Best butane lighter fluid

Top pick: Xikar Purofine Premium Butane. It's the cleanest of the bunch — under 15 parts per million of impurities — so it won't clog the jets in a good torch or soft-flame lighter, and it's rated for all butane lighters. The high-altitude formula also keeps it lighting reliably in cold or thin air.

Who the others suit:

• Bernzomatic refill cylinder — if you're filling a torch or micro burner; it comes with reducers that fit its own lighters.
• Zippo Butane Fuel — the safe everyday choice for a Zippo insert or a standard soft-flame lighter.
• Neon 11X (multi-can packs) — best value if you refill often; ultra-refined and comes with universal adapters.
• Lotus Premium canisters — small, cheap cans for a desk drawer or travel kit.
• Colibri Premium — a solid mid-tier option for cigar lighters.

Skip odorized butane unless a specific lighter calls for it — the smell lingers on your hands and in the fuel line.