“Gradually, then suddenly.” Since The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway’s signature quip has been used to describe everything from political upheaval to cultural change — or, for our purposes, industry in flux.
Some of the products that make up the GP100, our end-of-year ranking of the most important releases, represent the slow-burning trends quietly shaping our world. Others showcase the far end of the fuse, the place where innovation becomes not only material but irreversible.
As with any list, this one is sure to ruffle a few feathers, if not for the selections then certainly for their order. Though perhaps it’s for the best. After all, change is not always smooth nor welcome. But it is always on its way, first slowly before arriving all at once.
GP100: We will reveal this year’s GP100 winners in batches of 20 over the course of the week. Bookmark the collection page to stay on top of the countdown. In the meantime, see last year’s winners.
20. A snowboarding essential that came for the king and didn’t miss
ThirtyTwoGP100 Winner
FASE Snowboard Binding
Specs
| Boot and Board Compatibility | Unlimited |
| Key Elements | 3 (AutoBack, FastStrap, Locked-in Toe Strap) |
| Years of Research and Development | 7 |
For years now, Burton’s revolutionary Step On has been the dominant easy-access binding, with nothing else really coming close.
Still, it has at least a couple hang-ups: 1. Many boarders simply prefer the classic two-strap set-up. 2. It requires a Burton (or Burton-licensed) Step On boot, at a starting price of $380.
Addressing both issues at once? FASE, short for Fast Entry System, breakthrough binding tech that has been adopted by highly respected brands including Jones Snowboards and ThirtyTwo.
One key ingredient is the AutoBack, which angles the highback outward to make it easy to slip your boot in, complete with a small tab you trigger with your heel as it descends, closing the gate behind you.
A long top binding strap, the FastStrap, does not completely detach from the buckle but simply requires tightening and loosening when your boot goes in and out, while you never even touch the “set it and forget it” Locked-In Toe Strap.
It all adds up to a system that meaningfully democratizes easy-access bindings for riders of all levels.
It’s compatible with any boot and board and feels like a traditional binding yet works so much faster once you get the hang, even while in motion or sitting on a lift.
Starting from scratch, the biggest impact might be on your wallet: ThirtyTwo’s Shifty Boots ($220) plus a pair of entry-level FASE bindings ($330) costs $550, $150 less than the cheapest Step On combo.
19. The fragrance of the century enters a new era
HermèsGP100 Winner
Terre d’Hermès Eau de Parfum Intense
Specs
| Available Sizes | 1.69 and 3.38 ounces |
| Notes | Coffee, black pepper, bitter orange |
Created in 2006, Terre d’Hermès was named GQ‘s fragrance “launch of the decade.” Today that’d be selling it short.
Its uplighting combination of cedar, grapefruit and vetiver notes is widely considered among the 21st century’s very best, inspiring countless dupes and even in-house flankers from Hermès itself.
The latest, created by Christine Nagel, retains the backbone of the original but boldly reinterprets its progenitor for modern sensibilities.
True to its name, Terre d’Hermès Eau de Parfum Intense is intensely spicy on the open, evoking the smell of freshly ground coffee before it dries down into masterful balance of black pepper and bitter orange.
The sillage is exceptional, if a bit sweet. But many will wonder if it has the cultural staying power of the original.
For now, though, perhaps it’s best to appreciate it for what it is: a bold refresh of a modern classic, with plenty of personality to stand up on its own.
18. A carry-on that deftly combines the best of both hard- and soft-sided luggage
Peak DesignGP100 Winner
Peak Design Roller Pro Carry-On
Specs
| Capacity | 34L |
| Material(s) | Polycarbonate, Versa Shell, carbon fiber, aluminum |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs |
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$600 (5% off)
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$600 (5% off)
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$600 (5% off)
Peak Design is no stranger to innovation, particularly in the bag space. However, the brand has, for most of its tenure, focused on the kinds of packs you haul on your back or over your shoulder.
It turns out that the brand’s flair for pushing boundaries translates magnificently to a different bag category — one particularly crucial to jet-setters everywhere: carry-on luggage.
