Ski Goggle Lens & VLT Guide
The right lens comes down to how much light is out there. Tell us the conditions and your goggle, and we'll show you the BOLD lenses that fit.
Find My LensPrefer to browse? Jump to the lens chart.
Which lens should I use?
Match the lens to the light. The lower the VLT number, the darker the lens.
| The light | BOLD lenses | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bright sun, bluebird | Black (6%, S4) · Silver (14%, S3) · Gold (17%, S3) | Least light gets through, so glare off the snow is cut the most. |
| Everyday, mix of sun and cloud | Rose Silver (22%, S2) · Crimson Steel (26%, S2) · Arctic Blue (20%, S2) | Dark enough for sun without going too dark when clouds roll in. |
| Flat light, storm, snowfall | Citrus Blaze (40%, S2) · Arctic Glow (44%, S1) · Cherry Frost (39%, S2) | More light gets through, and warm inside tints help you see bumps and shadows. |
| Night, under the lights | Clear (85%, S0) | As much light as possible. |
| Changing all day | AutoTint photochromic (83% to 20%, S0 to S2) | One lens that adjusts to the light, so you don't have to swap. |
Not every lens is made for every frame. The lens chooser above only shows lenses that fit your goggle.
What VLT means
VLT stands for visible light transmission: the share of light that gets through the lens to your eyes.
- Higher VLT = more light gets through. Better when it's dark, flat or snowing.
- Lower VLT = less light gets through. Better in bright sun and glare.
A few BOLD examples: Clear lets 85% of the light through, Arctic Glow 44%, Arctic Blue 20% and Black 6%.
Our lens pages also show an ISO category from S0 to S4. It's the same idea on a five-step scale: S0 is the lightest and S4 the darkest. S4 lenses like Black (6%) are for very bright conditions and are not suitable for driving.
Bright sun and bluebird days
On a clear day the glare off the snow is the problem, so go dark: Silver (14%) or Gold (17%). For intense high-alpine sun, Black (6%) is our darkest lens. Gold is currently made for the Morningside only.
Everyday and mixed light
Most ski days are a mix of sun and cloud. Arctic Blue (20%), Rose Silver (22%) and Crimson Steel (26%) handle sun without going too dark when it clouds over. Arctic Blue is the everyday lens in our Morningside, XS and Max packages; Crimson Steel is the everyday lens in our Rambler packages.
Flat light, storms and snowfall
Flat light is when cloud or falling snow wipes out the shadows and you stop seeing the bumps. You want more light and more contrast: Arctic Glow (44%), Citrus Blaze (40%) or Cherry Frost (39%). Arctic Glow is yellow inside and Citrus Blaze is orange inside, and those warm tints help terrain stand out. Cherry Frost is the low-light lens in our Morningside, XS and Max packages; Arctic Glow is the low-light lens in our Rambler packages.
Night skiing
Under the lights, go Clear (85%). AutoTint can be used at night. With very little UV, it stays near its lightest state at 83% VLT, close to our Clear lens at 85%.
AutoTint photochromic lenses
AutoTint is BOLD's photochromic lens. It reacts to UV light: it gets darker as the sun gets stronger and lighter again as the light drops, so you don't have to swap lenses when conditions change.
- 83% VLT at its lightest, 20% VLT at its darkest (ISO S0 to S2).
- At its darkest it's a medium tint, about as dark as our Arctic Blue everyday lens. It's not a dark bluebird lens like Silver (14%) or Black (6%).
- It changes gradually, not instantly.
- It reacts to UV, not brightness. UV-filtering glass, especially car windshields, can reduce the UV that activates the lens, so AutoTint may stay lighter behind glass.
- It can be used at night. With very little UV, it stays near its lightest state (83%), close to our Clear lens (85%).
- Not polarized. UV400 protection.
- Made for every BOLD frame: Morningside, XS, Max, Rambler, Youth.
Why isn't my AutoTint getting darker?
- Is it behind glass? UV-filtering glass, especially car windshields, can reduce the UV that activates the lens.
- Is it bright sun? On overcast days there's less UV, so it stays lighter by design.
- Give it a little time. It changes gradually.
- Check expectations: its darkest is 20%, a medium tint. For the brightest bluebird days, swap in Silver or Black with the magnetic system.
Inside tint vs outside mirror
The color you see in a product photo is the mirror coating on the outside. What you actually see through the lens comes from the base tint on the inside. Two lenses can look alike from the outside and be very different to ski in.
- Arctic Blue and Arctic Glow both have an ice blue mirror. Inside, Arctic Blue is grey (20%, everyday) and Arctic Glow is yellow (44%, flat light).
- Crimson Steel and Citrus Blaze both have a black-red mirror. Inside, Crimson Steel is grey (26%, everyday) and Citrus Blaze is orange (40%, flat light).
