Specialized Deflect gloves review

The Specialized Deflect gloves could be the solution for when it is too cold for mitts and too warm for full on winter gloves. We put them to the test

Cycling Weekly Verdict

Top quality gloves for when the temperature starts to drop.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Comfortable

  • +

    Warm enough for autumn and spring riding

  • +

    Breathable

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Expensive

  • -

    Quite heavy

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

When a pair of gloves cost £35 you have high expectations. This offering from Specialized certainly didn’t disappoint.

Just by looking at them you can tell they are well made gloves with good attention to detail. The Deflects are available in neon yellow or black and coming with reflective details they should help you get spotted on bleak early morning or evening rides.

Winterise your bike

Some gloves can be difficult to get on and off, but thanks to the ribbed slip-on cuff this is not a problem and they do not slip when riding.

A particularly clever touch is Specialized’s Wiretap grip design on both the index finger and thumb. This made made navigating through my smartphone and Garmin Edge cycling computer easy, even on the fly.

The Specilaized Deflect gloves are fairly heavy compared to other gloves designed for autumnal or spring riding. However, this is largely justified by the good quality padding and the fact they kept my hands substantially warmer than their competitors.

 If you're wondering at this point what else you need to invest in, our buyer's guide to the best winter cycling jackets is a great place to start. 

The wind resistant softshell upper certainly did its job protecting my hands from the cold wind and the padded palm noticeably reduced the vibrations from the road.

The only criticism, if you can all it that, is that if you want a truly lightweight glove and don't mind compromising on padding and durability there are other more suitable options out there.

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