STREAMLIGHT STINGER DS LED & STINGER DS LED HL & ULTRASTINGER LED

[@tommiller7339]

Nice review! Only thing I'd start a friendly debate about is how quickly you discounted the Stinger HPL and said to just go with the Ultrastinger LED instead. A little background, I'm a cop and started out in the pre-LED days with an old incandescent Stinger on my belt to compliment the big SL20 which rode in the car until we'd get out on a call (we'd have to grab it and slide it into one of those flashlight loops hanging from our belt). Once LED lights came out I upgraded to the Stinger LED and a couple years back got the Stinger LED HPL when it came out, making the big SL20 type light a thing of the past. The HPL has an outstanding beam and is probably the best affordable and reliable primary duty belt-worn light out there in my opinion. The Ultrastinger LED is brighter and very impressive, but being heavier and more than 2" longer than the HPL really means it'd have to be carried in the car again like I did with the SL20 which means it has to be grabbed and put in a flashlight ring dangling from the belt every time I get out. That's a compromise because it can be forgotten if I have to jump out on something quickly and also while carried in a ring it swings around and can be more easily lost while running or climbing. Meanwhile the HPL's beam is nearly as good but it still reasonably fits in an open-top belt holder. The holder I use covers the entire shaft - I don't like the ones that leave the tail exposed because then the tailcap switch can activate when sitting and the light can get knocked out of the holder when the bottom of it is bumped on something. Carrying the HPL in the belt holder keeps it with me at all times and holds it much more securely, even if the larger head looks a little odd on a belt-worn light. But its brightness is great for outdoor searches at a distance and is outstanding for seeing through dark window tint during traffic stops. In fact, the HPL's crazy brightness is why I still carry my old basic Strion LED on my belt as my secondary light...that one is a great little light and is often a better choice for small indoor areas or while searching through a car since it is smaller, handier, and not nearly as blindingly bright.

[@djg1028]

Thank you for your service! I own an old Strion incandescent, Stinger XT incandescent, Stinger XT HP incandescent, Ultrastinger incandescent and an old SL20 incandescent main beam with a low light LED output mode so I am familiar with the old style lights. Don't use them anymore because now the LED lights are the way to go and also have high, medium, low and strobe modes. I use the medium and low modes for when I need the LED light to not be as bright or just extended run time between charges. The LED Strion's and Stingers series lights that Streamlight makes now are even brighter then the original LED Strion's and Stinger's because they have seen upgraded LED outputs since they first came out & they make many different versions. I agree with your facts and points and are aware of your concerns. If a patrol officer could only carry 1 light the Stinger HPL is a great light either in the one switch or duel switch version & would probably be the 1 light to carry as it's bright enough and not excessively big but it's not too small either and has different power levels. However a well prepared officer will always want 2 lights, a primary and a backup that is especially crucial maybe for an extended search looking for a lost person in the woods for example. This video I have here is not on the Streamlight Strion series but I have another video that is and if you haven't checked out the Strion series they are awesome. I own all the Strion lights because they are go anywhere compact lights that fit in your pocket and are almost as bright as the Stinger's. The newest Strion is the one I would recommend for law enforcement and you would love it. It's called the Strion DS LED and has duel switches and high, medium, low and strobe and is rechargeable. Has the bigger head so it's not quite as pocketable but it can be if it needs to be in your pocket and they do make a case for it that is like you describe you like so it's covered and can't fall out. It has a fantastic low beam of only 40 lumens which is important when you don't want to ruin your night adapted vision or give away your location yet or just want the light to run for a long stunning 20 hours on low!!! The Stinger HPL is 190 lumens on low, so not as low as the Strion DS HPL when you want a low power light and because of that is only going to run for a posted 4.5 hours on low instead of 20 hours! Now comparing high power it is a stunning 700 lumens, 44,000 candle power with 420 meter peak beam distance!! The Stinger HPL you have and love is 740 lumens on high with 48,000 candle power with peak beam distance of 438 meters. So not much difference in max beam with the larger Stinger HPL light and with the same runtime of 1.25 hours on high as the smaller sized 700 lumen Strion DS LED. So basically the high power of the Stinger LED HPL offers no advantages over it's little brother the Strion DS LED HPL and won't be enough for most people to notice. Won't run you any longer on high power and on low it's not as useful when you need lower power and won't run for as long. Now having said this the Strion LED HPL is a newer light with newer LED technology and has only been out for less then a year and has brighter stats and longer runtime stats then it's sister light the Strion HPL which is 615 lumens and 160 on low and runs for only 3.75 hours on low and came out previously. When they came out with the new Duel switch Strion it's putting out 700 lumens and only 40 on low which is nice. People like you were carrying older lights just because the low beam was still too bright on your stinger and I'll say they were really thinking when they came out with that new DS HPL Strion. Now having said this it won't surprise me if Streamlight comes out with an updated Stinger DS LED HPL soon that maybe is bumped up to 800 lumens and maybe program the low to be a more useful low power which would also give it a longer run time. These new little LED lights sure can all crush the old huge SL20 size lights. I know years ago cops liked to utilize the longer and heavier flashlights as a baton in quick emergencies where you had to put someone up against a wall or patrol car and are a little better for breaking glass then the shorter length lights so that was their only advantages. So the Ultra Stinger LED has it's advantage there and is simply just the brightest for outdoor searches at 65,000 candle power and 510 meter beam distance and 1,100 lumens but with Strion DS HPL and Stinger HPL being brighter then what cops always use to carry the questions comes do you really need something as bright as the Ultrastinger and the answer is probably not but if you can have 3, those are going to be the 3 lights to own for a cop. For vehicle searches, traffic stops, building searches with your pistol and everything in between the all new Strion DS HPL is going to do better then the current Stinger DS HPL all day long. It's going to pair with your shooting hand much better being smaller and lighter and it's just more tactical with that stealthy low power. Now when they come out with a newer Stinger HPL that is the same size that is brighter on high and lower on low power also giving you a longer run time then you will have more of an advantage with the Stinger HPL. I'm not against it for law enforcement as all these light are great but it just needs a couple changes. Even Surefire with the R1 Lawman in this video has a lower and longer runtime on low which is crucial.

