Baist Classic Ski Gloves Review | GearJunkie Tested

I don’t ski at Eldora Ski Mountain often, but I’m familiar with the area’s notoriously strong, steady winds. As I lapped the resort, the conditions ranged from whiteout to gusty and back to whiteout.

While I wished I’d worn a down jacket as my midlayer, I was happy to be testing out my first pair of Baist ski gloves. At least my hands were staying warm enough to keep me from heading back to the base area.

Plus, if these puppies could block the wind and cold here, I knew they’d serve me well during windy, freezing winter riding in Crested Butte, Colo., too. Over the years, I’ve reached for warm winter gloves from well-known brands like Swany and Hestra, among others, so I was excited to check out this relatively new brand that is quickly rising in popularity.

In short: The Baist Classic Ski Gloves ($180) are hand protection with a high heat index, excellent ergonomics, and elite durability. These are waterproof, windproof ski gloves. Skiers can tailor them with a range of accessories that increase warmth, longevity, and ease of use. The only noteworthy difference between the women’s and men’s versions is that the numeric sizing is applied to a different gendered size. For example, the women’s small is equivalent to the men’s extra-small.

Scope out how this ski glove compares to our other top picks in the Ski Gloves buyer’s guide.

Baist Classic Ski Gloves Review

After several months of testing the Baist Classic while skiing and snowboarding in-bounds, I can confidently give top marks to this design. The Baist Classic Ski Gloves proved to be a reliable companion throughout freezing temps, blizzard conditions, and gusty winds at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and Eldora Mountain Ski Resort.

Baist has a broad range of sizes from 60 to 120: women’s small to XXXL. I tested a women’s size small, which is equivalent to the men’s extra-small or numeric size of 60. I found the gloves true to size.

Baist History: Premium Winter Gloves

The latest women-specific model hit the market in September 2023, following Baist’s original glove for men, which debuted with the brand’s launch in November 2017.

The brand’s mission is to create super-warm hand protection. Baist was born from the personal experience of skier and Raynaud’s sufferer turned entrepreneur, Ace Jones.

Staying focused with a small, high-quality lineup, Baist introduced the Men’s Everyday Mitt in February 2019. The brand followed with the Women’s Everyday Mitt, which launched in step with this five-finger glove for gals.

From what I can tell, that goal is accomplished through a mix of the shell’s materials, insulation type and amount, and the liner. Plus, the brand offers product customization. You can choose accessories, including an additional liner for enhanced warmth.

The Warmest Ski Gloves: Super-Soft Liners, Modular Design

With a unique approach, Baist offers a modular glove design. There are two types of liners that each skier or snowboarder can choose to wear inside the glove or double-up with both: the Beast or the Skin Liner 2.0.

As the glove’s primary insulation, the Beast is the stock liner that’s included in the Baist Classic. The Skin Liner 2.0 can be separately purchased, or you can drop using a liner at all.

The Beast interior immediately felt inviting and cozy, more than most other ski gloves I’ve tested. That particular plushness is thanks to this thick liner made from a proprietary mix of Thermolite and Thinsulate fleece.

Machine washable and removable, the Beast attaches inside the glove via Velcro around the wrist. (Note: This liner is not constructed to be worn individually.)

I was impressed by how well the insulation held up in the sub-zero conditions common in Crested Butte. I only used this pair with the Beast liner, which provided a high level of warmth compared to other five-finger ski gloves. If you frequently stand in a long ski lift line in freezing conditions or have very cold hands, I suggest adding the Skin Liner 2.0 to the Beast.

Goatskin Leather Exterior, Ergonomic Fit

Crafted with goatskin leather and burly Cordura textile, the exterior of the Classic delivers a balance of malleability, tenacity, and breathability. The blend is waterproof and windproof.

I really loved the reinforced knuckles on this Classic model. Other ski gloves I’ve tested have reinforced dorsal zones, too. But this design has leather layered like an accordion, which is above the middle phalanx on each of the four fingers. As a result, the leather exterior could bend when I flexed my fingers. I didn’t feel restricted when grabbing ski poles.

