Ugly Christmas sweaters have become somewhat of a misnomer these days. What began as unintentional gaudiness begat by an overabundance of holiday spirit has turned into a celebrated cultural staple. We throw parties themed around these sweaters and even have contests to see which is the most ludicrous.
Now, your off-road vehicles can get in on the fun too. MEK Magnets has created red-and-green “Ugly Sweater” versions of its Trail Armor to celebrate the Christmas season.
MEK Magnet’s Innovative Journey
When Monika Kalenski founded MEK Magnet back in 2016, the San Diego-based company started with a straightforward mission to create removable magnetic armor for steel-bodied Jeeps that could handle trail abuse without a permanent commitment. But when aluminum bodies and smooth panels became the factory norm for Jeeps and Broncos, MEK pivoted hard. Their solution was nano-hold technology — a lightweight ballistic resin with a gel-back system that adheres to smooth surfaces without leaving residue or requiring adhesives. It’s the kind of engineering innovation that eventually made MEK an official Mopar accessory partner.
Protection That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously
The Ugly Sweater collection applies MEK’s trail-proven armor to festive red, green, and white graphics that transform your rig into something between a holiday parade float and a trail-ready machine. Featuring Christmas trees, reindeer (or a bucking Bronco for the Ford models), and Santa’s sack in the back of a mini vehicle, each panel uses that same 10-mil thick ballistic resin paired with UV-resistant ink and fade-resistant coating, so the pattern won’t bleach in the sun. The nano-hold gel backing means you can remove and reuse these panels up to 200 times, which is more than enough to get you through plenty of Decembers.
Available for the Jeep Wrangler JKU, JLU, and Gladiator JT, plus the Ford Bronco in two-door, four-door, and Raptor configurations, MEK has covered most of the serious off-road crowd. There’s even a hood-only version for the Bronco sold separately.
Each kit is contoured specifically for its vehicle, which takes the guesswork out of fitment and keeps installation tool-free. The armor handles rain, mud, and dirt without issue, and is rated to stay bonded down to 15°F once properly installed. There are some caveats though. Installation requires temperatures between 65°F and 85°F, panels need to stay dry for the first 24 to 48 hours while bonding, and they’re not rated for freezing rain or wet slush, so keep that in mind if you’re in, say, Minnesota.
Spec Sheet
Models Available: Wrangler JKU (2007-early 2018), Wrangler JLU (2018+), Gladiator JT (2020+), Bronco 2D (2022+), Bronco 4D (2022+), Bronco Raptor (2023+)
Material: Heavy-duty ballistic resin with nano-hold gel backing (10 mil thick resin + 1mm gel)
Technology: Nano-Hold Technology (for aluminum bodies), High-energy magnet (for steel bodies like JKU)
Reusability: Up to 200 times (washable with water)
Temperature Rating: Stays bonded down to 15°F (must be installed at 65°F-85°F)
Weather Resistance: Rain, mud, dirt approved; not rated for freezing rain, melting snow, or wet slush
Prices: JKU $548, JLU $618, JT $788, Bronco 2D $668, Bronco 4D/Raptor $768, Bronco Hood $198
Limited Edition: Limited production run
Pricing & Availability
Starting at $548 and going up to $788, the Ugly Sweater Trail Armor is available now through MEK Magnet’s website and the Mopar eStore (at slightly higher prices). Given the limited production run, these typically sell out fast each season, so if you want your Jeep or Bronco rocking festive armor before the holidays wrap up, don’t wait too long.
Recap
MEK Magnet Ugly Sweater Trail Armor for Jeep and Ford
MEK Magnet just dropped limited-edition Ugly Sweater Trail Armor that wraps your Jeep or Bronco in festive red-and-green graphics while actually protecting your paint from trail damage. The nano-hold panels peel off clean, reuse up to 200 times, and prove you don’t have to choose between holiday spirit and serious off-road functionality.
