Streamlight has been making the "gold standard" SL-20 flashlight for years. It is probably safe to say this light is almost as synonymous with police work as handcuffs and black-and-white cars. I have one and, like most cops, mine has accompanied me on more calls than I can count. I've replaced the battery stick, bulb, switch, and seals. The finish isn't quite as pretty as it used to be, but it is every bit as dependable as it was when I bought it eight years ago.
A few years back Streamlight came out with a polymer version that had three LEDs in addition to the incandescent lamp. Most of us saw it as a slight improvement over the original but not enough to justify buying a whole new set-up. Cops love new gear, but if we're going to spend our hard-earned money, it better be well worth it. In my opinion the new Streamlight SL-20L is definitely worth it. Everything that was great about the original is still here. Everything we wished it did better? Yeah, that's here now, too.
