The Best Kit award is rarely controversial.  One of the major manufacturers produces something that just has a bit more style than anything else and it wins.  This year was different.

The best kit award is really about style, durability, comfort, "parental approval" and value.  In 2008, our shoot-out focused on the entire lines from two manufacturers.  We picked the best styles from each of those and the best of the rest.

Century makes a broad range of styles, in home and away.  The Lotus was the most popular style with our testers and with our readers.  As a kit, the lotus has real style, but the quality of the materials isn't at the same level as our other nominees.

The adidas Predator Flame is the coolest kit we have seen all year.  In black or red, combined with the training suit, it is all about style.  The predator is constructed of top notch fabrics and long wearing comfort, but it is expensive.

Protime Sports produces the Tulsa in a vast array of colors.  It is possible to outfit an entire division.  The fabrics are of good quality and comfortable.

In the end, we had to pick a winner.  Unfortunately, we have a split decision.

AVID Soccer Equipment Review's Best Kit (Reader's Choice) adidas Predator Flame

AVID Soccer Equipment Review's Best Kit (Editor's Choice) Protime Sports Tulsa