The Peak Design Roller Pro Carry-On is the brand’s first at-bat with wheeled luggage, and boy did the brand swing for the fences. While not the first to do it, this bag combines the toughness of hard-sided bags with the versatility and expandability of soft packs in some novel, innovative ways.
That starts with its exterior, a lightweight, ultra-tough polycarbonate wrapped in the brand’s weatherproof, scratch- and abrasion-resistant Versa Shell fabric. That outer is mated to a quartet of easy-gliding, omnidirectional wheels and, one of its best innovations, a remarkably thin (only 7 millimeters) carbon fiber telescoping handle that’s far more slender and stronger than traditional ones.
Due to its slim handle, the bag offers more internal space than other carry-ons (there’s no awkward rail housing to contend with) — up to 34 liters, to be precise. The bag can also expand an extra two inches in depth from its base size to suit a variety of packing needs.
It also features a convenient and clever internal scheme that enables smarter, more organized packing. And it manages all of this while adhering to international carry-on size standards.
17. A leakproof travel mug built for anything
YetiGP100 Winner
Yeti Travel Straw Mug
Specs
| Cup Holder Compatible | Yes |
| Leakproof | Yes |
| Sizes | 20, 30 and 40 ounces |
According to Yeti’s latest earning reports, drinkware under the Rambler series now makes up the majority of the brand’s sales.
That’s quite a statement when it comes to the brand redefining what a “premium” outdoor experience means, and it explains the significance of Travel Straw Mug, which could go down as the most important Yeti release of the year.
Although unassuming upon first glance, the Travel Straw Mug is a totally new design for Yeti.
The handle has been overhauled for increased comfort and a better gripping experience, and it’s designed to fit securely into your vehicle’s cupholder.
Most importantly, Yeti’s new release is notable as the brand’s first-ever 100-percent leakproof straw in a Travel Mug format, thanks to its lid, which was designed to allow the straw to be folded away when not in use, ensuring no precious sips escape.
In other words, Yeti hydration is more accessible than ever — and when it comes down to it, being able to trust your drinkware can keep up with travel, commuting and daily use is pretty damn premium.
16. The definitive version of the definitive sports watch
Audemars PiguetGP100 Winner
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 150th Anniversary
Specs
| Case Size | 39mm |
| Movement | Audemars Piguet Cal. 8001 automatic flyback chronograph tourbillon |
| Water Resistance | 20m |
Virtually every major watch brand today offers an integrated luxury sports watch in its catalog, and they can all trace their lineage back to one watch: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
Gérald Genta’s masterpiece popularized the idea of a steel luxury sports watch when it debuted in 1972, and in the decades since, AP has produced countless takes on the octagonal icon.
But none have impressed more than the RD#5 created to celebrate Audemars Piguet’s 150th anniversary in 2025.
The prototypical version of the Royal Oak is the “Jumbo” Extra-Thin, specifically in steel with its tapisserie dial in the model’s signature Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 shade. And it’s this model that the RD#5 used as a jumping-off point in its journey to becoming the ultimate Royal Oak.
The case of the RD#5 has the same Goldilocks dimensions as the Jumbo, measuring 39mm across and just 8.1mm thick. That’s very thin for a simple automatic time-and-date watch like the “Jumbo” Extra-Thin. It’s mind-bogglingly thin for the RD#5.
That’s because the automatic RD#5 packs both a flyback chronograph and a flying tourbillon — two of the most complex mechanical watch complications — into its 8.1mm-thick vessel, a seemingly magical feat only made possible by several patented innovations in the new movement AP created for the RD#5, Calibre 8001, including haptic-inspired chronograph pushers and a button on the crown to cycle between setting and winding modes.
The RD#5 features a Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 tapisserie dial, but it swaps out the Jumbo’s steel case and bracelet for a mix of brushed titanium and mirror-polished, palladium-based Bulk Metal Glass. The result is a more comfortable design with increased strength and greater visual pop.
