Streamlight, Inc., this year observes its 50th anniversary. Since Streamlight is known as a key provider of lighting to law enforcement, POLICE Magazine asked their team to pick their 10 greatest hits products they have offered to law enforcement during the company’s first 50 years.
SL-20
Streamlight’s first full-size, rechargeable duty light was introduced in the mid-1970s. It was the first model in this family that used a halogen bulb and a rechargeable nickel metal cadmium battery to make it up to seven times brighter than flashlights that were powered by disposable batteries. Featuring a 20,000-candlepower output, it quickly became the standard for law enforcement officers and agencies everywhere who appreciated its longer run time as well as the cost-saving benefits of not having to replace batteries. These durable, air-craft aluminum lights could be charged in or outside of police cruisers and carried the Streamlight limited lifetime warranty for which the company is still known for today.
Stinger Series
The Stinger, Steamlight’s first compact work light featuring a rechargeable battery, was created to deliver the optimal balance of performance and value with long run times in a compact design. Today’s Stinger LED flashlights feature high lumen outputs and innovations such as dual switches, Ten-Tap programming, and productivity-enhancing features, making them among the most popular law enforcement flashlights in the world. The Stinger 2020, for example, uses a high-power LED to produce 2,000 lumens and uses an innovative SL-B26 USB rechargeable battery to provide convenient charging on the go.
Strion Series
The first ultra-compact rechargeable flashlight for Streamlight, the original Strion used an innovative lithium ion battery. It weighed just 4.6 ounces and shined as brightly as lights five times its size. Today’s models, such as the Strion DS LED, provide the power of a Stinger light in a more compact body, making them a law enforcement favorite.
TLR-1/TLR-1 HL
Beginning with the TLR-1, Streamlight’s first aluminum gun-mounted light for full-size guns, the TLR family has grown exponentially to include a full line of TLR products to fit long guns, full-frame, compact and sub-compact pistols. The intensely bright TLR-1 HL is a leading choice among military and law enforcement with its wide peripheral beam.
ProTac HL-X/ProTac Rail Mount HL-X
The ProTac HL-X was Streamlight’s first programmable, handheld, lithium battery-powered flashlight. With its extraordinary lumen light output, the ProTac HL-X was designed for flooding an area with light while still delivering a strong, focused beam. The combination of its high lumen output and small size make it one of Streamlight’s brightest, most convenient, personal carry lights among police. The ProTac Rail Mount HL-X offers the latest in illumination technology for rifles, carbines, and sub-machine guns with 1913 (Picatinny) rails. Both models feature multi-fuel options including either a USB rechargeable system that uses a Streamlight SL-B26 USB rechargeable battery, or a CR123A Lithium battery version .
Stylus Pro
The compact Stylus Pro penlight packs an extraordinary punch in terms of the bright light it delivers, especially for its compact size. It is the ideal secondary light for law enforcement users to clip on or carry for close-up work, such as reading a driver’s license, conducting forensic investigations, and other tasks. Today’s Stylus Pro flashlights boast up to 350 lumens, and law enforcement users can pick from a variety of models that provide enhanced features such as USB rechargeability, UV lighting, or 360 degree lighting.
Microstream/Microstream USB
The Microstream is a good secondary light for policing duties. Its compact size makes it easy to comfortably carry in a shirt or pants pocket. The Microstream USB model offers amazing brightness, long run times and the convenience of charging on the go from any USB port. On the high setting, it provides 250 lumens and a run time of 1.5 hours. On low, it runs for 3.5 hours and delivers 50 lumens. The Microstream USB uses a lithium-ion cell battery which can be recharged via its micro USB charge port.
Wedge
The Wedge is a USB-C rechargeable everyday carry flashlight with a thin, compact design for deep pocket carry. Featuring an intuitive rotating thumb switch, it provides two modes: constant on mode and a momentary THRO (Temporarily Heightened Regulated Output) mode. On the THRO momentary setting, the Wedge delivers a 35-second burst of 1,000 lumens and 3,000 candela over a 110-meter beam distance. In constant-on mode, it provides 300 lumens, 1,200 candela, a beam distance of 69 meters, and a 3-hour run time.
TLR-6 and TLR-7
The first light and laser combination of its kind for sub-compact pistols, the TLR-6 is designed to maximize visibility and long-range targeting capability in a variety of tactical applications. An ultra-compact and extremely lightweight weapons light with a red laser, it is designed to attach to the trigger guard of a wide variety of sub-compact handguns. The small but mighty TLR-7 rail mounted light securely fits a broad range of compact handguns. Its low-profile design prevents snagging and a safe off feature locks it so it cannot be turned on accidentally. The TLR-7 family has expanded to include models such as the TLR-7 A and the TLR-7 sub. All models deliver 500 lumens and 1.5 hours of run time.
ProTac 2.0 Series
Among the newest additions to the company’s product line is the new rechargeable ProTac 2.0 Series. Whether handheld, hands-free, or weapon-mounted, first responders can get 2,000 lumens from these USB rechargeable lights. All are powered by the new Streamlight SL-B50 USB li-ion battery pack that charges via a USB-C cord inside or outside of the light. Users can choose from the ProTac 2.0, a compact handheld light ideal for everyday use; the ProTac 2.0 Headlamp, designed for maximum illumination, with a wide beam to light up an entire area; or the ProTac 2.0 Rail Mount, a rail-mounted lighting system with remote pressure switch for long guns.
