Specialized Deflect gloves review

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.