If the original Royal Oak is an icon, then the RD#5 is nothing short of a legend.
15. A quintessential entry bike benefits from game-changing beginner tech
HondaGP100 Winner
2026 Honda Rebel 300 E-Clutch
Specs
| Curb Weight | 379 lbs |
| Horsepower | 27 hp |
| Peak Engine Torque | 18 lb-ft |
The Rebel is ubiquitous in the motorcycle world on account of its beginner-friendly approachability, unwavering Honda reliability and affordable price point. With the introduction of the updated CMX300 in 2017, the Big Red only improved on the formula through an updated 286cc engine and optional ABS.
As part of the latest update to the Rebel platform, Honda treated the diminutive bobber to its trick E-Clutch automation technology. In practice, this means that, while shifting is required, the clutch is an optional affair, allowing riders to focus instead on balance, signaling and other necessary bike operations.
However, because of the E-Clutch’s unobtrusive design, the Rebel 300 also gives riders the option of operating the clutch like on a traditional bike. It’s a unique system in that it relies on a series of small motors and a dedicated control unit to prevent stalling, no matter the gear.
While Honda has implemented its E-Clutch technology on other motorcycles before, its addition on the Rebel 300 stands to be one of the most impactful. By making riding accessible while still facilitating the development of proper fundamentals, it’s a bike that can grow with one’s two-wheeled confidence.
14. The Swoosh’s max-cushioned Hoka challenger
NikeGP100 Winner
Nike Vomero Plus
Specs
| Heel-to-Toe Drop | 10mm |
| Midsole | Full-length ZoomX foam |
| Weight | 10.3 ounces |
Sometimes, more is more. Or at least that’s the logic behind Nike’s max cushioned Vomero Plus, the sophomore release in a three-shoe collection that positions a longstanding franchise against competitors like Hoka.
In fact, if it weren’t for the iconic logo, at a quick glance one might even mistake this shoe for the Bondi 9, also released in 2025. But there are some key differences beneath the hood.
The Vomero Plus features a midsole made entirely of ZoomX foam — a PEBA-based compound so responsive, it blows the Bondi’s EVA out of the water. Then there’s the outsole, a modern interpretation of Nike’s signature waffle pattern that blends high traction with minimal weight.
The blend of ultra-plush, luxurious cushioning with versatility and responsiveness featured in the Vomero Plus would qualify any shoe as a high-end daily trainer.
But for Nike, it symbolizes something more: the revival of a tired, old franchise and foot back in the game.
13. A tiny EV truck that shows what people really want from pickups
SlateGP100 Winner
Slate The Blank Slate
Specs
| Engine | 150 kW rear-mounted electric motor |
| Transmission | N/A |
| Output | 201 hp & 195 lb-ft |
Although the Slate EV has yet to go on sale, the budget-friendly battery-powered truck has already proven to have an enormous impact. After all, even in the absence of standard paint, speakers and power windows, the vehicle managed to accrue more than 100,000 reservations in just two weeks.
Of course, as a concept, Slate’s offering is truly novel in its minimalism and unlike anything on the market in its modularity. However, it’s not just a case of cutting corners to facilitate an affordable price point — the truck is designed to give consumers more control over what they drive.
As such, in keeping with the company’s name, it’s intended to be a true blank slate, allowing for customization of everything from the color of the wrap to the very body style of the vehicle itself. With accessories and upgrades available upon purchase or separately down the line, it provides a flexible buying experience unrivaled by even the cheapest of subcompacts.
From its retro design and compact footprint to its simple interior and excessive customization options, the Slate EV bucks the status quo in more ways than one. Nevertheless, its immense virality proves that it’s exactly the kind of vehicle that carbuyers have been craving.
Whether Slate will be able to deliver at its proposed price point given the ending of Federal tax incentives remains to be seen, but there’s no denying that it’s exciting to see a pickup of these proportions at a time when trucks continue to trend larger.
