Important products aren’t always good or bad. Often, they fall somewhere in-between, all the while offering perspective on where a particular industry has found itself … and where it might be going.
This is the spirit driving the 12th annual GP100, Gear Patrol‘s mighty, end-of-year roundup collecting the year’s most relevant releases from tech, motoring, style and watches, outdoors and more.
Our team spent months filtering through thousands of new products, going hands-on whenever we could, to identify the innovations and updates that left the biggest marks on their respective industries. And no, not always to a better, let alone conclusive, end.
This year, we also decided to do something we’ve never done in more than a decade of publishing the GP100: rank our winners.
Admittedly, the process wasn’t scientific, or even always fair. That said, our editors were indeed guided by a few basic tenets, including novelty, popularity and impact on culture at large.
You might not agree with our selections. You definitely won’t agree with the order. But maybe, just maybe, you might agree with us on this: products have never been so dynamic, exciting and downright important to our lives.
Below, find our top camping and outdoor releases, ranging from an “affordable” Airstream to a new bar for sustainable waterproofing. To see the winners from other categories, check out the full list.
16. A hand-forged felling axe inspired by American heritage
Best Made CompanyGP100 Winner
Best Made Co. Old Gold No. 1 Axe
Specs
| Handle | Appalachian hickory |
| Head | 1060 high-carbon steel |
| Length | 28, 30, 32 or 36 inches |
Best Made Co. has had an odd few years. First, Peter Buchanon Smith, the brand’s founder, left the company some ten years after starting it. Following his exit, Duluth Trading bought the brand. Then, shortly after that and in an unheard-of reversal, Duluth sold it back to Smith.
All that trading hands and the confusion it caused hurt Best Made’s reputation. But Smith was determined to right the ship and return the company to its roots.
To that end, the brand needed a signal flare — something that screamed, “We’re back to our roots and better than ever!” It could not have picked a more appropriate release than the Old Gold No. 1 felling axe.
Based on the 19th-century McKinnon Rockaway pattern, this axe is practically American heritage incarnate. But the design is only half the story.
The head is hand-forged from 1060 high-carbon steel, utilizing delicate tampering and heat-treating processes to give it its rich golden color. And it’s mated to an Appalachian hickory handle secured via a walnut wedge.
As Best Made Co. puts it, this axe is the first step toward “raising the bar higher, slower, more deliberately, and on a much smaller scale.” Truly, it’s a magnificent achievement in design and craftsmanship, and it marks a triumphant return to form for the brand.
15. A car camping cot that increases storage space
Pacific Adventure WorksGP100 Winner
Pacific Adventure Works Hideaway Sleep Platform
Specs
| Frame | 6063 anodized aluminum with nylon connectors |
| Load | Up to 400 pounds |
| Sizes | Single, Double, XL |
| Topper | 500D Cordura |
While car camping might seem like a convenient middle ground between traditional tent camping and RV glamping, it has plenty of challenges. Storage is one of its biggest issues, as using your trunk space as a bed limits how much gear you can haul.
Bed platforms for trucks and SUVs aren’t new, per se, but a quick glance at the options will reveal that they’re all very expensive and require permanent installation.
Pacific Adventure Works’ Hideaway Sleeping Platforms solve all of those problems. In fact, they’re so good that they won an innovation award at this year’s Outdoor Retailer trade show.
The concept is so simple that it’s baffling that nobody else came up with it — but therein lies PAW’s genius. The platforms are made from a combination of aluminum and nylon (including Cordura) and they come in three sizes — single, double, and XL.
But what’s really impressive is that they can be used to fit just about any vehicle (the brand has a handy Guaranteed Fit Guide to help you choose). All you have to do is pick the height, slip it into your car or truck and enjoy.
The raised platforms offer a secondary bonus, too. While their tops are comfortable and sturdy for sleeping, they create a space beneath them so you can store all your other camping gear, food and other supplies. It’s as simple as it is brilliant.
