and consistently worked well with my touchscreen cycling computer. There’s also a good nose wipe section, which is very large on both hands, though it could be a touch softer.

Unusually for gloves, Assos has made these available in six sizes. I tested the medium, and they were true to the size guide and fit my average-sized hands well.

The cuffs are long, but there are no Velcro straps to adjust them. My jacket cuffs easily fit under to prevent any draughts getting in. I tested them wearing a few different jackets and never had any issues. They were also easy to get on and off.

Durability

After wearing the Winter Gloves extensively for the past two months, the only signs of wear are a few light scuffs. These are small enough that I don’t expect them to have any effect on how long the gloves will last.

As with all Assos kit, they come with a two-year warranty with a crash policy that will see them repaired or replaced for free within the first 30 days, or for ‘a reasonable fee’ after that.

Value

At £85, these are some of the more expensive winter gloves we’ve tested. However, as usual with Assos, the quality of these gloves goes a long way towards justifying that. If you do suffer from cold hands, then I’d say these are a worthwhile investment.

It is however worth stating that they aren’t the brand’s warmest gloves. They also have the £105 Ultraz Winter Gloves P1 for extreme winter conditions.

Elsewhere, the Rapha Gore-Tex Insulated Waterproof Gloves received a very good review and are priced at £110.

Henry thought the Universal Colours Deep Winter Gloves were very good and they are the same price as the Assos gloves at £85.

If you are looking to spend a lot less, then the Galibier Barrier Deep Winter Gloves received a great review a few years ago. They remain in our guide to the best winter cycling gloves and are now priced at £32.68.

Overall

The Assos Winter Gloves P1 genuinely improved my winter riding. They have an excellent warmth-to-bulk ratio, some light padding and they are very comfortable.

The insulation and windproofing kept my hands warm in some very cold and windy conditions and they also have enough rain protection to cope with grim winter days.