[@tommiller7339]

I see what you're saying and I agree, had the Strion DS HPL been out with those specs back when my Stinger DS HPL was released I would've looked hard at it...but the one thing that would've probably still swayed me to the Stinger is its added length. As you mentioned, sometimes the flashlight becomes an improvised impact weapon and another concern is the need to have a light long enough that I can tuck it under my arm so I can have both hands free to write on my notepad, go through a bag, etc. Although the Stinger HPL is nowhere as good as the old SL20 as an impact weapon I've confirmed it'll still do the deed, and its longer shaft compared to the Strions (but shorter than the Ultrastinger) is the perfect length for tucking it under my arm. I still do love my little basic Strion LED as my secondary light on my belt. I didn't realize it until you mentioned it above, but I pulled out the box and mine is an older version like you said because it's only 160 lumens at 2 hrs and low is 40 lumens for 7.5 hrs. Looked at the current Strion LED which is now 260 lumens for 2 hrs with low at 65 lumens for 7.5 hrs, and the Strion DS at 375 lumens for 2 hrs with low of 40 lumens for 20 hrs. Not considering the Strion HPL versions since my Stinger HPL is already a wide-head light and a second wide-head wouldn't fit on my belt well. And like you mentioned I like having the long low runtime too but also like the idea of my Strion lasting on high for a full 2 hrs....so that's why I don't think the Strion HL or DS HL are in the running. So, I think I'm going to use a bit of our tax refund that just came in and upgrade to a new secondary Strion LED or Strion DS LED to replace my older Strion LED.....just don't tell my wife! When I'm working I also carry a little ProTac 1L in my pocket as an emergency backup third light (and it's my everyday carry light in my pocket when I'm off-duty too), plus there's a weapon-light on my handgun and if things get really bad I can easily remove it and use it as a standalone flashlight too. I will keep my eyes on the Stinger HPL and if they upgrade it like you're hoping I'll probably be all over that too, it will make an already great light even better. Thanks for the advice!