14. A travel trailer that’s easier on your bank account — and your nerves
AirstreamGP100 Winner
2025 Airstream Trade Wind 23FB
Specs
| Size | 23 feet, 11 inches long x 8 feet wide by 9 feet, 10.5 inches tall |
| Weight | 5,650 pounds |
| Sleeps | 4 |
Loaded with features, last year’s Airstream 25FB was a game-changing beauty. But at 26 feet, 2 inches long, it was also a beast. Maneuvering through urban traffic could easily erase any stress relief hitting the open road might bring.
Enter Airstream’s follow-up, a scaled-back edition that is two feet, three inches shorter, 650 pounds lighter and $10,000 cheaper, yet retains many of its predecessor’s best features.
The 23FB boasts the same electrical capabilities: 810 Ah battery pack (four times the capacity of a typical Airstream trailer), 600W solar capacity (twice that of a standard trailer) and a powerful 3,000W inverter/charger combo, plus an 18,000 BTU furnace and 13,500 BTU A/C unit. It also carries a 37-gallon fresh water tank, a 37-gallon gray water tank and a 17-gallon waste water tank.
Maximizing available space, it sleeps four, with a separate bedroom in the front, plus a convertible dinette offering 20 square feet of sleep space, a full kitchen with a fridge and freezer, stainless steel sink, oven and three-burner gas stove and a full bathroom with shower.
Rounding out the package are 12 windows and skylights, a manual patio awning, 4-speaker audio and a 24-inch smart TV. You know, just in case you want to queue up Are We There Yet? and smile with smug satisfaction.
13. Modern sustainability, courtesy of a centuries-old process
PatagoniaGP100 Winner
Patagonia Lightweight Waxed Cotton Jacket
Specs
| Face Fabric | Waxed cotton ripstop |
| Lining | Hemp-cotton muslin |
| Weight | 29.1 ounces |
There’s been a reckoning in the outdoor apparel space of late. Turns out the amazing durable-water-repellent garments that enable us to enjoy the great outdoors have a dirty secret.
They’re made using PFCs and PFAS, “forever chemicals” that pose serious human health and environmental risks we are only now confronting — with legal measures and brands such as Patagonia vowing to be forever chemical-free by 2025.
One step is working with partner Gore-Tex on a new, flourocarbon-free DWR treatment called ePE (expanded polyethylene). Another draws on an ancient alternative: waxed cotton.
This material dates back centuries, to when sailors realized rubbing linseed oil into sailcloth increased its water resistance — and eventually began making jackets with it.
Patagonia has spent a decade updating that all-natural approach for modern use, in products like this jacket, which boasts a 6.9-ounce ripstop cotton face fabric weatherized using a plant-based wax made from food-industry waste.
It also has a tag reading: “Over time, waxed cotton inherits marks and creases, building character and its own history with each wear.”
Protection from the elements is enhanced by a three-panel hood and bellow pockets. Protection from humankind’s folly — plus the promise of a pretty patina — is built right in.
12. A cool callback that hits the icebox sweet spot
YETIGP100 Winner
Yeti Roadie 15 Hard Cooler
Specs
| Capacity | 22 cans (only) or 16 pounds of ice (only) |
| Dimensions | 16.9 x 11.2 x 14 inches |
| Weight | 9.6 pounds |
Yeti’s smallest cooler shares a name with a beloved product from the brand’s early days. Markedly different from the original Roadie 15 (nicknamed “Cyclops” for its single-latch closure), this new kid is also becoming a fan favorite, for its own reasons.
First off, at $200, it lowers the entry barrier to one of Yeti’s signature categories.
Prioritizing mobility, it boasts a DoubleDuty strap you can carry with one hand or over your shoulder, crossbody. A quick-release system makes it easier to tie down in, say, a truck bed or a speedboat.
Responding to customer feedback on the Roadie 24, Yeti also included a drain plug. This handy feature allows users to ditch melted ice (aka water) midway through activities to lighten the load.
