We all know that moment. The Christmas party where your aunt makes you wear that knitted sweater with the reindeer on it and the red nose made of felt. The shame is immense, the dignity is zero, but somewhere deep inside you feel warm - and not just because polyester is flammable. Now imagine putting that same "shame" on the manliest thing to ever roll out of Detroit or Toledo. I'm talking about the Mek Magnet "Ugly Sweater" body armor. It's not just a sticker. It's ballistic resin that turns your Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco into a holiday parade, while also protecting it when you decide to knock down the Christmas tree with your own bumper. Let's see - Mek Magnet.
First, let's get one thing straight. These aren't the thin vinyl stickers you buy at the gas station and then peel off with your fingernails and swear words after three washes. Mek Magnet, a company founded in 2016 in San Diego founded by visionary Monika Kalenski, created true “Trail Armor.” Monika started with a simple mission: create removable magnetic armor for steel Jeeps. But when the industry switched to aluminum, magnets became as useless as sunglasses in a tunnel.
Soft Magnet So, pivoted harder than your uncle on the icy sidewalk and developed Nano-Hold™ technology. We’re talking a 10-mil (0.25 mm) thick layer of high-performance ballistic resin that’s resistant to UV rays and, more importantly, to branches, rocks, and shopping carts. The patterns are classic “Ugly Sweater” motifs: red-green-and-white geometric patterns, Christmas trees, reindeer (or in Ford’s case, wild horses) and snowflakes. The irony is that this “knitting” actually acts as a shield. While everyone else is laughing at your car, you’re laughing at them because your paint remains intact as you make your way through the undergrowth.
Beasts Under the Wool: Numbers We Shouldn't Ignore
Since you're here for the cars and not the fashion, let's take a look at who we're actually dressing in these ridiculous outfits. This armor is custom-made for two American icons. And since I promised numbers, let's take a look at what beasts are hiding under that "knitting."
Ford Bronco Raptor – Holiday Monster
If you put this armor on a Bronco Raptor, you're basically putting Godzilla in pajamas. This is a car that doesn't compromise.
- Engine: 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 twin-turbo.
- Power: 311 kW (418 hp) – enough to melt the snow before it hits the ground.
- Torque: 596 Nm (440 lb-ft) – for pulling a sled if the reindeer are on strike.
- Acceleration (0-100 km/h): approximately 5.6 seconds.
- Final speed: limited to 183 km/h (114 mph) – which is just enough to turn the Christmas decorations on the sticker into a blur.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe – Silent Night, Fast Night
Another “victim” of this transformation is the legendary Wrangler, especially in the 4xe version (plug-in hybrid). Because nothing says “I love nature” more than driving on electric power through the forest, trampling it at the same time.
- System power: 280 kW (380 hp).
- Torque: 637 Nm (470 lb-ft) – impressive torque that will launch you out of the mud.
- Battery capacity: 17.3 kWh.
- Electric range: up to 50 km (31 miles) – enough silence to hear people being disgusted by your “sweater”.
- Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 6.4 seconds.
Technology: It's not a magnet (unless it is)
This is where things get technically interesting, and this is the part where the Jan Macarol in me nods in approval. The old Jeeps (JKU) were steel. The magnets worked. The new Jeeps (JL, Gladiator) and Ford Broncos have a lot of aluminum and smooth composite panels. Aluminum is not magnetic. If you've ever tried to attach a travel magnet to an aluminum refrigerator, you know what I'm talking about. It falls off.
Soft Magnet uses Nano-Hold™ technology. This is not a glue that will destroy the paint. It is a special gel on the back of the panels that creates a microscopic vacuum grip on smooth surfaces.
Reuse: Up to 200 times. Yes, you read that right. When Christmas is over, you take the armor off, roll it up, and store it away until next year.
Maintenance: If the gel gets dirty and no longer sticks, simply wash it with water, air dry and the “magic” (physics) returns.
Temperature Challenges: Be careful here. The panels will stay attached down to -9°C (15°F). However, you should install them in a warm location, between 18°C and 29°C (65°F – 85°F). They are also not designed for freezing rain or heavy sleet that could penetrate the edges. So if you live in Kranjski Gori in the middle of a snowstorm, maybe wait for a dry day to assemble.
Conclusion: Is it worth it?
Prices for these artworks range from 548 $ (approx. €520) for seniors Wranglers and up to 788$ (approx. €750) for a Gladiator or a fully equipped Bronco. Just the engine cover for the Bronco will cost you around 198 $ (€190).
Does that sound like a lot for a “temporary disguise”? Maybe. But look at it this way: repairing a single deep scratch from a branch on your outrageously expensive Bronco Raptor will cost significantly more. Plus, Mek Magnet is an official Mopar partner, which means the engineers in Detroit said, “Yes, that’s good enough for us.”
In a world where everyone takes themselves too seriously, where all SUVs are matte black or gray, and where drivers look ugly, driving a Jeep that looks like your grandmother's sweater is an act of supreme cynicism and self-confidence. It communicates, "I have a cool car, I have money for stupid things, and I have a sense of humor."
And let's be honest, when you get tired of the holiday atmosphere in January, you just take it off. Try doing this with your ex-partner's tattoo.
Rating: 5/5 stars for irony, 4/5 for protection, 10/10 for the confused looks from the neighbors.
