First of all like all Assos kit, the bonKa gloves look fantastic with an matt black finish, understated logo, discreet refective strips for indicating. Hey even the snot wipe panel looks great. With Airblock fabric and a DWR finish to protect the digits and a neoprene cuff to enclose the wrists and not interfere with jackets the features are simple and effective. Because Assos use their own fabrics and membranes there is no need to have all the branding labels you get with many companies so the look is clean. I just have to say they look amazing. Assos have designed these gloves to maintain as much heat as possible whilst maintaining feel and dexterity. This is a pretty tall order and many have claimed to do so and failed.

When they arrived I was a little concerned that I'd been sent a medium. My shovels usually squeeze in to a XL. They were a little tight putting my hand through the cuffs but once on they fitted, well like a glove. With room at the end of the fingers to prevent losing heat from radiation, and a palm that didn't bunch in at all. Best of all is the cuff. The neoprene is snug without being restrictive and keeps out the rain. Unless you tuck your jacket into the gloves like numpty boy did here

On the bike whilst not being like track mitts allowed plenty of feedback through the bars and worked just as well when riding in the drops, on the hoods or even the tops. Gear changes were simple with no faff and never once did I push both shifters. It was easy to modulate braking. These are gloves designed for cyclists, not warm gloves with features added for cycling. Best of all they passed the wet hands test. The lining stays in place and the struggle for finger alignment that annoys me about most gloves doesn't happen.

The bonKa glove does have a couple of flaw, however. I found that when the temperature dropped below freezing the tips of my fingers did start to get coldand I know there's a lot of riders who would like more hi-viz features in the design. Then there's the price; £95 is painful. For the ocassional winter rider it would be difficult to justify but for a committed year-round cyclist you'd be hard pusshed to find a better winter glove.