>>608260Honestly more than a few hundred lumens is really overkill if you don't have a really serious use for it. Something like 120-200 lumens is just right for the outdoors (trail, road or open. Dense forest is more like 200-300 to really be at ease.) I have a Ti3 and a HL50 and I've never been in a stituation where I had a real need for more.
You have to look for what most suits your needs. Chances are you won't have the use for more than 500 lumens, so you might have added comfort but you'll regret paying so much for your batteries. For example my Ti3 runs on AAA and my HL50 has the capability for both CR123A and AA bats. For me this is crucial because a lot of my gear runs on AA, which is cheap and available virtually everywhere. The fact that both run on single batteries is great too.
Then think about the bulk: you can't just throw a TN-4A in your pocket, for example, so you lose versatility.
And last there's the beam. If you're into caving and night hiking you're going to want more of a flood pattern, but still with a center spot; the downside is that you'll lose throw. For comparison acetylene headlamps usually have a nice flood and are only around 60 lumens.
I really love my HL50 for its versatility (for batteries, and also it can be detached from the headband which is really handy) but it might not be for everyone. I guess a safe bet would be something like the TK09 which is on sale right now. 450 lumens is more than enough, it's IPX-8 rated so great for caving, a good runtime, and it takes both CR123A or 18650 batteries. I'd say buy a couple of 18650. $20 might seem a bit over-budget but it's an investment.
