Kestrel Sport Sweden: Trail Running Programme Laboratory Test Report
Kestrel Sport is a Sweden-based brand whose trail running programme is one of its most demanding programmes. This report documents the laboratory qualification of the graphene cooling knit supplied to Kestrel Sport for its trail running programme. Every figure below was produced on bulk fabric, not on an approval swatch.
Kestrel Sport: Graphene Cooling Knit in use during long off-road efforts on mixed terrain
Evaluation background
The programme covers trail shorts, technical tees and light shells, used for long off-road efforts on mixed terrain. The environment is mud, grit, wind and rapid weather changes and the requirement written into the brief was abrasion resistance with fast drying after stream crossings. Fabric was selected on that basis rather than on price alone.
Fabric under evaluation
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Graphene Cooling Knit |
| Composition | 90% polyester / 10% spandex with graphene filament |
| Weight | 160 GSM |
| Width | 170 cm |
| Primary function | gives an instant cool touch and spreads heat away from the body |
| Target | Q-max above 0.20 W/cm2 |
| Test method | Q-max contact cool feeling measurement |
| Additional note | far infrared emissivity above 0.88 |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
Graphene Cooling Knit close-up showing the fabric surface
Samples and conditioning
Three bulk lots were sampled at random and conditioned for 24 hours before testing. Results are reported as the worst of the three, which is the number a brand should plan around.
Test methods
The primary method was Q-max contact cool feeling measurement, supported by dimensional change to AATCC 135, pilling to ISO 12945-2 and colour fastness to ISO 105-C06.
Evaluation session with the Kestrel Sport team
Results
The fabric reached Q-max above 0.20 W/cm2, with far infrared emissivity above 0.88. All supporting tests passed the agreed limits, and the report carries the lot numbers so the results can be reproduced.
Interpretation
Numbers only matter against the use case. For trail running programme the relevant result is that the fabric keeps gives an instant cool touch and spreads heat away from the body after conditioning, which is what protects the wearer during long off-road efforts on mixed terrain.
Test records and inspection notes for the Trail Running Programme
Scorecard
| Criterion | Result |
|---|---|
| Primary function | 4.9 / 5 |
| Dimensional change | 4.5 / 5 |
| Pilling grade | 4.6 / 5 |
| Colour fastness | 4.3 / 5 |
| Consistency | 4.7 / 5 |
“Fifty washes later the fabric still performs. That is what convinced our buying team.” — Kestrel Sport Technical Team
Packed bulk rolls before shipment to Sweden
Verdict and recommendation
The bulk fabric met every agreed target. The lot is released and we recommend repeating the same test set on each future delivery of the graphene cooling knit. For Kestrel Sport the practical next steps are to keep the current specification for the repeat, retain the shade standard, and issue Q-max contact cool feeling measurement results with every lot so any claim can be supported with data.
