What I bring on the road as an Amazon DSP driver

I’ve been delivering packages for Amazon as a DSP driver for a bit over a month now, and, largely speaking, I’m enjoying it — I find it to be engaging work.

More information on why I picked up this job can be found in my previous post, “My summer plans.”

I wanted to share what I bring with me on the road, as many of the items I carry greatly enhance my experience as a driver. As well, I think some of the items are simply pretty neat.

Clothing

Clothing is the category that I’ve most heavily invested in. I’ve come across a few garments that I think are perfect for this kind of work and that I love wearing.

Specialized x Fjällräven Field Suit

A young man stands wearing a black one-piece field suit that zips up the front and has short sleeves. The durable fabric features numerous zippered and flap pockets across the chest, waist, and thighs.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/mens-specializedfjllrven-field-suit/p/221233

This might be my favorite piece of clothing that I own. It’s incredibly versatile, but, more notably, it’s super fun to wear!

It has a ton of pockets to store: work phone, personal phone, power bank, van fob/key, and more. As well, the cuffs can be folded to expose reflective details, which is helpful for if I’m delivering later in the day.

I got the smallest men’s size, and it fits me well enough. Though, I actually just ordered another in a women’s size to (hopefully) have a better fitted one that I can wear outside of work… we’ll see.

Shoutout to Jane Manchun Wong for making me aware of this item’s existence!¹

The North Face Horizon Breeze Brimmer Hat

A model wears a lightweight, wide-brimmed black boonie hat with mesh panels around the crown for breathability. An adjustable chin cord hangs loosely beneath the wearer’s chin to keep the hat secure on windy days. The brim is wide enough to shade the face and neck, and the fabric carries a UPF 40+ rating for sun protection.

https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/p/shop-all/brimmer-and-bucket-hats-554777/horizon-breeze-brimmer-hat-NF0A5FX6

As will be made apparent throughout this post, sun protection is a top priority for me. I wear this hat every day, and it does a great job of providing shade for my face and neck. It’s very lightweight, has a wide enough brim to be effective, and—most importantly—has a high UPF rating of 40+.

At REI, I tried on Outdoor Gear Lab’s top pick² for a sun hat—the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure—but I wasn’t impressed with how the hat felt. Meanwhile, this North Face hat doesn’t even make the list, but I think it’s great.

NRS Men’s Boater’s Gloves

A pair of navy blue, fingerless gloves laid flat to show their padded palms and stretchy back-of-hand panels. Reinforced palm sections add light abrasion resistance without sacrificing dexterity.

https://www.nrs.com/nrs-mens-boaters-gloves/pu1s

It was hard to find lightweight gloves that offered solid sun protection. I ended up going with these NRS gloves, as they had them in stock at my local REI. They have a UPF rating of 50+ while providing some physical protection for my hands while handling packages.

I wasn’t sure how they would hold up to the rigors of delivering packages day in and day out, but they’ve been great so far — really no signs of wear yet.

I feel they are a bit pricey for what they are, but there’s few other options. There are some cheaper options, but most of them had like a huge fish logo on them — which I didn’t want lol.

PEARL iZUMi Sun Arm + Leg Sleeves

Two pairs of white stretch sleeves—one longer for legs and one shorter for arms—displayed side by side against a white background. Made from lightweight, moisture-wicking fabric with UPF 50+ protection, the sleeves have elasticized openings at each end to stay securely in place during movement.

https://www.pearlizumi.com/products/sun-arm-sleeves-14371833

https://www.pearlizumi.com/products/sun-leg-sleeves-14371835

Admittedly, I haven’t gotten a chance to wear these yet — I just got them delivered. However, I tried them on, and they feel like they’ll be great.

Going into the job, I thought I would simply wear sunscreen on my arms and legs. But, I found that it was too much of a hassle to continually reapply multiple times a day — there’s not really enough time for that. So, I decided to get these UPF 50+ sleeves.

I am concerned about them being white, as I think they might get dirty quite quickly. I only now saw that they sell a black variant on their website, but unfortunately not on Amazon where they’re discounted.

Hoka Bondi SR

https://www.hoka.com/en/us/mens-recovery-comfort-shoes/bondi-sr/1110520.html

Amazon offers a ~$100 shoe credit on Zappos for work-approved shoes. I got these Hoka Bondi SR shoes, which are a slip-resistant version of the Bondi shoe. The credit didn’t cover the full price, but I was okay with paying the difference — I knew Hoka shoes fit me well and offer great comfort.

Gear

Fjällräven Färden Carry-On Pack

Front and rear views of an olive green travel backpack with a 42 L capacity and multiple external zippered compartments. The back panel is padded and includes adjustable shoulder straps and a removable waist belt. Several grab handles around the pack allow it to be carried like luggage or worn as a backpack.

https://www.fjallraven.com/us/en-us/bags-gear/backpacks-bags/travel-bags/farden-carry-on-pack/

I was very lucky to find this bag heavily discounted. It’s a 42-litre backpack with plenty of storage for a day’s worth of gear. Mostly, it carries a dozen water bottles, but also charging cables and other miscellaneous items.

It’s quite the durable bag, which is key as it’s stuffed away in the back of a dirty van all day.

NPS Dog Bark Deterrent Device

https://www.petnps.com

Dogs are one of the biggest hazards of being a delivery driver. This device emits a unpleasant ultrasonic sound that is supposed to deter dogs. I’ve fortunately not had to use it yet, but I keep it on me just in case. I certainly don’t hope to find out whether it’s effective or not.

Hydro Flask 40oz Wide Mouth Bottle

https://www.hydroflask.com/40-oz-wide-mouth-with-flex-straw-cap

It’s important to stay hydrated while delivering packages, especially in the summer heat. In the morning, I fill it up with ice water, and it serves me well for a couple hours — especially during loadout. Later in the day, I just drink from the number of disposable water bottles I carry in my bag.

Hydro Flask 8L Insulated Lunch Bag

https://www.hydroflask.com/8-l-lunch-bag

Other drivers like to just eat snacks, but I prefer to bring a full lunch. I pack a sandwich, some fruit, chips, a Spindrift, and a few miscellaneous snacks. This bag holds all that, plus a number of ice packs to keep everything fresh.

I like how easily this bag wipes clean, as it gets a bit dirty from its time in the van. It also matches my water bottle :)

Apple AirPods Pro 2

An open white charging case reveals two wireless earbuds nestled in molded slots, each with silicone tips and short stems. A small LED indicator on the front of the case shows charging status. The glossy finish and smooth, rounded design reflect light, emphasizing the premium build quality.

https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-pro-2

The last item on my list is perhaps my most valued; I don’t think I would be able to do this job without them.

Ear protection is essential when I’m not driving an electric Rivian van, as the traditional vans are LOUD. Adaptive Audio helps to tone down the loud sounds, while still allowing me to be aware of my surroundings. In the EDV, I can do without AirPods, as it’s a much quieter environment — plus the van’s Bluetooth system is well integrated.

Of course, they also allow me to listen to music, podcasts, and livestreams while I work — which usually makes the day fly by. The Lex Fridman Podcast is particularly great as the episodes are almost the length of my entire shift!

Conclusion

I bring a lot of stuff, and perhaps the things I bring are a little too nice for a job like this. But, I find having nice gear makes my experience more enjoyable.

It’s almost certain I’ll continue to acquire more gear, especially if I’m going to be continuing this job into future seasons. If that’s the case, I’ll try to do a follow up post with any new items I find useful.