Goodr Flex G running sunglasses review: Stylish, elegant and they don’t go flying!

Known for producing affordable and functional sports sunglasses, Goodr has scored highly in our best running sunglasses favourites before, and for good reason. All Goodr sunnies are polarised and come with a "no slip, no bounce" guarantee.

The no-nonsense brand takes a refreshingly humorous approach to its messaging, which flows through to the fun designs and stylish colourways.

But jokes aside, I was curious to find out whether a £40 pair of running sunglasses could truly claim to be cutting-edge and compete among the top dogs in the market. For that, I had to test Goodr’s newest Flex G model, which the brand dubs as a “half-rim style of high-performance sports sunglasses”.

First off, I’m no stranger to Goodr sunglasses, having worn their OG model (£30) for the past three years. During this time, they were my steadfast companion throughout a year-long world trip, where I found myself running in conditions of 40°C and extreme humidity.

Aside from the very reasonable price, the main selling point of Goodr’s sunnies is their stylistic versatility – the fact that they can be worn for both sport and everyday life is a big plus in my books.

I’m intrigued to see whether the insane value and long-lasting durability of the OG translates across to the Flex G on test, and what that additional £10 gets you.

Design and features

Out of the funky pink/green packaging, the Flex G is immediately striking. This is thanks to Goodr’s styling. With four colourways to choose from, I went with the ‘Lawn Mower Drag Race’, which has a dark green matte frame and rose gradient lens. Other colour options include black, pink and tortoiseshell.

I like that the sunnies come with a microfibre bag to avoid scratching when stuffed into a bag, and at this price, I wouldn’t expect a hard case to be included (it does come in a sturdy cardboard box, though).

As promised, the glasses are designed with a non-slip, grippy plastic frame with traction marks towards the silicone insets at the ends of the arms. This flows into the half-rim frame along the top and a fully adjustable, rigid nose piece.

This model has polarised, rose gradient lenses (mirrored option also available), which are designed to block 100% of the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. Gradient lenses like those on the Flex G are darker at the top to block overhead light and lighter at the bottom for better visibility when looking down.

Meanwhile, all Goodr’s sunglasses have polarised lenses, which is essentially a film within the lens that blocks out harsh light glare from horizontal surfaces, like lakes and rivers. The result is better comfort and clearer vision, with less eye strain caused by bright light.

Performance and comfort

So now you’ve got a clear understanding of what makes up the Goodr Flex G, it’s time to get into the details. Namely, they look pretty cool, but do they actually deliver when it comes to run comfort and protection?

Let’s talk about bounce first. There’s enough to deal with when running and working up a sweat, so the last thing you want is sunnies that slide about and have to be re-adjusted every 30 seconds. I hear you. Thankfully, the Flex G delivers on this promise, being both pretty light at 22g and completely bounce-free.

The arms grip the sides of the head well, while the no-slip finish just works. My one niggle is with the ends of the arms which after an hour or so, start to dig into the sensitive area behind the ears. This is more of an issue when wearing the glasses for everyday use, so it may not be a concern for shorter runs of less than 10km.

The same issue came up with other colourways, and feedback from multiple testers suggests the arm ends could use a bit more give and softness.

Otherwise, the sunglasses feel lightweight and comfortable on the face. Kudos to the adjustable nose bridge, which only requires a pinch to fit to the shape of your nose, with no need to juggle different nose pieces.

Being adjustable by 90°, it should fit all nose sizes; being able to widen out to a horizontal line and narrow to a vertical one. The bridge is made from a harder plastic as opposed to softer, rubber options seen on other performance eyewear, but it didn’t cause irritation and could equal better durability in the long run.

A step away from the futuristic visor models commonly worn these days, the Flex G’s half-rim design translates to good versatility for all activities and for lifestyle use.

Of course, there’s less coverage here than a wrap-around lens, with some wind coming in from the sides as you run (not an issue unless you’re an Eliud Kipchoge-esque speed machine). This superior side/bottom ventilation also means that there’s no fogging of the lens.

In terms of sizing, the Flex G is made to offer a wider fit for larger heads, so it understandably had an oversized look on my average-sized, female face.

The gradient rose lens of the ‘Lawn Mower’ colourway is best suited to medium-hard glare light, but doesn’t 100% protect from the glare of bright sideways light that appears at the end of a sunny day.

However, vision is excellent when running in shady or dappled light, which means you can keep them on at all times while running. This is thanks to the gradient lens, which provides less of a tint at the bottom of the lens for looking downwards, providing better clarity for foot placement over technical ground – super useful for the trails!

Price and competition

For such a slim £40 price, there’s really no competing with the Flex G when it comes to value for money. And in the outdoors industry, where the cost of gear can start adding up fast, an affordable price tag is a great asset. Of course, the sunnies have to perform too, and that they do.

If you like the sound of the no-bounce and comfort of the Flex G but want a bit more coverage, then the Koo Nova (£170) feels super high-performance and comfy when running. With the hike in price, you get a 1g lighter and barely-there feeling high-tech eyewear, with wraparound, anti-glare lens. A great pick for when money is no object.

Alternatively, if you like the versatile style of the Flex G, then the Tifosi Swick (£60) is another affordable and classy option. With polarised lens for anti-glare and scratch-resistant lenses, there’s a few run-ready features to protect your eyes on the go.

Half the price and with a very similar look, are my favourite Goodr OG (£30) sunglasses. Previously winning best on test thanks to the insane value, comfort and lens clarity. If you’re after an affordable and reliable performer, look no further.

Verdict

Overall, I would say that Goodr has continued its winning streak with the Flex G. I like that the brand hasn't followed the crowd with its designs, messaging and the styles on offer. The all-important clarity and coverage are there, and the fully adjustable nose piece is a massive tick.

Granted, you won’t get as much protection or a barely-there feel as options costing an additional £150. Fix the slight irritation from the arms and Goodr is onto a winner here. Yet again, it’s the value, versatility and reliability that shine through in the Flex G.

How we tested the Goodr Flex G

Over a period of several weeks, I tested the Goodr Flex G ‘Lawn Mower Drag Race’ green/rose and the ‘Country Club Crasher’ tortishell colourways.

They had to contend with bright and hot 38°C French summertime, and were put through their paces over road and off-road runs through forests, along the beach and undulating, rocky trails.

In one day, I'd need protection from bright and direct sun, those killer sideways sunset rays and dappled midday light when running through intermittent patches of shade.

The sunglasses were tested on their comfort, including whether they bounced or slipped on the face when working up a sweat. Also, on the quality and durability of different materials used, and the geometry of how the sunnies sat on the face.

Meanwhile, I considered the level of adjustability possible for a range of face shapes and sizes. When it came to the lens, I looked at the efficacy, protection and clarity of the lens type, be that polarised, photochromatic, tinted, or mirrored. And finally, I tested the sunglasses' style, versatility, coverage and value for money.

About the author

Kate Milsom was previously a digital content writer for Live for the Outdoors, but now works with us as a freelance gear tester. In her career as a specialist sports journalist, Kate has worked with industry-leading titles including 220 Triathlon, Cycling Plus, Road.cc and Cyclist. Prior to this, Kate studied English literature and French at university, then got the outdoors bug and never looked back.

She's an accomplished athlete, too, having competed in multiple marathons, ultramarathons, half-Ironmans and swimruns.