12. A fresh look at how a camera should look
SigmaGP100 Winner
Sigma BF
One glance at the Sigma BF tells you how much thought has gone into its design: its one-piece aluminum body looks more like a Mac Mini than a traditional camera.
But its appeal is more than skin deep, with Sigma seemingly taking a blank-page approach to every aspect of its interface and operation.
Richard ButlerThe manufacturer says it wanted to build a desirable object for creative people who don’t necessarily think of themselves as photographers, resulting in a camera that questions convention more than anything since the earliest days of digital photography.
Richard ButlerWhether it’s the buttons, which give haptic feedback, or the fact that it’s the first camera to capture Ultra HDR JPEGs, the BF is fizzing with ideas.
It may be built around familiar (or perhaps even dated) components, but the sum of the parts is nothing short of radical.
11. A sport-touring staple levels up with an eye-catching two-wheeled first
YamahaGP100 Winner
2025 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+
Specs
| Curb Weight | 512 lbs |
| Horsepower | 119 hp |
| Peak Engine Torque | 68.6 lb-ft |
Between its compelling CP3 triple and its comfortable riding position, the Tracer has long been a staple of the sport touring segment, but the 2025 GT+ update moved the goalposts for the industry as a whole.
That’s because it became the first production motorcycle to make use of an adaptive LED Matrix headlight. While the technology has been increasingly prevalent in the automotive world for some time, it has yet to see application among two-wheelers — in that respect, Yamaha is leading the charge.
In practice, the technology works by combining a matrix of multiple low and high beam LEDs linked to a camera integrated into the upper part of the headlight assembly. By detecting surrounding traffic, natural light sources and weather conditions, it can thereby distribute the light in such a way that it fills in dark spots while not dazzling other road users.
What’s more, as found on the Tracer 9 GT+, the Matrix LED headlight array works with the onboard six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to dynamically adjust the beam when cornering — especially in cases when the bike’s lean angle exceeds seven degrees.
Given that rider safety starts with seeing (and being seen), something as impactful as the addition of a Matrix LED headlight amounts to much more than a marketing gimmick.
10. Small beer, big splash
Michelob UltraGP100 Winner
Michelob Ultra Zero
Specs
| Calories | 27 |
| Carbs | 6.5 |
| ABV | 0.0% |
In many respects, Michelob Ultra is the little beer that could. Turns out, little beers may be the only thing Americans want to drink anymore.
Last year marked the first time in two decades that brewery closures outpaced openings, a trend that only continued into 2025.
Sales, meanwhile, are a soarin’ at Michelob Ultra, now the country’s top beer brand (recently taking down Modelo Especial).
Moderate drinking has struck such a chord that even NAs are popping off; in fact, it’s one of the industry’s few growth areas, with AB InBev projecting a $2 billion market in the next five years.
Enter Michelob Ultra Zero, the fuel on the fire.
A can has just 29 calories and 6.5 carbs, half of what you might find in readily available alternatives. But more more important than its nutrition facts, or even the taste, is what it represents.
Michelob Ultra Zero is a statement of intent from the single most important brand in the country.
NA beers aren’t a trend. They’re a lifeline.
9. The next watershed moment in how we use the internet
PerplexityGP100 Winner
Perplexity Comet Browser
Specs
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, Android |
| Cost | Free |
Artificial intelligence has been the drumbeat of the decade. It’s lifted markets, bent political debates, and reshaped the tech industry’s self-image into something halfway between inevitability and mania.
For all the hype, though, AI has rarely appeared in the form of a clear, everyday product that anyone but the most forward-thinking adopters would find valuable to use.
Most people interact with it abstractly — a chatbot here, an autocomplete flourish there — not in the shape of something as tangible as the browser they open fifty times a day.
Comet, the new AI-native browser from Perplexity, launched this summer, is the rare exception. And its arrival makes for one of the more complicated GP100 decisions we’ve ever had to make.
Perplexity hasn’t exactly had a quiet year. The company has faced lawsuits from major publishers alleging mass scraping and outright theft, investigations into how it harvested Reddit user data, and, like most early AI technologies, a long list of examples where its models hallucinated or spread false information.