Unlike the Cyclops, this Roadie 15 has two latches, but it can still be opened with one hand. And despite its compact size, it can accommodate a pair of organizational baskets or a couple of wine bottles oriented sideways.
It can also fit a dozen cans with ice — perhaps a delightful NA beer that also cracked this GP100 (stay tuned) or a juicy cocktail/ale hybrid from last year’s list, if you’re so inclined.
11. An indispensable shell, made responsibly
Arc’teryxGP100 Winner
Arc’teryx (Revised) Beta Jacket
Specs
| Weight | 13.2 ounces |
| Safety | Embedded RECCO reflector |
| DWR | GORE‑TEX ePE membrane |
What do you do when a crowd-pleasing garment you’ve been producing for more than two decades no longer adheres to modern standards of sustainability?
That’s the question Arc’teryx had to ask itself about the Beta jacket, its incredibly versatile and popular shell. Introduced in 1998 to tackle a range of alpine adventures, it proved to be such a hit that the brand now sells more than a dozen items bearing the Beta nameplate.
Still, the ever-evolving flagship shell has had to reckon with the reality of PFCs and PFAS, so-called “forever chemicals” integral to the jacket’s waterproofing that, we now know, threaten both human health and the environment.
Just as Patagonia has led the way in addressing this issue, so has its Great White North counterpart.
The (Revised) Beta Jacket boasts tough 80D face fabric and a Gore-Tex ePE (expanded polyethylene) membrane that’s PFC-free, providing the benefits of traditional DWR while lessening its impact.
It also offers all the other features fans love, including a comfy C-KNIT backer, adjustable StormHood, watertight front zipper, spacious pockets and articulated structure to ease movement from base to peak.
Bottom line: you get the same amazing jacket, minus the harm.
10. A compact yet comprehensive backcountry kitchen
GerberGP100 Winner
Gerber ComplEat Cook Set
Specs
| Cooking vessel volume | Stock pot, 5.6 quarts; Sauté pan, 2.6 quarts |
| Weight | 10 pounds |
| Total pieces | 16 |
As badass as going ultralight may sound, the vast majority of us end up “roughing it” by cushier means: traditional car camping.
So when it comes to food, we don’t need some tiny titanium kit with just enough juice to boil water for instant coffee and a crummy dehydrated meal packet.
What we require are sturdy, reliable culinary tools that don’t take over the trunk yet can still effectively feed hangry campers. Enter Gerber’s 16-piece ComplEat Cook Set, loaded with smartly designed elements to make hot meals happen.
For cooking, you get two generously sized stalwarts: a stainless steel stock pot and sauté pan (with detachable handle), featuring 3-ply base construction for even heat distribution, preserved by a slim lid and basting dome lid.
For prepping and serving, there are four polypropylene plates of different colors, four dining bowls with grippable edges, a mixing bowl with volumetric markings and a silicone hot pad.
The whole collection effectively nests together in a tidy storage bag measuring 7.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide and weighing 10 pounds. No, it won’t go thru-hiking. But it will produce an outdoor feast the kids will be talking about for years to come.
9. Hands-free footwear, ready for the trail
KizikGP100 Winner
Kizik Boulder Hiking Boots
Specs
| Materials | Nubuck leather and ballistic nylon upper; full-rubber outsole |
| Cushioning | Proprietary Arch Form insole |
| On/off tech | Hands-free Labs External Flex Arc |
In 2021, Nike made headlines — and the GP100 — with the Go FlyEase. Combining a bi-stable hinge in the sole and a rubber strap spanning its length, the sneaker could be donned and doffed without hands.
Behind the scenes? This shoe emerged from Nike’s partnership with Utah-based HandsFree Labs, parent company of its own sneaker start-up, Kizik.
Founded in 2017, Kizik has built a cult following by iterating on the innovation, offering dozens of options for adults and kids that let everyone — not only those with disabilities — put on shoes in seconds.
This fall, the brand reached out to a whole new market by introducing hiking boots, among which you’ll find one called the Boulder.
