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.
This year, we also decided to do something we’ve never done in more than a decade of publishing the GP100: rank our winners, focusing on 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.
We will reveal the GP100 winners in batches of 20 over the course of this week. To stay on top of the countdown, bookmark the collection page. To see last year’s winners, follow this link.
60. One of watchmaking’s last remaining challenges, conquered
BovetGP100 Winner
Bovet The Récital 28 Prowess 1
Specs
| Case Size | 46.3mm |
| Movement | Bovet Cal. R28-70-00X hand-wound perpetual calendar world timer |
| Water Resistance | 30m |
Mechanical watchmaking has been around for centuries, with some Swiss brands like Bovet claiming over 200 years of history. You’d think that after hundreds of years of innovation, there wouldn’t be any mountains left to climb in the field of horology. But that isn’t the case.
Ever since Louis Cottier and Patek Philippe created the first examples in the 1930s, every single world-time watch has suffered from the same issue: They don’t account for Daylight Saving Time, which means that throughout the year, some of the watch’s cities will not display the correct time.
Bovet finally solved that problem this year.
BovetThe watch’s solution is quite ingenious. Rather than utilizing a printed ring of cities like other world timers, the Récital displays its cities on rollers. Each roller has four sides representing four different annual time systems: UTC, American DST, Europe and America Summer Time and European Winter Time. A simple press of the crown is all that’s needed to switch from one time system to another, keeping the watch accurate throughout the year.
The remarkable movement powering this wizardry is made up of a staggering 744 components and also features a tourbillon and perpetual calendar.
At this point, Bovet is just showing off.
59. A surprisingly accessible luxury suit made for all body types
BonobosGP100 Winner
Bonobos Empire Super 150s Suit
Specs
| Blazer Fits | Slim, athletic, standard |
| Colors | Navy, light gray, Glen plaid |
| Fabric | Super 150s wool from Fratelli Tallia di Delfino Mill in Italy |
| Pants Fits | Tailored, slim, athletic |
We’ve long viewed Bonobos as an excellent resource for dress shirts, pants, and blazers, mainly because of the brand’s approachable price points and emphasis on fit choice.
The brand’s new Empire Super 150s Suit is self-described by the brand as the finest suit it’s ever made, yet it still costs just $1,200.
This superlative stems from the suit’s premium Italian wool, described in tailoring as Super 150s. The number is a measure of fabric quality. It refers to a measure of a wool’s fineness in microns as graded within an established industry scale. The higher the number, the finer the thread. And the finer the thread, the softer, lighter, and more luxurious a fabric generally feels.
Anyone who knows anything about suiting fabrics is guaranteed to mention that this measure of fineness should never be viewed as a stamp of quality alone. Where a fabric is milled will always matter immensely, too. Yet it’s also safe to say that Super 150s – especially those sourced from European mills, like the kind found on this suit, are widely viewed as the fabric of choice for anyone looking for a mixture of durability, comfort, and luxury.
Though there are already a few similar off-the-rack suits available made from Super 150s in this price range, including some that allow buyers to customize a wide range of design details, the Empire’s availability in slim, athletic, and standard fit stands out.
Like most Bonobos garments, men of all body types will likely find a size that fits them well and demands only minor alterations for a truly tailored look.
58. 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.
57. A true mini desktop computer
AppleGP100 Winner
Apple M4 Mac Mini
Specs
| Memory | 16GB RAM (base) |
| Processor | M4 or M4 Pro |
| Storage | 256GB (base) |
In a year when most of Apple’s new products received iterative updates — the newest Apple Watches, iPhones, MacBooks and most iPads all look identical to their predecessors — the M4 Mac Mini was a definite standout. Not only that, it physically personified what Apple’s silicon could do.
Nobody thought the previous M2 Mac Mini was that big, but the M4 chip’s performance and efficiency gains allowed Apple to shrink its newest desktop computer to basically half the size of its 2022-released predecessor. The 5 x 5 x 2 inch box is now closer in size to an Apple TV.
AppleBut it’s not just about size and power. Apple gave the M4 Mac Mini several quality-of-life improvements — such as moving two USB-C ports and the headphone jack to the front panel, as well as upping the base memory to 16GB (instead of 8GB) — all while keeping the starting price at $599.
This makes the base model of the M4 Mac Mini not only a great entry-level desktop computer but also incredible value. The only caveat is that if you configure it with more memory, storage or Apple’s beefed-up M4 Pro chipset, you can quickly double (or triple) the price.