PerplexityThe Comet browser itself, and in fairness, other AI-equipped competitors that have subsequently followed, has also drawn scrutiny from cybersecurity researchers who warn that autonomous agents inside the browser stack expose fresh attack surfaces and can trigger very real, very expensive mistakes.
Gartner, the influential technology research and advisory company, even took the step of publishing a report on December 1st stating, “Cybersecurity Myst Block AI Browsers for Now,” due to the risks involved.
Comet is all of that. But it’s also something else: the clearest, most concrete demonstration yet of what happens when large-scale language models stop being an add-on to the internet and start becoming the thing that drives your interaction with it.
Instead of search-as-a-box, Comet builds the “agent” into the browsing flow itself. Agent is just AI-speak for a tool that can take actions on a user’s behalf, such as navigating pages, sending emails, summarizing clusters of tabs, building research briefs, filling out forms, booking tickets, and — if you let it — making purchases.
This means that tasks that usually consume minutes or even hours of your day can, to varying degrees, now be handled by someone or, rather, something other than you. That pitch alone is intoxicating, especially for anyone drowning in logistics and digital clutter.
PerplexityYet each glimpse of power comes with its shadow. A misinterpreted command can cascade into havoc. A convincing hallucination looks a whole lot like truth. And handing over that level of agency to a tool whose inner workings remain largely opaque feels, at times, less like convenience and more like a wager.
Make no mistake: Comet is unfinished, often brittle and still inherently very risky to use at this stage of the game. But it’s also sometimes shockingly capable and exceptionally helpful.
It’s the first browser to compellingly graft AI onto an old paradigm, creating a new paradigm in the process. It asks, what if browsing weren’t a solo activity at all, but a collaboration with a system that could act on your behalf?
PerplexityThe timing matters, too. Consumer browser choice has been all but stagnant for years. Chrome, shaped by its own long antitrust saga, has dominated the market to an extent that’s all too familiar in the world of technology.
The fact is that real, industry-shifting innovation in this category hasn’t come from scrappy outsiders in a generation. Comet breaks that drought.
Whatever its faults — and there are plenty — it’s jolted the incumbents. Google raced to fold similar agentic tools into Chrome and OpenAI – arguably the AI company with the biggest head start – soon scrambled to introduce its own Atlas browser just last month. These rapid reactions from such massive tech players say more about Comet’s potential than any marketing campaign ever could.
PerplexityIn a year when AI’s economic impact has flirted with bubble logic and rhetoric often outpaced reality, this browser also stands out for a simpler reason: it’s real.
It’s a working, shipped-to-consumers preview of how interacting with the web is likely to evolve over the next decade — a window into the power, peril and unpredictability that come with machine intelligence becoming a layer between us and the internet. It imagines a future where the web isn’t merely navigated but actively negotiated, with a digital counterpart shaping the experience.
Comet may ultimately be remembered as a transitional artifact — the MySpace before Facebook, the Ask Jeeves before Google, the Napster before Spotify, the BlackBerry before the iPhone. Maybe it flames out; maybe the AI bubble deflates and the world moves on.
But shifts in how people use the internet at this scale don’t show up often, and something always has to go first.
Comet earns its place in the story because it stepped out ahead of the inevitability — a working proof that this next phase of the web isn’t theoretical anymore. It’s already under way.
8. A look at BMW for the next 25 years
BMWGP100 Winner
2027 BMW iX3
Specs
| Engine | Dual synchronous electric motors |
| Transmission | Single-speed drive |
| Output | 463 hp & 475 lb-ft (50 xDrive) |
BMW is in the midst of its most pivotal transition period in nearly its entire history. The last time the Bavarian automaker overhauled its whole product range to such a degree was back in 2002, when it launched the controversial “Bangle-era” E65 7 Series.
Nearly a quarter of a century later, BMW is at it again. But this time, with the prospect of electrification. The result is its Neue Klasse generation of automobiles, which sets the theme for how its entire product range will look, drive and feel for the next 25 years.
