Goodr OG vs SunGod Forty2s: Battle of the running sunglasses

If you’re interested in refreshing your running sunglasses but want to know which features are worth spending more on, we tested two pairs on either end of the price spectrum to help you decide. The Goodr OG is a classic and versatile pair of budget sunglasses, but can they really be compared to the high-performance SunGod Forty2s?

In our independent reviews of both these running sunglasses, we found that price doesn’t always limit performance. The two pairs both scored impressively highly, so it’s time to find out which is the best to use for running comfort, performance, and value. 220 Triathlon editor and expert tester, Helen Webster, put both sunglasses to the test in a range of running light conditions, distances, and terrains to find out the winner.

Design and key features

First up are Goodr, who have been on the scene for a few years now with their cheerful range of glasses with fun colours and unusual names. These are the OGs – launched first – and from memory, these must be the fourth pair of these I’ve had. 

Granted, I’m not the best at carefully storing my sunnies, but I have found previously that the Goodr lenses are quite easy to damage on the mirrored versions I’ve owned before. 

The colourway here is quite understated for Goodr with a tortoiseshell frame and brown lenses (style name: ‘Bosley’s Basset Hound Dreams’) and they come in a cardboard box with a soft fabric cloth/case which feels like good value for the $25 / £30 price tag. 

The pair they’re up against are the SunGod Forty2s. No quirky names here – the Forty2s are all about performance. That name is taken from the number of kilometres in a marathon, which gives a clear nod to the intent of these. 

Designed with running in mind, the $140 / £120 SunGod Forty2s have a clear design brief. Like the Goodr sunnies these come in an eco-friendly cardboard box, with a microfibre cloth bag which is here made from recycled plastic bottles. 

Pulling them from the packaging though, the look and feel of them is completely different. Whereas on the Goodr ones you can see the chunky frames as you run, here the wraparound shape with frameless bottoms covers more of your eye area. 

Goodr OGs vs SunGod Forty2s: Specs

In the table below I’ve compared the two sunglasses, including specifications like style, colour options, key features to look out for, and the tech you get for your money.

Where one feature is objectively better, I’ve bolded it. As you can see, there’s winning specs to be found in both pairs of sunglasses, with other features more of a personal choice, like lens and style.

The Goodr OG clearly has a more affordable price point, while the SunGod Forty2s has more adjustability and a wider field of vision. Though highly important, choice of lens and style is widely dependant on running conditions and personal preference.

Both come with a soft case for easy cleaning and multiple colour options. In terms of other specs to think about, read the rest of our review comparison to find out!

	Goodr OG	SunGod Forty2s
Price	$25 / £30	$140 / £120
Lens	Amber, polarised, 100% UV protection	8KO high-clarity lens, 100% UV protection, 11% visible light transmission
Features	No nose adjustability, soft case	Multiple nose bridges, soft case
Style	Wayfarer with full frame	Wraparound monovisor with top frame
Weight	0.8oz / 22g	1oz / 28g
Colour options	37 colour combinations, including mirrored, gradient, or tinted lenses	Build your own, or 7 colour options: blue, black, amber, smoke, rainbow lenses with black, white, or blue frames.

Run comfort, clarity, and performance

On the face, the Goodr OGs are very comfortable and live up to the claims Goodr makes about staying put throughout each run. Once on and no matter how sweaty things get, they don’t budge at all! 

The lenses were a very warm amber tint which really made everything look quite enhanced, though they did a good job of bringing out contrast and clarity when running in dappled woods. 

That is no doubt helped by the fact they’re polarised, which did come as a pleasant surprise for the price point. 

What about the SunGod Forty2s? Looking down and to each side as I run, the lenses do a great job of covering my line of vision without restriction. These are very lightweight at just 0.9oz/28g and once on, didn’t move around at all as I ran. 

You also get three nose bridges in the package to help achieve the perfect fit. The hinges are also screw-free with a pop-lock design, to avoid rusting. 

The lenses are the important thing and here Sungod have used their 8KO nylon lenses which are 2mm thick and engineered to provide superior clarity as well as shatterproof protection. 

The tint here is more of a grey tone but in use it actually kept colours true, blocking glare without changing the hue of my surroundings.

Price and value for money

I’ve got to admit, it’s pretty hard to beat the $25/£30 price point of the Goodr OGs. They’re comfortable, stay in place while running, and really don’t cost the earth. I’m a fan of their fun branding and colour options too, they’re just a highly versatile pair of sunnies.

That being said, there’s no beating the performance of the SunGod Forty2s. They’ve got that barely-there feel, higher coverage and lens protection, as well as run-friendly features that make them a dependable companion for both sweaty runs and races. At $120/£140, they’re definitely more of a considered spend, but the tech is there and speaks volumes.

For those after a middle ground when it comes to price, consider the Tifosi Vogel SL ($40/£55). They’re high-quality and pack a punch for the money. With a similar wraparound lens to the Forty2s, the Vogel is completely frameless and offers great clarity and contrast in sunny conditions.

Goodr OGs vs SunGod Forty2s: Verdict

All in, the Goodr OGs are a great set of budget sunnies if you want to go from running to daily wear without looking too ‘sporty’, though runners targeting long distances may want to look at the SunGod Forty2s. 

The lenses are the important thing in running sunnies and here SunGod have used their 8KO nylon lenses which are super sharp and durable. Their grey tint kept colours bold and reduced glare.

I liked the look of these, too. They felt engineered for running, without being so big I felt daft being out and about in them!

While the OGs still have the upper hand in the style and value stakes, you’d want the Forty2s to run a marathon in. I gave the OGs a score of 80% in testing, while the Forty2s bagged an impressive 92%, despite the higher price.

If you’d like more multisport eyewear recommendations, we’ve also reviewed the best triathlon sunglasses that excel on the bike and run.

How we tested

I tested the two pairs of running sunglasses over a period of several weeks, during which I took them out in the changeable British summertime weather. They’ve been tested in varying light conditions, including over undercover trails and open stretches of bright sunlight.

During testing, I considered the efficacy of each pair of sunnies’ key features, along with durability, style, and value for money. If I don’t like something I test, I wouldn’t recommend it. These reviews are all completely objective and my opinion as a gear tester of 15 years. Read more on how we test gear at 220 Triathlon.