There’s an eyewear brand that’s been on everyone’s lips lately: Goodr sunglasses. Their shades aren’t fancy or expensive. They’re just colorful, sporty styles that people of all ages seem to love.
In the last decade, Goodr has changed the game with eye-catching products and an attention-grabbing marketing persona. Let’s get to the bottom of this intriguing company!
At a Glance
- Goodr is an American company that makes sporty sunglasses for people who enjoy a run or just some fun in the sun.
- Each pair sells for under $40 on average. As with most inexpensive things, the quality is up for debate.
- They’re all about quirky branding and engaging content, with flamingos and party references aplenty!
- They care about sustainability and social responsibility and walk the talk, even working with the American Red Cross and selling recycled styles to be more environmentally friendly.
- While not a big favorite of celebrities, they focus on collaborating with athletes of different levels and ‘fun’ brands. This can be seen in their latest Barbie collaboration.
What Are Goodr Sunglasses?
Goodr was founded in 2015 as one of those “cool” startups. They thought the running glasses on the market were ugly and overpriced, so they set out to fill the gap.
With funky and stylish frames and lenses made to perform well under unpredictable conditions, these sunglasses began to make their mark.
The best part? The price point: $25 a pop!
The Lore of Goodr
The founders (Stephen Lease and Ben Abell) are the kind of smart guys who, with experience in business and startups, went the fun, quirky route rather than the tech-bro route.
They were two friends who loved running marathons, playing sports, and, like countless 20-somethings, joining clubs. They thought that sports sunglasses were over-engineered and not cool. And so, they did what many entrepreneurs have tried. They used Alibaba (the global wholesale e-commerce platform) to find suppliers to work with.
Their story is interesting because many classic eyewear brands, like Oakley and Ray-Ban, are decades old. These brands helped pioneer modern sports sunglasses. While Goodr is a newer brand, they’re quickly making their mark without claiming to compete with these brands.
Their lore centers on fun, catchy, almost bro-like energy. By contrast to other eyewear brands, they don’t take themselves too seriously. The founders are also very into fashion, so it makes sense that the styles and colors are vibrant and expressive.
Do they look like the most serious running glasses ever? No, but that’s the point; they’re not supposed to. Instead of waiting to work with world-class manufacturers, the founders took matters into their own hands, testing their own glasses.
The brand has grown quickly over the last decade, selling in 50 countries through 1,400 retail accounts. It’s pretty much a modern American Dream. Plus, their epic lore even goes into their workplace reputation, concentrating on the benefits and ‘fun’ work culture. It seems like a really different way of doing eyewear from start to finish.
Fun, Fresh Styles
While browsing the Goodr website, I quickly realized they sell a variety of popular shapes, including cat-eye and shield styles. There is also a wide range of colors and patterns, from pastel pink and purple stripes to vivid collegiate themes.
These are some styles that stood out to me. These brow-bridge, brownish frames featuring pink lenses are a surprising color combination. But it works. And with a name like ‘Dust of Ancient Sunlight,’ who can resist!
For a more sporty option, these ‘Sonic G’ sunglasses are a good choice, as they come in both subtle colorways and funky ones.
One of the smartest things Goodr has done is carve out its own specific niche. Their products appeal to a specific audience, which is a major bonus for the brand. But if these shades weren’t so cheap, would they be making waves? I doubt it.
Sunglasses from top designer brands like Costa del Mar and Oakley might be more expensive, but there’s a clear reason they’ve been around as long as they have. Quality backs up those names.
Still, Goodr knows exactly who they are. More importantly, they know who their consumers are. They’re not trying to compete with fancy Gucci shades or timeless Ray-Ban styles.
Are Goodr sunglasses the most stylish shades ever?
No. Why? Well, I love sunglasses (whether casual, designer, or activewear) that are more subtle. I’m a fan of less is more, and not in a boring “I only wear black square sunglasses” kind of way. But rather, I like a crisp tortoiseshell frame over neon colors or sleek wraparound tinted activewear glasses over HUGE mask sunglasses.
In my opinion, there are cuter sunnies out there. But if you just want to go out for a run and not worry about your expensive Oakleys hitting the pavement, these glasses are pretty cool.
Goodr’s Catchy Marketing
Goodr’s catchy marketing is A-class. They have figured out what works for them, and they’ve run with it. (Pun intended!) But what makes it so memorable?
Relatable Gen-Z and Millennial Messaging
Sure, it’s not Gigi Hadid or Miley Cyrus on over-styled billboards. In fact, they’re nowhere to be found on the Goodr site. You won’t find Leonardo DiCaprio getting off a yacht in his shades, James Bond-style, either.
Instead of the hottest celebs and models splashed across million-dollar ads, they use real people. Just regular folks of different ages and backgrounds who have Goodr sunglasses in common. Yet their message jumps out at you straight away!
