Kestrel Sport New Zealand: Football Academy Training Kit Comparison Test
Kestrel Sport is a New Zealand-based brand whose football academy training kit is one of its most demanding programmes. We tested the new recycled nylon interlock against the fabric Kestrel Sport used last season. Both were made into identical garments and evaluated side by side for football academy training kit.
Kestrel Sport: Recycled Nylon Interlock in use during daily squad training in all weather
Evaluation background
The programme covers training shirts, shorts and warm-up tops, used for daily squad training in all weather. The environment is contact, sliding and heavy perspiration and the requirement written into the brief was tear resistance with colour consistency across a squad. Fabric was selected on that basis rather than on price alone.
Fabric under evaluation
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Recycled Nylon Interlock |
| Composition | 78% GRS recycled nylon / 22% spandex |
| Weight | 270 GSM |
| Width | 160 cm |
| Primary function | stays fully opaque under tension while carrying a recycled claim |
| Target | opacity above 96% at 30% extension |
| Test method | AATCC 183 |
| Additional note | GRS chain of custody documents |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
Recycled Nylon Interlock 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 opacity above 96% at 30% extension against AATCC 183, 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 contact, sliding and heavy perspiration. 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 Football Academy Training Kit
Scorecard
| Criterion | Result |
|---|---|
| Function | 4.8 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4.6 / 5 |
| Durability | 4.5 / 5 |
| Appearance | 4.7 / 5 |
| Cost efficiency | 4.4 / 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 New Zealand
Verdict and recommendation
The new recycled nylon interlock 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 AATCC 183 results with every lot so any claim can be supported with data.
