Skiing is a wonderful way to make winter more fun, but conditions can change hour by hour. In the morning you can begin skiing in bright sunshine amplified by the snow. As the day progresses and light is lost or clouds come in, your terrain can become more difficult to ski based on a lack of light and clarity. This phenomenon is known as flat light because the contours of the terrain are lost.
Considerations
In skiing, good visibility is essential to your safety. Goggle manufacturers are aware of this and produce different types of lenses that work well in either bright or flat light conditions. It is wise to pack all your gear options so you will be prepared for whatever winter weather conditions occur -- even when the forecast is for sun and clear skies.
Visible Light Transmission
Like sun glasses, tinted ski goggles help reduce the amount of light that reaches your eyes. This is important because it helps balance the light spectrum so you can see more clearly. This makes skiing safer because you are better able to appreciate terrain definition and changes in the snow. Visible Light Transmission is the percentage of light that passes through your goggle lens. In flat or low light conditions, a lens that allows more light to pass though is required. Most flat light lenses allow between 25 and 70 percent of the VLT to pass through to your eyes.
Flat Light Tints
You can loose light during the day due to the progression of the sun through the afternoon, weather conditions or simply by skiing under trees and in shadows. When this occurs, the terrain looses its sharpness. Goggles with yellow or rose lenses are popular choices because they allow more VLT to reach your eyes during flat or low light conditions. The yellow lens allows about 70 percent of VLT to penetrate the lens. This makes it easier for you to see in flat light and helps provides the contrast you need to determine the contours of the terrain you are skiing.
Options
Goggles with photochromic lenses are another option for flat light conditions. These special lenses adjust the amount of VLT that passes through based on changing light conditions. According to "Ski," popular goggles with state of the art lenses include Bolle, Spy Zed, Smith Optics, Oakley, Church and State, Anon, and Zeal Optics. Zeal, Bolle and others offer photochromic lenses.
When possible, test ski with the goggles you are interested in purchasing. Ask the ski shop at your favorite destination if they have demo goggles you can try in flat light. This is a good way to determine which lenses work best for you.
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