Featuring a durable ballistic nylon and nubuck leather upper, supportive midsole and grippy rubber outsole, the boots perform well and look great from trail to street.
The brand’s patented External Flex Arc delivers, compressing and then springing back to let you slide smoothly in and stay there until you deliberately step on the heels to slip out.
Making it easier for more people to boot up and experience the great outdoors? That’s a winning formula no matter your entry point.
8. A lively off-grid connection powerful enough to save your life
GarminGP100 Winner
Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
Specs
| Weight | 4.1 ounces |
| Water rating | IPX7 |
| Subscription pricing | Starts at $15/month |
It’s practically an action movie trope: our hero defeats the baddies in a remote location, sends up a flare and embraces his or her costar as the credits roll.
In real survival situations, however, a light in the sky might not save you. According to mountain rescue experts, having extensive backcountry emergency details can hugely help a response team help you.
That’s where Garmin’s InReach Messenger Plus comes in. Dusting its predecessor, this powerful puck lets users send and receive photos, voice messages and longer texts (1,600 characters versus the original’s 160). Via Iridium Message Transport, files can be 300 times larger and, with a clear sky view, go through in a minute.
While this capability makes casual off-grid exchanges more colorful, it can dramatically boost your odds in dire circumstances.
You can clearly communicate with Garmin Response, the company’s SOS dispatch center, without racing against time, as the unit boasts 600 hours of battery life (in low power mode).
Even “dead,” you can connect it to a smartphone for just enough juice to send custom text messages via the app. While we sure hope it doesn’t come to that, the peace of mind alone is a real … plus.
7. The lightest gravel bike on the trail, now even lighter
SpecializedGP100 WINNER
Specialized S-Works Crux SRAM RED XPLR
Specs
| Cassette | RED XPLR XG-1391 13-speed |
| Frame Weight | 1.6 pounds |
| Complete Bike Weight | 16 pounds, 0.8 ounces |
Try this: Grab one of your bike’s water bottles, fill it up, screw the cap on and feel its weight in your hand. Should be an easy-lifting 1.8 pounds.
Now imagine a gravel bike frame that weighs … less. That’s the Specialized S-Works Crux SRAM RED XPLR, boasting a 1.6-pound body and complete bike weight that is equally jaw-dropping: A size 56 tips the scales at 16.05 pounds.
By shaving 3.6 ounces off its predecessor’s frame, Specialized managed to make what was already the world’s lightest gravel bike even lighter.
SpecializedThe brand leaned on learnings from the development of its ultralight Aethos road bike frame: streamlining shapes, overhauling the carbon layup, obsessing over every detail.
Still, the Crux retains what you need to tackle rough and rocky trails, including clearance for beefy 47c/650b x 2.1″ tires, a 13-speed 10-46 cassette and calipers Specialized says reduce brake effort by as much as 80 percent.
Is it all a bit over the top? Absolutely. But it’s awesome to see a big brand push the envelope — and if you happen to tackle a long-ass gravel race (350 miles, anyone?), you know every ounce counts.
6. An ultralight outdoor pack that doesn’t compromise
Mystery RanchGP100 Winner
Mystery Ranch Radix 57
Specs
| Capacity | 59.57 liters |
| Dimensions | 31.75 x 13 x 13 inches |
| Material | Ultra-PE Birdseye and recycled Robic ripstop |
| Weight | 3.8 pounds |
This year has been one of peaks and valleys for outdoor pack brand Mystery Ranch.
The low point might be when the Rock Fight podcast ignited a rumor that Yeti planned to sunset Mystery Ranch only months after buying the brand. In stark contrast, the release of the Mystery Ranch Radix pack lineup is a clear bright spot.
Unlike nearly every other pack in their class, these super-technical packs offer tremendous value and sacrifice practically nothing in return.
Thanks to their Ultra-PE Birdseye and recycled Robic Ripstop fabrics, they’re extremely lightweight while remaining strong and sturdy. Their design also includes multiple access points, a boon for trail organization, and a bevy of cinch points to ensure their contents stay secure and steady.
