Testing these Assos Evo bike gloves left me with frosty fingers
26.2.2025
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pictures: Manuel Wenk
I’m typing these words with very cold fingers. The culprit? A pair of Evo cycling gloves that flounder when the temperature approaches zero degrees Celsius. Manufacturer Assos says the gloves are specifically designed for winter use. If you ask me, that’s not the case.
The Evo gloves definitely get a couple of things right. In fact, my pair has become a good friend on my daily 14-kilometre cycle to the office. Just not when there’s a real chill in the air. Or, to be precise, when the temperature drops to zero degrees Celsius or just below. With several icy-cold cycles behind me, I’ve made up my mind: Assos sells the Evo as a winter glove, but that’s not what it is.
Just fifteen minutes into my ride, the wind chills my fingers to the bone. The «increased insulation» advertised by Assos is no use, with the gloves’ special «thermal textile» proving equally unhelpful. Sure, the material makes the Evo super lightweight, tipping the scales at just 25 grammes. But as you’d expect, the laws of physics still apply.
Contrary to Assos’s product description, I initially suspected the gloves weren’t windproof. To put this to the test, I sealed the fingers of one glove with masking tape. I barely felt any effect. The tape didn’t generate any additional wind protection, and my fingers on both hands got cold equally quickly.
That means it’s the insulation that’s the problem. It’s just not good enough. The wind makes matters worse by increasing convection. In other words, it immediately blasts away the residual heat emanating from my fingers. Since each finger has its own piece of fabric, the wind also has more surface area to attack than it would if I were wearing crab pincer-style gloves. With that cut, your fingers can at least warm each other up.
Frankly, the Evo gloves were a bad buy. Going by the product description, I’d expected to arrive at the office after a winter bike ride with warm fingers. For that to happen, I’ll definitely need a different pair.
Waiting for warmer weather
Until I get my hands on that elusive pair, the Evo gloves are waiting for better, warmer times. If the mercury rises to at least six or seven degrees Celsius, I’m okay with wearing them on my bike. In these conditions, I’ll be able to appreciate how well made they are. The gloves are 15 per cent elastane, so they fit snugly around my wrist without digging in. Although my fingers are well covered by the fabric, I can still move them freely enough to shift gears and brake. I can also feel and use the zip on my jacket.
The padding on the palms helps me keep a comfortable grip of the handlebars during my ride. It also prevents my hands from slipping. I like the fact that Assos has sewn blue thread into the gloves, but that’s a matter of taste.
I’ve already shared my doubts about the Evo being windproof. They are, however, waterproof. When I tested them on my bike in light rain, the water ran off them completely.
I use my iPhone as a bike computer. When wearing the Evo, I can swipe and press the touchscreen during a bike ride if I want to. And for safety reasons, I obviously only do so when stopped. Both index fingers and both thumbs have touchscreen-compatible fabric on the tips. Although you can’t draw any intricate works of art or type e-mails, it’s fine for the most important swipe and touch gestures. Gestures involving the use of two fingers, on the other hand, are more difficult. The touch-sensitive piece of fabric on the thumb is in the wrong place for those.
In a nutshell
I guess I’d better save these «winter» gloves for spring
Although the word «winter» features in the product name, these gloves are pretty much zero help in freezing temperatures. With this in mind, they don’t deserve a good rating. Having said that, I’m still awarding them two stars for their decent cut, very neat finish and surprisingly touchscreen-friendly index fingers. Manufacturer Assos would do well to look at a climate chart, then name its gloves to reflect the temperature range they’re actually suitable for.
Pro
- Palm padding
- Touchscreen-friendly index fingers
- Extended cuff on the wrist
- Well made
- Comfortable fit
Contra
- Not windproof
- Unfit to be called «winter» gloves
Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
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