What light for parcel delivery helper?

[Bright+]

Need both hands free.
there's really nowhere to set it down in the UPS truck that's within easy reach.

I need two settings. Dim flood that doesn't mess up my night vision and fairly intense collimated beam to light up hard to find address numbering.

Most lights either don't hold the low setting after power-down or you have to push multiple times to get to low. I need to be able to get between off-low and off-high in one push.

Anything?

 

[davidt1]

Google Zebralight headlamps.

The floody/flood versions have the beam and the UI you are looking for.

Here is what one looks like. For a work light there is nothing more convenient and discreet than this.
Tucked inside shirt when not in use. Pull out, click, and use.

 

[Vox Clamatis in Deserto]

That skylight on the top of the package car doesn't work too well late in the day this time of year during Peak, does it?

I would say take a look at a 4 Seven's Quark tactical. You adjust the high and low by twisting the head, you click it on and off and you can reliably tell which setting it will power up on. The XPG emitter is more floody than spot but still very bright on high for the address search. I'd get the 2 AA version if don't want to mess with CR123A batteries. Seems like the light comes with either a finger grip or hand grip for, uh, hands free use. You could at least hold the package while the light hangs from your hand.

The other obvious option would be a headlight. Not sure if you could wear it while making a delivery, check with your supervisor or IBT shop steward on that one.

 

[3Cylinders]

I would suggest an LED Lenser H7R headlamp. The beam is adjustable from spot to flood and has a slider switch to set the brightness anywhere from extremely dim to full power before you turn it on. In spot mode and turned up to high, it throws very well for its' size. The downside is that it uses rechargeable AAA batteries which may or may not last a full shift if you use it a lot. You can always take along some additional rechargeables to swap out mid-shift if necessary.
The Zebralight is also a good choice, but if you get the floody version, I don't think it will throw far enough to light up address numbers. A separate throw light may be more useful for the addresses and you can use the Zebralight for up close work. The Zebralight will be lighter than the H7R and has the battery integrated into the light, making it more compact. It will also likely last longer on a battery.

 

[mcnair55]

I would also go the headlamp route,loads of decent ones out there these days ranging in price to suit every pocket,go a decent outdoor shop and see what they have to offer,probably will be able to play around with them in person.Surf the vendors on here to see what they offer plus the members will add others to the products mentioned so far.

 

[Bright+]

That skylight on the top of the package car doesn't work too well late in the day this time of year during Peak, does it?

There are ceiling lights back there, but the driver deals with the things back there. I just run packages from the truck to stops. I need to work safely and at the same time its a race against time.

For the most part, my night vision needs to be preserved. Light needs to be just bright enough to see where I'm walking as I walk to houses and see the label on the boxes so I know where to aim the bar code scanner. I also need to be able to see what I'm filling out on the "you weren't there" sticky note in the dark.

It usually goes like this.
1.) Driver gives me boxes, both hands tied up with boxes and computer thingy with bar code scanner. The computer can't go in the pocket. It's not a PDA. It's about the size and weight of a netbook.

2.) I walk the path from curb to house in near total darkness, then I scan the boxes in darkness.

3.) The porch light usually comes on after I've already walked back to the truck.

When I get back to the truck, I need both hands. One hand is for folding the seat out and clicking the belt. The other hand is for hanging onto the computer (that thing UPS brings to your door to get your signature)

Well, one hand is for holding a small package, especially those LL Beans bags. The other hand is for aiming the scanner at the bag.

Right now, I'm using this $12 Energizer 3AAA thing that goes around my head. I just permanently leave it turned on in green light, because I have to toggle through to get between off, green, red and white.

The other obvious option would be a headlight.

Yeah, I think that is the way I want to go. I need one that will let me toggle between off and low and low to high in one action. Right now its like off-on-green-red. Going from green to off to green takes way too many pushes. I don't need green, but I just use green, because white-on is way too bright.

Not sure if you could wear it while making a delivery, check with your supervisor or IBT shop steward on that one.

The driver hasn't said anything to me about the headlamp. Before the headlamp, fumbling with a flashlight just slowed me down. With the headlamp, I'm significantly quicker. I have no idea what IBT person is.

 

[Mikeg23]

If I were in your shoes I would use two separate lights. I'd keep a decent thrower in a holster or clipped on a pocket and then use a 90 degree light or something for in the truck.