Mystery RanchOf course, they also have all the other features big-time hikers have come to expect, including removable frames, adjustable harnesses, reservoir compatibility and more.
It’s an amazing starting point that shows where Mystery Ranch will take this line of bags as long as the brand has the opportunity.
5. A bright friend responds to a shout in the dark
CoastGP100 Winner
Coast RL35R Voice Controlled Headlamp
Specs
| Light Output (Combined High) | 1100 lumens |
| Beam Distance (Combined High) | 557 feet |
| Runtime (Spot Low) | 80 hours |
Dating back to at least 1815 — when Sir Humphry Davy introduced the Davy lamp, featuring an enclosed flame and a clip miners could attach to helmets or clothing — hands-free illumination has proven incredibly useful.
The category leapt forward with helmet-mounted carbide lamps and later headband-mounted electric ones — and now a product that lets you control the beam without hands.
The Coast RL35R Voice Controlled Headlamp offers 15 intuitive commands, enabling you to speak it on and off and cycle through numerous options. These include spotlight, floodlight and ARC280, a wide semi-circle of warm illumination.
CoastYou can also activate green and red lights, adjust power levels and say “Coast Maximum” for all-out visibility. Settings can also be adjusted via buttons, should you suddenly find yourself in A Quiet Place.
Use cases extend as far as you can imagine. Think of evening mountain biking, early morning skinning or trekking (with poles), cold-weather activities requiring gloves, industrial tasks and, heck, hanging onto a ladder while stringing up 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights.
Of course the tech is also an accessibility boon for anyone with hand issues, anytime.
We dare say Sir Humphry Davy himself would be impressed.
4. A high-end blade that raises a high-stakes question
BenchmadeGP100 Winner
Benchmade PSK
Specs
| Blade Length | 3.4466 inches |
| Blade Style | Drop point |
| Blade Material | CPM-MagnaCut stainless steel |
Released in 1988, Rambo III garnered $189 million, endless criticism and one Razzie (congrats, Sly). Perhaps its greatest offense? Implying a Lone Wolf can’t live without an 18-inch full-tang knife.
While such a tool is over the top, many hardcore survivalists insist on a a fixed blade; a folder’s pivot is an unwelcome failure point when you’re up against it.
Hence the fuss over Benchmade’s PSK (“personal survival knife”), which dared claim a folding knife could suffice. Strengthening the case, the vaunted Oregon-based brand maxed this sucker out.
BenchmadeThe 3.45-inch blade’s steel is MagnaCut, offering unrivaled toughness, edge retention and corrosion resistance, bolstered by a Cerakote treatment. (Part of the choil is un-Cerakoted, enabling you to strike with a ferro rod to start a fire.)
The blade is freed from its sturdy G10 scales via AXIS assist actuation with integrated spine safety. That makes it as stable as possible for such bushcraft-centric tasks as batoning, where fixed blades shine.
While we remain skeptical — and would love to see some jimping — we applaud the challenge to conventional thought. And let’s face it: This thing’s a helluva lot easier to pack than Rambo’s choice.
3. Wetsuit sustainability that doesn’t sacrifice surfing capability
BillabongGP100 Winner
Billabong Furnace Natural Upcycler Wetsuit
Specs
| Available Thicknesses | 2/2, 3/2, 4/3, 5/4 and 6/5 millimeter |
| Entry System | Chest zip |
| Foam Type | 100 percent neoprene-free natural rubber blend |
If we’ve learned anything covering outdoor products the past several years, it’s that if “sustainability” is your top selling point, you probably won’t sell very well.
And we get it: We don’t want to sacrifice performance, either — and together our wallets have done a great job of telling the industry, essentially, “do better.”
Which brings us to Billabong’s Furnace Natural Upcycler Wetsuit, perhaps the most comfortable, high-performance suit around — and also the most sustainable.
BillabongThe brand dovetailed these objectives by switching the source of the foam material composing most of the suit from fossil fuel- or limestone-derived neoprene to natural rubber.