Helping the brand charge forward into its next era is its latest all-electric compact SUV, the iX3. It’s the first production model to launch as part of the Neue Klasse strategy, featuring BMW’s latest “Heart of Joy” ideology.
More importantly, it’s the carmaker’s first mass-production electric vehicle. Originally introduced in concept form as the Vision Neue Klasse X in 2024, the iX3 is essentially the version ready for primetime.
When it hits US dealers next year, it’ll arrive in 40 xDrive form with an upgradable 50 xDrive spec. Although BMW remains tight-lipped about performance data, the carmaker did say the range-topper will churn out a total system output of 463 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, translating to 0-60 mpg in just 4.9 seconds.
But BMW didn’t forget the most important aspect about EVs: range charging. With a state-of-the-art 800-volt architecture, engineers say the iX3 can travel up to 400 miles on a single charge and recouping 217 miles only takes 21 minutes on the appropriate Level 2 fast-charger.
It might basically be an all-electric version of the next-generation X3 compact crossover SUV. Being about roughly the same size, it’ll cost around the same too, around less than $60,000.
But because the iX3 is the first car from the Neue Klasse strategy to reach production, the iX3 is essentially the beginning of a new chapter for the brand. And that’s a huge deal.
7. The world’s most enigmatic and revered watch movement gets a sequel
Grand SeikoGP100 Winner
Grand Seiko SLGB003
Specs
| Case Size | 37mm |
| Movement | Grand Seiko Cal. 9RB2 Spring Drive UFA automatic |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
They say true beauty is found within.
Grand Seiko’s SLGB003 is a beautiful watch, but nothing about its appearance stands out from the rest of the brand’s Evolution 9 collection.
Look inside the case, however, and you’ll find one of the most remarkable mechanical watch movements ever devised: the caliber 9RB2 Spring Drive Ultra Fine Accuracy.
Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive movement achieved a nearly mythical status among watch enthusiasts for blurring the line between mechanical and quartz timekeeping. While it is technically an automatic movement with no battery involved, it utilizes quartz crystals to regulate time with an astonishing accuracy of +/-15 seconds per month.
In 2025, Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive UFA made a quantum leap in horological engineering by shattering the previous accuracy with a measurement of +/-20 seconds per year. Most battery-powered quartz movements don’t even come close to that mark.
According to Grand Seiko, this astonishing improvement in mechanical movement regulation was accomplished by refining the growth and processing of the three-month-aged quartz oscillator at the heart of the design.
Additionally, the integrated circuit — another aspect borrowed from quartz movement design — has been improved, and the entire regulation system is vacuum-sealed to prevent interference.
Barring any last-minute surprise releases, 2025 will mark the release of the first three Spring Drive UFA-powered watches, all of which are 37mm members of the Evolution 9 Collection.
The movement debuted in April with the titanium SLGB003, alongside the limited-edition SLGB001, which featured a platinum case and alligator leather strap. Then the SLGB005, sporting a deep violet Kirigamine dial, was released in September.
6. AirPods with the potential to replace your Apple Watch
AppleGP100 Winner
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Specs
| Chip | Apple H2 |
| Sensors | accelerometer, heart rate |
| Water Resistance | IP57 |
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$249 (12% off)
By now, you know the schtick: AirPods just work with Apple devices, which is why they’re the best-selling wireless earbuds of all time.
Naturally, the company calls the latest version the “best AirPods that Apple has ever made.” The AirPods Pro 3 have superior sound and active noise cancellation, surpassesing that of any previous model.
Plus, they offer advanced features that no other wireless earbuds do. This includes the ability to translate languages with Live Translation and even function as (OTC) hearing aids, thanks to their FDA certification.
But the AirPods Pro 3 are also distinct from other AirPods, as they are the first to include a built-in heart rate sensor.
That’s a big deal, with the potential to replace the Apple Watch for many wearer’s workouts.
