KitSZN: Discovering Kit Gold
From the PNW to the desserts of New Mexico, we are out exploring for some kit gold! Join us in looking at Salmon Bay, West Seattle, New Mexico, Birmingham and Charlotte.
Each week we will highlight and talk about 4 kits from across the USL. Each kit is rated 1-5 based on four categories:
Design & Aesthetics
Authenticity & Tradition
Visual Details & Execution
Innovation & Impact
We then average the score between myself and my Co-Host Fox for our overall score. So without further ado, here are this week's kits:
Salmon Bay: Discovery Kit
If you like forest kits, you’ll love this kit! In true Pacific Northwest vibes, Salmon Bay has elected to go with a forest kit for their inaugural season. With the cream/white base with the 3 different shades of progressively lighter greens, this kit looks good.
From the detailing on the trees, the shading between to give the idea that they are staggered - like a forest would - to the cleanness of the cuffs and collar. This kit just doesn’t miss. As Kaylor always puts it - you’ll look great in a pair of jeans on this kit.
Overall, this kit is a great representation of the PNW and another great addition to the Salmon Bay/Ballard FC Kit collection.
Our score comes out to be: 4.75
New Mexico United: Pride Kit
Not following the more subtle approach to pride kits like Des Moines, New Mexico went louder. In what feels like a puma template, got made right with the colors and the overall vibe of the kit.
The translucent vibe the lightning kit makes this kit almost cyberpunk. I really like that effect. But I would be remise to also note that outside of the fun lightning, there isn’t much to this. From the all white collar (which I like), the rainbow badge, and the rainbow outline MEOW WOLF.
If you wanted to be apart of a punk rock band of sorts, this kit (and photoshoot) really gives that vibe. This is another solid kit from Puma and New Mexico United.
That is why our score is: 4.25
Birmingham Legion FC: Hunt for Glory Home Away
When the USL announced they were expanding the Jägermeister Cup to include Championship sides, I hoped we see some cup kits. Well, to my pleasure Birmingham did with their Hunt for Glory Kits. The name comes from the Jägermeister Cup’s tagline “Shot of Glory”. Featuring a nice camouflage pattern that isn’t a nod to any military branch and more towards hunters, is quite refreshing.
Compared to last week’s home kit (the camo kit), the away has a more unique design to it. With using the antlers of a deer - or the antler’s from the Jägermeister logo - this evokes more of a hunting kit than the camo did. While still not my vibe, this kit emulates that idea perfectly.
I wanted a little more to this kit as the idea of using the antlers was good, but there isn’t much outside of that. With the solid green collar (shared with the home kit), I wanted to see more design then just antlers.
While they kit cannot be bought online, there is another caveat - for fans, this kit is reversable and only available at matches.
The home kit is liked better overall, but the away kit attempts something more creative, and certainly stands out between the two cup kits. This gets a score: 3.25
Official Shop - Only available at the stadium on match days
West Seattle Junction: Admiral Kit
West Seattle’s Admiral kit is a white kit with subtle grey X-patterns and Seahurst Blue accents. The kit’s name references the historic Admiral Theater in West Seattle and draws inspiration from classic cinema and local landmarks. While inspiration came from the local theater, the X in the crest and design comes from a diagonal crossing - which can be found in West Seattle! Diagonal crossings are quite rare, and only used in certain situations.
Aside from the local ties, this is a more simple kit. White with sublimated gray pattern in the background. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, but it’s just not going to talked about for it’s creativity - and that’s okay.
The blue of the Equipt Shields, the cuffs and collar, really make the while pop and draws your attention in. Good contrast in colors for a white kit.
Giving us a score of: 3.63
If you want to learn more about Equipt Studio’s West Seattle adventures, please check out our interview with Austin Chen!
Charlotte Independence: Cup Kit
Charlotte Independence’s latest kit - the Cup Kit - just doesn’t hit for us. For the first time we can recall, someone was able to mess up hoops.
The spacing looks off between the blues. The overall looks just doesn’t feel aesthetically pleasing, and the more we looked at it, the clunkier this kit became. While going with the classic hoops pattern usually is a recepie for success, this kit somehow manages to remind us that even classic styles can work against us.
This kit misses the mark on execution, aesthetics, and overall vibes. That is why our score is: 1.63
You can catch the full episode here on Spotify or YouTube:
Last week I mentioned there was to be a fun giveaway featuring a famous USMNT player from Fort Wayne….well here is it!
Thanks to our friends at Fort Wayne FC, KIT SZN is giving away TWO autographed bobbleheads by USMNT Legend DaMarcus Beasley! To enter, all you have to do is fill out the Google Form below! The winners will be selected on July 24th LIVE on KIT SZN!
It was such an honor to get to meet DaMarcus and I cannot thank the merch crew of Fort Wayne for all their hospitality. Was truly a great time and I am looking forward to going back up.
Let me know your thoughts on how we did in the comments below and good luck with the giveaway :)
Third kit weekend this past week threw another wrinkle into things. Monterrey Bay and Tampa Bay.
I've got the Salmon Bay one, it looks great. I think the MN Aurora hit it out of the park with their entire set this year.