While these winter gloves are supportive and sturdy, they didn’t feel overly stiff. This silhouette is snug, yet a bit forgiving. The strong shell wraps comfortably around each finger, palm, and wrist while still allowing enough give to clench a fist.

Despite extensive use, the glove retained its shape and durability throughout the winter season.

These gloves are also well-reinforced with a second layer of leather in high-use areas: across the palm and up the palmar side of the forefinger. There’s also additional leather on the backside of the thumb, adjacent to the index finger.

Cuff, Closure, Nose Wipe

Living and riding in a generally frigid place, I always appreciate an integrated nose wipe. Baist graced us all with two microfiber nose wipes on each thumb, which span the entire length of the finger from tip to base. The fabric is also suitable for wiping the ski goggle lenses, which is a nice bonus.

Made from a tough Cordura textile, the gauntlet-style cuff is waterproof and windproof. To further block wind, snow, or cold temps, there’s a slim Velcro strap around the wrist. There’s also a pull cord at the cuff, which helps seal in warmth and keep out powder.

Two locations on each glove offer a loop for hanging the gloves with a carabiner. There’s a durable leather loop on the middle finger. There’s also a leather tab with a reinforced metal loop at each wrist.

Customized Ski Gloves for Riders: Baist Accessories

Want even more heat? Baist offers upgraded liners: the sleek Skin Liner 2.0 ($50). Brand founder Ace Jones, who has Raynaud’s, wears the Skin Liner 2.0 daily throughout the cold months from October to April.

Baist also makes a waterproofing wax ($18) to help maintain the glove’s leather and extend its lifespan.

Other optional accessories include a wrist leash set ($13) and a clip-on goggle wipe ($8). To stash the goggle wipe, there’s an elastic cord and a small integrated pouch on the interior cuff of the left glove.

Critiques

While it’s possible to wear the shell sans liner, the interior alone is uncomfortable. The interior seams, especially around the wrist area, lack smoothness. For a true spring season ski glove, I would suggest using a different pair with a softer interior.

If the temps were 10 degrees or below, and I was stagnant for longer periods of time — say, 20 minutes or more of waiting in ski lift lines — I would prefer to layer on the secondary liner: The Skin Liner 2.0, which is a separate purchase.

The other possible drawback is if you favor an under-cuff glove.

Lastly, these ski gloves are on the high-end of the price spectrum at $180, without the Skin Liners, wrist leash, goggle wipe, and leather treatment. The design sits at the same table as upper-tier Swany, LEKI, and Hestra designs.

In the big picture, heated ski gloves land at nearly double this price. But if you’re on a tighter budget and don’t need as much insulation or durability, check out ski gloves from Dakine, Gordini, and Flylow, which make great ski gloves at a more middle-of-the-road price.

Baist Classic Ski Gloves: Who They’re For

Suppose you’re looking for warmth and durability in an ergonomic five-finger design. In that case, the Women’s Baist Classic is a solid option for ladies who struggle to keep their digits toasty enough on the ski hill. The tough leather shell is reinforced in high-use areas but also feels usable — it’s not too stiff.

The accordion-shaped knuckles create a great degree of flexibility. The two lengthy and wide microfiber nose wipes are soft and suitable for wiping the face or a goggle lens. Also, the included Beast liner is competitively soft and offers a solid amount of warmth, rated for -17 degrees to 19 degrees Fahrenheit.

Both ski areas where I ventured are known for low temperatures and harsh winds. I used the gloves as low as 0 degrees with wind chill, and my hands stayed warm enough.

These Baist Classic ski gloves provided consistent warmth during cold, long days at the hill, without added bulk. The fit is ergonomically crafted.

While these gloves are not the leanest, the fit is relatively athletic and flexible, especially for the level of insulation. If you’re willing to spend a bit more on your ski gloves, consider this pair, which should last at least a few big seasons, if not more.