Price: $100
Sizes: XS – 2XL (Unisex sizing)
Weight: 38 grams
Colors: Black
Temperature Rating: 53.6 to 68 degrees F (12 to 20 degrees C)
Touchscreen Compatibility: Yes
Breathability: 4/5 – High
Insulation: 3/5 – Medium
Windproof: 1/5 – Very Low
Quick Drying: 3/5 – Medium
Packability – 5/5 – Extremely High
Materials: Back & Fourchettes: 80% Polyamide 20% Elastane; Palm: 60% Polyamide 40% Polyurethane
Availability: Online and Retail
How Obtained: Purchased from LBS
RBR Advertiser: No
Your Go-To Gloves for Those Shoulder-Season Morning Spins
As I was packing for a week of riding in Tucson, Arizona, I realized my favorite lightweight full-fingered gloves had seen better days. The fingertips had worn thin, and they’d earned their retirement after countless miles of riding.
Morning temps in Tucson hover around 50 degrees, and for an end-of-week Mount Lemmon climb/descent, I needed something packable, breathable, and rated for cool weather. I headed to my LBS to see what they had in stock, and that’s when I spotted ASSOS’s newly redesigned Spring/Fall Gloves P1.
These come in unisex sizing from SX to 2XL, though you’re limited to black. I grabbed a medium, and the fit was perfect—snug without being restrictive. What really sold me was the touchscreen-compatible thumb and index finger. The touchscreen feature lets me take pictures, text, or answer the phone without removing a glove.
The little details matter, and ASSOS sewed a small inside-wrist tab that makes it easy to pull the glove on. No more fumbling around trying to get your glove on quickly. The elastic wristband is longer than what you’ll find on most gloves, and it sits nice and snug, easily tucking under your jacket or jersey. This means no annoying gaps, preventing the cold air from getting in. Plus, the 4 out of 5 breathability rating prevents moisture buildup that causes clammy, sweaty hands.
For a secure grip and control of the handlebars, these gloves feature reinforced palms. The slim design also allows for dexterity, making it easy to shift gears, operate a cell phone, or a GPS head unit. Before leaving for Tucson, the gloves doubled as liners inside my electric gloves, keeping my hands protected whenever I needed to pull them out to use the phone.
Where the design of these gloves falls a bit short is the lack of wind protection or reflective elements on the back of the hand. On my descent from Mount Lemmon, my hands got very cold until I was closer to the bottom, where the air temperature was warmer. Full disclosure: the low end of the temperature rating for these gloves is 56 degrees, and it was in the 30s at the top of the mountain. So this was more a case of pushing them beyond their intended range than a tre design flaw.
Bottom Line
While the ASSOS Spring/Fall Gloves P1 are a bit pricy at $100, here’s the value proposition: ASSOS designs these to last season after season, and their versatility means you’ll reach for them often. They work brilliantly as standalone gloves on cool mornings, double as liners on really cold days, and pack down to almost nothing for those “maybe I’ll need gloves” rides.
Sheri Rosenbaum regularly contributes articles and reviews products for RBR. She’s an avid recreational roadie who lives in the Chicago area and a major advocate for women’s cycling, serving on the board of directors and volunteering with the Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club. Click to read Sheri’s full bio or visit her web site sunflowersandpedals.com.