Choosing the Right Lens for Your Goggles
The right lens can make or break your day on the mountain. Snow reflects light intensely, weather changes fast, and good visibility is essential for both safety and performance. Here’s a complete guide to how goggle lenses work, what different colors do, and how to find the perfect lens for your conditions.
Why the Lens Matters
Ski goggles don’t just protect your eyes from snow and wind - they also define how well you see. A good lens reduces glare, enhances contrast, and helps you read the terrain clearly in all weather. Goggles also block harmful UV rays, which are much stronger at higher altitudes and reflect off the snow. In short: the right lens improves both protection and performance.
Understanding VLT – Visible Light Transmission
VLT (Visible Light Transmission) describes how much visible light passes through the lens, expressed as a percentage. A lower percentage means less light gets through - ideal for bright, sunny days - while higher values let more light in for overcast or low-light conditions.
| Conditions | Ideal VLT | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| High alpine sun | 0–10% | S4 | Very dark lens that blocks intense sunlight and glare. |
| Bright sun | 10–20% | S3 | Dark lens for sunny, clear conditions. The most common lens category, works good in most conditions. |
| Partly cloudy | 20–40% | S2 | Medium tint for variable light and mixed weather. |
| Cloudy / snowy | 40–80% | S1 | Bright lens that enhances visibility and contrast in low light. |
| Night / indoor | 80–100% | S0 | Clear lens that lets in maximum light. |
Lens Colors and What They Do
Each of our lenses is designed for specific light conditions — from bright alpine sun to overcast and flat light. Different tints filter light in unique ways, changing how you perceive contrast, depth, and color on the slopes.
| Lens Color | Conditions | Category | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | High alpine sun and bright light | S4 | Our darkest lens. Cuts glare and brightness for maximum comfort and precision in strong sunlight. |
| Blue | Bright and sunny | S3 | Perfect for sunny conditions. Balances brightness and contrast for clear visibility and color definition. |
| Green | Bright to partly cloudy | S3 | Versatile tint that maintains contrast and natural colors across a range of sunny conditions. |
| Bronze | Sunny to variable light | S3 | Warm tone that improves contrast and reduces glare while keeping a comfortable, natural look. |
| Pink | Overcast or snowy | S2 | Enhances contrast and depth perception — ideal for flat light and low-visibility days. |
| Photochromic | All conditions, day to dusk | S1–S4 | Automatically adapts to light — almost clear in low light, darkens in bright sun. One lens for every condition. |
All our lenses feature anti-fog coating, dual-layer construction, and UV400 protection — built for clear, comfortable vision in every condition.