Kestrel Sport Switzerland: Trail Running Programme Climate and Heat Evaluation
Kestrel Sport is a Switzerland-based brand whose trail running programme is one of its most demanding programmes. Heat changes how a fabric behaves, so we evaluated the graphene cooling knit in genuinely hot conditions for Kestrel Sport, based in Switzerland.
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 | 165 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
Test environment
Sessions ran at 30 to 34 degrees with high humidity, which is the condition where sweat cannot evaporate and complaints begin. Garments were weighed before and after each session to measure retained moisture.
Thermal behaviour
The fabric held Q-max above 0.20 W/cm2, and skin temperature stayed below the control fabric across the session. That difference is what a wearer describes simply as feeling cooler.
Evaluation session with the Kestrel Sport team
Drying after the session
Garments were re-weighed at 30 and 60 minutes. The fabric released most of its moisture within the first half hour, which matters when Kestrel Sport runs back-to-back sessions.
Comfort feedback
Wearers reported less cling and less chafe during long off-road efforts on mixed terrain. Both improvements come from moving moisture rather than storing it, which is why construction mattered more than any finish in this test.
Test records and inspection notes for the Trail Running Programme
Scorecard
| Criterion | Result |
|---|---|
| Heat comfort | 4.7 / 5 |
| Moisture transport | 4.4 / 5 |
| Drying speed | 4.8 / 5 |
| Cling and chafe | 4.6 / 5 |
| Odour control | 4.5 / 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
For hot and humid markets the graphene cooling knit is the right choice, provided the pattern keeps the ventilation zones exactly where we placed them. 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.
