I’m a gear junky. To be even more specific, I’m a flashlight junky. After spending several months in the field with the Streamlight® ProTac® 2.0 HP, I’m pleasantly surprised.
I recently did a rather extensive review of the Streamlight® ProTac® 2.0 HP over at my own site, The Square Reviews. The light made such an impression on me, I felt like the readers of Bearing Arms would love to learn about it. The ProTac® 2.0 HP is a high lumen, high candela flashlight. Is it suitable for everyday carry? Depending on your needs. What I can say is that it’ll light up the world.
Streamlight® has a reputation of producing some high-quality products. The U.S.-based company has been around since 1973. Few other companies have been around as long doing what Streamlight® does. In the years since they’ve been on the market, the company has produced products suitable for outdoors enthusiasts, police/security/military, the trades, and lights perfect for everyday carry.
The 2.0 HP is one of those lights that I’d file away as having a specialized use. Because the light puts out a maximum of 2000 lumens and 85,000 candela on high, this is an ultra bright light. Off the cuff, what’s this good for? Search and rescue and any of those times that you need a light that will go the distance.
Is this good for everyday carry? I’d say not really. But, if you’re up for the little extra bulk in size, go for it.
The ProTac® 2.0 HP is not sized like an 18650-series rechargeable light. It’s a little bigger, akin to a 21700-series light. But, this rechargeable lamp does not use a 21700 battery, it uses a proprietary battery.
The battery that the ProTac® 2.0 HP uses is not something you can just buy off the shelf — it’s a Streamlight® design. To me, and as much as I love Streamlight® products, this is a ding. Most of the lamps that I carry and keep, I can easily buy backup batteries from Amazon or some other source.
There are a few lights that Streamlight® has where they force you into using their batteries, and that’s okay — but it does take away a little bit of the consumer’s ability to pick and choose backup energy sources.
However, the benefit of this is that you are forced to use their battery and you’re not likely to toast the unit because you’ve put a low quality battery in it.
That’s really the only downer, everything else about this light I kinda liked.
The unit comes with a nylon holster, suitable for a belt or MOLLE webbing. If you want to carry this light via pocket carry, there’s a quality spring steel clip that will hold the lamp in place without issue. The body of the light is robust and the finish is very durable — not like some cheaper lights on the market where the finish easily wears off.
The Streamlight® ProTac® 2.0 HP has the TEN-TAP programmable feature. This is a way users can change the default settings on the lamp. Settings that are available are: high/strobe/low, high only, low/medium/high.
To recharge the lamp, users have two options. One, you can remove the battery and plug it into a USB C cable. The battery itself has a charging port. Or, two, you can expose an external charging port by sliding a collar at the front of the light towards the tail switch.
Overall, the Streamlight® ProTac® 2.0 HP is a heck of a light. This flashlight would be a perfect companion on hunting trips, camping trips, hiking excursions, or a great tool for emergency responders.
Interested in learning about some other Streamlight® products? You can check out my interview with Brett from SHOT Show® 2025 HERE or in the embed below.
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