(Part 3) Top products from r/USPS

There's a lot of difference between conditions carriers have to deal with. And they'll deal with it differently. So first off, know your local conditions. Second, check the weather forecast every morning before you dress. Or even the night before, to make sure you have what you'll need ready.

I'm in southern New England. We get a real winter. We rarely get the kind of winters many places in the country do. Not in terms of quantity and depth of cold, or of amounts of snow. But we do get cold, and we do get snow. And sometimes a lot of it.

So first, boots. You need to find the boots that you can live with. Preferably ones that are postal approved. Whether you need high, and insulated, or can live without that, depends on your area. Make sure they're waterproof. Get good socks. Wool, preferably. In extreme cold areas, even heated socks.

I wear the heavy uniform pants. With thermal underwear. In the worst cold, 2 pair. If it's windy, you can add the rain pants as well. No insulation value, but they cut the wind. I have the bomber jacket and the vest. In the coldest places you may want the parka instead. Again, thermal underwear, as many layers as you need. Whatever sweatshirts or sweaters you happen to have are good. Don't need to be uniform, as the customer won't see them. I got one of the fur caps. But it's really not any good. I don't know if there are better versions out there. So I wear a hood with a movable face mask under a uniform ball cap or rain hat.

It's a good idea to bring a couple of extra shirts and a towel with you, just in case. So you can change up as necessary. Even carry a dry pair of socks.

For gloves I find that I can go without to a colder temp than I would have believed that I could. Or sometimes just a glove on the left hand. It's difficult to finger the mail in gloves. So you'll have to try a few things and see what you're capable of working in. You may well have to deal with some cold on your right hand to maintain dexterity, and put your hand in your pocket between houses. Gloves with a rubber outer coating will allow much better mail handling than cloth or leather. For moderate cold I do pretty well with the cheapo dollar store cotton gloves with rubber beads for grip on them. The next step up is somewhat heavier cotton gloves with rubber palm and fingers that can be found at any hardware store or Home Cheapo. So long as they stay dry, those do pretty good for me. I may wear a heavier glove on my left, and the lighter one to finger the mail on my right.

For other gear, make yourself a basic first aid kit and carry that. If you're dealing with icy footing, get traction cleats. Like this is one option. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002M9DO0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But those wear out pretty quickly, so don't wear them more than you have to.

This awesome thing.

salt sticks is what I see endurance athletes using

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I am a huge fan of them

These made my winters a ton better. NEOS Navigators

I swapped to PSE, but I was using this strap when I was a CCA for about 7-8 months with no issues/wear &tear and it was comfortable:

https://www.amazon.com/Nanuk-Adjustable-Cushioning-Messenger-Briefcases/dp/B003JH7Y8W/

As said cooling towels, keep hydrated. For hot days I picked up this nalgene container and insulation cover. I like this cause Night before I'll fill it half way with water and stick in freezer. Ensures I have ice cold water then I carry an igloo cooler of ice water to fill it up as needed.

As for LLV I open "passenger side" window and two vents in the back to try get some airflow but other than that not much

Cooling towel

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UR4HHC8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4l56AbN9DNQ5B

The pith helmet if you can't get your hands on one

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GT71IO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sn56Ab0DZ1BM6)

Badge holder

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017TH4OLM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lo56Ab6HF9XA7)

MOLLE Pouch

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9HZR2I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Zp56Ab3VYFKPF)

Collapsing hand truck/cart

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LMH8CCS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_nr56AbNZ6RGQN)

I just talked to a customer about this yesterday as I was the aux on the route. He said he's informed the regular carrier about the issue but the carrier didn't make a note or card on their case about it for the other carriers. Misdeliveries like this are a result of bad casing.

As for what you can do, if your mailbox is curb mounted, get a drop box like this http://www.charnstrom.com/1667?gclid=Cj0KEQiAt9vEBRDQmPSow-q5gs8BEiQAaWSEDncUz6p7J135vrhuiwWrq69sMLtjMxG3ntXBK4R7sKoaAjho8P8HAQ

If it's on your house then check out something like this https://www.amazon.com/Gibraltar-MSK00000-Lockable-Security-Mailbox/dp/B000CSK2EY

Just don't get anything with a small heavy slot that has to be lifted and make sure it's a larger box or you'll just annoy your carrier and end up having to pick up more of your mail at the office

How about a Jumbo Mailbox? That meets postal regulations.

Ta da!

Get a neti pot or this thing to flush your sinuses.. flushing my nose has helped my allergies way more then any pill ever has.

Oh snaaap we got the same gloves https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YPZKY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I gave this to a retiring postmaster in 2017

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Day of Week clock

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NOOO0E

https://www.amazon.com/Wolo-Bright-Emergency-Warning-Strobe/dp/B000BNMOMI/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1506202366&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=WOLO+Brite+Star+Strobe+Light\

That's the one I have. Bought from local hardware store. Don't use the light itself, which seems to be the main negative review. The magnet is pretty strong though. I've seen others with weak magnets that go flying off.

That said, ask around at your office. They had magnets I used for the first couple weeks. A couple drivers had backup strobes in their trunk or on the side of their case I probably could have used.

(sorry for late response. regular took the week off. Went from 2 days of work scheduled in 14 days (the regulars off days), to 12 days out of 14. With some training/backup route thrown in)

I actually upgraded my 1950's era letter size mailbox in 2014 to a large plastic curbside box. https://www.amazon.com/Gibraltar-Mailboxes-Rust-Proof-Post-Mount-PL10B0201/dp/B000U520TO

I got tired of my bubble mailer parcels blowing away in the wind or getting wet on my porch. I mounted the box sideways on outrigger brackets and it's been solid as a rock since.

I looked around my neighborhood and everyone seems to have the large curb style boxes on their houses, not necessarily mounted to the house, but on a post next to their porch.

I just wear the overshoes. I have 2 pair...the shoe cover and 10 inch. Maybe Rural King just doesn't have them in stock yet but I know I've purchased them there before. I prefer them over specialized boots because you can wear your shoes you already have broken in. I also highly recommend wool socks.

To put it quite simply, you said that you had an incident at all - this means that at some point, your animals have been the problem. At that point alone, it is left to the carrier to decide whether or not to "risk" delivering any sort of notice that says your mail is no longer going to be delivered until you resolve the animal problem.
As carriers, we are told CONSTANTLY to not risk any animal attacks, and depending on your area you could be held liable and even charged with assault on a federal employee if your dog were to attack the postman.
I am not trying to "excuse" the carriers behavior if in fact he is "harassing" the animals, but if your animals are loose, it is well within his right not to deliver. If you have already spoken to your postmaster and been told that you need to make alternative arrangements in order to resume delivery, then do it. A mailbox like this costs less than $40 and I see them all the time on my route, a ticket from your local municipality plus paying for confinement fees should your animal attack a carrier is a lot more. Not to mention the cost of any medical treatment required by the carrier, and additional fees that may be incurred.
If I were you, I would go down to the office and pick up what mail is currently there, and ask to speak with the postmaster while you are there so you can schedule your appointment for him/her to come out and approve of where you're putting the box.
Just ask yourself what is worth more to you: the inconvenience of buying and putting up a locking mailbox on your fence, the recurring fees of paying for a PO box, or the potential to have your family pet put down because it attacked someone.