When you shop for a helmet visor, you'll often see a number like "80% VLT" or "16% VLT." It's the most useful spec on the page, and it's easy to understand.
VLT = Visible Light Transmission
VLT is the percentage of visible light that passes through the visor and reaches your eyes.
- Higher VLT = lighter visor. More light gets through.
- Lower VLT = darker visor. Less light gets through, so there's less glare.
What the numbers feel like
- Around 80% and up: clear or very lightly tinted. Suitable for night and low light.
- Around 50%: medium tint. Comfortable on overcast days, too dark for night.
- Around 15–30%: dark smoke or mirrored. Built for bright sun.
How photochromic visors use VLT
A photochromic visor doesn't have one VLT. It moves between two. Our photochromic visors run from about 80% VLT in low light (clear enough for dusk and night) down to about 16% VLT in bright sun (as dark as a dark smoke visor). It changes on its own as UV light rises and falls.
That's why so many riders switch to photochromic. You get a clear visor and a dark visor in one.
Which VLT should you choose?
- Ride mostly at night or in bad weather: a clear or Night/Clear visor.
- Ride mostly in the sun or on track: a dark tinted or mirrored visor.
- Ride through the day into the evening: a photochromic visor.
One more tip: mirrored finishes reflect glare on the outside, but VLT is what decides how dark the view is from the inside. Two visors can look very different and still have similar VLT.