Pros
- Very warm
- Windproof and waterproof
- Reflective details on fingers and backs
- Velcro adjuster keeps cold out
Cons
- Bulky padding affects control feel
- Padding can get displaced from outer shell
- Palm is not very grippy
Price as reviewed:
£50
Mavic’s new Vision range aims to increase visibility on dark rides. It’s a line of clothing that includes a gilet, overshoes, a cap, arm, knee and leg warmers as well as two weights of gloves, of which the Vision Thermo is the heavier. The garments are designed for warmth as well as visibility.
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As well as Mavic’s trademark yellow flash, the Vision Thermo gloves have reflective bands on three of the four fingers and a reflective dart built into the back of the hand. They increase road presence, particularly for following vehicles if you are making hand signals.
Palms have additional padded areas but are a bit slippery on the bars
The gloves’ outers have an in-built waterproof membrane and are DWR treated to repel water. There’s a separate liner that’s pretty thick and so gives a good amount of insulation. It does result in a bit of bulk between the fingers and makes using the controls a bit tricky – although this is true of the majority of winter gloves, not just Mavic’s. Not being connected to the outer, the liner can slip around too. There’s a risk of turning it inside-out when taking the gloves off, although I found that it soon settled down in the outer after a bit of use.
Cuffs give good coverage and the silver darts are reflective
There’s an extra-long cuff to the gloves, which can be tightened with a Velcro strap. There’s also some elastic gathering. Together they provide plenty of weather protection at the wrist.
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Watch: Buyer’s guide to cycling gloves
The underside of the gloves, including the fingers, is made of a synthetic leather with padding across the top and the bottom of the palm for a bit of cushioning from the bars. There’s reinforcement in the high-wear area between the thumb and the index finger. I did find the palm material a bit slippery on the bars and found I needed to exercise care, particularly when using the brakes, to make sure my fingers didn’t slip.
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So the Mavic Vision Thermo gloves are a good bet for wet, cold dark rides, although they do impede use of the shifters and brakes a little. They come in six sizes. Although they’re a useful addition to your winter kit, they’re quite expensive.
Verdict
The Mavic Vision Thermo winter gloves have plenty of reflective details and are well padded, although as with the majority of winter gloves, the padding does affect use of controls.
Details
Weight: 138g
Contact: www.mavic.com
