Trailhead Union New Zealand: Football Academy Training Kit Comparison Test
Trailhead Union is a New Zealand-based brand whose football academy training kit is one of its most demanding programmes. We tested the new moisture-wicking polyester single jersey against the fabric Trailhead Union used last season. Both were made into identical garments and evaluated side by side for football academy training kit.
Trailhead Union: Moisture-Wicking Polyester Single Jersey 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 | Moisture-Wicking Polyester Single Jersey |
| Composition | 88% polyester / 12% spandex |
| Weight | 160 GSM |
| Width | 170 cm |
| Primary function | moves sweat to the outer face so it can evaporate |
| Target | moisture management class 4-5 |
| Test method | AATCC 195 |
| Additional note | one-way transport index above 300 |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
Moisture-Wicking Polyester Single Jersey 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 moisture management class 4-5 against AATCC 195, 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 Trailhead Union 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 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Comfort | 4.7 / 5 |
| Durability | 4.4 / 5 |
| Appearance | 4.6 / 5 |
| Cost efficiency | 4.5 / 5 |
“Development was transparent from the first sample and bulk matched the approval exactly.” — Trailhead Union Technical Team
Packed bulk rolls before shipment to New Zealand
Verdict and recommendation
The new moisture-wicking polyester single jersey outperformed the previous fabric on every measured criterion and we recommend switching the whole programme over. For Trailhead Union the practical next steps are to keep the current specification for the repeat, retain the shade standard, and issue AATCC 195 results with every lot so any claim can be supported with data.