56. The best-handling Corvette in history, powered by a beast of an engine
ChevroletGP100 Winner
2025 Corvette ZR1
Specs
| Coolest Feature | Exposed carbon fiber wheels |
| Starting Price (Expected) | $180,000 |
| Power | 1,064 horsepower |
The 2025 Corvette ZR-1 may be the second Corvette to utilize the glorious flat-plane-crank LT-6 V8 (the first being the C8 Z06), but it has the distinction of being the first factory-turbocharged ‘Vette. And these are no mere baby snails.
Thanks to two of the largest turbos ever fitted to a production car, the power equation adds up to two staggering results: over 1,000 horsepower and a top speed of 233 mph. Maybe there is such a thing as a replacement for displacement.
ChevroletEasily the most audacious performance statement made by an American automaker this century, the ZR-1 is the pinnacle of Corvette engineering. It’s a mid-engine American hypercar that punches far and above its weight class and price point. If a NATO for automakers existed, the ZR-1 would be cause for emergency meetings in Brussels.
Further distinguishing the ZR-1 from its already formidable C8 Corvette siblings: a sculpted wide body with comprehensive aerodynamic and structural engineering solutions. Extensive carbon fiber construction, active aerodynamic surfaces that dynamically adjust at speed and a track-tuned suspension system developed with input from Corvette Racing engineers result in a machine that feels equally at home demolishing lap times as it does cruising smooth boulevards in Buckhead.
The ZR-1 is a technological tour de force that proves domestic manufacturers can create a world-class performance machine that doesn’t just keep up with European supercars but bests them at their own game.
Chevrolet has thrown down the gauntlet before, but this time feels different. It feels precise, calculating and ready to throw down the gauntlet. The ZR-1 is a car you can’t help but beam with pride at its audacity and sheer performance.
Who out there dares step up to the new king of American supercars?
55. 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.
54. An iconic diver finally fulfills its potential
BlancpainGP100 WINNER
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique 42mm
Specs
| Case Size | 42.3mm |
| Movement | Blancpain Cal. 1315 automatic |
| Water Resistance | 300m |
The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms’ place in horological history is secure.
Nearly everyone agrees the original version of the watch from 1953 was the world’s first modern dive watch, paving the way for what is arguably the most popular watch style today.
In 2007, Blancpain brought the Fifty Fathoms back into its permanent catalog after a decades-long absence. For the past two decades, the modern Fifty Fathoms has outclassed other high-end divers in terms of beauty, horological chops and finishing, but one aspect of the watch kept it from fulfilling its destiny as the definitive luxury diver: its size.
BlancpainSince its return, the flagship Fifty Fathoms has been an absolute beast of a watch with a 45mm case diameter. That size is 4mm larger than a Rolex Sub and 3mm bigger than both the Seamaster Diver 300M and the original Blancpain Diver. It’s simply too big.
For years, fans have implored the brand to create a smaller version of its icon, and in 2024, Blancpain finally listened. The brand launched a 42mm version of its Flagship Fifty Fathoms Automatique, bringing everything that was great about the larger watch into a smaller and more wearable package.
It feels like the spirit of the original Fifty Fathoms is officially back.
53. A mythical cookware name returns, in an unexpected form factor
WagnerGP100 Winner
Wagner Long Griddle No. 1148
Specs
| Casting Process | Green sand casting |
| Cooking Surface | 16.375 x 8.75 inches |
| Overall Size | 19.875 x 9.875 inches |
Wagner is the stuff of legend. Just take a look at eBay, where some of its rarest cast iron wares from the first half of the 20th century fetch upward of $5,000.
Well, as of this year, collectors no longer need to pay secondhand prices to get a Wagner. In fact, they don’t need to shop secondhand at all.
The Wagner name returned to kitchens in 2024 with the release of the brand-new Long Griddle No. 1148, more than 130 years since the brand first opened its doors in Sidney, Ohio.
WagnerThe Long Griddle No. 1148 is cast in gray iron using a traditional green sand process. It measures 19.875 x 9.875 inches, with a cooking surface of 16.375 x 8.75 inches. That means it covers two burners on the stovetop for dual-zone cooking, but it also conveniently fits inside a small outdoor grill.
WagnerAccording Wagner’s new owners, the No. 1148 is just the first reissue in what will no doubt be a bright future for one of the most storied brands in American kitchens.
Here’s hoping its next release is a skillet.
