Specialized Element 1.5 Gloves review
Looking for a highly breathable and warm pair of gloves that are not too bulky? The Specialized Element 1.5s may be the answer...
Let's be clear, these are very good gloves, but they are not quite as refined as the the Gore Power Windstopper gloves. Considering these gloves cost the same £40 RRP and utilise the same fabric there is not much between the two, but Gore edge it by half a wheel.
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Comfortable
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Highly breathable
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Windproof
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Harsh snot patch
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Not much padding
You can trust Cycling Weekly.
These gloves feature Gore's Windstopper textile. This immediately sets them apart from competing products that don't feature this excellent fabric. The Gore Windstopper is true to its name, but is also highly breathable. Overall, we found these gloves being most comfortable in temperatures ranging from 4-10 ºC.
Other features, include a velcro cuff, wire tap touchscreen compatibility and a snot patch on the thumb. We do prefer a more fleecy material on our snot pads though, such as that found on the Gore Power Windstopper gloves, as the suede material on this glove felt a little harsh.
>>> Best winter cycling gloves
One criticism is the the lack of padding on the palm, as a small amount of additional padding would increase comfort. The Gore Power Windstopper gloves are also superior in this respect. However, the grippy surface on the palm and fingers, works well, especially when wet.
With regards to water resistance the hydrophobic coating works, and will see off most showers, but will succumb to prolonged rain. For sustained precipitation we would suggest a different glove, as once wet, the wind-stopping power of these gloves was compromised.
>>> Best winter cycling gear
For more details head over to the Specialized website.
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Oliver Bridgewood - no, Doctor Oliver Bridgewood - is a PhD Chemist who discovered a love of cycling. He enjoys racing time trials, hill climbs, road races and criteriums. During his time at Cycling Weekly, he worked predominantly within the tech team, also utilising his science background to produce insightful fitness articles, before moving to an entirely video-focused role heading up the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel, where his feature-length documentary 'Project 49' was his crowning glory.