Of course, if you’re somebody who likes wearing an Apple Watch for all the other things, there are still countless reasons to get the AirPods Pro 3.
Most notably? They sound great.
5. An EDC knife with blade steel once thought impossible
Blade HQGP100 Winner
Magpul Breslau
Specs
| Blade Length | 2.94 inches |
| Blade Steel | MVNS35 |
| Handle Material | Polymer |
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$200 (5% off)
Even without knowing its significance, the Magpul Breslau EDC knife has a lot to offer. It measures 7.375 inches in total — right in the everyday carry sweet spot — and has a 2.94-inch blade, which is short enough to adhere to some of the most stringent blade length laws.
It also has a lightweight, incredibly tough polymer handle, a speedy flipper deployment and a strong, durable, reliable lug locking mechanism (similar in function and execution to a crossbar lock).
None of that matters in the grand scheme of things. What does is that the Breslau features a blade steel technology once thought impossible: Metal Injection Molding (or MIM, for short).
While not entirely novel, Magpul has improved the process in several crucial ways.
The concept is pretty simple: powdered metal is mixed with a binder and then shaped and solidified by feeding the mixture into a mold. It works similarly to plastic injection molding — a process Magpul, specifically, has pioneered for decades.
The resulting steel, MVNS35, is functionally equivalent to S35VN, one of the most highly regarded steels available. The difference? MVNS35 is both cheaper and faster to make, and that makes all the difference.
4. The new shoe to beat, at an unbeatable price
AdidasGP100 Winner
Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Specs
| Heel-to-Toe Drop | 6mm |
| Stack Height | 39mm |
| Weight | 7.9 ounces (men's US 9) |
Released in limited numbers late last year, the Adizero Evo SL is the breakout shoe of 2025. Nothing else in the running comes even remotely close.
The shoe’s headline feature is its midsole manufactured entirely of Lightstrike Pro, a so-called “superfoam” found in several of Adidas’s racing shoes upmarket.
While that alone is not particularly notable — premium materials have been trickling into daily trainers for years — the Adizero Evo SL undercuts the rest of the category with a price that’s damn near impossible to beat.
For just $150, the Adizero Evo SL delivers a fun, nimble ride that swiftly handles whatever pace you want to throw at it, resulting in a versatile trainer that punches well above its weight class.
It also just looks damn good doing so, thanks to a strong arsenal of colorways (including a pair from musician-turned-fashion-designer Pharrell Williams.)
Diehard fans will hope Adidas addresses some of the shoe’s shortcomings on future updates. Frankly, it could be a bit more stable for everyday running and a gusseted tongue wouldn’t hurt, either.
But more than any shoe in 2025, the Adizero Evo SL set a new pace within the industry. And at that price, everyone’s invited to join in.
3. Rolex’s most important watch in a generation
RolexGP100 Winner
Rolex Land-Dweller
Specs
| Case Size | 36mm, 40mm |
| Movement | Rolex Cal. 7135 automatic |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
Rolex isn’t exactly known for taking big swings.
The world’s most famous and successful watch company is renowned for its careful approach. The brand develops and refines its products slowly, making incremental changes that can take over a generation before they’re even perceptible.
That’s what makes the Land-Dweller such a massive deal. This watch wasn’t just a big swing from Rolex. It was a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth in game seven of the World Series.
First, there’s the obvious: The Land-Dweller is Rolex’s first foray into the competitive world of integrated-bracelet watches since the 1980s-holdover Oysterquartz was discontinued in the early 2000s.
The new watch is exquisitely finished, especially its “Flat Jubilee” bracelet, which is as comfortable as it is gorgeous.
Rolex re-entering the white-hot integrated bracelet genre wasn’t exactly unexpected. But what was unexpected was the revolutionary movement powering the Land-Dweller.
Before the Land-Dweller, every single mechanical movement ever produced by Rolex has used a Swiss lever escapement. The Land-Dweller does not. While still an automatic mechanical movement, the Calibre 7135 runs on a brand-new escapement called Dynapulse.
