Couplings for implanted leads and external stimulators, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A connector in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion pivotably connected to each other. The first housing portion has an elongated fixed stop opening. The second housing portion has a stop element and a plurality of connector contacts positioned to electrically contact a plurality of connection contacts of a spinal cord stimulation lead. The first and second housing portions are pivotably connected to each other to move between a partially-opened position in which the stop element is in a first location in the elongated fixed stop opening, and a closed position in which the stop element has a second location in the elongated fixed stop opening.