Petzl for me for most of my headlamps. I really like their lineup for runners that are distance sensitive. Look close and they dim, look far out and they go to full power (and anything in between). The tech isn’t cheap but the function is fantastic. Plus, they are USB rechargeable and also have a 3xAAA battery pack.
My garage headlamp is now 9 years old Petzl and still kicking strong on rechargeable AA’s.
My favorite “new” headlamp is by Fenix. Their HM50r is fantastic and super lightweight. Perfect for walking the dogs at night. Sure, it’s a rechargeable CR123 battery but you can also get rechargeable CR123’s these days.
In the end what I want is something light enough to wear without that “3rd” headband (the one over the top of the head) and balanced such that it won’t fall forward, USB charging plus the ability to use a standard battery in a pinch. Oh, and a balanced light beam, slightly floody, slightly spotty - balanced for all around use.