52. The remix that stormed the sneaker scene
NikeGP100 Winner
Air Jordan 4 RM
Specs
| Colors | Varies |
| Gender | Men's and women's |
| Style | Low top |
How can a brand vibe with youth culture when its identity is fused with a 61-year-old athlete who hasn’t played basketball in over 20 years?
This is a question that likely haunts Jordan Brand’s leadership, and yet, for decades now, the wholly owned subsidiary of Nike continues to figure it out.
Over the summer, Nike revealed that the Jordan brand was the strongest performer of the footwear giant’s divisions. Sales increased by 6%, generating a whopping 7 billion in revenue.
Of course, some of this success is a testament to Jordan’s legendary reputation as the basketball G.O.A.T. The brand is also still well aligned with modern-day basketball superstars, including Luka Dončić and Jayson Tatum, whom ESPN ranked as two of the NBA’s top 10 players in 2024, and the WNBA’s Satou Sabally. Still, logo recognition means nothing without compelling products to back it up.
The Air Jordan 4 RM is a new sneaker with many disparate goals. First, it’s a celebration. The letters RM stand for remixed, in a nod to the shoe’s visual echoes of one of the most famous basketball and streetwear footwear icons of all time, the Air Jordan 4, which launched 35 years ago.
It’s also a brand olive branch to different consumers and subcultures. Unlike its predecessor, the 4RM launched in both men’s and women’s specific versions. Since it’s a low top made with walking comfort in mind, it’s also easier to wear for a broader range of people. The first edition of the shoe was also a collab with an established friend of the brand outside of the sport of basketball, American pro BMXer Nigel Sylvester.
The cherry on top is that the 4 RM costs $150, significantly below the $215 asking price of many Air Jordan 4 Retros.
In short, it’s one of the most compelling sneakers of 2024 that could also transition into a rare fresh staple in the 40-year-old brand’s influential sneaker lineup.
51. Comfort kings, courtesy of Sonos
SonosSave 40% for Earth Day
Sonos Ace
Specs
| Battery Life | Up to 30 hours |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Weight | 0.71 pounds |
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$449 (27% off)
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$449 (27% off)
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Sonos tanked its year, and nearly its reputation, with a redesigned app that, to put it lightly, wasn’t well received.
On the hardware side, however, it was a different story. Sonos released several updated speakers and a new flagship soundbar, and, after years of rumors, it’s first-ever headphones.
The Sonos Ace are wireless noise-canceling headphones that probably weren’t what people expected — they lack Wi-Fi streaming capabilities and can’t be grouped with other Sonos multi-room speakers you have in your home. But this fact actually opens Ace to more people, not just Sonos speaker owners.
SonosFor anybody looking for noise-canceling headphones, the Sonos Ace are absolutely worth considering. Their sound and noise-canceling abilities are in the same bracket as the flagship Bose, Sony and Apple models. And at $450, they’re priced in that same high-end space as well.
What separates the Sonos Ace from the rest is its comfort. Sonos found the right blend of lightweight (plastic) and premium (metal and vegan leather) materials—plus super plush memory foam cushions—so the Ace looks good and is primed for long listening sessions.
If you do have a Sonos soundbar, the Ace do have a unique trick up their sleeves. You can use its volume slider button — which Sonos calls the “Content Key” — to switch audio from your soundbar to the headphones. It’s a quick way to continue watching TV without disturbing the rest of the house.
50. 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.
49. Protection you can forget about, until it saves your life
DaineseGP100 Winner
Dainese Smart Air
Specs
| Weight | 3 pounds, 4 ounces |
| Battery life | 12 hours |
| Airbag deployment time | 45 milliseconds |
When it comes to adrenaline sports, protective gear is wonderful, but there’s generally a very high bar to clear before it becomes de rigueur.
That hasn’t stopped Dainese from continuously innovating on the life-saving motorcycle airbag tech first dreamed up by founder Leo Dainese in 1994. And building on the success of its airbag suits (compulsory for world-championship class riders since 2018), the brand’s latest consumer-level vest makes a hell of a case.
DaineseLike the suits, the Smart Air did not happen overnight. The brand has hocked some version of a vest for five years. But this new one is the first you can throw on for a ride without feeling slowed down.
We know because we’ve tried an earlier iteration. Weighing well over four pounds and extending to the waist, it felt almost like a weight training vest, and we never took to it.
At just over three pounds and stopping near the navel, the Smart Air has a much, ahem, airier form factor, while also packing Dainese’s latest tech. The level 2 certified chest and back airbag is re-deployable (up to three times), pairs with the same D-air app the pros use and deploys four times faster than the blink of an eye.