[@djg1028]

Thanks for the comments Tom and your firsthand knowledge. That's a very good point you reminded me of, the added length of the Stinger DS HPL and with the wide head that is definitely important for cops to be able to tuck in under their arms so they can free up both hands to talk to subjects, write on a notepad, talk on radio in the dark, go through a bag while still allowing their gun hand to be free should they have to pull their gun right away. The Strion DS HPL is the longest of the Strion family at 7.5 inches and has the wide head but it still is skinnier and narrower then a Stinger because it is has a smaller battery (that is lithium). I just tried to tuck it under my arm and it's definitely doable but not as well as you could with the 9.65 inch long Stinger DS HPL. And of course the Stinger DS HPL at 9.65 inches is more of an impact weapon for sure then a Strion. Me too, I have the original basic Strion LED as well and it's an older version of only 160 lumens. Yeah since you allready have the Stinger HPL you wouldn't need a Strion HPL. They are so close. Yeah I have the Strion HL's and they are ok with their bright flood light but only last 1 hour on high or 1.25 on the HL duel switch. Better to have the regular Strion or the HPL when it comes to the Strions. That's a good choice sir, the Strion LED now is indeed 65 lumens on low for 7.5 hours and 260 lumens on high for 2 hours at 5.9 inches long. And the Strion DS LED is 40 lumens for a stunning 20 hours on low and 375 lumens on high for 2 hours at 6.4 inches long. Gotta shop around and see who has the best price. I've had good luck with brightguy.com. All the Strion's have the same lithium rechargeable batteries and all have the same chargers. So you could buy just the light (which includes the battery) and use your existing Strion charger to charge it or for a little more $ you could just buy it with it's own charger. Very nice! You're prepared! Likewise, the Stinger HPL family hasn't changed in recent years and will be due to be upgraded soon i'm sure. With new LED technology coming out they are able to keep increasing the brightness of these lights and I would imagine it would then be around 800 lumens and give it a lithium battery instead to increase the high run time longer then 1 hour and 15 mins and make the low be lower then 190 lumens so it has a stealthy low light that runs many hours. Then I will have to get the new Stinger DS HPL.

[@djg1028]

Hey got an email from brightguy.com today that streamlight upgraded the Stinger DS HPL from 740 lumens of 1.25 hours to now 800 lumens on high for 1.5 hours from a new LED in the light. The regular Stinger is still at 350 lumens but the Stinger HL and HPL went from 740 lumens to 800 lumens. I saw that coming. I ordered my DS HPL Stinger today from brightguy.com and they even let me engrave the light with custom engraving for only $6.95 not bad!

[@cowbatboots282]

Could you suggest a flashlight holster for a duty belt? I currently carry my Stinger in a loop like you mentioned and it easily falls out and I hate how it bangs against my leg when I have to run. Thanks in advance!

[@rodx5571]

I see the SWPS.com advert on your flashlight. I have actually been in that storefront in San Antonio Texas. Cool people there. I have to go by there next week. Small place, but lots of cool tech.

[@djg1028]

Rod X yes I have purchased many flashlights from SWPS.com before and they do put their name on their lights. I now purchase from brightguy.com and you can do custom engraving with them too and their prices are great!

[@SmoothbassmanStudios]

It's wild how technology has advanced. Tourches this size are now 3500 lumens on turbo and 1800 on high. I finally retired my Streamlight DS last week after 7 years of solid service in my truck. Battery would no longer hold a charge. Moved over to an Olight.

[@djg1028]

SmoothbassmanStudios You could still get a replacement battery for your stream light if you wanted to keep it in service for a back up.

[@SmoothbassmanStudios]

@@djg1028 My new torch for the truck is smaller, brighter, charges thru USB, and has a magnetic base. It's a better option for the truck. I'll probably do that at some point and put it in my travel trailer so I have a light there.

[@djg1028]

SmoothbassmanStudios very nice!

[@jayanderson9068]

How come the stinger HL says 800 lumens on high on all the websites and you said it’s 640 lumens ?

[@djg1028]

Because I filmed this video about 6 years ago and streamlight updated the LED since than.

[@joecurtiss3635]

If you put the end cap off one light that has the duel switch on the end of the Ultra stringer does that make that a ds function also? I ordered an ultrastringer I was just curious if it's possible to do that "mod"

[@djg1028]

No it doesn’t work because of inside circuitry. Ultrastinger they never made wirh a dual switch for some reason but great bright light

[@DG-os8ss]

​@@djg1028how long is the ultra stinger compared to the stinger 800lm Hl

[@djg1028]

@@DG-os8ss ultra stinger is several inches longer and has a larger reflector but does take same stinger charger.