Roughly 85 percent of the foam comes from sustainable, FSC-certified organic hevea rubber trees in Guatemala.
BillabongThe other 15 percent consists of “stabilizers” that are traditionally petroleum-based but here are made of post-consumer recycled Billabong wetsuits and other used rubber products such as tires. The rest of the suit is made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled textiles.
But unlike some products that sound earth-friendly but feel cruddy, the Upcycler is by all accounts superior surfwear. To us, this represents the next phase of sustainability: when the best thing for the planet becomes the best thing, period.
2. A gadget that turns (some) bikes into e-bikes
BimotalGP100 Winner
Bimotal Elevate EBike Motor System
Specs
| Continuous Torque | 50 Nm |
| Power at the Wheel | 750 watts |
| Battery life | ~30 minutes (full blast) to 3-plus hours (conservative) |
-
$1,995 (10% off)
Some innovations are immediately resonant. Others’ impact lies in shifting paradigms. In rare cases, a breakthrough disrupts conventional thought while also being super cool right now.
That’s where we find the Bimotal Elevate EBike Motor System. Mount this 8-pound drive unit/battery pack/rotor-gear/throttle package to a compatible two-wheeler and you’ve got a Class 2 e-bike hitting 20 miles per hour.
BimotalNow, there are limitations. First, It’s pricey. Second, the range ain’t great. (Although in fairness, Bimotal product engineer Neil Flock tells us battery packs are relatively small and light — about the size of a small cycling bottle — making it possible to bring a few extras for, say, gravity laps at a mountain bike park.)
Third, power flows through the rear disc brake, giving your chain a rest but also requiring a disc-brake bike — and (currently) one with an external post mount or iso mount. (Examples include the Specialized Stumpjumper and Canyon Torque mountain bikes.)
Still, once you’re set up, the use cases multiply. Its quick-release capability means, for instance, you could throttle to the trailhead and then switch to pedaling, be an e-commuter all week and a trad MTBer on weekends, or simply keep up with e-biking friends.
Beyond turning a bike into an e-bike, then, what entrances us is the ability to switch between analog and electric. And considering Bimotal says they’ve also engineered twice the torque per weight of other systems, the party might just be getting started.
1. The best bet from a year of insulation breakthroughs
Mountain EquipmentGP100 Winner
Mountain Equipment Oreus Hooded Jacket
Specs
| Insulation | 100 percent recycled Polyester and a reflective layer to increase warmth |
| Materials | 100 percent recycled PLASMA 10D inner and outer fabric with Fluorocarbon-free DWR |
| Weight | 13.8 ounces |
Considering jackets Aether, Goldwin and Graphene-X introduced alone, 2024 was huge for insulation innovation. Yet another brand rose above that crowded field with both an approach and product that wowed.
Coming to market after three years of development, Mountain Equipment’s Oreus Hooded Jacket boasts high warmth-to-weight synthetic insulation that delivers the benefits of down without its, ahem, downsides.
Mountain EquipmentThe key? A patented construction called Aetherm, which involves weaving recycled polyester fibers through heat-reflective fabric technology.
The formula helps moisture dissipate swiftly, keeping you warm even when wet. It requires no stitch-through baffles, which can cause cold spots as loose-fill insulation shifts. And the fibers’ interlocking structure lets you smush the jacket down in your luggage or backcountry pack without losing loft.
Mountain EquipmentThe Oreus jacket also features such winter adventure requisites as PFAS-free DWR, an adjustable, helmet-compatible hood, a plentitude of pockets, a two-way front zipper and dual-tether hem drawcords to lock in precious heat when temperatures drop.
So while we could try to stay warm by wrapping ourselves in all the marketing copy we’ve read hyping various insulation upgrades, what the Oreus actually delivers out in the field feels like a much more attractive option.
You’ve reached the end of this portion of the GP100, a countdown of the year’s most significant releases. Check out the collection page to see what else made the list or browse last year’s winners.