Pearl Izumi Pro Softshell Lite Gloves

For a pair of lightweight winter gloves, the Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Softshell Lite gloves are surprisingly effective. They've kept my hands comfortable in temperatures down to 5°C. They're also touchscreen-friendly, reinforced in the right places and have a decent-sized, soft nosewipe patch for those cold days when your nostrils turn into dripping taps.

• Pros: Light, surprisingly warm for their minimal bulk
• Cons: Starting to lose silicone at the fingers after just a few hundred kilometres

The secret to the P.R.O. Softshell Lite's chill-prevention capability is the combination of a softshell outer layer on the back (clue in the name and all that) with a layer of Primaloft insulation between it and your hands. The softshell fabric keeps out the wind and the insulation keeps in the heat, eliminating the two major sources of chill. There's a layer of very fine fleece fabric against the back of your hand too, which is both warm and comfortable.

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That said, these are not the gloves to choose if you like your hands to feel full-on toasty warm in single-figure temperatures. There's enough insulation to stop that feeling that you've been in a gloveless snowball fight, but you're still aware that it's cold out.

The unpadded palm is made from Clarino synthetic leather and there are thin strips of silicone on the palm and first two fingers for grip.

There are plenty of well-thought-out details. The cuff is about 3cm longer than you'd find on a summer glove, so it reaches the end of your sleeves easily. There are reflective patches on the back so your hand signals are visible in car headlines (with the usual caveat that the driver has to be actually looking) and the index finger and thumb tips are conductive so you can operate your phone with them.

The backs of the thumbs are made from soft, absorbent fleece so you've somewhere to wipe your nose. (Incidentally, if you've ever wondered just why winter riding makes your nose run, it's because the liquid's actually coming from your eyes. Cold air irritates your eyes, they produce tears which drain through a duct from your eyes into your nose and – hey presto! – your nose is a dripping tap.)

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Pearl Izumi rates the P.R.O. Softshell Lite gloves as suitable for temperatures from 2°C to 7°C. For me, that's a bit optimistic; below 5°C I wanted something warmer. However, I wasn't going flat-out on any of my winter rides. If I'd been on the rivet and generating more of my own heat, they'd probably have been fine. This is always the case with winter gear, though; it has to be tweaked to your personal tastes and riding style.

Winter also means rain, and Pearl Izumi doesn't make any extravagant claims for the P.R.O. Softshell Lites being waterproof, because they're not. The DWR coating on the backs helps light rain run off, but heavy rain gets through. You'll want something beefier if you know you're going out in a downpour (and you're far more hardcore than me).

At an RPP of £40, they're right in the ballpark for this glove style from a company that's not an elite operator like Rapha, Castelli or Assos nor a house-brand value-for-money marque like dhb or B'Twin. They're a shade pricier than similar offerings from GripGrab and Endura, but not by enough to matter.

Verdict

Nicely made, comfortable gloves for cool weather