[@tylerrodriguez9233]

Does the ultra stinger charge on a regular stinger charger? I’ve been looking and can’t seem to find the answer for that anywhere

[@djg1028]

Yes it does. The battery is different but the charger is the same exact charger. However the Strion takes a smaller charger. All Stinger’s take the same charger Ultrastinger included.

[@djg1028]

And brightguy.com is the best place to purchase.

[@tylerrodriguez9233]

@@djg1028 awesome, thanks!

[@NCshooter1213]

Old video but I have a question...can I buy the HL bulb setup and put it on the regular ds led stinger?? I have the ds led stinger but would love the higher output of the hs stinger.

[@djg1028]

I don’t think you can but could ask streamlight on that. The programming is different.

[@NCshooter1213]

@@djg1028 k I'll see what they say. I bought the upgrade led for my ds stinger but it's still only like 450 lumens. The ds led is kinda outdated compared to the newer lights as far as lumen output goes. Anyways thanks for the response buddy

[@djg1028]

@@NCshooter1213 well the HL is more lumen’s but it’s more of a flood than a spot beam like the regular DS. However if you get an HPL it’s the bigger reflector head, and that one has equal lumens as an HL, but has a much further peak beam distance spot than all of them.

[@CharlesV.Merrickjr-di7gf]

I lost my charger to my stinger,can I charge it without the charger?

[@djg1028]

No

[@TestTubeBabySpy]

Does anyone know how the stinger 2020 beam pattern compares with the stinger DS HL? I have the 2020 which has a pretty fat hot spot, but it the hot spot on the stinger DS HL narrower? It’s hard to tell on videos

[@djg1028]

That is a good question, at the time I made this video obviously the stinger 2020 was not out yet and I can tell you I do now have a stinger 2020 just never did a video on it. The Stinger 2020 definitely does have a pretty fat and wider hot spot compared to the Stinger DS HL. The DS HL is slightly narrower for sure but if you want even more narrow and the longest distance beam with a lot of throw go for the Stinger DS HPL or the Ultra Stinger.

[@TestTubeBabySpy]

@@djg1028 Cool. Ya I’ve been looking everywhere on what beam type streamlight classifies the 2020 as but they don’t state that ANYWHERE. So it looks like the stinger DS has the smallest hot spot just not very bright

[@djg1028]

@@TestTubeBabySpy correct but actually the regular stinger ds has a tighter beam hot spot than the HL. The HL stands for High Lumen which is a wider beam than a regular Stinger DS but the DS HPL has the best center hot spot and the longest shining distance range of them all. The 2020 is a very good light and provides a huge hot spot that is very wide.

[@TestTubeBabySpy]

@@djg1028 Lol they do this shitt to make you buy all of them 🤔

[@djg1028]

@@TestTubeBabySpy haha yes pretty much! I love the DS HPL but the reflector head is a little bigger for that longer range which you either like more or hate more or don’t mind. And I like the regular DS Stinger. I wouldn’t buy the HL now that the 2020 is out because the 2020 outperforms the HL.

[@nickromero4158]

Are the batteries compatible between the Regular stinger and the HL ?

[@djg1028]

Nick Romero absolutely, all stingers take the same size battery. Strion’s take a smaller one and the UltraStinger takes a larger one than the stinger but stinger, stinger HL and Stinger HPL all take the same battery. I had to get a replacement battery for one of my stingers from brightguy.com and what’s nice is now the stinger battery is also made in a lithium format which is a better longer lasting battery and makes the flashlight not as heavy.

[@Rumeel12708]

Hey do you know if I can add the rear switch to a regular C4 stinger?

[@djg1028]

Rumeel12708 It’s definitely possible, but to make sure I would call stream light and ask them.

[@jackkarber1511]

Yes

[@Livinlife818]

Can u add that rear switch on the ultra stinger? Thanks in advance

[@djg1028]

Ace&Drew not sure but if you call stream light technical support they should be able to tell you

[@tubeabq]

great review.

[@djg1028]

tubeabq thank you!

[@victorvalenzuela6949]

New Maglite Ml150lr has 2 1/2 hour burn time on high

[@djg1028]

I think you’ll be really impressed with the stream light ultra stinger which is slightly more lumens slightly more candle power and peak beam distance also a strobe.

[@rednekchevyman]

Stop sucking your teeth!!