 

[robeden]

Howdy,
I was a driver for years. From my experience, I'd go with a zebralight H31. It comes with a clip that can be attached to your shirt or hung around your neck. You can access any light level from off which is a huge plus. The lowest setting is perfect for reading and the high is super bright and a great mix of flood and throw for your needs.
It might be a little overkill tho. For years I used a Surefire E2E which only put out 80 lumens and was sufficient for finding addresses from the street. And especially with what UPS is paying helpers nowadays you may not want to drop $50 on a light.
Hope this is a help. Glad I could finally post something meaningful on a forum I've watched for months!

 

[Jrubin]

Google Zebralight headlamps.

The floody/flood versions have the beam and the UI you are looking for.

Here is what one looks like. For a work light there is nothing more convenient and discreet than this.
Tucked inside shirt when not in use. Pull out, click, and use.

I am going to say +1 on the zebralight

 

[deklan]

How about a Zebra H31 for a headlamp and a Klarus XT10 for a small sized thrower? They all take the same sized CR123 batteries. If you want more output and throw, perhaps you can have a look at the Jetbeam BC40.

 

[HotWire]

I would suggest a Surefire Minimus head lamp. Easy to adjust low to high. You might want a small flashlight in your pocket or clipped to your belt for throw. I use the headlight for car repairs as well.

 

[Bright+]

And especially with what UPS is paying helpers nowadays you may not want to drop $50 on a light.

Good point. The pay is horrible. Come to think of it, the slower I work, the more hours I get.

 

[Gregozedobe]

My suggestion is a Zebralight - either the H51 if you lke AA batteries (rechargeable eneloops are best) or a H31 if CR123's are your perference. Either of these will give you a nice low for reading addresses on packages, and also good throw on Hi to see street no's from a fair distance.

The UI is one of the best - single click for whichever Hi level you have programmed (it is remembered), and click and hold for Lo ramping through medium to Hi (release when you get the level you want).

IMO the floodier H51F beam will be a bit too diffuse to give good enough throw unless you are always looking closer than 50' or so.

 

[Craig K]

You deliver parcels at night??? I always thought companies like UPS that deliver parcels to private houses only deliver them during the daytime and not in the night,...What the hell???

 

[DM51]

As the others have said, a headlamp sounds what you need, and as Mikeg23 says above, maybe also a good thrower. I recall some time ago a member who was a delivery guy said he found a good thrower essential so he could see the house numbers from the road.

 

[twl]

I would recommend going down to Lowe's hardware store and getting one of those ball caps with the 3 LEDs built-into the front of the brim.
There is a flat click switch on the brim too, with 3 different selections for the LEDs.
It costs about $17, and comes in a few different colors.
I have used these for years, and they work really well for carrying groceries in after dark, and stuff that you need both hands free to do.
It seems like a mundane product, but it is REALLY useful, and is not ever in the way, and always there when you need it.
It's not a huge thrower or anything like that. It's just the right kind of light that you need for walking across the yard at night with an armload of packages.
It's a cheap answer that works VERY well.

 

[Vox Clamatis in Deserto]

The other obvious option would be a headlight. Not sure if you could wear it while making a delivery, check with your supervisor or IBT shop steward on that one.

I have no idea what IBT person is.

IBT is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters:

http://www.teamster.org/

UPS drivers are the largest group within this colorful labor organization. Unlike all of his predecessors since 1952, the current president has not (yet) been indicted on felony federal charges. All previous IBT presidents were convicted except Ron "The Fish" Carey who ultimately copped a walk but was banned from union activities for life. I am shocked by those who would suggest that this highly acclaimed working person advocacy group somehow has ties to organized crime. Shocked, I tell you.

"Hey Vinnie, I wanna wear a headlight, youse gotta problem wit dat?"

 

[Purpleorchid]

You deliver parcels at night??? I always thought companies like UPS that deliver parcels to private houses only deliver them during the daytime and not in the night,...What the hell???

The UPS guy gets to my neighborhood around 6pm...and here in the northwest, that means it's already been dark for one hour in the winter. Private house delivery stops at 7pm here.

 

[Glock27]

You need 2 different lights.
ZebraLight H501w for looking for packages.
For looking for addresses, you need something like an Eagletac T20C or a Jetbeam MIII with a smooth reflector. You could carry the "spot light" in a holster on your belt.
I don't think you can get one light to do both duties well.
G27

 

[MarkW]

You deliver parcels at night??? I always thought companies like UPS that deliver parcels to private houses only deliver them during the daytime and not in the night,...What the hell???

Obviously you do not live in Anchorage. At this time of year, no doubt the busiest for UPS, real daylight is a bit thin in some places. Actually, it seems like if you blink, you miss it. . .

I agree with Glock27. Two lights. For a headlamp, Zebralight H-something-FW (pick battery of choice and go with a warm floody), plus a thrower in the pocket with the same battery size.