Third kits are the weird, wonderful, and often ugly side of football fashion. They're not the home shirt you buy out of duty, or the away shirt you tolerate. They're the designer's chance to go completely off-script. And fans? We can't agree on anything.
Third kits exist because someone needed a third option
First, a quick refresher: a third kit is only worn when both home and away kits clash with the opponent. That's rare. So why do clubs bother? Because money. And because designers get bored. When you're not bound by tradition, you can do whatever you want. That's when things get interesting. Or terrible.
Designers love a blank canvas—and that's the problem
When you're given a blank canvas, you're going to paint something bold. That's what designers do. But bold doesn't always mean good. I've seen third kits that looked like a unicorn threw up on a training top. Others? Absolute masterpieces. The best ones take a risk and pull it off. The worst ones look like a Photoshop bet gone wrong.
And honestly, some of these designs are clearly made for the Instagram generation—something that pops on a phone screen, even if it looks ridiculous in the stands. That's not always a bad thing. Football needs a bit of chaos.
Fans split into two camps: purists and collectors
There's a reason third kits divide opinion. Purists want tradition. They want stripes, hoops, and a colour palette that hasn't changed since their grandad's day. They see a neon third kit and recoil. Then you've got the collectors—like me—who love the weird stuff. We don't want another red home shirt. We want the one that looks like a 90s rave flyer. The one nobody else has.
I'm firmly in the second camp. My favourite shirt in my collection is a third kit that most fans hated. It's loud. It's impractical. It's perfect.
My take: third kits are where football fashion gets fun
Look, I get it. A third kit is never going to be a classic in the way a home shirt is. But it doesn't have to be. It's a one-season experiment, a bit of fun, a way for a club to try something new. And when it works, it really works. When it doesn't, we get to laugh about it for years. That's a win-win.
Plus, for those of us who actually play, third kits are often the comfiest. They're made with lighter materials, they're less precious, and you don't feel like you're ruining a sacred object by wearing it to five-a-side. That's worth something.
If you're looking for a cheap way to get into a bold kit, the Player Version 26/27 Nigeria Volt Green & Dark Green Home Jersey Soccer Football at $24.99 from LISIMKE is a solid pick. It's not a third kit, but it's got that same fearless energy. The volt green pops, and for the price, you can afford to take a risk.
The bottom line
Third kits will always split fans. That's the point. They're designed to provoke a reaction. Some will love them, some will hate them, and most will argue about them online. And that's exactly why they're brilliant. Next time your club drops a third kit that looks like a tie-dye explosion, don't just dismiss it. Give it a chance. You might just find your new favourite.
