When you’re gliding down the slopes, you want to see everything from the towering snow-powdered trees to fellow skiers near your path. Every winter sports enthusiast knows that being able to view things with crystal-clear vision is paramount for both safety and performance. To find the appropriate eyewear for your time in the mountains, you want to pay attention to the VLT percentage. But what is VLT, exactly, and why is it so vital? Here’s what you need to know.
VLT: Its Meaning and Importance in Sports Eyewear
What is VLT in ski goggles? Essentially, VLT stands for visible light transmission, and it’s measured by percentage. The concept is simple, really—it refers to how much light reaches your eyes through a lens. In terms of lens design, a higher VLT percentage means that your lens will come with a light tint, while a lower one will come with a darker tint.
How to Choose the Right Amount of VLT
Picking lenses with the ideal VLT for the weather will keep your eyes comfortable and improve visibility. There’s no good or bad VLT percentage, per se: The just-right number will depend on your skiing conditions.
Choosing Snow Goggles for Different Weather Conditions
- For sunny bluebird days, choose a darker lens tint with a low VLT percentage to cut down glare. 5-20% generally works for bright days, and you can look at lenses with a VLT below 10% for sunny trips on high altitudes. For skiing on those extra bright days, we like the RVX Mag OTG with a black Lumalens in Midnight, which features a 6% VLT.
- For cloudy or low-light days, choose a lighter lens tint with a higher VLT percentage to enhance contrast and depth perception. For conditions that aren’t as bright, look for a VLT between 43 to 80%. For example, the DXT OTG with a brown Lumalens in Amber features a 53% VLT for an excursion on a cloudy day.
- For nighttime navigation, choose clear lenses with the highest VLT percentage possible. For example, Dragon Alliance’s DX3 and X2 lines feature clear replacement base lenses with a VLT of 83%.
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How to Check for VLT When Shopping Dragon Alliance Snow Goggles
Shopping for snow goggles can be a daunting task. We want to make it easy for you to find the right sports eyewear, which is why you can actually check for VLT percentage on Dragon Alliance’s website. When you browse snow goggles, the product description features a VLT scale that ranges from sunny to cloudy. Along with a specific percentage, the graphic shows what type of day it’s best to wear that particular product. (Note: You can find the VLT listed under “Product Details” for replacement lenses.)
Dragon Alliance offers a variety of high-performance lenses, no matter your aesthetics or practical needs. Explore our eyewear options to pick up goggles with the perfect VLT percentage for your next snowy alpine adventure.