Help picking a headlamp

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I mean both, I remember this being discussed with the level perspective such as weapons or clothing or gear, there are layers or tiers to it. As you said, "Horses for the Courses" but the headlamp was likened (and I say this loosely) to your side arm, when your flashlight was your carbine. To your questions above I do not hike with a headlamp in the "on" position, I will in have a flashlight often with a lot of lumen, lux and decent candela, but that would be my main light source when hiking this has more versatility then a headlamp as I can sweep it in front of me while moving and take in more information while and utilize it at different levels hold it up high, down low which gives me different perspectives especially in the woods while dark. The head lamp would be my backup, it can be used in conjunction, but for the most part it isn't needed and furthermore you'll probably want to maintain some level of vision acclimated to the dark.

So I guess I should start with were I'm coming from with this discussion as I seem to have already irritated people with my comment. I have trained for night time tracking with LEO and Rescue Resources with my former dog "Lula" a Bloodhound, and went through a 5 week training course by a NACSW (Scent dog) certified instructor. During said course we went over lighting employment.

There is no way I would hike with a flashlight, especially if needing to be off-trail (where the terrain is often tough enough that we would be mandated to use a helmet if it was a SAR callout). I absolutely would need my hands free in order to utilize hiking poles, for scrambling, or simply for better balance in general. To use your analogy, the flashlight would be more akin to a long range precision rifle, to be used in static locations to sweep a ridgeline or observe a terrain feature, while a powerful headlamp would be the carbine, as it would be the primary method of navigating the immediate terrain. To emphasize, everyone on my SAR team carries multiple headlamps; the majority do not carry a powerful flashlight (most carry micro flashlights more for admin stuff at awkward angles or medical assessment use, if any flashlight at all). Even in a recreational setting, I would much rather use a headlamp than a flashlight, as it still allows me to keep my hands free, whether it be for using hiking poles, ice ax, or keeping them free for scrambling.