PEARL iZUMi AmFIB Lite Glove Review

It’s time for a little thicker pair of gloves, but with that you don’t want to just wear a pair of ski gloves. No, you want a pair of cycling gloves with the proper fit and feel for your ride. The new PEARL iZUMi AmFIB Lite Gloves are made for moderately cold temperatures down to the mid-40’s while still affording a high-quality cockpit connection. (Originally reviewed in 2020, this review has been updated and republished in March 2024 with additional details.) 

PEARL iZUMi AmFIB Lite Glove Features:

• Features 60g Primaloft Gold insulation
• Features Crosscore insulation technology with Aerogel particles
• AmFIB softshell back of hand for weather protection
• Touchscreen compatible index finger and thumb
• Ax Suede Laredo synthetic leather palm
• MSRP: $55

Great for cold, but not too cold rides

Years ago, I experienced frostnip in the tips of my fingers. As a result, they tend to get cold pretty quickly. Because of that, I tend to grab full-finger gloves a little more often in cold weather than other riders. And, I’m reluctant to ride at road speeds when it drops below 40-degrees. With that, the AmFIB Lite gloves appeared to be just the perfect pair of gloves for my riding tastes, so extensive testing was easy to achieve.

As temperatures have dropped here in Utah, the PEARL iZUMi AmFIB Lite Gloves have been at home on road, gravel and mountain bike rides. For pure road riding, I’d put the low temperature threshold at about 45-degrees, but for gravel and MTB, they can remain functional into the upper 30’s. It all just depends on how long your descents are and if the sun is shining or not. In general, the mid-to-upper 40’s are the sweet spot for the AmFIB Lite Gloves.

With a thin layer of Primaloft insulation, mated to a wind-resistant softshell, comfort is superb as the gloves stretch naturally with every hand movement. The synthetic leather palms also provide excellent tactility with bars, shifters and braking. All riding movements feel natural and the cut of the gloves allow for precise braking and shifting at all times. Not once have the gloves gotten in the way of normal riding movements. The palms lack any gel inserts for additional comfort, but I never experienced hand fatigue on longer rides.

Pearl Izumi outfitted these gloves with a mini gauntlet cuff that’s suitable for placing on top of a long-sleeve jersey (like the Bontrager Velocis Thermal) or underneath most jacket cuffs (like the Pearl Izumi Elevate Insulated AmFIB). With a velcro closure, the cuffs keep the gloves in place and maintain a cozy feel. I have continued to wear these with a variety of jackets and jerseys and the mini gauntlet design hits that sweet spot with all the options I’ve worn them with.

It’s great that the thumb and forefinger feature touchscreen-friendly material, but those digits do get cold easier at speed. Also, the thumb has been unreliable for me with my iPhone. I would prefer a wraparound thumb, like the forefinger and would guess that might improve thumb responsiveness.

I do appreciate the breathability of the AmFIB Lite Gloves and haven’t ever felt soggy after long rides. To further test their utility, I’ve also donned these gloves for trail running and still, they have breathed well. I’d like to see a little bit of DWR to resist moisture and therefore can only recommend these for cold, dry rides. Extended rain will soak through the material, so keep that in mind.

As with many items reviewed here, the PEARL iZUMi AmFIB Lite Gloves have continued in the mix for several years. I choose to wear these when temperatures are solidly in the 40’s and have dipped into the upper-30’s as well. However, their sweet spot is in the 40’s as I’ve found the palms to allow anything colder to really penetrate my digits. For pure road riding, stay in the 40’s, but for gravel or mountain biking, you can got a little colder, due to the lower speeds.

Fit: I wear a size large glove in PEARL iZUMi and most other brands and the size large fits me perfectly. 

Buy Now: Available from PEARL iZUMi