Kestrel Sport Switzerland: Swim School Programme Comparison Test
Kestrel Sport is a Switzerland-based brand whose swim school programme is one of its most demanding programmes. We tested the new silver ion antibacterial knit against the fabric Kestrel Sport used last season. Both were made into identical garments and evaluated side by side for swim school programme.
Kestrel Sport: Silver Ion Antibacterial Knit in use during daily pool sessions for children and adults
Evaluation background
The programme covers training swimsuits, swim shorts and rash guards, used for daily pool sessions for children and adults. The environment is chlorinated water and repeated drying cycles and the requirement written into the brief was chlorine resistance with reliable shape retention. Fabric was selected on that basis rather than on price alone.
Fabric under evaluation
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Silver Ion Antibacterial Knit |
| Composition | nylon spandex with silver ion filament |
| Weight | 250 GSM |
| Width | 160 cm |
| Primary function | stops the bacteria that turn sweat into odour |
| Target | bacterial reduction above 99% |
| Test method | ISO 20743 |
| Additional note | performance retained after 30 home washes |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
Silver Ion Antibacterial Knit close-up showing the fabric surface
What was compared
Construction, weight and colour were held constant. The only difference was the fabric, which is the only way a comparison tells you anything useful.
Laboratory comparison
The new fabric reached bacterial reduction above 99% against ISO 20743, while the previous material missed the same target. Comfort measurements were closer, which is expected because hand had already been approved.
Evaluation session with the Kestrel Sport team
Wear comparison
Over four weeks the difference appeared during chlorinated water and repeated drying cycles. Wearers described the new version as cleaner and lighter in use, even though the scales said the two garments weighed the same.
Cost comparison
The upgrade adds a modest amount per garment. Measured against the return rate of the previous season, the change pays for itself within a single drop.
Test records and inspection notes for the Swim School Programme
Scorecard
| Criterion | Result |
|---|---|
| Function | 4.9 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4.5 / 5 |
| Durability | 4.6 / 5 |
| Appearance | 4.3 / 5 |
| Cost efficiency | 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 Switzerland
Verdict and recommendation
The new silver ion antibacterial knit outperformed the previous fabric on every measured criterion and we recommend switching the whole programme over. For Kestrel Sport the practical next steps are to keep the current specification for the repeat, retain the shade standard, and issue ISO 20743 results with every lot so any claim can be supported with data.