Rule of thumb: warm inside tints (yellow, orange) are for low light, and grey inside is for everyday and sun. The VLT number on the lens page is the final word.
| Lens | Outside mirror | Inside tint (what you see) | VLT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | None | Grey | 6% |
| Silver | Silver | Grey | 14% |
| Gold | Gold | Grey | 17% |
| Arctic Blue | Ice blue | Grey | 20% |
| Rose Silver | Silver-pink | Grey | 22% |
| Crimson Steel | Black-red | Grey | 26% |
| Cherry Frost | Blue | Pink | 39% |
| Citrus Blaze | Black-red | Orange | 40% |
| Arctic Glow | Ice blue | Yellow | 44% |
| Clear | None | Clear | 85% |
Lens technology and care
BOLD lenses use POW viz+ high-contrast technology, which filters selected wavelengths of light to sharpen depth and definition in the snow. It's most noticeable on flat-light days, when the terrain tends to blur together.
- Never wipe the inner lens. The anti-fog treatment is on the inside. If it fogs, let it air dry.
- Use the lens cloth on the outer surface only. Wipe gently, don't scrub.
- Store lenses in the hard case or goggle pouch. Loose in a bag is how lenses get scratched.
- Don't rest goggles face-down on your helmet. Foam padding transfers oils onto the lens.
Scratched or cracked a lens? See Replacement Parts & Accessories for replacement lenses, straps and cases.
Which replacement lens fits my goggle?
Every BOLD goggle uses the same magnetic quick-change system, but each lens is shaped to its frame. Buy the lens family that matches your goggle:
| Your goggle | Lenses that fit |
|---|---|
| Morningside, Morningside OTG, Morningside Low Bridge (Asian Fit) | Morningside lenses |
| Morningside XS | Morningside XS lenses |
| Morningside Max, Morningside Max OTG | Morningside Max lenses |
| Rambler, Rambler OTG, Rambler Low Bridge (Asian Fit) | Rambler lenses |
| Youth Morningside | Youth Morningside lenses |
XS, Max and Youth lenses don't fit the standard Morningside, and Morningside lenses don't fit the Rambler. See how the two compare in Morningside vs Rambler.
Not sure which goggle you have?
See Which BOLD Ski Goggle Do I Have? for a step-by-step check, or use these quick tips:
- A goggle with a frame around the lens is a Rambler. A frameless goggle is in the Morningside family.
- On newer goggles the model name is printed in the lower corner of the lens.
- Still not sure? Email info@boldouterwear.com with your order number and we'll look it up. Need help with fit instead? See the Ski Goggle Fit Guide.
Common lens questions
What VLT should I use for flat light?
Go higher: our flat-light lenses are Arctic Glow (44% VLT), Citrus Blaze (40%) and Cherry Frost (39%). They let more light through, and the warm inside tints on Arctic Glow and Citrus Blaze help you see bumps and shadows when the light goes flat.
Which BOLD lens is best for night skiing?
Clear (85% VLT) is our dedicated night lens. AutoTint can be used at night. With very little UV, it stays near its lightest state at 83% VLT, close to our Clear lens at 85%.
How dark do BOLD AutoTint lenses get?
At their darkest, AutoTint lenses reach 20% VLT, a medium tint about as dark as our Arctic Blue everyday lens (20%). For the brightest bluebird days, a Silver (14%) or Black (6%) lens is darker.
How light do BOLD AutoTint lenses get?
At their lightest, AutoTint lenses are 83% VLT, close to our Clear lens at 85%.
Do BOLD AutoTint lenses work at night?
AutoTint can be used at night. With very little UV, it stays near its lightest state at 83% VLT, close to our Clear lens at 85%.
Why isn't my AutoTint lens getting darker?
AutoTint reacts to UV, not brightness. UV-filtering glass, especially car windshields, can reduce the UV that activates the lens, so it may stay lighter behind glass. Overcast days also have less UV. It changes gradually rather than instantly, and its darkest setting is a medium tint (20% VLT). For very bright days, swap in a darker lens with the magnetic system.
Are BOLD AutoTint lenses polarized?
No. AutoTint is photochromic, not polarized. It has UV400 protection.
Which replacement lens fits my Morningside?
Morningside lenses fit the standard Morningside, the Morningside OTG and the Morningside Low Bridge (Asian Fit). The Morningside XS, Max and Youth each take their own lenses.
Do Morningside XS lenses fit the standard Morningside?
No. XS lenses are shaped for the narrower XS frame. Every BOLD goggle uses the same magnetic system, but each lens is made for its own frame.
What's the difference between lens mirror color and base tint?
The mirror is the colored coating on the outside, the part other people see. The base tint is on the inside and is closer to what you see. For example, Arctic Blue and Arctic Glow share the same ice blue mirror, but Arctic Blue is grey inside (20% VLT) and Arctic Glow is yellow inside (44%).
Which lenses come with my goggle?
Morningside, XS and Max packages include Arctic Blue (20% VLT, everyday) and Cherry Frost (39%, low light). Rambler packages include Crimson Steel (26%, everyday) and Arctic Glow (44%, low light). AutoTint packages include the AutoTint lens plus a bonus low-light lens; on the Morningside AutoTint it is Cherry Frost (39%), for very dark storm days and flat light.
Can I use a Clear lens during the day?
Clear (85% VLT) is made for night skiing. On a normal overcast day it lets in a lot of light, so a flat-light lens like Arctic Glow (44%) is usually the better daytime choice.