FOG HORN August 2021

Twobirds Flying Publications

Streamlight’s STINGER 2020

Copyright 2021, Towbirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.


Streamlight’s STINGER 2020
By: Sal Palma
When Streamlight introduced the STINGER 2020
they created the mother of all handheld tactical
lights. Unquestionably a bold statement that I’ll
try to support in successive paragraphs.
I will kick things off by saying that the STINGER
2020 has the best ergonomics of any handheld
light on the market.
The body is constructed from a highly textured
high-grade aluminum alloy with top and bottom
serrations as well as nicely surfaced grip panels
to enhance operator grip. Hanging on to the
light with wet or sweaty hands is a non-issue.
What I found particularly interesting about its
design is the inclusion of a “finger coil like” shelf
Streamlight’s STINGER 2020
2021
as part of the body. In tactical application, that
feature greatly facilitates its use as an impact
tool. The body geometry also prevents the light
from accidentally rolling off a surface.
The STINGER 2020 features three modes of
operation: high, medium and low all accessible
via a switch. The implementation of that
strategy does away with the traditional push
button cycling; a simple switch setting delivers
2,000 lumens on HIgh, 850 lumens on MEDium
and 100 lumens on LOw.
Streamlight included two activation switches
one at the tail cap; the other on the light’s head
just below the mode switch. This arrangement
allows you to easily operate the light using a
saber grip or an icepick, the ergonomics are
absolutely outstanding.
The STINGER 2020 is powered by two SL-B26™
protected Li-Ion, USB rechargeable, batteries
Copyright 2021, Towbirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.

arrange in a power pack. The light ships with
the STINGER smart charger; however, it can also
be charged with any available USB cord.
Th STINGER smart chargers are a great
approach for keeping your light fully charged
and ready to go. The light mounts to the
charger securely, which can be wall mounted or
mounted to a work bench, and once charging
starts, you’ll see a solid red L.E.D. changing to a
slow blink when your light is fully charged.
Charge times run from 2 hours to 6 hours
depending on battery levels. From a fully
charged condition, run times are surprising; on
high, where light output is 2,000 lumens this
light will run continuously for 2 hours, on
medium you get 4 hours and on low you get a
full 24 hours.
Streamlight included a strobe function that can
be activated by two rapid clicks of the tail cap
switch. The strobe operates in the 2,000-lumen
Copyright 2021, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
Streamlight’s STINGER 2020
2021
mode and is blinding, so you’ll want to be
extremely careful with how you use it.
The STINGER 2020 is a robust 7-inch lighting
tool; as such, it comes in at slightly over 12 oz,
but it will survive a 6-foot impact on concrete.
The light is also IPX7 water resistant.
Streamlight lists the STINGER 2020 as being TAA
compliant which is important to military and
government agencies.
Holding a GSA MAS contract requires TAA
compliance. Before one of these contracts is
granted, the supplier must certify that the
product being provided has been significantly
altered or produced in the United States or a
designated country.
In closing if I were law enforcement, military or
an agency professional, Streamlight’s STINGER
2020 would be my handheld light of choice, its
ergonomics are truly superb, illumination
performance meets the most demanding
conditions, and its robustness make it an
excellent impact tool should the situation call
for a bit of behavior modification.
-SP
Manufacturer Specifications:
• High Lumens: 2,000
• Run Time on High: 2.00 hours
• Run Time on Low: 24.00 hours
• Beam Distance: 315 meters
• Battery Type: SL-B26 Battery Pack
• Battery Quantity: 2
• Length: 7.67 inches (19.48 centimeters)
• Weight: 12.30 ounces (348.70 grams)
• Colors: Black
• MSRP: $265