That de rigueur enough for ya?
48. Up to 45 millimeters of pure, unadulterated controversy
Patek PhilippeGP100 WINNER
Patek Philippe Cubitus
Specs
| Case Size | 45mm |
| Movement | Patek Philippe Cal. 26‑330 S C automatic |
| Water Resistance | 30m |
Has there ever been a watch that spurred as much hatred as the Patek Philippe Cubitus?
The Cubitus was set up for success like few other watches in history. Not only was it the first new product line in a quarter century from the world’s most prestigious watchmaker, but it also included a steel sports watch — the most sought-after and elusive style of watch from Patek.
By traditional measures, the Cubitus was a success. All three of the line’s references are impossible to purchase at retail unless you’re a Patek VIP, and all are trading for around three times their already high SRPs at the time of this writing.
Yet you’d never know it by listening to those in the watch community talk about the watch.
Patek PhilippeThe market, at least the portion of it that discusses such things online, was angrily underwhelmed with the Cubitus. The most common refrains included complaints about the laziness of the design — it is basically a reshaped Nautilus with the same bracelet and dial — as well as its mammoth 45mm case size, which wears even larger due to its square shape.
Love it or hate it, the Cubitus was almost certainly the most talked-about watch this year, which speaks to its overall impact.
47. The world’s first RX-integrated shield lens
Framed EweGP100 Winner
District Vision Junya Racer RX
Specs
| Lenses | Photochromic, mirror, rose gold (low-light) |
| Styles | Junya Racer |
| US Retailers | Cynthia Benjamin, Black Optical |
Founded by two designers with backgrounds in fashion, District Vision rushed onto the running scene in 2015 with a collection of stylish sunglasses that could still hang near the front of the pack. The brand hasn’t slowed down yet.
In 2024, it launched the world’s first RX-integrated shield lens technology. That means one’s prescription can be integrated into a curved lens as one piece, not clipped or glued, thus ensuring optical clarity in a package that remains as lightweight as possible.
District VisionThe integration is made possible by a technology dubbed Advanced Free Form and, so far, exclusive to only one of the brand’s styles, the Junya Racer, which weighs in at 24 grams — less than a single ounce.
46. 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.
45. A streaming amplifier for budget-conscious audiophiles
WiiMGP100 Winner
WiiM Amp Pro
Specs
| DAC | Premium ESS Sabre ES9032QM2 DAC |
| Power | 60 watts per channel (8 ohm); 120 watts per channel (4 ohms) |
| Streaming | Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Google Cast, Bluetooth |
WiiM has taken the audio world by storm in recent years. The Chinese-based audio company first made waves with its music streamers. These brought high-resolution streaming to traditional hi-fi systems at an extremely affordable price, all the while filling a void left by the discontinued Chromecast Audio.
Then last year, the company announced the WiiM Amp, its first integrated streaming amplifier. It brought all the same wireless streaming capabilities and physical inputs — including an HDMI ARC port for TV connectivity — but added built-in amplification. The “just add speakers” hi-fi component was a Sonos Amp alternative for less than half the price.
This year’s WiiM Amp Pro is just as versatile and easy to use as the company’s Amp, but smart additions elevate it to a more audiophile-grade status.
WiiMThe WiiM Amp Pro features an upgraded DAC that supports higher-resolution audio (up to 32-bit/384kHz) and is integrated with Post-Filter Feedback (PFFB) technology, which promises cleaner sound with ultra-low distortion.
At $379, the WiiM Amp Pro is still very affordable for what is: the perfect hi-fi component for breathing new life into your old bookshelf speakers.
44. An innovative, efficient, smart, gorgeous alternative to HVAC
QuiltGP100 Winner
Quilt Heat Pump
Specs
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz) and Bluetooth |
| Control | Wall-mounted Dial and Quilt app |
| Fuel type | Electric |
For many, mini-splits — ductless heating and cooling systems — are a less invasive, affordable alternative to traditional HVAC systems. The problem: most of them are ugly, inefficient and lack modern tech.
However, the Quilt Heat Pump, made by a new company founded by three former Google employees, seeks to drastically disrupt the mini-split industry.
The brand’s minimalist design language is exceptional, but it’s just one of the many things that make Quilt’s offerings stand out.
These all-electric heat pumps are also equipped with smart tech, offering Bluetooth and Wi-Fi control via a mobile app and wall-mounted dials. Users can create schedules and program the system according to their preferences. They can even set different temperatures in different rooms, allowing unmatched climate customization.