Then there are the catchy names and slogans. They need to give their copywriter a raise! With slogans like “NO SLIP. NO BOUNCE. ALL POLARIZED. ALL FUN,” they are already winning, and haven’t even gotten to the names of the sunglasses yet.
Two of my favorite taglines are “Amelia Earhart Ghosted Me” and “A Unicorn’s Calamity.” Do they make sense? Who knows? But they definitely get people talking.
And the branding is bright, bold, and really out there. It reinforces the spirit of the brand. If they continue with this cool, viral branding, I predict they’ll become a household name with a cult following within a few years.
Sunglasses With a Social Mission
Sometimes, I struggle to tell when a brand has a social mission because they care or because it makes them look good. While I can’t comment on Goodr’s intentions, they do have some impressive campaigns.
Take their current collaboration with the American Red Cross, for example. For a limited time, they’re offering a free pair of limited-edition Goodr red shades to people who donate blood.
Goodr seems to be doing its due diligence for the environment, too, with 100% carbon-neutral products. Some of their sunglasses are even made with recycled plastics, which adds to the appeal.
That’s a win in my books. While brands drive fast fashion, they should do something to offset their production. Whether or not my Goodr sunglasses are made to last remains to be seen, but if they are, that’s also a plus, as it’s one less pair of cheap sunglasses in a landfill.
Past PR Problems
Unfortunately, a few years ago, the brand hit a temporary roadblock due to some less-than-stellar PR. They called one product “Pineapple Painkillers” and featured a photo of a pair of glasses next to a pile of pills and an empty bottle.
To make matters worse, they then mentioned mixing alcohol and Vicodin and taking hallucinogens in some social media posts. Needless to say, some customers and followers were not impressed. Many felt they were glorifying drug use.
Eventually, Goodr issued an apology and tried to bounce back, but did cancel culture get the better of them?
It seems not. Do they still have social and environmental missions? Yes. That could be one reason they were forgiven. Or maybe it’s because, as the famous line goes, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
My Goodr Sunglasses Experience
I bought a pair of Goodr sunglasses. I wanted to test them out and see if they lived up to the hype.
When my sunglasses came, I was excited because I honestly had no idea what to expect. Would they be as vividly colorful as in the picture? Would they be as lightweight as they appear?
As I took them out and put them on, they lived up to my expectations. A good pair of sunglasses, but then came the real test: taking them for a run…
I run. Sometimes. Am I an expert on running? Maybe not, but I am an eyewear expert.
The verdict: they did pretty well on my run, which I confess was only around my local park, but they held up. The no-slip claim is accurate, as they have grip-coated frames. They’re also lightweight and polarized, which is great on sunny days.
Do they feel cheap compared to my other sunglasses? Yes. But did they do what they were supposed to? Also yes.
Over time, Goodr has expanded from running glasses to other sporty styles. But I can’t confirm how effective those other options are since I don’t play golf or pickleball. (I’m still trying to figure out what that is!)
Collaborations and New Collections
While Goodr started as a fun solution for active sunglass wearers, the brand has since expanded its collections. Some styles are designed more for casual wear or your next vacation than your next run.
One of their latest collaborations with Barbie is what I’m talking about. The hot pink and black-and-white striped sunglasses are more “I want to stand out from the crowd” than “I’m ready to hit the tennis court.”
While Goodr are not the typical sunglasses of choice for celebrities on a red carpet, they are spotted on athletes and influencers. Some honorable mentions include the LA Galaxy soccer team, snowboarder Frank Jobin, and baseball player Austin Shultz.
Goodr might not have the pull with the rich and famous, who are more inclined to wear brands like Celine, Prada, and Miu Miu. But it makes sense that Goodr focuses on collaborations with athletes. After all, at its core, it’s an activewear brand, not a high-end fashion brand.
In typical Goodr fashion, they’re doing their own thing (again). So instead of having an ‘ambassador program,’ they have what they call their ‘Flamboyance’ (I think it’s maybe in homage to their flamingo mascot). Anyone who is an athlete at any level, or “committed to fun,” can become a member. Members get discounts and can join an affiliate program.
It’s all very new-age marketing. It’s smart and honest. They’re not trying to appeal to jet-setters and A-listers. Instead of hiding that, they make it clear that this is a brand for regular people.
Refreshing, I think.
So, what do you think? Will you swipe right on Goodr?
FAQs
Are Goodr sunglasses good?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want wearable, fun sunglasses with a good enough grip to wear on your daily runs, then yes, Goodr glasses should be up to the challenge.
Are Goodr sunglasses polarized?
Goodr sunglasses are generally polarized. However, one of their main styles, the ‘Pineapple Painkillers,’ features red lenses and is not polarized. These are ideal for low-light conditions and checking your phone by the pool.
Why are Goodr sunglasses popular?
There’s a mix of valid reasons why the brand has become popular. Their sunglasses are affordable at under $50, and there’s a wide range of colors and styles that are wearable for anyone and everyone.
