Specialized Element 1.0 gloves

Probably the most comfortable deep winter gloves that I've ever worn, Specialized's Element 1.0s are fully up to the task of keeping your hands warm and dry in winter, so long as it's not absolutely chucking it down.

• Pros: Sumptuously comfortable, warm, water resistant, light and dextrous
• Cons: Umm…

If you're after a pair of deep winter gloves to see you through the worst weather, seemingly without compromise, then Specialized has you covered with the Element 1.0s.

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Let's start with the warmth, which comes via Primaloft insulation, sandwiched between a Gore Windstopper outer fabric shell and a super-soft thermal liner. It's brilliantly warm in everything touching freezing and a little beyond, while there's a fair amount of breathability maintained through the technical textiles.

Unless the temperature started reaching about the 7-8°C, my hands stayed remarkably dry inside the glove, while at the same time keeping toasty warm too. The construction (the seams on the fingers and joins) is remarkably good too, with tight-knit seams allowing no unwanted air leakage.

That goes for waterproofness too. No, Gore's Windstopper isn't the hardiest when it comes to this, but as we see in countless jackets featuring the fabric, it can be a great performer in showery conditions. I'd be inclined to opt for a real heavyweight alternative that claims full waterproofness if I were to go out regularly in deluges, but for anything else I'm more than satisfied that the Element 1.0s can do the job.

Speaking of heavyweight... the Element 1.0s really aren't that at all. For an all-in-one winter glove with such insulation, they're impressively light at 134g, while the fabrics themselves are very flexible and mouldable to the hand. The result is a glove that provides a great deal of dexterity on the bars and when shifting.

Comfort is arguably the most surprising feature. Sure, other gloves aren't necessarily uncomfortable, but these are in a different league. The inner lining – 'brushed tricot', apparently – is so soft, while the glove cocoons your fingers and hand with some flexibility too. Even with hands that might be prone to web pressure, it's unlikely that you'll get any rubbing at all.

A large fits me perfectly – as it should – and there are two bigger sizes if you have big hands. You might want to size up if you intend to use them as an outer in tandem with a liner for pseudo-arctic conditions, but for the vast majority this won't be necessary.

Other features worth noting? There's an 'Ax' suede palm that sheds water to retain grip on the bar when it's raining – it's effective too – and Specialized has catered for touchscreen users with textured pads on the thumb and two main fingers, although despite the dexterity offered by the gloves, this is still only semi-useful at best if you want to text on your phone; the texture does add a bit of grip when pressing shift levers, though.

The backs of the thumbs feature a genuinely luxuriously soft nose wipe zone, and there are little reflective details in the S logo and Windstopper branding, plus a strategically placed thin strip on the outside edge of the hand, which is naturally directed back at other road users while indicating.

The cuff provides a low-profile seal against the wind, but it's stretchy enough to fit on the outside of thermal jerseys and even jackets if you like, plus there's a small clip interface to keep the gloves together.

The one downside to the high-vis yellow colourway is that it will inevitably attract dirt over time, but for those bothered by that there is a black version too.

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I can't see why these won't last multiple winters if looked after properly (and perform to their best if washed using tech washes), plus you don't have to spend a massive amount to get a pair in the first place – £45 is a competitive price to pay for such well-rounded, well-made gloves. Mavic's Ksyrium Pro Thermo gloves are a hefty £25 more, and Endura's Pro SL Primaloft Waterproof gloves are £54.99, though they promise more rain protection.

Overall, I can't think of any I'd rather be wearing when heading out for a winter ride.

Verdict

Brilliant deep winter gloves, with precious few weaknesses