I think Zippos kick butt, but I wouldn't recommend them to folks who don't smoke. Just too easy to forget to fill them. I have a couple at the moment. The one I take hunting is checked out (as is all other gear) and topped off the night before the hunt, so I don't worry about it not being filled. And like most long-time Zippo users, I carry a spare flint or two under the pad.

I, too, prefer the Ronsonol fuel over the Zippo. It performs as well with -- to my snoz at least -- a little less smell.

Have tried the Ronson Windi (they always have them at Walgreens where I live). I suppose they're OK for the cost, but they don't perform as well as a Zippo, IMO. If the choice was Windi for $5 or a plain-jane Zippo for $10, I'd buy the Zippo.

Like Frankspin, I think those stemmed butane lighters are great for applications that don't require pocket carry. The extra reach is uber-handy.