What can ski goggles do? VLT: meaning and much more

What would the best equipment be without the right ski goggles? Ski and snowboard goggles fulfill many functions. They support their wearer in terms of visibility and comfort and are therefore essential for every skiingday. Nevertheless, it can sometimes be difficult to get familiar with the many technical terms related to the functions of ski goggles. The NAKED Optics lens guide will help you find your way around better when buying your new ski goggles .

VLT - Ski goggles and light transmission

When looking for new ski goggles, you have certainly come across terms such as “lens categories”, “translucency” and “ski goggles VLT”. All this is related to the different tints and colors of the different ski and snowboard goggles. These ensure that different amounts of light fall through the lenses into the eyes. This is given as a percentage. 100% stands for complete light transmission, as is the case with clear lenses. In order to be able to find your way around more easily when buying ski and snowboard goggles, the VLT of ski goggles and their lenses is divided into five different categories (CAT.). These indicate for which weather conditions and thus which lighting conditions a ski goggle lens is suitable. Here you will find a table of the different categories of lenses and the visibility conditions they are suitable for:

Ski Goggle Lenses and Their Functions

So you know exactly which ski goggle lenses to use in different weather conditions, we’ve summarized everything for you.

Category 0 (0–20% tint / very high light transmission) is perfect for night riding or extremely poor visibility such as dense fog or heavy snowfall, as it barely darkens your view and provides maximum brightness.

Category 1 (20–40% tint) is suitable for cloudy days with diffused light, as it slightly enhances contrast without being too dark. Ideal for skiing in snowfall or fog. In this category, you can also choose a purple-tinted lens, which further enhances contrast.

Category 2 (40–60% tint) is the all-rounder for changing conditions – when sun and clouds alternate – and offers a balanced mix of glare protection and visibility. This category is also perfect for those who don’t want to change lenses.

Category 3 (60–80% tint) is designed for sunny weather: it reduces strong brightness and protects your eyes from intense UV radiation while still providing good contrast.

Category 4 (80–95% tint) is intended for extremely strong sunlight in high alpine areas or on glaciers. Here, solar radiation is particularly intense and glare is high. However, it is not recommended for cloudy conditions, as the strong tint can slow down your ability to perceive obstacles.

Which Lens Color Is Right for Me?

The color of your ski goggle lens is not just a visual choice. Lenses in categories 2–4 from NAKED Optics are grey-based lenses with a colored mirror coating on the outside. The grey tint reduces ambient light, while the colored mirror coating adds a style factor. Different colors represent different categories. Since multiple colors are available per category, there’s something for every style.

Lenses in categories 0 and 1 are clear lenses that barely darken the environment. In category 1, a purple-tinted lens is also available. This tint helps your eyes enhance contrast, making it easier to distinguish between snow and ice.

Different VLT - ski goggles with interchangeable lenses

So that you don't need new ski goggles for every weathercondition, there are more and more goggles with interchangeable lenses. Depending on the weather, you can switch between lenses with different VLT values. The NAKED Optics ski goggle models The STORM, The TROOP EVO, The SOLAR and The NOVA have a SnapTech magnet changing system, which makes changing the lenses particularly easy.

Ski Goggles or Sports Glasses?

Not sure yet if you should get ski goggles? In this blog, you’ll find all the information you need to decide whether ski goggles or sports glasses are the right choice for you on the slopes.

Credits: Florian Dorn