QuiltFurthermore, the pumps and their compressor — an outdoor control unit that shares Quilt’s modern design language — are much smaller than traditional units.
While the system doesn’t yet support integration with smart home platforms (such as Apple Home, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa) and is still pending certification, Quilt could be a major step forward in an industry that has largely been stagnant.
43. The Volvo everyone loves finally goes all-electric
VolvoGP100 Winner
2025 Volvo EX90
Specs
| Coolest Feature | Up to 80 percent charge in about 30 minutes |
| Power | 402-510 horsepower |
| Range | 300 – 310 miles |
Volvo’s long awaited electric counterpart to the carpool-lane smash-hit has arrived.
Like a flag of Scandinavia, the 2025 EX90 touts sustainability, safety and human-centered design as its core tenets. But it’s no slouch, either, offering up to 500 horsepower — more than plenty for a family oriented three-row SUV.
A Volvo to the max, the EX90 also embodies the brand’s longstanding commitment to protecting human life on the road with industry leading safety features and an even smaller carbon footprint. Crucially, it’s beautifully packaged and offers the quietest cabin this side of a Rolls Royce.
VolvoThe EX90’s cutting edge driver assistance systems include a roof mounted lidar system that will be activated in 2025 following regulatory approval in the US. Utilizing an array of interior and exterior sensors the EX90 anticipates potential risks with near-prescient intelligence.
The interior is straight down the fairway Scandi design: minimalist, purposeful and profoundly humane. High-quality, sustainable materials swath the interior like an Instagram-ready arctic bath house, while Volvo’s latest digital interface seamlessly integrates technology without overwhelming the human-centered experience Volvo has become known for.
The company’s most ambitious electric vehicle yet, the EX90 is a flagship for Volvo’s vision and its march upmarket as a brand. We expect the EX90 to sell in droves as a key benchmark in the highly competitive 3-row family electric SUV segment.
Everyone’s looking, and that’s a good thing.
42. A gloriously unnecessary dive watch
RolexGP100 WINNER
Rolex Deepsea Yellow Gold
Specs
| Case Size | 44mm |
| Movement | Rolex Cal. 3235 automatic |
| Water Resistance | 3,900m |
Some products exist not to fulfill a need in the market, but simply because they can exist. This is one such product.
No one needs a solid gold dive watch capable of surviving depths down to 3,900 meters. But the fact that such a product was even created is a testament to Rolex’s ingenuity and creativity. No other brand could pull off this watch. No other brand would even attempt to.
RolexThe watch is unapologetically absurd. It’s 17.7mm thick and weighs more than 300 grams. But despite its ludicrous nature, it’s also an incredible feat of engineering. Rolex very easily could have created a version of the watch with a lower depth rating. No one is diving anywhere close to 3,900 meters, anyway. But that’s not the way Rolex does things.
Instead, the brand took every measure to make sure this massive hunk of gold was one of the most capable dive watches in the world, practicality be damned. That meant engineering a caseback and helium escape valve out of titanium since gold would be crushed in those positions at the pressures this watch needs to withstand.
The watch lives simultaneously as an extreme luxury item and an overbuilt tool, and there’s simply nothing else like it.
41. An ultra-comfy, stylish shirt jacket made from … seaweed
OuterknownGP100 Winner
Outerknown Kelsun Universal Blanket Shirt
Specs
| Traditional Fabric | 70 percent regenerative organic cotton |
| Innovative Fabric | 30 percent Kelsun alginate fiber |
| Fit | Classic/relaxed |
For years, Outerknown’s Blanket Shirt has dominated the shirt-jacket market. That may be due to its timeless flannel-like styling, or perhaps its unbeatable comfort has kept it relevant. Either way, it has earned a spot in the annals of men’s fashion history.
But Kelly Slater’s apparel brand isn’t content to rest on its laurels. It’s always looking for ways to push the envelope, even regarding its catalog’s long-time staples.
To that end, the brand gave its most iconic piece a major sustainability and innovation upgrade with the Outerknown Kelsun Universal Blanket Shirt.
OuterknownWithout sacrificing the shirt jacket’s comfort, fit or styling, the brand swapped out its typical cotton twill fabric for a blend of cotton and seaweed—yes, really.
Usually, this kind of change requires sacrifice; some facet of the product inevitably suffers. But Outerknown has managed to skirt that pitfall entirely, producing yet another exceptional style piece that remains true to the original.
We can only hope they continue to apply this approach to innovation in the months and years to come.
You’ve reached the end of this section of the GP100, our 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.