Jon Glaser Loves Gear So Much He Reviewed Some for Us
While the gadgets in Jon Glaser Loves Gear are secondary to the show's plot, Glaser's love of gear is legit. Here's some of his favorite stuff.
Chances are you already know Jon Glaser, even if you don't know his name. He was Councilman Jamm on Parks and Recreation ("you got Jammed!"), he's Hannah's neighbor Laird on Girls, and he created and starred in Adult Swim's bizarro spy comedy Delocated. Now you can add "product enthusiast" to that list: his new show, Jon Glaser Loves Gear, debuts tonight on TruTV. The mostly scripted show follows the longtime comedy writer through episodes that explore his passion for camping gadgets, bike accessories, and hockey equipment. But the real entertainment, as with most of Glaser's work, unfolds at the margins. “It sort of spirals off,” Glaser says. "It tries to follow what the show is supposed to be, but it follows emotional tangents.” And for a clue as to those emotions, imagine Guy Fieri as a gadget blogger: “It's an exaggerated, heightened, asshole version of myself,” he says. Glaser's appetite for gear is genuine—he and his staff hand-picked all the items they covered, and there's no paid product placement on the show. With that in mind, we asked him to write up some of his favorite things. —The Editors
Topo Designs01Topo Mountain Pack
I could write lengthy summaries of the joy of details of gear, but I'm keeping these brief (or trying to). [I have the silver one](http://topodesigns.com/collections/bags/products/mountain-pack?variant=1105203789), which feels more gray to me, which I like. Good color on the details. Good storage inside, including a sleeve for a laptop. Lots of good pockets inside and out. I got one of these for my show, and was going to give it to my son, because I already have a great bag that I love ([Ortlieb Velocity messenger bag](https://ortliebusa.com/product/velocity/)), and I thought he would be into this bag's colors. It was a little too big for him, and he wasn't into it overall, which was good for me, especially when I gave him a tour of the bag trying to get him all pumped about it, and I discovered that one of the outside front zippers actually opened up to INSIDE the bag. I quietly freaked out about it to myself because I instantly wished I had kept it for myself. And then I suppressed my enthusiasm and feigned indifference when he said he didn't want it. I'm sure he knows.
Hickorees02Audubon Bird Call
My stepdad gave me [one of these](http://www.hickorees.com/brand/audubon-bird-call/product/audubon-bird-call) years ago and I still have it, in red. I love the small size and the simple, super-effective design. If you push and twist hard and tight, you get rapid, high pitched chirps. If you push and twist slow and easy, you get softer, more musical whistling. I love that you have to become one with the device to finesse the proper sounds. [This guy gives a good demonstration](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtnRhu6h2EY). Or just watch *Jon Glaser Loves Gear* and see it on display in the first episode! If you're reading this after the show premieres, that would be the camping episode! If you don't care about the show, then never mind!
Patagonia03Patagonia Houdini Jacket
[One of my favorite jackets](http://www.patagonia.com/product/mens-houdini-windbreaker-jacket/24141.html). I wear it when I run. I wear it when I ride my bike. I wear it around town when I'm being a cool dad. Sometimes it stinks because I've been using it for running and cycling, so I need to get another one just for the times I'm being a cool dad. I love the simple design and the light weight. I love having a hood. I love having a hood with a drawstring. I love the chest pocket. I love the simple reflective logo on the chest pocket. I love that it stuffs itself into that chest pocket. It's stuffed right now and sitting inside my Topo backpack. Mine is a few years old, and it looks like the new ones have improved some of the features, like half elastic cuffs. My friend Marcel (who also has one) and I like to text each other when it's Houdini weather.
Wigwam04Outdoor Research Gore-Tex Rain Hat / Wigwam Thermax Cap
Didn't find a link because I don't know if they make it anymore. (*Ed. Note: It's similar to the newer [Outdoor Research Rando Cap](https://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/rando-cap-f14.html).*) Boy do I love this hat. It's the hat I wear in the opening scene of my show, when I'm pitching the show to the network. I love the small brim, and I especially love how they creased the brim for easy folding and packability. Such a simple, cool idea on a simply designed, cool looking hat. Good ear flaps, and a drawstring in the back to keep it snug. Once it gets cold out, I am always wearing this hat, and usually pairing it with my other favorite hat, the [Wigwam Thermax cap](http://www.wigwam.com/products/p-thermax-cap-ii.aspx?productid=2352) (pictured). The Outdoor Research hat actually came with a warm knit beanie as a 3-in-1 combo hat, but I like the Wigwam better.
Knog05Knog Bike Light
[These are the coolest](https://usd.knog.com.au/bike/lights/be-seen-bike-lights/blinder-1-twinpack.html). This company makes pretty cool stuff in general. I have these on the front and back of my bike. I love these because they are small, simply designed, low profile on the handlebars, very powerful, and you can charge them with USB. It's an Australian company, which kind of makes them automatically cool, and they have a [very impressive and admirable environmental policy](https://usd.knog.com.au/environmental-policy.html).