In place of an escape wheel, it uses two distribution wheels. Side by side, they’re driven in unison by a transmission wheel that’s connected to the mainspring barrel, and in turn, they interact with the balance wheel via a rocker in place of a pallet fork. There’s very little friction involved in their machinations, which translates to greater precision, better efficiency and (likely) longer service intervals.
The three wheels and rocker are all made of silicon, making the escapement amagnetic, and the Dnyapulse escapement oscillates at 5Hz, making this Rolex’s first-ever high-beat movement.
It’s the brand’s biggest movement innovation since the first Perpetual winding system in 1931.
Maybe Rolex should take big swings more often.
2. An all-star SUV that raises its own lofty bar
KiaGP100 Winner
2027 Kia Telluride
Specs
| Engine | 2.5-liter gas turbo-four/gas-electric turbo-four hybrid |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic (2.5L)/6-speed automatic (2.5L hybrid) |
| Output | 274 hp & 311 lb-ft (2.5L)/329 hp & 339 lb-ft (2.5L hybrid) |
Kia revealed what is arguably its most important car of the decade at the Los Angeles Auto Show: the 2027 Telluride.
As one of the midsize segment’s best-selling and award-winning models, the latest second-gen version cranks up the style and pizzazz with million-dollar looks both inside and out.
When the Telluride first launched in 2019, it became a smash hit and remains a perpetual favorite here at GP. Not only did it set a new bar on how much value one can get in the mainstream market.
It absolutely excels at nearly everything it’s designed and engineered to do. While it may not be groundbreaking from a performance or technological standpoint, the Telluride is one of the very few prime examples where a car company got everything so damn right.
There are a lot of good cars and hardly any glaringly bad cars out there. However, the Telluride is genuinely and almost nearly impossible to fault.
It’s also one of the few prime examples where a car company got everything so damn right.
This time around, the second-gen model brings some very notable changes, such as more powertrain options. It drops its silky-smooth naturally-aspirated V6 for a base 2.5-liter gasoline turbo-four.
And for the first time, that four-cylinder can be paired with an electric motor as the upgradable option. That makes it the world’s first Telluride hybrid.
But because it’s a Kia, it’ll be loaded up the wazoo with tons of standard equipment and features, without costing an arm and a leg. Add in the new Range Rover-like styling both inside and out, it look far more expensive than it will most likely be.
Which means, when all is said and done, like the original, the Kia Telluride will remain as one of the greatest automotive bargains of the century.
1. The most important console of the last decade, perfected
NintendoNintendo Switch 2
Specs
| Battery Life | Between 2 and 6.5 hours |
| Dispaly | 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen |
| Processor | Custom processor made by Nvidia |
Upon launch, the original Switch did the unthinkable: it established sky-high expectations, then it surpassed them.
Novel yet familiar, it felt like the love child between a Game Boy and Wii. Even more important, however, were the games.
From Super Mario Odyssey to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, some of the hottest titles in recent years have been Switch exclusives.
And let’s not forget The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom), the only Switch game to win the prestigious “Game of the Year” award.
How’s that for expectations?
Eight years on, the world finally got its hands on a true successor.
The Switch 2 has the same hybrid detachable design as the original, but it’s been refined, enhanced, and, in just about every way, perfected.
For starters, the second-generation console has a much bigger display, significantly faster processor and a lot of hardware improvements, headlined by larger Joy-Con controllers that magnetically clip into place.
As for games, the Switch 2 launched alongside some absolute gems that can only be played on the new console, such as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza.
Sure, the Switch 2 is a bit pricer than the original — eight years of inflation and tariffs will do that. And the current catalog leans heavily on remastered versions of previously released classics.
But neither has slowed down demand one bit.
Already, over 10 million units of the console have been sold. That makes the Switch 2 the fastest-selling Nintendo console in history. And it’s only heating up.
New chapters in Nintendo’s best-selling game franchises (Mario, Zelda, Animal Crossing and Pokémon) are inevitable. So, too, is this console’s dominance in the decade to come.