The stop limit order combines the characteristics of a stop order and a limit order. A basic stop order will buy/sell your security at the market price once your stop has been reached or passed. A stop limit order will buy/sell the security at a specified price once the stop has been reached or passed. If you use a stop limit, and your limit is too high/low your order may not get filled which will negate the purpose of putting the stop on in the first place. I tend to stick with stop orders if I am trying to protect a loss on a security.