2023 MLS kits: The best and worst new designs this season

With the MLS season underway, we’ve now had a chance to get a closer look at the new batch of kits for this year beyond the leaked images and flashy (or sometimes weirdly dark) unveiling videos. So it’s time to talk turkey and decide which of the 29 new kits are among the best of the group and which are among the worst. To do this, Pablo Maurer, Felipe Cardenas and Brooks Peck were tasked with making selections for best and worst, with each selection counting as a vote. Although it was not planned, it worked out where there was only one unanimous choice for each category. 

(For a refresher on last year’s kits, click here.)

San Jose Earthquakes’ “Active Fault Kit”

The Quakes describe this kit’s design as “seismic”, but it’s a look that doesn’t jump off the page. It’s just a great jersey. There’s a nice balance between San Jose’s colors, the dark blue and black contrasts and the patterned design. Maybe I like it because it reminds me of a kit my travel team wore in the late ‘90s. Shout out to the South Bend Jr. Irish.  — Felipe Cardenas

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Portland Timbers’ “Portland Plaid Kit” 

Portland very rarely misses on kits. A handful of Timbers kits — from the NASL days through the present — are all-time classics, like their 2014 throwback-style third kit or any of their kits from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s . They’ve kept things interesting over the years, too, by consistently taking chances and incorporating unusual design elements.

This year’s plaid shirt isn’t an instant classic, but it’s a standout even amongst a stronger-than-usual class. Then again I’m 43, so maybe I just hold a soft spot for all things flannel and plaid. Maybe they’ll do a hypercolor kit next year. —Pablo Maurer

New York Red